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BIGGEST CRATE LATE MODEL RACE IN THE HISTORY OF PPMS, PLUS SPRINTS, UP NEXT

 

Imperial, PA (August 31, 2016)  Racing action continues on Saturday, September 3, highlighted by the running of the biggest crate late model race in the history of Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway.  The 27th Annual Jook George Steel City Fall Classic for RUSH Late Models will run a distance of 40 green flag racing laps.  The winner will earn in excess of $4,000, as efforts to obtain additional sponsorship for the event are still ongoing.  Up to 32 cars will start the event which will feature a total payoff of over $20,000 and at least $200 to make the starting field.

Saturday’s blockbuster event will also see the return of the winged 410 sprint cars, the fastest cars on dirt, for the running of the Falconi’s Moon Township Automotive “Sprint Monster.”  $2,000 will go to the winner of the 20 lap event, paying at least $200 to each starter.

Also on Saturday’s card will be point racing for the Sunoco Race Fuels Sportsman, Miley BP Car Wash Hobby Stocks, and Imperial Heights Garage Young Guns.  The Jook George event will also count towards the Precise Racing Products sponsored point chase.  The RUSH Modifieds will return for another visit, as will the open Four Cylinders.

Saturday night is also “Toys for the Kids Night,” which is a special part of the Jook George Classic.  “We have a lot of toys coming!” said Dana George.  “I don't have an exact count yet, it is in the range of 100 to 150.  Some of the toys are gift cards such as iTunes, Game Stop, Toys R Us, and Xbox.  Other toys are selfie sticks, Disney watch, arts and craft set, soccer balls, footballs, Barbie dolls, Blue Tooth speakers, ear buds, electronic drum sticks, remote control cars, Star Wars figurines, stuffed animals, and many more!  Last but not least, Charlier Racing is donating two bicycles, and the George family is donating two bicycles as well.”

A strong field of cars is expected for the Jook George Steel City Fall Classic, all in search of the added prize money.  The weekly competitors will feel a challenge from competitors from the surrounding area tracks.  Branden Lockwich and driver Ben Policz are continuing their efforts to raise the payoff through additional sponsorships.  Everything that is collected will go into the purse.  If any individual or team would like to contribute to this event, please contact Brandon at blockwich@gmail.com or if they are at the track, they can see Ben in the pits.

Bill Yakin won the inaugural Jook George Classic in 1990, and backed it up with wins in 1991 and 1993.  Mike Johnson won the event in 1992, with the 1994 victory going to Rich Curry.  Mel Minnick, Jr. was the 1995 winner, foillowed by Jasson Cisson in 1996.  Dave Wade captured the first of his three wins in the annual event in 1997, also in 1998 and 2000, with Jim Stephans winning the 1999 running.  The first part of the 2000 decade had different winners each year, with victories going to Brian Laraway in 2001, Gary Cellone in 2002, Bobby Castlevetter in 2003, Pete Loria in 2004, Brandon Burgoon in 2005, and Tommy Schirnhofer in 2006.  Kyle Lukon backed up his 2007 win with one in 2012.  Mike Pegher, Jr. has three wins in the event, in 2008, 2009, and 2011.  Dan Angelicchio won the 2010 race, as Daryl Charlier won in 2014.  Defending race champion Colton Flinner also won the 2013 event.

The point racing season will end on Saturday, September 10 on Diehl Automotive Night featuring Driver Autographs.  Track champions will be crowned for the Precise Racing Products RUSH Late Models, Miley BP Car Wash Hobby Stocks, and Imperial Heights Garage Young Guns.  The Sportsman teams will compete in the inaugural Willie White Memorial, which will pay $2055 to the winner.  This will be a sanctioned non-points race for the Penn Ohio Pro Stocks.  The open Four Cylinders will also be in competition.

Three additional Saturday night race nights have been added to the schedule.  September 17, September 24, and October 1 will be the dates, and each of these nights will feature a $1,000 to win feature for the RUSH Late Models.  The Sportsman division will be in competition each night using Penn Ohio Pro Stock rules.  The Open Hobby Stocks will be on the card, with the rules adjusted to let other area drivers compete.  Also on the card will be the Young Guns and Open Four Cylinders on all three race nights.  The RUSH Modifieds will be in competition on September 24 and October 1.  For the RUSH Late Models and Sportsman, these three dates have been dubbed as “Mini Chase Races,” as the highest point car from the three nights of racing that does not qualify for the season ending event on October 8 will be added to the starting field.  Super Late Model teams are welcome to attend any of the September or October events to use these nights as practice sessions.

