Sweeney RUSH Series 5/28/17 weekend recap

LAMB, STONER, HOMAN, JOHNSON, LYON & CLEMENTALL WIN 1ST RUSH LATE MODEL FEATURES OF 2017 LAST WEEKEND IN SWEENEY WEEKLY SERIES ACTION
By Jim Zufall & Mike Leone

June 1, 2017 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Pulaski, PA)...While weather continues to impact member tracks of the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Racing Series powered by Pace Performance, several new drivers were able to breakthrough into victory lane for the first time this season during the last weekend of May.

Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway made the decision to race despite a swamp of a pit area and a soaked track. In the end, the decision was the correct one as the 93X of Justin Lamb crossed the finish line first in a hotly contested RUSH Late Model feature event. John Mollick, 2016 division champion, lea most of the way, but Lamb made the inside pass on the 15th circuit and hold on for the win. Mollick held on for second with Ben Policz, opening night winner Steve Beatty and Bill Kessler rounding out the top five. Action continues this Saturday night with a “feature only” event for the RUSH Lates as they make room for a huge event for the Pro Stock division.

Transton Stoner scored his first win of the season at Winchester Speedway on Saturday night. Stoner drew the pole for the feature and led wire to wire for the win. "With all the rain I was reluctant to come tonight because we do not go good when it's heavy." Stoner stated in victory lane. "The track was much better than we expected and I have to than my car owner Ken Barnhart for the great race car we had tonight." Tanner Kerr, Allan Brannon, Darin Henderson and Logan Roberson made up the top five. The RUSH Late Models return to action this Saturday as part of a six-division program.

Fulton Speedway’s RUSH Late Model feature was highlighted by a fierce side-by-side battle for the win in the final three laps of the 20-lap race. Kevan Cook took over the lead from leader Dale Caswell when Caswell developed mechanical issues. Cook and eventual winner Chad Homan took over the show from there, with the side by side action going until the checkers when Homan edged out Cook by just 0.090 of a second for the win. Bret Belden, Jason Parkhurst and Jason Occhino finished third through fifth. More action this Saturday at Fulton for the RUSH Late Models as part of a five division show that includes the Patriot Sprint Tour.

Jimmy Johnson dominated the RUSH Late Model $1000-to-win event at the Genesee Speedway in Batavia, NY on Saturday night for his first career RUSH win at his father's promoted track. Johnson started on the outside of the front row but was soon in the lead over pole sitter Nick Snayczuk. Johnson held the lead for the entire event including a breakout of yellow fever in the early stages of the race. The latter stages of the race saw brothers Mike and Jeremy Wonderling battle for the runner up spot. Mike pulled ahead and put on a charge for the lead but encountered lapped traffic and ran out of laps. J.J. Mazur and Zack Carley picked up fourth and fifth just behind Jeremy Wonderling. The RUSH Late Model Touring Series invades Genesee this Saturday for the first time ever in a $2,000 to-win event.

It was a doubleheader of RUSH action at Stateline Speedway in Busti, NY on Saturday night. Dave Lyon picked up his first win of the season on the Late Model side, while Dennis Lunger, Jr. made it a perfect three-for-three in the Pro Mods. Stateline has given the RUSH Late Models the night off this Saturday so that they can compete in the Sweeney Tour event at Genesee. The RUSH Pro Mods will be in action.

At Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex, Michael Duritsky, Jr. won for the fourth time in five tries. This time his victory was worth $1,000 in the special Sweeney Weekly Series event. It'll be a busy weekend at the Markleysburg oval with events on both Thursday night and Saturday for the RUSH Late Models.

Sunday night at Port Colborne, Ontario’s Humberstone Speedway, Sam Pennacchio led the opening laps of the feature event for the RUSH Late Models over Rob Pietz and Chad Homan. Pennacchio and Homan pulled away from the field. The lead duo battled for the lead for several circuits with Pietz, Jeff Dayman and Bill Holmes raced inside the top five. Homan would take the lead away from Pennacchio with just three laps remaining and would go on to pick up the victory, his second in as many nights in RUSH competition. After Pennacchio it was Rob Pietz, Jeff Dayman and Mike Greene rounding out the top five. After a special event for Sprint Cars this Sunday, the RUSH Late Models return to action on Sunday, June 11.

