RUSH honors champs & distributes $100K in cash & $10K in contingencies at 2015 Awards

SWEENEY RUSH SERIES HONORS CHAMPIONS & TOP RACERS IN LM, MOD & STOCK DIVISIONS AS $100,000 IN CASH & $10,000 IN CONTINGENCIES IS DOLED OUT AT 2015 AWARDS BANQUET
By Mike Leone

January 23, 2015

(Edinburg, PA)…While the 2016 racing season is only a few months away, Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Racing Series Directors Vicki Emig and Mike Leone put a final wrap on the 2015 racing season with the awards banquet and dinner on Saturday night at the Gatherings Banquet & Event Center in Edinburg, Pa. Despite a blizzard off to the east, a record number of attendees filled the beautiful banquet hall as over $100,000 in cash and approximately $10,000 in contingencies were distributed to Sweeney RUSH Late Model, Sportsman Modified, and Pro Stock racers.

Sweeney RUSH Late Models scheduled events at a record 23 different speedways in 2015 with some 350 different racers participating in either a weekly-sanctioned and/or touring series event! Year two for the Sweeney RUSH Sportsman Modified season saw six different speedways hold events with 29 different drivers competing.

Crowned 2015 Late Model champions were Max Blair-Bazell/Sunoco Southern Touring Series, Insinger/Sunoco Northern Touring Series, Combined Touring Series, and Sweeney Weekly Series, Bryce Davis-Pace Performance "Summer Chase", Charlie Sander(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)-"Bilstein Bandits", Clinton Hersh-"Futures Cup", and Tony White-Wheelman Bonus Event Challenge Series. In the Sweeney RUSH Sportsman Modifieds it was Greg Martin-Bicknell Racing Products Weekly Series, Larry Kugel-Bicknell Touring Series, and Kole Holden-Bicknell "Futures Cup". Justin Ramsay was the inaugural Sweeney RUSH Pro Stock Weekly Series champion. All of the champions received their point fund monies, granite laser etched championship award plaques, and RUSH championship jackets!

Max Blair left Saturday's banquet as the Series' top point fund earner garnering a record $16,500! The Centerville, Pa. 26-year-old swept all three Touring Series point funds for the $10,000 prize, added $5,000 for his second Sweeney Weekly Series Championship in three years, and $1,500 for a runner-up in the Pace Performance "Summer Chase". Blair won nine of the 17 Touring Series events including an unprecedented four straight. Blair also won earned the most points in the K&N "Cold Air Induction" Dash Championship standings and earned K&N product.

The second top earner was Charlie Sander(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word) at $8,250. The 28-year-old Belleville, Ontario racer was a newcomer to RUSH with Brighton and Can-Am Speedways coming on board. Sander(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word) won $5,000 for the inaugural "Bilstein Bandits" Late Model crown winning 15 feature events between the two tracks that also propelled him to a tie for third in the Sweeney Weekly Series and a third in the Pace "Summer Chase".

Bryce Davis became a first time RUSH champion by capturing the Pace Performance "Summer Chase" crown. The 24-year-old Hornell, New York racer led all eligible racers with 109.14 average point score from July through Labor Day, which equates to a near second place finish. Davis earned $3,000 for the title and left the banquet with a check for $5,325.

Clinton Hersh shined in his second year of Crate Late Model racing. The 16-year-old Somerset, Pa. driver won the $1,000 "Futures Cup" crown in addition to his third place point finish in the "Bilstein Bandits" and a tie for 28th in the Weekly Series brought his point fund total earnings $2,757.50. It's also noted that the Hersh Family made it to the banquet despite being buried in three feet of snow and having to avoid the closed down PA Turnpike.

For the second straight year, Tony White of Aliquippa, Pa. was recognized for winning the “Wheelman” Bonus Event Challenge Series points for non-qualifier Late Model Touring Series events. White received a championship plaque and jacket, $150 cash, and $100 K&N and Precise Racing Products certificates.

Greg Martin had another stellar season traveling south to race with the Sweeney RUSH Sportsman Modifieds to garner the $3,000 Bicknell Racing Products Weekly Series title for the second straight year. The 34-year-old Wilson, New York driver won nine of his 15 starts and has yet to finish worse than third in any RUSH-sanctioned event in the two-year history. He also became the inaugural Sharon Speedway champion and won the first ever Tour event in the first ever Sportsman Modified race at Expo Speedway. He'd finish 10th in those points.

