Sweeney RUSH LM & Sportsman Mod May 31 weekend recap

FIRST SWEENEY RUSH LATE MODEL WINS FOR WATERS & HALL AT FREEDOM; SANDER(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word) CONTINUES TO WIN ON BILSTEIN SHOCKS; KUGEL STOPS MARTIN IN RUSH MODS
By Jim Zufall

May 31, 2015 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Pulaski, PA)… Once again the weather played a part in the weekend for the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Dirt Late Model and Sportsman Modified Series family of racetracks. Only four RUSH-sanctioned tracks were able to complete events amongst both series during the wet weekend.

Not every track fell victim to the rain though. Delevan, New York’s Freedom Speedway was able to get in two features for the RUSH Late Models, making up the only race affected by weather two weeks ago. In the May 15, John Waters of Whitesville, NY took the win over Randy Hall, Adam Sixt, Zach Carley and Steve Watson. It was finally a bright spot for Waters, who hasn’t had a good start to the 2015 season, as Friday’s victory was his first of 2015.

In feature number two on the evening, Randy Hall came back to take his season’s first victory over Sixt, Waters, Steve LeBarron and Dustin Waters. Hall, who has taken over the driving duties of Terry Suppa’s #4s, is the early point leader in the $5,000 Sweeney Weekly Series Championship. This Friday (June 5), Freedom will host the Insinger Performance/Sunoco Race Fuels RUSH Northern Touring Series for the inaugural “Ron Baker Memorial” paying $1,200 to-win.

Also on Friday night at LaFargeville New York’s Can Am Motorsports Park, Charlie Sander(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word) scored another victory in the RUSH Late Model feature race. Sander(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word) is now two-for-two at Can Am this season in addition to two victories at Brighton- all coming on the $135 sealed spec Bilstein Shocks. Following Sander(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word) across the finish line were Phil Potts, Billy Eisele, Tyler Rand and Dave McDonald. This Wednesday (June 3), the RUSH Late Models will be on the special mid-week racing card as the DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds race for a $1,000 to win prize.

A bit of history was made on Saturday night in the Winchester Speedway RUSH Late Model division as Logan Roberson scored his first ever Winchester Speedway victory. Roberson, who started the 20 lap event in sixth, would move up through the field through the field while pole sitter Robby Marhefka paced the field for the first 18 laps. Roberson took the lead spot in turn four of the 19th lap and held on for the final lap for his second RUSH-sanctioned victory of the season.

"This win goes to my team,” said Roberson in victory lane. "We crashed this car at Elkins (West Va.) last night and we were up until six in the morning getting it ready and to get our first win here at Winchester is an awesome way to end our weekend." Marhefka held on for a season best second with Transton Stoner, Jennae Piper and Steve Lowery completing the top five. The RUSH Series Late Models will take a week off at Winchester, but return on Friday and Saturday June 12-13 for the inaugural “Crate Racin’ USA Late Model Nationals” with twin $1,000 to-win Bill Hendren Memorial Qualifiers on Friday night, $6,000 to-win main event on Saturday night along with a $1,500 to-win non-qualifier.

Sharon Speedway in Hartford Ohio was one of the few Saturday night tracks throughout the region that didn’t lose their show to rain, and RUSH Sportsman Modified pilot, Rocky Kugel, for one was quite happy about it. Greg Martin has been dominant in the RUSH Modifieds thus far in 2015 winning three in a row in the region’s Bicknell Racing Products Weekly Series events. Kugel was one of many drivers focused on putting a stop to Martin’s success. Kugel took the lead from the drop of the green and held on for the entire 20-lap event.

Martin showed the reason for his success at Sharon as he came from his 12th place starting spot and used the first 18 laps of the race to work his way to the runner up position. In the end, Martin simply ran out of laps to make a worthwhile run at Kugel, who was very strong on Saturday night. "I knew Greg Martin would be coming," said Kugel in victory lane. "I just kept trying to keep my line, be patient, and hit the same mark every lap, and it paid off.” Kugel went on to thank the fans who came out on a night when most racing in the northeast was cancelled due to rain.

After Martin in second, it was Jerry Schaffer with his season’s best finish in third over the consistent Nick Ritchey and Steve Burns Jr. Kole Holden is the early point leader in the $3,000 to-win Bicknell Weekly Series points in addition to leading the “Futures Cup” standings. A regular “Steel Valley Thunder” program is on tap for this Saturday at Sharon Speedway featuring the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds in addition to kids’ bike races.

This Friday at Potomac Speedway, the RUSH Late Models will be a part of a program that will feature a 35-lap Super Late Model race.

Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway will play host to Tony Stewart’s All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Cars. It is the first appearance for the All Stars in 16 years. The Precise Racing Products RUSH Late Models and the Super Late Models will also be a part of the evening.

Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex was able to complete heat races last Saturday before being washed out. They’ll have a doubleheader this weekend with the Appalachian Mountain Speedweek for Super Late Models on Friday night, while the RUSH Late Models will headline Saturday’s program.

After losing their “Fan Appreciation Night” on Saturday, Brighton Speedway’s 48th racing season continues this Saturday with the first of two races for the Workman’s OK Tire school bus races. All five weekly stock car divisions will be in action, including RUSH Pro Late Models, Canadian Modified, Pro Stocks, Comp 4 and Stingers.

The RUSH Late Models are off at Wayne County Speedway until Monday, June 22 for the first ever Touring Series event joining the All Star Sprints.

The Patriot Sprint Tour is up next at Fulton Speedway on Saturday night. The show also includes the RUSH Late Models, Sportsman and Novice Sportsman.

The RUSH Late Models will be part of Saturday’s program at Stateline Speedway in Busti, NY which will feature the Paula Southwell Modified Memorial Championship Race for the E-Mods.

This Sunday, Eriez Speedway will play host to their first of two Insinger Performance/Sunoco Race Fuels Northern Touring Series events. Eriez will hope for better weather on Sunday as they’ve only been able to complete two events to date. Race time is 6 p.m. Sunday for the $1,200 to-win RUSH event.

Humberstone Speedway in Port Colborne, Ontario will have the RUSH Late Models on Sunday along with autograph night.

RUSH Sportsman Modified racers lost their program on Sunday evening at Sportsman’s Speedway’s to rain. This Sunday the Econo Mods and the Pennsylvania Vintage Dirt Modified Racing Series will join the regular divisions including the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds for a "Sunday Night Thunder" racing program beginning at 5 p.m.

RUSH Late Model marketing partners include Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC, Pace Performance, Hoosier Tire, Bilstein Shocks, Sunoco Race Fuels, Insinger Performance, Bazell Race Fuels, MSD Ignition, Maxima Racing Oil, Jones Racing Products, Alternative Power Sources, Precise Racing Products, ARbodies, The Brake Man, K&N Filters, Lincoln Electric, TurboStart, Beyea Headers, FK Rod Ends, Bobby Lake Motorsports, Crate Innovations Inc., Velocita-USA, 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, MSD Ignition, Maxima Racing Oil, Jones Racing Products, VP Racing Fuels, FK Rod Ends, Sherwood Racing Wheels, Velocita-USA, Precise Racing Products, Alternative Power Sources, K&N Filters, TBM Brakes, Lincoln Electric, 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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