8/29/2024
RUSH Late Model Series
CAREER 1ST HOVIS RUSH LATE MODEL WINS FOR YOUNGSTERS ASHTON BRIGGS & BEN EASLER; CHAS WOLBERT WINS TWICE TO TAKE OVER RUSH SPORTSMAN MOD POINTS LEAD;
CAREER 1ST HOVIS RUSH LATE MODEL WINS FOR YOUNGSTERS ASHTON BRIGGS & BEN EASLER; CHAS WOLBERT WINS TWICE TO TAKE OVER RUSH SPORTSMAN MOD POINTS LEAD; WIN #17 FOR ZAIN HARVEY TIES RUSH PRO MOD RECORD
By Marcie Barlow
August 29, 2024
(Pulaski, PA)...Ashton Briggs and Ben Easler added their names to the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Racing Series presented by Born2Run Lubricants record books as they both captured their career first victories RUSH Late Model victories last weekend. Veterans Jeremy Wonderling and Kyle Hardy added to their win totals in RUSH Late Model action as both tallied two victories. Blaze Myers was the victor in Hovis RUSH Sprint Car action at Lernerville Speedway for the first time this season. Chas Wolbert visited victory lane twice in Hovis RUSH Sportsman Modified action to take over the points lead.
Ashton Briggs captured his career first victory last Friday night at Raceway 7. The Erie, Pa. driver led the entire distance of the 20-lap RUSH Late Model main event to score the City Chevrolet Weekly Series win over Josh Ferry. Billy Henry, Jr. claimed the third spot, which was enough for him to secure the 2024 track title. Chad Sines and Breyton Santee completed the top five.
RUSH Late Model action at Dog Hollow Speedway saw Kyle Hardy score the win in both the regularly scheduled main event and the feature that was postponed from August 16. The Virginia driver defeated Marino Angelicchio in the August16th event with Mike Laughard, Greg Carrico, and Tyler Ellenberger following. In the regularly scheduled feature event, Hardy bested Laughard, Zach Gunn, Angelicchio, and Jake Gunn. It was the season debut at Dog Hollow for the Gunn brothers.
Jeremy Wonderling made another successful stop at McKean County Raceway on Friday for Hovis RUSH Late Model City Chevrolet weekly series action. The New York driver took the lead from Chuck LaFleur on lap two and went on to score the win, which was his fifth in seven tries at the Smethport, Pa. oval. Dusty Waters was a season best second over Bill Holmes, LaFleur and Brad Mesler.
Saturday evening at Genesee Speedway, Jeremy Wonderling and Chad Homan led the field to the green with Wonderling once again taking the lead. By lap three Wonderling built up a 2.7 second lead before a caution slowed the field. When green flag action resumed, Wonderling again took off and went on to score his fifth victory of the season at the New York oval by a staggering 8.1 seconds. It was also Wonderling’s second win of the weekend as he closes in on another City Chevrolet National Weekly Series title. Homan came home in second with Dave DuBois third. Billy Holmes was fourth. Brady Wonderling made his second start of the weekend driving for David Stolzenberg and was fifth.
Austin Allen used the week off of RUSH Late Model Flynn's Tire/Gunter's Honey Touring Series action to return to his home track, Woodhull Raceway. Rickie Loucks and Garrett Heffner led the field to green, but it was third place starter Austin Allen who immediately took the top spot and went on to score his second victory of the season. Brett Marlatt claimed the runner-up position with Brian Knowles getting third. Loucks and Joe Layfield rounded out the top five.
Davin Kaiser scored his third win of the season in RUSH Late Model action Saturday at Winchester Speedway. After winning two RUSH features the night before at Dog Hollow, Kyle Hardy was relegated to second with teammate Greg Carrico getting third. Tyler Hoy and Jeremiah Marshall rounded out the top five.
Saturday evening racing action at Stateline Speedway saw Jason Genco muscle the lead away from Randy Hall on lap 14 and go on to record his fourth RUSH Late Model victory of the season at the Busti, NY oval. Genco also secured the 2024 track championship and $1,000 City Chevrolet Track Pack title with the win. Hall finished second with Josh Ferry getting third. Scott Gurdak and David Parker finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
RUSH Late Model rookie Ben Easler tallied his first career Late Model win in City Chevrolet Weekly Series action at Eriez Speedway on Sunday. The former RUSH Sportsman Modified champion defeated track standout Jason Genco, Andy Michael, David Parker, and Khole Wanzer. Easler joined fellow Flynn's Tire/Gunter's Honey Touring Series regular, Ashton Briggs, with their first career RUSH Late Model victories.
The lone Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Sunbelt Rentals RUSH Sprint Car event took place at Lernerville Speedway Saturday evening in their first appearance of the season at the Sarver, Pa. oval. It was also the division’s "Manufacturers Night" presented by MSD Performance and each team in attendance received a package valued at a minimum of $300. Blaze Myers and Brent Rhebergen led the 23-car field to the green. Myers led the entire distance of the 20-lap main event to score a 2.640 second victory over Gale Ruth, Jr. for his sixth of the season in Sunbelt Rentals Weekly Series action. Arnie Kent was third over Trent Marshall and Rhebergen completed the top five.
