10/8/2019
GARRETT KRUMMERT SWEEPS THE "BETSY KRIEGISCH MEMORIAL" WEEKEND AT PITTSBURGH SETTING FAST TIME, WINNING HIS HEAT, THE DASH & FEATURE FOR $2200 IN RICH
(Imperial, PA)...The Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Sportsman Modified Series powered by Pace Performance was part of the "Pittsburgher 100" weekend for the first time ever with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and the RUSH Dirt Late Model Touring Series in the running of the second annual "Betsy Kriegisch Memorial". The event also marked the first Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Touring Series race ever run at Pittsburgh's PA Motor Speedway. A huge thank you to the 52 contributors for making this event the richest in the six-year history of the RUSH Sportsman Modified Series as a total of $4,850 in cash plus $3,500 in contingencies was added to the guaranteed purse posted by Miley Motor Sports!
Defending Hovis Touring Series Champion, Garrett Krummert, is on a roll. After winning both Tour events at Sharon during the month of August, Krummert completely dominated the "Betsy Kriegisch Memorial" weekend at the "Monster Half-Mile". Krummert set fast time, won his heat race, the dash, and led all 25 laps of the non-stop feature timed in 9:16.692 winning by nearly nine seconds for his third win in the last four Tour races. Krummert earned a RUSH Sportsman Modified record $2,200 in cash plus more than $600 in contingency prizes!
"At the beginning I was just trying to ride because normally we don't go 25 laps then I saw Chas (Wolbert) get alongside of me and thought 'man I better pick this thing up', revealed the 31-year-old Ellwood City, Pa. driver. "The two races before this tonight were really good and the RUSH Late Models had a lead change with six to go, and thought 'shit I hope that's not me'! I wanted to ride a little bit and save the tires, but when I saw Chas I figured we better get this thing going. We live in the same area as the Kriegischs so this is a cool event with Randy and the girls (Chelsie and Jessica). I wish my car owner Jerry (Schaffer) was here because he's always helped the girls. I have to thank RUSH and Pittsburgh for putting this on as to race for two grand with a crate car is pretty awesome."
Krummert jumped to the early lead in the feature over Tony Tatgenhorst, Jim Rasey, Kole Holden, and Rob Kristyak. While Krummert led Tatgenhorst, the battle for third was three-wide on lap two with Holden taking the spot over Rasey and Kristyak. By lap four, Chas Wolbert joined the battle making it a four-car race for third. After starting fifth and dropping back to sixth, Wolbert was on the move taking third from Holden on lap five. Wolbert then caught Tatgenhorst and drove under him in turn four for second on lap seven.
By the time Wolbert got to second, Krummert had a half-straightaway advantage built up, but by lap nine, Wolbert started cutting into the deficit. Krummert got held up by the lapped car of Joe Gibson on laps 11 and 12 allowing Wolbert to catch Krummert. Wolbert tried a move in turn one, but may have showed his hand too early as Krummert blocked the move.
At the halfway point, Krummert started to extend his lead like earlier in the race, which continued to grow throughout the second half of the race. By the time the checkered flag was displayed, Krummert's fourth career Hovis Tour win came by a whopping 8.917 seconds in the Jerry Schaffer Racing, Turn 4 Toilets-sponsored #10s. The win extended Krummert's Hovis Tour points lead and put him in a three-way tie with Wolbert and Kristyak for the Hovis Weekly Series Championship heading into the season finale at Lernerville in two weeks.
Wolbert earned $1,100 for second along with another $700 in contingencies including the Precise Racing Products "Pedal Down" Hard Charger honors. "That son of a gun," expressed the 25-year-old Warren, Ohio driver. "He seen me I'm pretty sure. It's hard to find the line where you should be in here. You have to make a move quick here because once you get a couple laps in it's wide open and everyone spreads out. I saw the Super and Crate Late Model racers were both running the bottom. I'm not a bottom guy if anyone knows me. I like to run the top here, but you had to get down to the bottom and almost stop to run that groove. Garrett is a good guy to race with along with Tony (Tatgenhorst) and everyone else. I'm just glad the car ran and we finished the feature in the top three- no complaints."
