8/12/2022
RUSH Late Model Series
CAREER 1ST HOVIS RUSH LATE MODEL WINS FOR TODD CHAPMAN & KEITH WALLS WHILE MIKE WONDERLING ENDS MORE THAN A 6-YEAR WINLESS DROUGHT; 15-Y.O. BEN EASLER
CAREER 1ST HOVIS RUSH LATE MODEL WINS FOR TODD CHAPMAN & KEITH WALLS WHILE MIKE WONDERLING ENDS MORE THAN A 6-YEAR WINLESS DROUGHT; 15-Y.O. BEN EASLER'S 4TH RUSH SPORTSMAN MOD VICTORY KEEPS HIM ATOP THE WEEKLY & "ROUTE 7 RUMBLE" SERIES POINTS
By Marcie Barlow
August 12, 2022 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Pulaski, PA)...What began as a rainy weekend gave way to clearing skies for Saturday and Sunday and the various Hovis Auto and Truck Supply RUSH Racing Series presented by Born2Run Lubricants did not disappoint. Logan Roberson capped off a perfect evening to score the win in the 33rd annual "Jook George Steel City Classic" which showcased the Flynn's Tire Late Model Tour at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway. Todd Chapman and Keith Walls won their first career RUSH Late Model events, while Mike Wonderling earned his first win in more than six years in Weekly Series action. Second year competitor Ben Easler maneuvered through lapped traffic to become the first Sharon repeat winner of the season in the Hovis RUSH Sportsman Modified action.
Competitors at Virginia’s Winchester Speedway managed to dodge the rain. Keith Walls started in the second spot but immediate took control of the main event. Tyler Hoy pressured Walls for the entire distance of the event, but was never able to wrestle the top spot away from Walls. Walls went on to score his career first RUSH victory in just his fifth start. His prior best finish was a fourth at the last event he competed in on July 23. Hoy, Mike Franklin, Cameron Campbell, and Scott Sweeney Jr. completed the top five.
In his second year of RUSH Late Model racing, Todd Chapman captured his career first victory in the division on Saturday night at Skyline Raceway beating out his brother and two-time winner, Alan Chapman. Pat Parker was third for the third time this season matching his season's best effort.
Mike Wonderling led the Hovis Auto and Truck Supply RUSH Late Model main event flag-to-flag on Saturday evening at Genesee Speedway to score his first RUSH win since July 3, 2016 and first ever divisional victory at the track. Jon Rivers challenged Wonderling until he was slowed by mechanical problems on lap 15. Wondering went on to score the win with Doug Ricotta, David Pangrazio, Bill Holmes and Paul Grigsby following.
Saturday night at Woodhull Raceway rookies Rickie Loucks and Jacob Tubbs led the field to green. Sixth place starter Jason Knowles took control on lap four and went on to score his fourth win of the season at the southern tier New York oval. The Knowles brothers have now won nine of the 14 features this year at Woodhull. Loucks came home in second spot for his best finish of the 2022 season easily beating his prior best of fifth. Jason McGregor was third with another rookie, Aaron Miller, in fourth. Austin Allen was fifth.
The 33rd annual "Jook George Steel City Classic" was the marquee event this past weekend as the RUSH Late Model Series invaded Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway Saturday evening for the second of four appearances of the season by the Flynn's Tire Touring Series. Twenty-four-year-old Logan Roberson had a perfect evening as he set fast time, won his heat race and the dash and passed Michael Norris to collect the victory and more than $7,600 for his efforts!
Daryl Charlier would lead the first five circuits before a caution slowed the field. On the ensuing restart Roberson was penalized two positions for jumping which gave Norris the opportunity to take command once the action resumed. The duo of Norris and Roberson distanced themselves from the field and entered lapped traffic by lap 26, which allowed Roberson to close in and pressure Norris for the lead. Roberson got by Norris on lap 30 and ducked under the lapped car of Josh Stoica. As Stoica tried to avoid contact with Roberson he moved up the track and directly into the path of Norris, who had gotten a tremendous run off of turn four. The contact resulted in Norris flipping violently on the frontstretch. Thankfully no other cars made contact with Norris and he was uninjured.
When action resumed, Roberson and Kyle Lukon quickly distanced themselves from the pack. A late race caution didn’t work in Lukon’s favor and Roberson went on to take the win, his fourth of the season and seventh of his career in Tour action, by 0.795 seconds over Lukon. Tim Shaffer had his best ever Tour finish and came home in third with Justin Chance and Mike Reft completing the top five.
Sunday evening RUSH Late Model action at Eriez Speedway saw Jason Genco won his third of the season at the Erie, Pa. oval. Genco's victory kept him on top of both the National Weekly Series points as well as Eriez' "Track Pack" points. Billy Henry, Jr. was second for his third podium of the year at Eriez. Logan Jaquay was career best third at Eriez. Khole Wanzer's fourth was his best Eriez finish of the season as David Parker completed the top five.
