9/30/2021
RUSH Late Model Series
KYLE HARDY EARNS HIS 1ST NATIONAL WEEKLY SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP; CAREER 1ST WIN FOR BILL KESSLER COMES AT PPMS WHILE CHELSIE KRIEGISCH WINS RUSH MODS TO
KYLE HARDY EARNS HIS 1ST PACE RUSH LATE MODEL NATIONAL WEEKLY SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP; CAREER 1ST WIN FOR BILL KESSLER COMES AT PPMS WHILE CHELSIE KRIEGISCH WINS RUSH MODS TO BECOME 1ST FEMALE RUSH TRACK CHAMPION
By Marcie Barlow
September 30, 2021 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Pulaski, PA)...The 2021 racing season is entering the homestretch; however this past weekend’s Pace Performance RUSH Racing Series together with Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC action featured side-by-side racing which saw third generation competitor Bill Kessler capture his first career feature victory. Chelsie Kriegisch also made history by becoming the first female to win a RUSH track champion following her win in the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds. Levi Crowl also tallied win number six in RUSH Late Model action at Winchester Speedway, while John Waters ended his more than year Touring Series winless drought. Congrats to Kyle Hardy on winning the $5,000 National Weekly Series Championship in his first year of RUSH Late Model racing.
The Kessler name is very well known and respected in western Pennsylvania as many long time race fans remember when Pappy Kessler’s Auction Barn sponsored #09 cars that dominated racing action in the tri-state area. This past Saturday at Pittsburgh's PA Motor Speedway, another member of the Kessler Family put his name in the record book as Bill Kessler captured his first ever feature victory. The first 18 laps of the event were caution-free with Kessler taking control at the start with standout Kyle Lukon in second. Kessler was able to keep a comfortable distance between himself and Lukon until a caution on lap 18 slowed the field. The restart gave Lukon the opportunity he needed; however, he was unable to capitalize on it. Kessler, who chose the inside lane on the restart was able to pull away and score the popular victory. Kessler became the amazing 11th different winner in 17 races this season at PPMS and third to score his first career win! Lukon held on for the runner-up spot with Logan Zarin, Colton Flinner and Nico Dabecco completing the top five.
An earlier than expected finish to her work day and a dedicated father, who installed a borrowed transmission in her ride, meant that Chelsie Kriegisch made a late day decision to head to Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway. This decision certainly paid off for Chelsie as she scored the victory in RUSH Sportsman Modified Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Weekly Series action. Kriegisch led the entire distance of the 18-lap main event to claim the win, which was the 200th race all-time for the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds. Jacob Jordan and Cole Edwards recorded their career best finishes in second and third beating Kole Holden. It was Kreigisch's second career PPMS win, but first in more than three years and her third overall in RUSH Sportsman Modified competition. The victory also clinched the divisional championship for Kriegisch at the speedway, making her the first female to win a RUSH track championship.
Pace Performance RUSH Late Model action at Winchester Speedway on Saturday saw Levi Crowl take the lead at the start of the main event before the caution flag waved forcing a complete restart. When the action resumed Crowl once again pulled away from his fellow competitors and built up a full straightaway lead by lap six. Crowl entered lapped traffic on lap 10 which gave Travis Campbell the opportunity he needed to close the gap on Crowl. The caution flag would wave again on lap 15 as a rain shower moved in. After a slight delay the rain ended and the racing action resumed with Crowl out front and Jeremy Pinkerton in second. Several late race cautions would slow the field in the final 10 circuits; however, Pinkerton was unable to capitalize on them and Crowl went on to score his sixth win of the season on the RUSH circuit. The $1,200 victory also clinched the $1,000 RUSH “Track Pack” Championship for Crowl. Pinkerton came home in second with Campbell in third. James Lichliter and Josh Williams rounded out the top five. A strong field of 21 cars were on hand.
The RUSH Late Model Flynn's Tire - Born2Run Lubricants Touring Series and RUSH Sprint Cars were scheduled for two nights of competition last Friday and Saturday at Genesee Speedway; however, Mother Nature ended the 2021 season a bit prematurely at the Batavia, NY track as rain washed out night two of the "Topless Nationals" as heat race action was getting underway.
Friday night was another thriller for the Late Model Tour as John Waters out-dueled Joe Martin and Jeremy Wonderling to end more than a three-year Tour winless drought. Waters earned $2,000 for his first victory of 2021 and became the seventh different Tour winner of 2021. Michael Duritsky, Jr. came back from a flat tire to finish fourth. Jimmy Johnson was fifth for the second straight Genesee Tour race and also was able to earn the $1,000 "Track Pack" Championship.
