By JIM ZUFALL & MIKE LEONE
PULASKI, PA – It was a busy week around the region for the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Racing Series powered by Pace Performance as midweek racing took place on both Wednesday and Thursday leading up to weekend action. Mother Nature was nice again as all scheduled events were completed. Three drivers picked up their first RUSH Late Model wins, while history was made in RUSH Sportsman Modified action.
On Wednesday, it was a RUSH doubleheader with Late Models and the Sportsman Modified Touring Series were part of the 170th annual Trumbull County Fair at Expo Speedway in Cortland, Ohio. In the Late Models, John Waters made the 225-mile trek from his home in Whitesville, NY pay off as he was able to take the win from the pole over a quality field of cars for the $1,500 victory- his fourth overall in 2016 RUSH competition.
Waters, who held off the likes of Bryce Davis, Will Thomas III, Jason Knowles and Alan Dellinger, was lamenting the bad luck he’s had lately in victory lane. “The guys did a great job on the track with what they had to work with, with this weather,” stated the 35-year-old winner. “This is the third time I’ve been here and I was nervous. We haven’t had any luck before between motor problems and hitting a yuke tire. I guess we got the bad luck out of the way as we had a flat tire on the hauler coming here, which got us here late.”
Quite a bit of history was made at Expo as Chelsie Kriegisch became the first female to win a race in the three-year history of the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds, the first female to win at Expo in the 46 years of its existence, and first to win a tour race in the 10-year history of crate engine racing in the Northeast! Kriegisch led all 15 laps of the feature event on the big 5/8-mile besting the likes of Kole Holden, Brandon Ritchey, Jeremy Weaver and Kyle Martell.
There was quite a celebration in victory lane when it was all settled. “This is incredible and I’m speechless right now,” expressed the 22-year-old Ellwood City driver. “My dad (Randy Kriegisch) and Darin Gallagher set the car up for me tonight- I can’t thank them enough, and if it wasn’t for my car owner Jerry Schaffer I wouldn’t be here. I also have to thank my sponsors and the guys that help week in and week out.”
Thursday at the McKean County Raceway in East Smethport, Pa., the RUSH Late Models saw Eric Wilson and Damian Bidwell on the front row to start the feature event. Throughout the race, which was full of fireworks, lead changes, cautions and even some trackside discipline, it was Wilson who came out victorious for the second time. Paul Grigsby, Breyton Santee, Damian Bidwell and Max Blair. The RUSH Late Models return on July 28 for the “Ron Baker Memorial”.
Normally a Saturday night track, Genesee Speedway held a special $1,000 to win race for the RUSH Late Models last Thursday as part of their fair. It was L&L Transmissions Night at the speedway and L&L-sponsored Dave DuBois delivered for his sponsor in more ways than one, picking up the RUSH Late Model feature as well as the “360” Late Model race. DuBois, who started in the 10th spot, was up to second by the second lap. After several laps of pressure from JJ Mazur, Charlie Sandercock moved to the runner-up spot when Mazur slipped up over the cushion and fell to third. DuBois held on for his third win in the past five weeks. Sandercock, Mazur, Jimmy Johnson, Brad Mesler and Val Stephens made up the top six; however, at post race inspection, Sandercock was disqualified for an illegal tire, moving every other driver behind DuBois up a spot. Racing returns to Genesee Speedway this Saturday (July 23)
The RUSH Late Model Touring Series made another stop that was off the regular weekly track circuit when they visited Ransomville Speedway on Friday as race teams from three states and a Canadian province made their way to the western New York track known for Modified racing. The red hot Bryce Davis used his pole position earned with the win in the K&N Dash, to control the race from beginning to end, but it wasn’t that easy. A number of early caution periods and plenty of challenges for the lead and racing behind him was the theme of the race. After the final caution period with 10 laps to go, it was green to checkered to the end with Davis stretching out his lead to nearly three seconds over John Waters, Wayne Robertson, Rob Pietz and Mike Wonderling.
