9/9/2021
RUSH Late Model Series
$1000 PACE RUSH LATE MODEL "TRACK PACK" TITLES GO TO CHAD HOMAN (FULTON), SCOTT GURDAK (STATELINE), STEVE LEBARRON (HILL) & BREYTON SANTEE (RACEWAY 7)
$1000 PACE RUSH LATE MODEL "TRACK PACK" TITLES GO TO CHAD HOMAN (FULTON), SCOTT GURDAK (STATELINE), STEVE LEBARRON (HILL) & BREYTON SANTEE (RACEWAY 7); 1ST EVER RUSH LATE MODEL RACE SET FOR LAND OF LEGENDS ON SATURDAY NIGHT
By Marcie Barlow
September 9, 2021 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Pulaski, PA)...The Labor Day weekend saw plenty of Pace Performance RUSH Racing Series together with Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC action. Daryl Charlier and Chub Frank were the big winners of $2,000 to-win special events at Pittsburgh and Stateline Speedways respectively for the RUSH Late Models. Several RUSH Late Model "Track Pack" titles were decided. Gale Ruth, Jr. extended his win streak to three in RUSH Sprint car action at Tri-City Raceway Park on Saturday; but failed to tally a fourth consecutive victory as Rod George scored the win on Sunday. In addition, Chas Wolbert stole a career first win away from J.C. Boyer by a mere 0.016 seconds in RUSH Sportsman Modified action at Pittsburgh.
The Hill Speedway closed out their 2021 season on Friday night, and the first under the RUSH banner. Mike Epler set the pace for the first 17 circuits of the Pace Performance RUSH Late Model main event in search of his second win; however Jared Keeney was a “man on a mission” as he used the inside line to pull even with Epler. The duo battled side-by-side for most of lap 17 before Keeney was able to take over the top spot with two laps remaining. Keeney went on to score his second victory of 2021 at the speedway, which have come in the last three events. Steve LeBarron got by Epler on lap 19 to finish second and earned both the track title and the $1,000 RUSH "Track Pack" championship! Epler, Darin Horton and Joe Lane were third through fifth.
Michael Duritsky, Jr. led the entire 20-lap distance of the RUSH Late Model main event Friday night at Dog Hollow Speedway. The Masontown, Pa. was the “class of the field” as he scored a convincing second win of the season, but first since May 21. Tom Snyder, Jr. finished second subbing for Joe Martin. Joe Moyer, Mike Laughard, and Colin Casale were third through fifth.
For the first time since July 31, Delaware International Speedway was able to complete a show. Saturday night saw Derek Magee and Matt Hill battle for the top spot in the 15-lap RUSH Late Model main event while Joe Warren and Nick Davis battled for the third and fourth positions. A lap six restart gave Hill the opportunity he needed to take the lead from Magee. Hill went on to lead the nine remaining circuits to score his third victory of the season. Magee, Nick Davis, Trevor Collins and Joe Warren followed.
It was Champions Night at Fulton Speedway on Saturday and Chad Homan claimed his second consecutive RUSH Late Model title at the New York oval in addition to the $1,000 RUSH "Track Pack" title. Homan took the top spot on lap five from Todd Chapman and cruised to his fifth straight victory at Fulton and ninth of the season. Overall, it was Homan's 14th RUSH Late Model win on the circuit in 2021. Chris Fleming finished second with Harry Halliday, Sean Beardsley and Bret Belden completing the top five.
Saturday night RUSH racing action at Genesee Speedway saw pole sitter Jimmy Johnson grab the lead at the start and go on to score his second victory of the season. The caution-free event was completed in just under eight minutes. Bill Holmes, the newly crowned track champion, finished second followed by Jon Rivers, Doug Ricotta, and J.J. Mazur.
Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway hosted the annual "Red Miley Rumble" for the Pace Performance RUSH Late Models on Saturday night. Zach Morrow and Daryl Charlier led the field to the green with Morrow leading Charlier, Michael Duritsky, Jr., Cole Petrelle and Jake Gunn on the initial start. By lap 13, the duo of Morrow and Charlier entered lapped traffic. Charlier made his pass for the lead stick on lap 19. He went on to weather several more cautions in route to his second straight PPMS victory and fourth of the season, worth $2,000. Morrow held on for second with Petrelle, Mike Reft and Nico Dabecco claiming third, fourth and fifth respectively.
The weekend’s lone Pace Performance RUSH Sportsman Modified Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Weekly Series event was held at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway on Saturday. Pole sitter J.C. Boyer led the first seven circuits of the main event before a caution slowed the field. The subsequent restart placed second place runner Chas Wolbert to the inside of Boyer. The pair dueled side-by-side for the final eight laps with Wolbert making a last lap pass and scoring a 0.016 victory over Boyer, who recorded a career best finish. Justin Shea, Jordan Ehrenberg and Chelsie Kriegisch completed the top five.
Stateline Speedway concluded their 2021 season with the Fall Finale that featured two days of racing action. Former World of Outlaws Late Model competitor, Chub Frank led the entire distance of the main event to score his first career victory in the division at the New York track, which was built by his father. Frank's victory was worth $2,000 and came one week after winning $3,199 at Sharon Speedway in the Tour event. Darrell Bossard and Jeremy Wonderling treated the fans to a great battle for the second spot, with Wonderling claiming P2 at the checkered flag. Bossard, Scott Gurdak and Matthew Sipes rounded out the top five. Gurdak claimed the $1,000 RUSH "Track Pack" championship.