Tatgenhorst, who won his first career feature on September 7 at Pittsburgh, was a solid third to earn $850 plus a Racing Electronic Switch Receiver. "Those guys (Krummert and Wolbert) are tough to beat that's for sure but I'm okay with them in front of me- I'll lose to those guys anytime," acknowledged the 39-year-old Columbiana, Oho racer. "Third is a great run for us. It's been a heck of a weekend. To be honest with you, the three cars out here aren't the winners. These two girls we have this race for are the two winners. They are class acts in this sport and we are doing this race for their mother- that's the most important thing for us. I'm happy to be standing here, but even happier to be supporting them. I wouldn't have missed this race for anything. I have to thank my girlfriend- she's my crew chief and does it all, my dad who is sitting up there in the grandstands and doesn't miss a race, RUSH, and Matt Miley at Pittsburgh's PA Motor Speedway; we're happy to be here."
Kristyak was fourth. After dropping out of the top five, Rasey would get by Holden on lap 20 to finish fifth and maintain the second spot in the Hovis Tour points. Rasey was also selected as the Dirt Defender "Defensive Drive of the Night" for holding off Holden in that tremendous back and forth battle. Holden, the 2017 and 2019 Sharon Speedway track champion, dropped to sixth at the finish over Jessica Kriegisch, Jacob Jordan, Kyle Martell, and Greg Porter.
Not only did Jordan turn in his best Tour finish of the season in eighth, but also won the grand prize in the contingency drawings of a Holley Performance 80541-1 650 carburetor valued at $700, four Landrum VB Coil Springs valued at $300, and was the lucky recipient of the $100 "Hot Rod 64 Heat Race Drawing" from Rodney Beltz amongst all of the sixth and fourth place finishers. Jordan earned $1,625 in cash and contingencies!
Kyle Martell was selected as the Sherwood Wheels "Man of Steel" as he trucked it back from Toledo, Ohio on Friday night just in time for action as the 2016 "Futures Cup" Champion and 2017 Touring Series Champion went on to finish ninth in the feature to receive a Sherwood steel wheel valued at $225.
While the "Bill Hendren Memorial" was also taking place on the RUSH Late Model side at Pittsburgh, Bill's wife Bettie added $100 afterwards for the slowest qualifier, which was Joe Gibson. Even though a flat tire with two to go in the feature ended Chelsie Kriegisch's seventh place run in her mother's memorial event, Chelsie received a $50 bonus for finishing last from Don and Margie Frickanish along with a case of Penn-Grade oil from Matus Motorsports and brake fluid from TBM Brakes for being "Tough Brake of the Night" recipient. Despite the last place finish, Chelsie earned $475 in cash plus contingencies.
Krummert just missed the track record of 21.324 set by Tatgenhorst last year in the inaugural "Betsy Kriegisch Memorial" with a lap 21.343 to pick up the $100 from Ohio Intra Express in "Shock the Clock" Qualifying on Friday night. Krummert and Holden won the heat races on Friday night. Krummert's dash win not only earned him the pole position, but also $100 from Branden Lockwich, who is the event coordinator of the "Jook George Steel City Classic" at Pittsburgh for the RUSH Late Models.
Thank you to the following 52 contributors to the "Betsy Kriegisch Memorial" along with Pittsburgh's PA Motor Speedway that made the event the richest in RUSH Sportsman Modified history: 955 Automotive, Bruce & Leah Altman, Anonymous Donor 1, Anonymous Donor 2, Rodney Beltz, Big Daddy's Speed Center, Blackshear Brothers Racing, Bolland Machine, C&R Tire, Preston Cope, Phil Crouse, D&T Auto Body, Rich Gerald, Joe Gibson, Fire Fighter Sales & Service, Flinner Signs & Decals, Josh Ferry, John Flinner, Jr., Don & Margie Frickanish, Bettie Hendren, Kole Holden, Hudzik Racing, Jacob Jordan Racing, Arnie Kent, Connor King, Chelsie Kriegisch, Jessica Kriegisch, Jo & Garrett Krummert, Branden Lockwich, Kevin Long, Kyle Martell, Matus Motorsports, Pat Miller, Ohio Intra Express, Greg Porter, Andy & Lisa Priest, Jim Rasey, Ripper Auto Sales, Rock House Bar & Grill, Chad Roland, C.J. Rombold Engines Builders, RUSH Racing Series, Russ King Racing, Jerry Schaffer, Deb Shaffer, Tony Tatgenhorst, Wallace Towing, Weaver Racing, Wedge Motorsports, Jackie West, Chas Wolbert, and Brian Woodhall
The 2019 season will conclude at Lernerville Speedway on October 17-19 with the annual "Steel City Stampede" to determine both the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Tour and Weekly Series Championships. Thursday will include practice followed by heat races on Friday night. Saturday will be last chance B main(s) and the $800 to-win feature. Sunday is the rain date.
Article Credit: Mike Leone
