8/19/2022
RUSH Late Model Series
CAREER 1ST RUSH LATE MODEL WINS FOR MIKE EPLER & LOGAN REED; HUGE WEEKEND FOR JEREMY WONDERLING WITH 3 LM WINS & RUNNER-UP WITH MORE THAN $6000; AYDEN
CAREER 1ST RUSH LATE MODEL WINS FOR MIKE EPLER & LOGAN REED; HUGE WEEKEND FOR JEREMY WONDERLING WITH 3 LM WINS & RUNNER-UP WITH MORE THAN $6000; AYDEN CIPRIANO SWEEPS RUSH MODS WITH 1ST SHARON & TRI-CITY WINS
By Mike Leone
August 19, 2022 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Pulaski, PA)...An action packed second weekend of August saw racing in all five Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Racing Series presented by Born2Run Lubricants classes along with the RUSH Karting Series. Mike Epler and Logan Reed captured their first career RUSH Late Models wins, while Jeremy Wonderling had a huge weekend with three shows and a runner-up in the first ever RUSH race at Marion Center to earn more than $6,000. Ayden Cipriano had a breakout weekend with his first career Sharon and Tri-City wins in the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds. Chad Ruhlman and Ryan Fraley won the RUSH Sprint Car events over big fields of 28 and 24 cars at Lernerville and Sharon respectively. Steve Dixon continued his dominance of the RUSH Pro Mods at Bradford.
The weekend got off to an early start as Genesee Speedway hosted a special Thursday night program with a solid field of 19 RUSH Late Models on hand. Jeremy Wonderling fought his way past his brother Brady with six laps to go to score his fifth victory of the season. Brady Wonderling was second for the second time in three starts at the Batavia, NY fairground oval. Jon Rivers was third over Doug Ricotta and David Pangrazio.
Dog Hollow Speedway had a season high 17 RUSH Late Models turn out on Friday night and it was New York invader Jeremy Wonderling scoring his first career win at the Northern Cambria, Pa. oval. For the second straight night, Jeremy passed his brother Brady for the lead; this time on lap 12 and went on for the $1,500 victory. Jeremy withstood the five-car battle for the lead that included "Track Pack" points leader Michael Duritsky, Jr., two-time Dog Hollow winner Jon Lee, Brady Wonderling, and Ryan Frazee.
The Hill Speedway returned to action on Friday night for the first time in a month and it was Mike Epler scoring his first career RUSH Late Model victory. Epler became the season's fifth different winner. Rich McNeal, who won his first career RUSH Late Model feature at the last event, was second. The Hill's "Track Pack" points leader, Jared Keeney, was third.
Also returning to racing after a month off was Delaware International Speedway on Friday night. Derek Magee picked up his second straight RUSH Late Model victory at the Delmar half-mile oval. Joe Warren was second for his fourth podium in five starts this season to lead the "Track Pack" points. Ben Scott was third ahead of Matt Glanden in his first start of the season. Matt Hill completed the top five.
The third Friday night track that completed their first program since July 15 was Potomac Speedway. The 2021 National Weekly and Touring Series Champion, Kyle Hardy, continued his winning ways at the southern Maryland 1/3-mile oval. Hardy passed race-long leader, Megan Mann, in turn four on the final lap for his third straight win and fifth in seven tries this year at Potomac. Mann was second for the second straight race and her third straight podium effort. Joey Love was fourth. Winchester Speedway regular, Scott Sweeney, Jr., made his first ever appearance and was fifth.
Genesee was right back in action on Saturday night as they were able to complete their 14th RUSH Late Model program of the 2022 season. Jon Rivers was able to end nearly a four-year winless drought to cop the feature victory. Rivers ran down Austin Allen and made the winning pass on lap 12 just prior to the halfway point of the 25-lap feature. Rivers kept Allen at bay to score the popular victory. Allen was second in just his second appearance of the season. Doug Ricotta was third for his 11th top five of the season and remained perfect with all top 10 finishes in his 14 starts. Chad Homan and J.J. Mazur completed the top five.
