8/10/2019
PAUGH WINS 1ST EVER AT PITTSBURGH IN RUSH LATE MODELS WHILE GURDAK CELEBRATES 61ST BIRTHDAY WITH 1ST WIN OF 2019 AT STATELINE; MORROW CAPTURES 1ST OF
(Pulaski, PA)...Racing rolls on as the calendar turned to August last weekend for the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Racing Series powered by Pace Performance family of speedways as points battles start to come into focus. Three drivers found victory lane for the first time of the year, while several others repeated at their respective tracks, and some others continued their hot streaks..
Unfortunately, rain ruined any chance of racing action for the RUSH Pro Stocks at Lernerville Speedway on Friday night when a heavy rainstorm moved through the area in the evening and knocked out any chance of racing. With just three Friday nights until championships are determined, Corey McPherson holds slim seven-point advantage over Tyler Dietz. Racing will continue at the Sarver, Pennsylvania oval this Friday night.
Friday night at Maryland's Potomac Speedway, Ben Bowie took advantage of his pole position start on the grid and set a new track record on his way to one of the quickest victories turned in a 20-lap RUSH Late Model feature event at Potomac. The six-minute feature event was Bowie's third of the season. "Tonight was one of those nights where I didn't have to push the car too hard and it ran just about perfect," stated Bowie in victory lane. Mike Raleigh, in a career best finish, took second with Kyle Lear, Jeremy Pilkerton and Chuck Bowie rounding out the top-five. Another six-division racing card is on tap for this Friday including the RUSH Late Models.
Friday night at Conneaut, Ohio's Raceway 7, Matt Latta became another of the weekend's multi-time winners when he claimed the checkers for the fourth time this season despite missing three events. Latta, who started on the front row, survived a rash of early race cautions to roll to the victory over Kyle Zimmerman, Breyton Santee, Darrell Bossard, Chad Sines and Joe Long. Another night of five division racing is on tap this Friday at Raceway 7.
Another first-time winner graced victory lane on Saturday night at Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Motor Speedway as Garret Paugh turned in a strong performance to best an 18-car field in Saturday night's RUSH Late Model feature. Paugh, of Elkins West Virginia saw Ryan Frazee lead the first part of the 20-lap feature and ultimately take the lead on lap 16. In the closing laps, Paugh was chased by Michael Duritsky, Jr. and Frazee, both regulars on the RUSH Late Model Tour, but was able to hold off all comers for his first ever trip to victory lane at the "Monster Half-Mile". Duritsky finished runner-up with Frazee, Nico Dabecco and Tommy Schirnhofer, Jr. making up the top five.
In the companion RUSH Sprint Car feature, Gibsonia Pennsylvania's Zach Morrow picked up his first win of 2019 and first ever at PPMS. Bradley Blackshear and Jeremy Weaver turned in their best PPMS performances in second and third as Brian Woodhall and Brandon Hawkins completed the top five.
The eyes of the RUSH world will be on PPMS this Saturday night when the RUSH Late Model Touring Series presents their richest race in its history. The "Jook George Steel City Classic" will pay a astounding $10,010 to-win and the possibility exists for one driver to win well over $11,600!
Saturday night at Central New York's Fulton Speedway Sean Beardsley would set the early quick pace in the 20-lap RUSH Late Model feature while racing behind him was two and three-wide from the drop of the green. But 18 laps later it was Chad Homan, who had worked his way through the field to take first, and would hold off all challenges for his fifth Fulton victory of the 2019 campaign and second straight. Sean Beardsley held on for second for his season's best run with Kyle Sopaz, Chris Fleming and Kevan Cook finishing third through fifth. More racing action this Saturday at Fulton including a $1,000-to-win feature event for the RUSH Late Models.
Saturday night at Batavia, New York's Genesee Speedway Doug Ricotta and J.J. Mazur looked like the cars to beat in the RUSH Late Model feature, but it was fifth starting Bill Holmes who would work his way forward and take the lead from Ricotta with just three laps to go for his second straight win. Ricotta held on for second with JJ Mazur, Kyle Murray and Jon Rivers making the top five. Just three point races remain at Genesee with at tight battle on top as Holmes moves to within two points of Mazur. With the RUSH Late Models off this Saturday, the season championship battle resumes on August 17.
A very happy birthday was in store for 61-year-old Scott Gurdak on Saturday night at Busti, New York's Stateline Speedway as he took home the checkers in the RUSH Late Model feature event on Saturday night. Gurdak used his front row starting spot to ward off the competition and stay ahead of a series of early race cautions to grab the checkered flag over the likes of Max Blair, Jason Genco, Matt Sipes and Andy Boozel, who completed the top five. Twenty-three cars were on hand as Stateline has had at least 20 at all eight events this season with an average of nearly 25 per night.
Gurdak was an early leader earlier in the evening in the RUSH Pro Mod feature event, but that lead would be short-lived as Dennis Lunger, Jr. earned his way to victory lane for the fifth time this season and second straight at Stateline. Lunger was followed by Adam Ashcroft, Gurdak, Chad Carlson and Matt Harvey. Lunger and Carlson scored the heats. Stateline is off this Saturday night, but will return with a regular "Six-Pack Racing" program on August 17.
Matt Hill continued his dominance at Delaware International Speedway on Saturday night. Hill took his third straight win and sixth overall of the season. Tyler Reed, Sparky White, Joe Warren and Derek Magee were second through fifth. A full night of racing is on tap again this Saturday at DIS.