Friday night New York tracks, Freedom Motorsports Park and Outlaw Speedway, both gave the RUSH Late Models the night off due to the Sweeney Tour race at Ransomville last Friday, but will both have them on the card this Friday night.
Friday night in Spring Run, Pa., the RUSH Late Models returned to action at Path Valley Speedway for Fan Appreciation and Driver Autograph Night. Brad McGinnis took the victory for the third time in six tries this season. Virginia’s Logan Roberson made the trip up and placed second over Tim Fedder, Kris Eaton and Jennae Piper. The RUSH Late Models return to action next at the 1/4-mile on July 29.
Just one week after the doubleheader of the RUSH Late Models and Sportsman Modifieds, they were back again for a repeat performance. And once again when the checkered flag fell over the Late Models, it was Jammin’ John Mollick standing in victory lane at the end of 20 laps for his third win in the last five races. Mollick started from the front row and stayed there to the end, taking the Stan’s Transmission #60M to victory lane. A hard charging Daryl Charlier had to settle for second with Steve Beatty, Ben Policz and last week’s winner Justin Lamb in tow.
For the second week in a row, the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds visited the “Monster Half-Mile”. In his first ever start at the track, Chas Wolbert scored the victory over last week’s winner, Nick Ritchey. Brian Schaffer, Kole Holden and Chelsie Kriegisch, who was fresh off her win at Expo on Wednesday, were third through fifth. The RUSH Sportsman Modifieds will return to PPMS twice more this season (August 13 and September 3), while regular racing action returns this Saturday night featuring the Laurel Highlands Sprint Series in action.
Speaking of the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds, they’ll be back at Lernerville Speedway this Friday night for a Bicknell Weekly Series event and then return to Sharon Speedway on Saturday night after two weeks off.
The RUSH Late Models took to Busti, New York’s Stateline Speedway on Saturday and the action at the front of the feature was quite exciting. Damian Bidwell and Dave Lyon raced away from a first lap skirmish from their front row starting spots. At the drop of the green for the second try at a start, Bidwell and Lyon challenged each other for the top spot, but Lyon crossed the start finish to lead lap one. From there it was a battle for a time between the two. By halfway, Lyon had stretched out his lead over Bidwell, who had Darrell Bossard moving in behind him to challenge for second. Bossard did catch and pass Bidwell then made a charge for the lead, but came up a bit short as the #14L of Dave Lyon took his season’s first win with Bossard, Bidwell, Jason Genco and Scott Gurdak falling in behind.
The RUSH Pro Mods were also in action Saturday night at Stateline, where a dozen cars lined up for the feature race. Justin Carlson, looking for his fourth win of the season started on the pole and held that spot to the end. With one lap to go, Josh Ferry spun out of his fourth place spot, setting up a one lap dash where Carlson was able to hold on for the win. After Carlson, it was Frederes, Gurdak, Jason Covey and Bill Silvis. After a special Thursday night tribute to the 60th anniversary of the original owners of the speedway, Stateline returns to regular racing this Saturday.
Saturday night at Wayne County Speedway in Orrville, Ohio, Charlie Duncan came into the feature event with a heat race win already under his belt. In the feature, however he would not fare so well. Duncan got caught up in a lap six crash that involved three other cars, giving the lead to point leader Justin Chance. The lead didn’t last long for Chance either as Wooster, Ohio’s Matt Aber got side-by-side with Chance and put a great slide job on Chance for the lead and would go on for his first career RUSH win. After Chance had a tire start to go down, Mitch Basich took the second spot. Chance stayed on the podium for third with Alan Dellinger and Josh Stoica making the top five. The RUSH Late Models will be off this Saturday, but will return to racing at WCS on Saturday, July 30.
