5/20/2021
RUSH Late Model Series
CAREER 1ST WIN FOR DAN LEPRO IN PACE RUSH LATE MODELS AT PITTSBURGH; BRIAN KNOWLES HOT IN NY RUSH LM; KEVIN RUHLMAN MAKES A 2021 WINNING DEBUT IN RUSH
CAREER 1ST WIN FOR DAN LEPRO IN PACE RUSH LATE MODELS AT PITTSBURGH; BRIAN KNOWLES HOT IN NY RUSH LM; KEVIN RUHLMAN MAKES A 2021 WINNING DEBUT IN RUSH SPRINTS AT TYLER COUNTY; KRUMMERT STOPS WOLBERT IN RUSH SPORTSMAN MODS
By Marcie Barlow
May 20, 2021 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Pulaski, PA)...After several weeks of dismal weather, the drivers and fans of the Pace Performance RUSH Racing Series together with Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC were welcomed by sunshine, warmer temperatures and lots of exciting RUSH racing action at tracks throughout the entire region.
Dog Hollow Speedway was able to get their first show of the year in Friday evening after losing the first two scheduled events to inclement weather. Ryan Frazee led the first two laps of the Pace Performance RUSH Late Model main event before veteran Joe Martin took command. Martin led the final 18 laps to score the win over Michael Duritsky, Jr., Kyle Smith, Jr., Joe Moyer and Noah Brunell. This Friday the RUSH Late Models will compete in a special event with additional laps and an increased purse. Some $3,200 has been spread throughout the purse with $200 to-start!
Raceway 7 also opened their gates for the first time this past Friday evening. Josh Ferry led the first five circuits of the RUSH Late Model feature before the caution flag waved for an incident involving Cory Sines and Khole Wanzer. When racing action resumed Ferry continued to lead while Matt Latta, Billy Henry, Wanzer and Breyton Santee battled for positions two through five. Ferry weathered several more cautions and picked up his first victory of 2021 and second of his career at the Conneaut, Ohio oval. Latta, Henry, Santee and Joe Long were second through fifth. Racing action at the Conneaut OH oval resumes this Friday with both the RUSH Late Models on the card.
Friday night action at the Potomac Speedway saw Jeremy Pilkerton score his third victory of the season. It was a very emotional win for Pilkerton as his father suffered a heart attack just a week earlier at the speedway and is still hospitalized. Ed Pope, Jr., Megan Mann, Mike Raleigh and Bo Waller in his debut claimed spots two through five. Potomac Speedway is closed this Friday, May 21st. The RUSH Late Models next appearance at the southern Maryland short track will be on June 4.
Racing action at the Georgetown Speedway saw “The Thrill” Matt Hill rim ride his way to victory lane with a great move in turns three and four to overtake Austin Hubbard and claim a very popular $1,000 victory. It was the local racer's first win of 2021. Defending divisional champion Trevor Collins claimed the third spot with Joey Warren and Donald Lingo, Jr. completing the top five. The Pace Performance RUSH Late Models will return to Georgetown Speedway on July 23rd.
Second generation racer Dan Lepro picked up his career first RUSH Late Model victory in action at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway. Lepro, who also was victorious in heat race action, drew the number one pill, which placed him on the pole for the 20-lap feature event. Noah Brunell led the first six circuits before Lepro took command. A late race caution gave Ben Policz, Zach Morrow and Darryl Charlier one last shot at the top spot, but Lepro kept his cool and led the final three laps to garner the win. Policz, Morrow, Charlier and Bill Kessler completed the top five. This Saturday night the RUSH Late Models will return as part of the weekly racing action at PPMS.
New York’s Fulton Speedway completed their second night of racing action with first time visitor Brian Knowles picking up his second overall win of 2021 in Pace Weekly Series action. The 20-lap main event saw Sean Beardsley grab the lead at the start of the main event. Beardsley cruised along in first place while Knowles, Chad Homan, Kevan Cook and Chris Fleming battled for spots two through five. Knowles overtook Beardsley for the top spot on lap 11. By lap 15 Chad Homan had overtaken Beardsley for second and was pressuring Knowles for the lead. At the checkered flag it was Knowles, who captured his first career Fulton win, over Homan, Beardsley, Cook and Fleming. This Saturday night the Fulton Speedway will once again host a four-division program.
Genesee Speedway got their second show of the new season in the books this past weekend. Bill Holmes withstood the late race challenges of defending divisional champion Jimmy Johnson to score his first RUSH Late Model feature win since 2019. Holmes’ daring move on lap 19 in which he split a pair of lapped cars, secured the top spot over Johnson. Steve Dixon, Kurt Stebbins and Paul Grigsby rounded out the top five. The RUSH Late Models will compete in two features this Saturday at the Batavia, NY track as the makeup event from May 1 will be on the card in the final tune-up before the May 29 Flynn's Tire/Born2Run Lubricants Touring Series event.