Hovis RUSH Sportsman Modified competitors had a busy three-race weekend. They kicked off the weekend at Raceway 7 on Friday evening with night one of the Wedge Motorsports "Route 7 Rumble" Series. Veteran Rob Kristyak led the entire distance of the 20-lap main event to tally his third victory of the season at the Conneaut, Ohio oval in the season finale. Kristyak also captured the divisional points title at the track. Chas Wolbert, JC Boyer, Lucas Canon, and Bill Cunningham completed the top five.
Wedge Motorsports "Route 7 Rumble" Series continued at Sharon Speedway on Saturday as Doug Rutana and Chas Wolbert led the 20-car field to green. Wolbert immediately took command. A lap two caution for Darin Gallagher slowed the field and when the action resumed sixth place starter Ayden Cipriano passed Rutana for second. A second late race caution gave Cipriano a final opportunity to overtake Wolbert, but he was never able to mount a challenge as Wolbert went on to score a 3.456 second victory- the 22nd of his career at Sharon. Cipriano claimed second with Rutana getting his best ever finish at Sharon in third. JC Boyer was fourth and took over the "Route 7 Rumble" Series points lead. Kristyak completed the top five.
RUSH Sportsman Modified action concluded at Tri-City Raceway Park on Sunday. Kole Holden led the first 11 circuits before Chas Wolbert took command and went on to the $1,000 victory by 1.233 seconds over Ayden Cipriano, who finished second to Wolbert for the second straight night. Wolbert also took over the $3,500 to-win Weekly Series points lead with his 54th all-time divisional win. Holden claimed third with Karston King and Brandon Ritchey completing the top five.
Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Pro Mod competitors also had a three-race weekend. It kicked off on Friday evening at McKean County Raceway for the second annual "Todd Button Memorial". Steve Dixon and Jeremy Wonderling treated the fans to some great side-by-side racing for the first eight laps before Dixon finally took the top spot. Zain Harvey later got Wonderling for second and set his sights on Dixon. A miscue by Harvey on lap 27 saw him jump the cushion in turns one and two and that was all Dixon needed to pull away from the field and score the big $2,400 win- his second straight at McKean. Wonderling held on for the runner-up position with 15th place starter David Scott claiming third in his RUSH Pro Mod debut. Josh Wilcox and Joe Chamberlain rounded out the top five.
Zain Harvey redeemed himself at Stateline Speedway on Saturday as he passed Josh Wilcox with seven laps remaining to score his sixth victory of the season at the New York oval. It was also Harvey’s 17th RUSH Pro Mod victory of the season tying him with Dennis Lunger's 2021 win total of 17 for most in a season! Wilcox came home in second with Tim Peterson getting third. Vaughn Nystrom and Nick Arnold finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
On Sunday evening, Larry Mitchell, Jr. scored his third win of the season at Bradford in RUSH Pro Mod action. Josh Canfield, Ian Degolier, Critter Hemphill, and Kevin Doud completed the top five.
The lone RUSH Stock car event was held at Eriez Speedway on Sunday. Alex Bush picked up his third win of the season at the speedway and his fourth overall as he defeated Kaden Michael. Gavin Eddy, Cody Rickard, and Jimmy Roberson completed the top five.
The Labor Day weekend is the unofficial end of summer, and it is filled with lots of RUSH racing action. The Hovis RUSH Dirt Late Model Flynn's Tire/Gunter's Honey Touring Series will see action on Saturday at Tri-City Raceway Park and then on Sunday at Tyler County Speedway.
Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Rick Hendrick City Chevrolet Weekly RUSH Late Model action is slated for Dog Hollow Speedway and McKean County Raceway both for $1,000 to-win on Friday night, while Genesee Speedway, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Motor Speedway, Winchester Speedway and Woodhull Raceway will be in action on Saturday.
The RUSH Sportsman Modifieds will return to Tri-City on Saturday, while the RUSH Sprint Car teams will be at Tri-City Raceway Park on Sunday.
RUSH Pro Mod competitors will see action at McKean County Raceway on Friday and on Sunday at Bradford Speedway.
As the days of summer wind down be sure to catch some exciting RUSH racing action at a track near you.
The RUSH Racing Series is brought to you by Hovis Auto & Truck Supply together with Born2Run Lubricants along with the support of Hoosier Tire, Rick Hendrick City Chevrolet, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, Insinger Performance, Flynn's Tire, Gunter's Honey, Sunbelt Rentals, MSD Performance, Holley Performance Products, FK Rod Ends, Joseph J. Oliva Attorney at Law, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, Landrum Performance Springs, 3C Graphix, Dave Poske's Performance Parts, Velocita-USA, Wieland Metal Services, Frankland Racing Supply, Dusted Steak Seasoning, Ontime Body & Graphic, Sherwood Wheels, D&V Jewelers, Dusted, Heritage Wine Cellars, Precise Racing Products, Wedge Motorsports, Racing Electronics, and Billy’s Garage.
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. The RUSH Late Model website is www.rushlatemodels.com. Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/rushlatemodels and follow us on X (formerly known as Twitter) @RUSHLM.
Article Credit: Mike Leone