Saturday night at New York's Woodhull Raceway, Jason Knowles made his way from his seventh starting position on the grid to take the victory in the RUSH Late Model feature event. It was Knowles' second win of the season, but first since opening night back on May 4. Kurt Stebbins, John Haggerty, Steve LeBarron and Zach Wiech were second through fifth. A full night of racing is on the card this Saturday night at Woodhull Raceway.
Rain washed out the RUSH Late Model feature last Saturday night at Virginia's Winchester Speedway. The RUSH Late Models will be off the next two Saturday nights then will return on August 24 for a full show plus the August 3 make-up.
The RUSH Sportsman Modified Touring Series will make three appearances at Hartford, Ohio's Sharon Speedway in 2019, and Saturday night was the first of those visits. Absent from weekly competition at Sharon since his win on June 8, Garrett Krummert showed up big on Saturday night, scoring the $600 Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Tour win. The win makes Krummert the third different winner on the Tour this season in as many events. Early leader Chas Wolbert was second. Jim Rasey came from the tail to get third over Sharon points leader Kole Holden. Eastern Pa. racer, Connor King, was fifth. Cameron Nastasi won the "Wheelman" Non-Winners presented by Ohio Intra Express and C&R Tire to become the fifth different winner in six races. Racing continues at Sharon Speedway this Saturday night.
On the RUSH Asphalt Late Model side at Jennerstown Speedway, it was Mike "Hollywood Hemminger taking the win. Teddy Gibala, Jarrod Barclay, Barry Awtey and Zane Ferrell made up the remainder of the top five.
In the RUSH Asphalt Modified division, RJ Dallape took the win over Anthony Aiello, Andrew Kostelnik, Pete Rech and Chris Brink. The RUSH Asphalt Modifieds will race in an extended 50-lap feature this Saturday night. The RUSH Asphalt Street Stocks saw Casey Fleegle in victory lane with Rick Meehleib, Andrew Kostelnik, Jeremy Shaffer and Josh Coughenour in the top five.
On to Sunday, when Old Bradford Speedway raced on a beautiful evening that would see their championship chases come to a close. Returning to racing for the first time in six weeks, Kyle Murray finished fourth on Saturday night at Genesee then showed up at Bradford for the first time this season and scored his first victory of 2019 in the RUSH Late Model division. Brad Mesler was second ahead of 2019 champion Ward Schell, Damian Bidwell and Andy Michael.
An intense battle for the lead over several laps made for an exciting feature event in the RUSH Pro Mods. Nate Hartzell and Steve Dixon started on the front row and in the closing laps swapped the lead several times before Hartzell returned to victory lane for the first time since opening night and captured his first ever points title. Dixon, C.J. Irons, Critter Hemphill and Adam Peterson made up the top five. The post-season is underway at Bradford starting this Sunday when the RUSH Late Models are in action for the "Jim Byerly Memorial Race".
Dog Hollow Speedway hosted their second straight Sunday night show and the RUSH Late Models were featured for the "Mole Bassaro Memorial". Taking the $1,000 win was Michael Ott, who led the entire distance, over Joe Moyer, Bryan Benton, Collin Burke and Tim Snare, Jr. Dog Hollow will be off this weekend and then return back to their old Friday night slot on August 16.
It was the "All Canadian Championships" at Port Colborne, Ontario's Humberstone Speedway on Sunday night. Chad Homan copped the $800 win giving him a sweep of Sweeney Weekly Series events for the weekend. David Pangrazio and Sam Pennacchio, who started 12th and 13th respectively, were able to move to the front of the field; however, Homan who was able to hold them off for his second "All Canadian title". A one lap shootout decided the main event with Homan holding off Pangrazio and Pennacchio for his third Humberstone win of the season and ninth overall. Rob Pietz and Adam Ferri made up the top five. The RUSH Late Models return to action at Humberstone on August 18.
Max Blair continued his dominance at Eriez Speedway on Sunday night in the RUSH Late Model feature. Starting on the front row, Blair once again held off all challengers to score the win. Blair's win was no easy task as he had to beat some of the northern's best in the business including Jason Genco, Scott Gurdak, Andy Boozel, and Breyton Santee for the win. Blair has now won in seven of his eight starts at Eriez and has 13 wins overall in RUSH for 2019. An all open wheel night is on tap for this Sunday night at the Erie County, PA oval including the RUSH Sprints in their first appearance of the season.
Brewerton Speedway will have the RUSH Late Models on Friday night (August 9). Next Thursday (August 15), McKean County Raceway will have Sweeney Weekly Series events for the Late Models ($800 to-win) and the Pro Mods ($500 to-win) as part of their McKean County Fair race.
RUSH Racing Series is brought to you by Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC & Pace Performance along with the support of Hoosier Tire, Bilstein Shocks, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, Insinger Performance, MSD Performance, Holley Performance Products, Hovis Auto & Truck Supply, FK Rod Ends, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, TBM Brakes, Performance Bodies & Parts, Racing Electronics, Dirt Defender, Wrisco Industries, Frankland Racing Supply, Landrum Performance Spring, Ontime Body & Graphic, Trailer-Alarms.com, Bonnell's Rod Shop, Zarin Truck & Automotive, Sherwood Wheels, Alternative Power Sources, Precise Racing Products, Lincoln Electric, Velocita-USA, Classic Ink USA, CrateInsider.com, and Valley Fashions.
E-mail can be sent to the RUSH Racing Series at info@rushracingseries.com and snail mail to 4368 Route 422, Pulaski, PA 16143. Office phone is 724-964-9300 and fax is 724-964-0604. The RUSH Racing Series website is www.rushracingseries.com. Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/rushlatemodels and follow us on Twitter @RUSHLM.
Article Credit: Rush Late Models