Delaware International Speedway hosted another weekly event for the Pace Performance RUSH Late Models Saturday night. Matt Hill and Derek Magee battled for the top spot at the start of the main event. Mechanical woes sidelined Magee as Hill appeared headed to victory lane; however, Sparky White has other plans. White methodically ate away at Hill’s lead and grabbed the lead from him as the white flag was waving. At the checkered it was White capturing his first win of 2021 over Hill, Joe Warren, Mike Wharton and David Dill, Jr. Delaware International Speedway’s oval track will be silent this week as the Dragway will be hosting an event.
The New Stateline Speedway and Eriez Speedway hosted the Flynn’s Tire/Born2Run Lubricants RUSH Touring Series this past weekend. Jeremy Wonderling scored a dominating win at Stateline Saturday night in the "Bill Law Memorial" for his first Tour win in nearly two years, while Kyle Hardy collected the win at Eriez in his first appearance. Hardy has now won four of the first five Tour events and leads both the Tour and Weekly Series standings. The Flynn’s Tire/Born2Run Lubricants RUSH Late Model Touring Series is off this weekend.
The RUSH Late Models had the week off at Greg Gunter’s Winchester Speedway and the Woodhull Raceway. RUSH Late Model action at both facilities will resume this Saturday.
Pace Performance RUSH Racing Series fans will be able to get an additional night of racing action in this week as the McKean County Raceway in Smethport, Pa. will open their 2021 season on Thursday night (May 20). The RUSH Late Models and RUSH Pro Mods will compete as part of the six-division card.
The Hill Speedway in Monroeton, Pa. will begin their inaugural season under the Pace Performance RUSH sanction this Friday ( May 21). Meanwhile, Bradford Speedway will kick off their season on Sunday (May 23) with both the Pace RUSH Late Models and Pro Mods slated for action.
The Pace Performance RUSH Stock Car Division will be in action weekly at the Dog Hollow Speedway on Fridays as well as at the Stateline Speedway on Saturday nights and the Eriez Speedway on Sunday evenings. The division made its debut at Dog Hollow this past weekend with Jeremy Zufall scoring the win over Tanner Ramsey and Bob Torquato.
The RUSH Sprint Car Series ventured to the Tyler County Speedway in Middlebourne, WV on Saturday for the second and final time of the season. New Yorker Kevin Ruhlman mastered the high banks of the “Bullring” to score his career first Series victory. Gale Ruth Jr., who won on opening night, Nolan Groves, Andy Feil, and Chad Ruhlman rounded out the top five. The next event for the Equipment Rental Options Weekly Series Championship will take place this Saturday at the Sharon Speedway for $800 to-win as the RUSH Sprint Cars will join the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Sprint Cars for a night of open wheel racing action.
Pace Performance RUSH Sportsman Modified action this past weekend found Chas Wolbert and Garrett Krummert continuing their winning ways part of the Wedge Motorsports "Route 7 Rumble" Series. Friday night at Raceway 7 Wolbert picked up his third win of the 2021 season in Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Weekly Series competition over Kole Holden, Rob Kristyak, Preston Cope and Brandon Ritchey. Krummert was able to stop Wolbert’s winning streak on Saturday at Sharon as he picked up his first divisional win of the young season. Krummert, who started seventh, took control on lap five and cruised to a nine second victory over Wolbert. Kristyak, Jacob Wolfe and Justin Shea completed the top five.
Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway will host the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds this Saturday for the first of nine appearances at the "Monster Half-Mile".
The Pace Performance RUSH Pro Mods were only able to race once at Stateline in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions; however, have already completed two events in the early 2021 season. Dennis Lunger, Jr. is now two-for-two beating a record 27-car field on May 1 and topped a 22-car field last Saturday night. Prior to this year, the all-time high car count for the division was 16 back in 2019! Al Brewer and Adam Ashcroft have traded second and third place both weeks. Scott Gurdak made his season debut on Saturday and was fourth as veteran Greg Johnson completed the top five.
RUSH Karting Series action continued on Saturday at Stateline. Congratulations to the following divisional winners: Junior #1 – Ryan Chase; Junior #2 – Chase Rickard and Adults – Mike Freeman.
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, 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 Racing Series website is www.rushracingseries.com. Like our various Facebook page and Twitter accounts by searching for the appropriate divisions.
Article Credit: Marcie Barlow
Submitted By: Mike Leone