Pittsburgh's PA Motor Speedway matched Genesee with their 14th RUSH Late Model event of the season on Saturday night. Cole Petrelle captured his second feature win of the season. Petrelle passed Shaffer on lap six and went on for the caution-free victory- the third of his career at the "Monster Half-Mile". Shaffer was second for his ninth top five in 11 starts as he's yet to finish worse than seventh in any race this season. Kassidy Kamicker was a season best third over Dave Goble. Philip Bubeck, who leads both the "Track Pack" and "Futures Cup" points, was fifth.
Alan Chapman scored his third RUSH Late Model victory of the season at Skyline Raceway Motorsports Park on Saturday night with all three coming since June 18 as he continues to lead the $1,000 to-win "Track Pack" points. Brother Todd Chapman was third. Billy DuBois was third in his first appearance at Skyline. Patrick Parker was fourth as another newcomer to Skyline, Bill Button, completed the top five.
For the second straight week there was a new winner at Tyler County Speedway. This time it was Logan Reed becoming the sixth different winner of the season with his first career RUSH Late Model win. A.J. Spagnuola was second. Donnie Dotson's third was his 10th podium in 11 races this year to lead the $2,000 to-win "Track Pack" points. "Futures Cup" racer, Ryan Hare, was fourth for the second straight week. Garret Paugh completed the top five with his first appearance since April 23.
Marion Center Speedway hosted their first ever RUSH Late Model event on Saturday night. With 16 cars on hand for the Snyder/Martz Memorial, the Hovis Weekly Series special paid $2,000 to-win and it was Josh Ferry capturing his fourth overall win of the season all coming at different tracks. Though he was unable to win his third straight race of the week, Jeremy Wonderling came home second and picked up a $300 bonus for being the highest finisher that competed at Dog Hollow the night before and another $100 bonus because Joe Martin failed to win from 10th bringing his feature winnings to $1,300. Mike Wonderling, Jimmy Johnson, and Jon Lee were third through fifth.
Jeremy Wonderling completed his four-race swing at Bradford Speedway on Sunday night by picking up his third win in four nights! The $2,500 Hovis Weekly Series special pushed Wonderling's four-night winnings to more than $6,000! Wonderling's third Bradford win of the season maintained his "Track Pack" lead at the northern Pa. 1/4-mile bullring and was his ninth overall in RUSH competition to keep him in the hunt for the National Weekly Series Championship. Brady Wonderling was second as he's finished no worse than runner-up in his three Bradford starts this season. Mike Wonderling recorded his best Bradford finish of the season in third giving the Wonderling brothers a sweep of the podium, which is a first in the history of RUSH! Steve Dixon was fourth over Kurt Stebbins.
After a fourth place finish in the RUSH Late Models, Steve Dixon continued his dominance of the RUSH Pro Mods at Bradford winning for the seventh time in eight races! "Futures Cup" points leader, Zain Harvey, continued his impressive first season with his second straight runner-up finish and his sixth podium finish on the Hovis Weekly Series circuit. Harvey sits third in the Hovis Weekly Series standings. Adam Ashcroft and Tyler Oakes completed the top five at Bradford.
A good field of 18 RUSH Late Models turned out at Eriez Speedway on Sunday night, which was their highest car count for a Weekly Series event this season. Jason Genco won for the second straight week and fifth time of the season. Genco's seventh overall RUSH win of the season allowed him to maintain the lead in the National Weekly Series standings. Matt Sipes and Dennis Lunger, Jr. were second and third for their best finishes of the season. Khole Wanzer was fourth for the third time this season matching his best finish. Billy Henry, Jr. completed the top five.
The Hovis RUSH Sprint Cars kicked off a doubleheader weekend of Equipment Rental Options Weekly Series events on Friday night part of the "Sprint Spectacular" once again. A record field of 28 cars turned out for the fifth annual "Manufacturers Night" presented by MSD Performance. Also, a record $14,500 in product giveaways were distributed to the racers. Three-time Series Champion, Chad Ruhlman, put a slider on John Mollick on lap 14, and drove away for his first Lernerville win of the season and fifth overall. After passing Arnie Kent to win his heat race, Tyler Newhart turned in an excellent run with a career best second. Mollick, who won the last event at Lernerville on July 22, came back for third after sliding off the track. Kent was fourth. A.J. MacQuarrie went 12th to fifth. Blaze Myers won the first ever RUSH Sprint Car B main.