The Super Late Models will return to end the 2016 season on Friday and Saturday, October 7 and 8, with the running of the 28th Annual Pittsburgher 100.  Highlighting Saturday’s card will be the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, as the 100 lap race will pay $20,000 to the winner.  Last year’s event was voted as the fourth best race in the country by the website Dirt on Dirt, and this year’s edition should be even better.  A Sweeney Chevrolet RUSH Dirt Late Model Touring Series Marquee event, and the Sportsman/Pro Stock Showdown will send the 2016 racing season out in style.  Feature events will run on Saturday’s card, with preliminary events on the Friday night card.

“We added the three extra racing nights to the end of the season because of all of the rainouts that we had this season,” said Matt Miley of Miley Motor Sports, the family that owns and operate the speedway.  “The 2017 racing season is currently in the planning stages.  There are no pending agreements in place that will curtail racing at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway in 2017.  Miley Motor Sports plans on returning for Season 29,” he concluded.

When Michael Norris won last Saturday’s Red Miley Rumble, it ended the Diehl Automotive Super Late Model point season with Brandon Burgoon earning his second point championship.  Two nights of point racing remain for the other classes.  John Mollick’s fifth win of the season last Saturday along with the trouble encountered by Daryl Charlier gave Mollick a three point lead over Charlier in the Precise Racing Products RUSH Late Models.  Dave McManus now has a commanding 40 point lead in the Sunoco Race Fuels Sportsman division.  In the Miley BP Car Wash Hobby Stock division, Dale Tuche leads Casey Grumling by four points.  Ben Anton earned his first career feature win on Saturday night, but trails Michael Jackson in the Imperial Heights Garage Young Guns by 11 points.

Drivers in the RUSH Late Model and Sportsman divisions are eligible to win five gallons of racing fuel each week.  Two drivers are drawn to win each week, one from each division, as every race team that purchases at least five gallons of fuel at the track is automatically eligible to win.  On August 20, the drivers that won the free fuel, thanks to Bazell Racing Fuels, were also fortunate enough to win their feature races, John Mollick and Jake Simmons respectively.

For Saturday night’s racing program, the gates will open at 5:00, with warm-ups at 6:00 and racing at 7:00.  Keep an eye on all developments during race nights on the track’s Twitter account at @PAMotorSpeedway including starting and finishing race lineups.  The track is located west of the city of Pittsburgh, just south of the Noblestown exit of U.S. Route 22, or 170 Kelso Road in Imperial, PA, for GPS purposes.  The track phone is 724-695-3363 on race days, or call 412-279-RACE.  For complete information please visit the track website at www.ppms.com .

Upcoming Events:

Saturday, September 3 – Falconi’s Moon Township Automotive Sprint Monster for Winged 410 Sprints and the 27th Annual Jook George Steel City Fall Classic for the Precise Racing Products RUSH Late Models.  “Toys for the Kids Night” with RUSH Modifieds, plus the Sunoco Race Fuels Sportsman, Miley BP Car Wash Hobby Stocks, Imperial Heights Garage Young Guns, and open Four Cylinders.

Saturday, September 10 – Diehl Automotive Night with Driver Autographs.  The final night for points featuring the Willie White Memorial for Sunoco Race Fuels Sportsman, $2055 to win unsanctioned race for the Penn Ohio Pro Stocks.  Plus Precise Racing Products RUSH Late Models, Miley BP Car Wash Hobby Stocks, and Imperial Heights Garage Young Guns.  Plus Open Four Cylinders.

Saturday, September 17 – Mini Chase Race, $1,000 to win RUSH Late Models, Sportsman using Penn Ohio Pro Stock rules, Open Hobby Stocks, Young Guns, and Open Four Cylinders.

Saturday, September 24 – Mini Chase Race, $1,000 to win RUSH Late Models, Sportsman using Penn Ohio Pro Stock rules, Open Hobby Stocks, Young Guns, and Open Four Cylinders, plus RUSH Modifieds.

Saturday, October 1 – Mini Chase Race, $1,000 to win RUSH Late Models, Sportsman using Penn Ohio Pro Stock rules, Open Hobby Stocks, Young Guns, and Open Four Cylinders, plus RUSH Modifieds.

Friday, October 7 – Qualifying events for the 28th Annual Pittsburgher 100 featuring the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, Sweeney Chevrolet RUSH Dirt Late Model Touring Series Marquee event, and the Sportsman/Pro Stock Showdown.

Saturday, October 8 – The 28th Annual Pittsburgher 100 featuring the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, Sweeney Chevrolet RUSH Dirt Late Model Touring Series Marquee event, and the Sportsman/Pro Stock Showdown.

 

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