At New York’s Fulton Speedway, Billy Eisele looked like he would capture his first win in the RUSH Late Model feature event. Coming off his heat race win, Eisele started in the third position behind Dave Talbot and Steve Coit. Eisele took the lead at the fifth lap with plenty of action for position going on just behind him. With five to go Eisele was in control when the caution flew, erasing his lead. The final five laps were as action packed as you’d want them to be with Eisele running up high and Chris Fleming finding what he needed in the low groove to take his third win. Eisele settled for second with Bret Belden, AJ Kingsley and Kevan Cook rounding out the top five. RUSH Late Model racing returns to Fulton this Saturday night.
Sunday’s action included Dennis Lunger Jr. continuing his dominance in the RUSH Late Model ranks at Humberstone Speedway. Lunger took an early lead from John McIntire on the second circuit. Through a series of cautions and one red flag, Lunger was able to hold off the challenges of Rob Pietz and pull away for his second straight win and fourth of the season. Pietz settled for runner up with Tim Gillespie, Travis Martineau and Colton Ledingham rounding out the top five. RUSH Late Model racing returns to the Port Colborne Ontario speedway on Sunday, July 31.
The RUSH Late Models were led to the green flag at the Old Bradford Speedway on Sunday night by Brian Haggerty and newcomer W.L. Stile. Stile, who won his heat race, would lead lap one, but relinquished the lead on lap two to Andy Michael. Michael would lead the rest of the way to the checkers to pick up his first win on the season. He was followed by eighth starting and current point leader Damian Bidwell, with Mikey Wonderling, Brad Mesler, and Stile rounding out the top five.
It was win number five for Max Blair on Sunday night at Eriez Speedway. Jason Genco and Kyle Zimmerman started on the front row of the RUSH Crate Late Model feature event. In the early going, with Genco up front, a three-way battle for second was brewing. Blair, Matt Latta and Zimmerman were hard at it for a few laps when Blair came out of the tussle to capture second on lap six. By the 10th circuit, Blair was putting on the pressure to take the top spot from Genco and two laps later was solidly in the lead. With plenty of action, wrecks and spins going on behind him, Blair held on for the win over Genco, Zimmerman, Andy Boozel, and Mike Knight. The Sweeney Touring Series will have top billing this Sunday at Eriez.
After a week off, the RUSH Late Models resume action this Saturday night at Winchester Speedway, which sister speedway, Potomac, will host the RUSH Late Models next on Friday, July 29.
Current RUSH Late Model point leaders are Bryce Davis (Tour), Damian Bidwell (Weekly), Brad McGinnis (Summer Chase), Kris Eaton (Bilstein Bandits), and Wyatt Scott (Futures Cup).
Current RUSH Sportsman Modified point leaders are Brian Schaffer (Weekly), Chas Wolbert (Tour), and Kyle Martell (Futures Cup).
Current RUSH Pro Mod point leaders are Kelly Frederes (Weekly) and Brian Mohawk (Futures Cup), while Corey McPherson leads the Sweeney RUSH Pro Stock Weekly Series points.
RUSH Late Model marketing partners include Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC, Pace Performance, Hoosier Tire, Bilstein Shocks, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, Insinger Performance, MSD Performance, Maxima Racing Oil, Jones Racing Products, Alternative Power Sources, Precise Racing Products, ARbodies, TBM Brakes, K&N Filters, Lincoln Electric, FK Rod Ends, Velocita-USA, Classic Ink USA, Rocket Chassis, Bobby Lake Motorsports High Gear Speed Shop, CrateInsider.com, B.R.A.K.E.S., RockAuto.com, and Valley Fashions.
RUSH Sportsman Modified marketing partners: Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC, Bicknell Racing Products, Pace Performance, Hoosier Tire, Bilstein Shocks, Sunoco Race Fuels, MSD Ignition, Maxima Racing Oil, Jones Racing Products, FK Rod Ends, Sherwood Racing Wheels, Velocita-USA, Precise Racing Products, Alternative Power Sources, K&N Filters, TBM Brakes, Lincoln Electric, CrateInsider.com, Rocket Racing, and B.R.A.K.E.S.
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 and fax is 724-964-0604. The RUSH Racing Series website is www.rushracingseries.com. Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/rushlatemodels and follow us on Twitter @RUSHLM.
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