The RUSH Sprint Cars moved on to Sharon Speedway on Saturday night where an excellent field of 24 cars turned out. Opening night winner, Ryan Fraley, returned to victory lane for the second time this season. Fraley passed veteran Andy Priest on lap two then kept Blaze Myers and three-time Equipment Rental Options Weekly Series Champion Chad Ruhlman at bay over an intense three-car battle for the win in the finals laps of the 20-lap Terry Bowser Excavating feature. Priest dropped to fourth after leading the opening lap. Brian Hartzell went 18th to fifth!
The Hovis RUSH Sportsman Modifieds opened their two-race weekend on Saturday at Sharon for a Wedge Motorsports "Route 7 Rumble" Series event. Ayden Cipriano drove around race-long leader Tony Tatgenhorst on lap 11 and went on for a popular first career Sharon win in the 20-lap feature. Cipriano became the sixth different winner in seven races this year and fourth driver to earn his first career win at the Hartford, Ohio oval! Easler's runner-up coupled with Kole Holden failing to start the feature due to engine issues, allowed Easler to expand his lead in both the Weekly Series and "Route 7 Rumble" Series Championships. Tatgenhorst dropped to third after leading the first 10 circuits. J.C. Boyer, who won his first career feature on July 30, was fourth for the second straight week. After starting 14th, Rob Kristyak made his way to fifth.
For the first time in two years, the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds competed at Tri-City Raceway Park on Sunday night. Thanks to former racer Will Schaffer, his Turn 4 Toilets business added $600 to the purse with an extra $400 to the winner, $100 for second, and $100 for third. Ayden Cipriano capped off a career best weekend by leading all 20 laps for the $1,000 victory. It was Cipriano's third win after winning his first career RUSH Sportsman Modified race on July 8 at Raceway 7. Fifth starting Easler was second for the second straight night. JC Boyer completed a good weekend in third. Garrett Krummert was fourth over 12th starting Eric Gabany.
After his brother Mike subbed for him at the last event, Tim Laughard returned to prominence in the RUSH Stock Cars at Dog Hollow Speedway last Friday night winning for the fifth time. John Eckenrod was second over Mikael Beaver in his first appearance of the season.
Beaver then went to Eriez Speedway on Sunday where he won for the fourth time and seventh overall of the season in Hovis Weekly Series competition. Points leader Cody Rickard was second.
There were no RUSH Late Models at Raceway 7, Winchester or Woodhull, while Stateline was off.
The RUSH Karting Series was in action on Saturday at Stateline with the following winners: Bexley Smith (Amateur), Jackson Himes (JR-1), and Mike Boardman (Adult).
Friday night will see a $1,000 to-win RUSH Late Model special event at Delaware International Speedway with Hovis Weekly Series action at Raceway 7 and The Hill. On Saturday night, RUSH Late Model Weekly Series action includes Skyline, Stateline, Tyler County, Winchester ($1,000 to-win), and Woodhull. Eriez will headline with RUSH Late Models on Sunday evening. The following tracks are all off this weekend: Bradford, Dog Hollow, Genesee, Pittsburgh, and Potomac.
The RUSH Sportsman Modifieds will be at Raceway 7 on Friday night for a Wedge Motorsports "Route 7 Rumble" Series event with Hovis Weekly Series points on the line as well. The Hovis RUSH Sprint Cars will make their fourth appearance at Knox Raceway on Sunday with $800 to-win in the Equipment Rental Options Weekly Series special. The RUSH Pro Mods and RUSH Stock Cars will be in also be action on Saturday night at Stateline, while the Stocks will then head to Eriez on Sunday.
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: Mike Leone