The RUSH Sprint Cars meanwhile competed in their richest event of the season and it was Chad Ruhlman making a last lap pass of Gale Ruth, Jr. Ruhlman's $1,000 victory was his eighth of the season and moved him to within three points of Ruth for the $5,000 to-win Equipment Rental Options Weekly Series Championship. Ruhlman has now won all four RUSH Sprint races held at Genesee in the four-year history. Ryan Fraley matched his career best Sprint Car finish in third. Blaze Myers was fourth over Steve Pedley, who was subbing for Rod George.
After Duritsky set fast time over what would have been a record Genesee RUSH Late Model Tour field of 30 competitors, the rain set in that would eventually wash out the show. During the afternoon, the drawings for the annual Traveling "Manufacturers Night" presented by MSD Performance took place. Competing drivers that were in the top 15 in track points at Genesee, Fulton, and Woodhull were eligible for the more than $13,000 in product giveaways. Each driver ended up receiving a prize package valued at a minimum of $441. Several drivers took home multiple prizes including Genesee regular Dave DuBois, who was the big winner. DuBois was the lucky recipient of the two top prizes; the Lincoln Electric Multi-Purpose Welder and utility card along with a Velocita-USA Team Drivers Suit with a total value of $1,875! The complete winners list is posted below.
The Traveling "Manufacturers Night" will return to the Mid-Atlantic region in 2022. Thank you to the following product contributors on Saturday night: East Coast Speed, FK Rod Ends, Frankland Racing Supply, Hoosier Tire Distributors, Insinger Performance, Landrum Performance Spring, Lincoln Electric, MSD Performance, Performance Bodies, Precise Racing Products, Racing Electronics, Schoenfeld Headers, Ontime Body & Graphic, Sunoco, Velocita-USA, TBM Brakes, WraptileShop.com, and Wrisco Industries.
With September now closed out, Kyle Hardy captured the $5,000 Pace Performance National Weekly Series Championship in his first year of RUSH Late Model racing. The Linden, Virginia driver had 16 victories to beat out defending champion Jeremy Wonderling by just one-point. Hardy now sets his sights on the $12,000 to-win Flynn's Tire/Born2Run Lubricants Touring Series Championship with three events remaining.
The other Late Model championship that was finalized was the "Futures Cup". Eighteen-year-old Kassidy Kamicker of Aliquippa, Pa. captured the $500 crown thanks to seven top 10 finishes at Pittsburgh, where she's also third in RUSH "Track Pack" points with three events remaining. Last year in her rookie season, Kamicker earned the $300 "Wheelman" Bonus Event Challenge Series title. Rookies Logan Jaquay and Zach Crawford finished second and third in the "Futures Cup" points.
This weekend’s Pace Performance RUSH racing action is highlighted by Flynn’s Tire/Born2Run Lubricants Late Model Touring Series action at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway on both Friday and Saturday. The "Bill Hendren Memorial" presented by FK Rod Ends in conjunction with Pro Fab will pay $3,000 to win, $275 to-start both nights. The fourth annual “One to Remember” Non-Winners event presented by Hendren Racing Engines and CrateInsider.com will take place on Friday with $1,200 going to the winner. There will also be a $500 to-win Non-Qualifier event at the end of Saturday night's program.
Pace Performance RUSH Late Model action is also scheduled at Fulton Speedway Friday evening with the "Brian Dolbear Tribute" paying $1,200 to-win for the New York track's final show of 2021 that will end their RUSH "Track Pack" points. Chad Homan currently leads the points.
Pace Performance RUSH Pro Mod action is on tap at McKean County Raceway on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The $700 to-win feature event originally scheduled for August 20 is on the Thursday racing card. Friday’s Pro Mod event pays a record $2,500 to win, while Saturday’s feature event will pay $500 to win. This will close out the Weekly Series Championship points. The Pace Performance RUSH Late Models will also be in action at McKean County on Friday ($2,500) and Saturday ($1,000). This will close out the 2021 season at McKean and determine the RUSH Late Model "Track Pack" $1,000 champion and top six in points.
Delaware International Speedway will have their annual Camp Barnes event as the RUSH Late Models will be chasing after $1,949 to win! Potomac Speedway will have their final point event for the RUSH Late Models on Saturday evening. Jeremy Pilkerton currently leads the $1,000 RUSH "Track Pack" points.
The Pace Performance RUSH Sprints and Sportsman Modifieds will not be in action this weekend as both classes will close out the season with their final two events on October 9 at Pittsburgh and then October 15-16 at Lernerville Speedway for the "Steel City Stampede".
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