Veteran racer Larry Kugel will go down in the history books as the first ever Bicknell Racing Products Touring Series Champion for the Sweeney RUSH Sportsman Modifieds. The 64-year-old Crescent, Pa. driver was consistent to win the $600 title and added another $600 for his fifth place in the Bicknell Weekly Series points.

While rookie racer Kole Holden finished runner-up to Kugel in the Touring Series, he did one better in the Bicknell "Futures Cup" to earn that inaugural crown. It was a tremendous season for the recently turned 17-year-old where he won three features at Sportsman's Speedway, which propelled him to a fourth place in the Bicknell Weekly Series.

The Pro Stocks were added to RUSH's program to allow drivers that raced with GM 602 and 604 crate engines against the open cars the opportunity to compete for their own point fund. A $5,250 point fund was posted for member racers' best 12 finishes at RUSH affiliated speedways. Lernerville stepped up and offered a crate only race during the "Steel City Stampede" and going forward has committed to the crates 100%. Collecting the inaugural championship was 28-year-old driver Justin Ramsay of Belleville, Ontario, Canada. Ramsay won 10 features and the track championship at Brighton in addition to another win at Humberstone Speedway.

The highlight of the program was the special awards ceremony. The Series’ major sponsor, Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC/Pace Performance, was recognized with a special appreciation plaque for their continued support of the RUSH Late Model and Sportsman Modified programs in addition to the new RUSH Pro Stock division as the branding sponsor.

Eric Wilson and family were presented the prestigious Gary Knollinger Memorial “Golden Award”. The Cortland, Ohio family's qualities reminded Series Officials much like the Knollinger Family. Both have strong family values and had were very dedicated to following the touring series. The Wilsons just finished their second full season touring.

The "Majestic" was awarded to Series Competition Director, Travis Harry. The Franklin, Pa. resident took on a tall task taking the position when RUSH was formed in 2013. Harry just completed his third season and has received nothing but praise for his knowledge and commitment from Series Officials, drivers, and speedways.

The "Car Owner of the Year" Award was won by Terry Suppa. The Warren, Pa. man owned two competitive cars in 2015 with drivers Randy Hall and Ward Schell. Hall won 10 RUSH races and the track championship at Freedom, while finishing in the top eight of Weekly, Northern Touring, and "Summer Chase" points, while Schell captured a win at Eriez in route to 15th in the Weekly Series points along with eighth in the Northern Tour.

Jerry Schaffer received a "Special Appreciation Award" for his tremendous support of the RUSH Sportsman Modified division by fielding four teams and giving three rookie drivers, including his son Will and sisters Chelsie and Jessica Kriegisch, the opportunity to compete. Schaffer noted the importance of giving back and how special family is as his father and son were both in attendance at the banquet meaning three generations of racers.

The "Miles Traveled" Late Model Award was given to Jason and Brian Knowles. For the first time, the brother duo out of Corning, New York traveled to all of the Touring Series events racking up over 12,000 miles despite the closest track being two hours from home. The Knowles received a K&N Cold Air Induction System valued up to $500 and $200 in Precise Racing Products gift cards.

The "Miles Traveled" Sportsman Modified Award was given to Kole Holden. The rookie racer competed in more events than any other driver at 31 and made the weekly drive to Sharon Speedway from Tiona, Pa.

Mike Ingram of Ingram Engines was awarded the inaugural Bill Hendren Memorial RUSH Engine Rebuilder of the Year. The Kittanning, Pa. resident has rebuilt more engines in recent years than any other rebuilder in the system. Ingram Engines also captured four feature wins at the prestigious "Steel City Stampede" at Lernerville last October.

Velocita-USA provided 10 50% off certificates for giveaways for the Late Model, Sportsman Modified, and Pro Stock drivers in addition to one $500 off a custom drivers suit for a "Futures Cup" driver. All winners are listed below.

Longtime Sharon Speedway announcer Jim Pollock emceed the affair and also previewed the upcoming 2016 season. The Sweeney RUSH Late Models have added Path Valley Speedway Park in central Pa. and Genesee Speedway in Batavia, NY as weekly-sanctioned speedways. The Touring Series schedules for both the Late Models and Sportsman Modifieds were released. John and Christine Stivason photographed the event and the photo link will be posted as soon as it’s available.