Also on Sunday night, Bradford Speedway was in action and fans saw Jeremy Wonderling claim his second win of the season at the northern Pa. oval. It was also Wonderling’s sixth victory on the RUSH circuit this season. Ward Schell was a season best second. Steve Dixon, Kurt Stebbins and Mike Wonderling rounded out the top five.
In RUSH Pro Mod action at Bradford, Steve Dixon tallied his sixth win in seven tries at the oval! Zain Harvey finished in second with Tim Schram, Ian Degolier and Victor Earle, Jr. completing the top five.
The lone Hovis RUSH Sportsman action of the weekend took place at Sharon Speedway Saturday night. Fifteen-year-old Ben Easler drove an excellent race as he masterfully worked through lapped traffic to score an impressive victory in the non-stop event, which was completed in 6:40 minutes. It was the second straight non-stop feature at Sharon. Easler became the first repeat winner this season at Sharon with his fourth overall victory of 2022 as he continues to lead the Hovis Weekly Series and Wedge Motorsports "Route 7 Rumble" Series standings. Flynn's Tire Tour points leader, Garrett Krummert, claimed the second spot. Josh Deems was a season best third. One week after winning his first career feature, JC Boyer was fourth. Justin Shea completed the top five.
The only RUSH Stock Car race of the weekend took place on Sunday at Eriez as Mikael Beaver captured his third win of the season and sixth overall in Hovis Weekly Series action. Points leader Cody Rickard was second.
Winners in RUSH Karting action at Stateline Speedway were Bexley Smith (Amateur) Jackson Himes (JR-1), Trenton Curry (JR-2), Mike Boardman (Adult).
Rain claimed the Friday night weekly RUSH Late Model events at Raceway 7 and The Hill Speedway as well as the Flynn’s Tire Touring Series at Dog Hollow Speedway for the second time this season. Stateline Speedway’s Saturday evening event also fell victim to the weather. Potomac Speedway was closed last week and Tyler County Speedway competitors were off due to the Tyler County Fair.
There is plenty of Hovis Auto and Truck Supply racing coming up this weekend. Genesee Speedway kicked things off with a special Thursday night of racing action. Friday evening RUSH racing action at Dog Hollow Speedway is paying $1,500 to win. The Hill Speedway, Delaware International Speedway, and Potomac Raceway are also in action on Friday. Saturday evening RUSH racing action will take place at Genesee Speedway, Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway, Skyline Raceway Motorsports Park, and Tyler County Speedway. In addition, Marion Center Raceway will host their first ever RUSH Late Model event Saturday night. The event will pay a minimum of $1,500 to win with possibly up to $2,500 based on car count. Both Eriez and Bradford Speedways will host Sunday evening racing action. The Mike “Mountain Man” Reed Memorial for the RUSH Late Models at Bradford will pay $2,500 to-win!
No RUSH Late Models this weekend at Raceway 7, Stateline Speedway, Winchester Speedway or Woodhull Raceway.
The Hovis Auto and Truck Supply RUSH Sprints were off last weekend, but have a pair of Equipment Rental Options Weekly Series events this weekend. Friday will be at Lernerville Speedway for “Manufacturers Night” presented by MSD Performance with a record amount of more than $14,500 in valuable product giveaways posted. The RUSH Sprint cars will also be in action Saturday night at Sharon Speedway where they will be joined by the RUSH Sportsman Modified division.
Tri-City Raceway will host their first RUSH Sportsman Modified race since August 30, 2020 when Rob Kristyak topped a 25-car field. Sunday's race will pay $1,000 to-win thanks to sponsorship by Turn 4 Toilets, which is owned by former RUSH Mod racer Will Schaffer.
As we continue to work our way through the month of August there is still plenty of RUSH racing action on tap so be sure to visit a speedway near you this weekend and “Feel the RUSH!”
The RUSH Racing Series is brought to you by Hovis Auto & Truck Supply together with Born2Run Lubricants along with the support of Hoosier Tire, Bilstein Shocks, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, Insinger Performance, MSD Performance, Holley Performance Products, FK Rod Ends, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, TBM Brakes, Performance Bodies & Parts, Racing Electronics, Wrisco Industries, Frankland Racing Supply, Landrum Performance Spring, Ontime Body & Graphic, Sherwood Wheels, Alternative Power Sources, Precise Racing Products, Lincoln Electric, Velocita-USA, Waterstone Mortgage Hermitage, Wedge Motorsports, 3C Graphix, D&V Jewelers, DrumPreserve, CrateInsider.com, Marthinsen & Salvitti Insurance Group and Terry Bowser Excavating.
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 Racing Series website is www.rushracingseries.com. Like our Facebook page and Twitter pages by searching for each individual RUSH Series.
Article Credit: Marcie Barlow