The Pace Performance RUSH Pro Mods were also in action at Stateline. Dennis Lunger, Jr., the 2021 track champion, and Stu Rickard led the event to the green. Lunger grabbed the lead and went on to weather eight cautions to score his seventh Stateline victory of the season and 10th overall in Pro Mod competition. While Lunger was unchallenged; Rickard, Greg Johnson, Adam Ashcroft and Chad Ramsey engaged in a fierce battle for positions two through five. Ashcroft claimed the second spot at the checkered with Johnson in third, Al Brewer in fourth and Ramsey in fifth.
Steve LeBarron led the first five laps of Pace Performance RUSH Late Model action at Woodhull Raceway before a miscue on his part gave the lead to Chuck LaFleur. LaFleur led laps eight through 12 before Brian Knowles wrestled the top spot away from him. Knowles, the newly crowned divisional champion, led the final eighth circuits to score his third straight win and fifth victory at the New York oval in 2021. Overall it was Knowles' eighth victory as he sits fourth in the National Weekly Series standings. Jason McGregor came from the seventh position to finish second with LaFleur taking third. Jim Buck and Darin Horton finished fourth and fifth respectively.
Pace Performance RUSH Sprint Car competitors competed in two nights of racing action at Tri-City Speedway. Saturday evening Gale Ruth, Jr. and Brian Cressley led the field to the green. Ruth would lead the Equipment Rental Options Weekly Series 20-lap event from start to finish to score his third straight Tri-City win, and division leading seventh of the season. Veteran John Mollick came home in second with Chad Ruhlman, Blaze Myers and Arnie Kent following.
Sunday evening action at the Venango County, Pennsylvania oval saw veteran Rod George score the win to end Ruth’s three-race winning streak. The win was George's second of 2021 in RUSH competition, but first May 22. The win also gave George 49 career triumphs at Tri-City, but first since 2007 for the 62-year-old hall of famer. Veteran Arnie Kent came home in the runner-up spot with youngster Nolan Groves, who started 10th, finishing in third. Blaze Myers and John Mollick completed the top five.
After a pair of runner-up finishes, Tim Laughard was the victor in the $500 to-win RUSH Stock Car special at Dog Hollow Speedway on Friday night. The win came in just Laughard's third career RUSH start. Laughard will try for a second straight win this Friday night at Dog Hollow.
Winners in RUSH Karting action on Saturday at the Stateline Speedway were: Bexley Smith (Amateur), Ethan Arnone (JR-1), Cody Rickard (JR-2), and Jill Rickard (Adult). Sunday's program was rained out. The RUSH Karts will be back in action this Saturday at Stateline.
RUSH Late Model competitors were off at Potomac Speedway, Winchester Speedway and Eriez Speedway this past weekend. In addition, Bradford Speedway cancelled Sunday’s events due to rain.
The Flynn's Tire/Born2Run Lubricants Touring Series will return to Sharon Speedway this weekend for the second straight event. This time, $4,000 will be on the line in the "Cider Jug 40" presented by Zarin Truck & Auto along with an anonymous donor in support of Autism Awareness. Friday night will be FK Rod Ends "Shock the Clock" Qualifying, FK Rod Ends heat races, and the Sunoco Dash, while Saturday night will include last chance B mains, the feature, and the non-qualifier. The Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Sportsman Modified Touring Series will also compete this weekend at Sharon in an $800 to-win event.
The Pace Performance RUSH Late Models will make their first ever appearance at the Land of Legends Raceway this Saturday night. The 30-lap main event pays $1,000 to win plus heat race money. This is the first Late Model race of any kind at the Canandaigua, NY track in several years.
Another $1,000 to-win Weekly Series special at another non RUSH weekly-sanctioned track will take place on Friday night at Georgetown Speedway in Delaware. Weekly Pace Performance RUSH Late Model action is scheduled for this Friday at Dog Hollow Speedway. Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway, Winchester Speedway, and Woodhull Raceway will host RUSH Late Model Weekly Series action on Saturday night.
Pace Performance RUSH competitors are off this week at Potomac Speedway, Delaware International Speedway, Genesee Speedway, Bradford Speedway and Eriez Speedway. In addition, the RUSH Late Model season at Fulton Speedway, The Hill Speedway, Raceway 7, and Stateline Speedway is complete.
Pace Performance RUSH Sprint Car teams will make their final appearance of the season at Sharon Speedway on Friday night in a $600 to-win Equipment Rental Options Weekly Series event. The RUSH Sprints will then move to Raceway 7 on Saturday night for an $800 to-win Weekly Series special. It'll mark the first appearance of the season for the Sprints at Raceway 7 and just third all-time as Chad Ruhlman won in 2019 and Jarod Larson in 2020.
RUSH Racing Series is brought to you by Pace Performance together with Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC 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, Born2Run Lubricants, Flynn's Tire & Auto Service, FK Rod Ends, 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, Zarin Truck & Automotive, Sherwood Wheels, Alternative Power Sources, Precise Racing Products, Stop-Fyre, Lincoln Electric, Velocita-USA, Waterstone Mortgage Hermitage, CrateInsider.com, and Wedge Motorsports.
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 Twitter @RUSHLM.
Article Credit: Marcie Barlow