In a holiday weekend special Sunday race, Potomac Speedway RUSH Late Model driver Ryan Clement scored his first win of his career in the division and did it in convincing fashion. Clement started on the front row, grabbed the early lead and never looked back. "I have to thank my mom and dad and all our sponsors." Clement stated post-race. "I hope this is the first of many to come." Darren Alvey, Logan Roberson, Matt Tarbox and Tyler Emory made up the top five. Potomac gets back to regular Friday night action this Friday, June 2nd.

The Sweeney Tour event was rained out last Sunday at Eriez. Rain also claimed the program at Outlaw Speedway on Friday night. The Sweeney Tour will be at Outlaw this Friday night in the $2,000 to-win "Gary Montgomery Memorial". Delaware International Speedway was off on Saturday, but will return with action for the RUSH Late Models this Saturday. Old Bradford Speedway was off last Sunday, but will return to action this Sunday with a $1,200 to-win special. Also, Path Valley Speedway welcomes back to the RUSH Late Models on Sunday night part of the Appalachian Speedweek for the Super Late Models.

The RUSH Sportsman Modifieds were finally able to complete their first event of the season on Saturday night as Rocky Kugel claimed the opening night honors over an all-time record 30-car field for the fourth-year division! Kugel took the lead on lap three and led the remainder of the way in the 20-lap feature for his third win overall on the circuit, worth $500 due to the high car count. It was the 40-year-old East Liverpool, Ohio driver's seventh career win at Sharon and came over a career best finish by Shayne Izzo. Last year's Bicknell Weekly and Touring Series Champion, Brian Schaffer, was third over Josh Deems and Kole Holden.

Corey McPherson topped a 22-car field of RUSH Pro Stocks last Friday at Lernerville for his second win of the season as he continues to lead the Sweeney Weekly Series points. The RUSH Sportsman Modifieds will make their second appearance at Lernerville this season on Friday night when they join the program with Tony Stewart's All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Cars.

This Saturday, June 3, will mark the third round at the Jennerstown Speedway Complex for 2017 on the asphalt side of RUSH. With two events in the record books this season, a total of 10 feature races have been contested so far, with first-time winners claiming four of the events.

“Everyone loves to witness a driver’s first Victory Lane celebration, and 40% of the races this season have produced exactly that excitement for Jennerstown Speedway fans,” promoter Mike Lysakowski pointed out. “If this trend continues, our veteran competitors will need to re-think their preparation and their approach to racing every Saturday in order to remain successful.”

On opening night, young Aaron Van Fleet earned his first win in the Street Stock division. He had won many events in the 4-Cylinders before leaping up the divisional ladder to the more powerful racing machines. Last Saturday night, Bryan Shipp won his first Late Model race. Like Van Fleet, Shipp was very successful at another level of competition – the Modifieds. Many believe that his first win in the top division, is just the start of a great Late Model racing career. Shipp was a rookie to the division in 2016. On the same night, two drivers found victory lane for the very first time in any form of motorsports.

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, Holley Performance Products, Earl's Performance Plumbing, Quick Fuel Technology, FK Rod Ends, Maxima Racing Oil, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, Alternative Power Sources, Precise Racing Products, ARbodies, TBM Brakes, K&N Filters, Lincoln Electric, Velocita-USA, Classic Ink USA, Rocket Chassis, Landrum Performance Spring, CrateInsider.com, RockAuto.com, and Valley Fashions.

RUSH Sportsman Modified marketing partners include Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC, Pace Performance, Hoosier Tire, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, Insinger Performance, MSD Performance, Holley Performance Products, Earl's Performance Plumbing, Quick Fuel Technology, FK Rod Ends, Maxima Racing Oil, Sherwood Racing Wheels, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, Alternative Power Sources, Precise Racing Products, TBM Brakes, K&N Filters, Lincoln Electric, Velocita-USA, Classic Ink USA, CrateInsider.com, RockAuto.com, and Valley Fashions.

RUSH Pro Mod and Pro Stock marketing partners include Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC, Pace Performance, Hoosier Tire, Bilstein Shocks, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, Insinger Performance, MSD Performance, Holley Performance Products, Earl's Performance Plumbing, Quick Fuel Technology, FK Rod Ends, Maxima Racing Oil, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, Precise Racing Products, TBM Brakes, K&N Filters, Lincoln Electric, Velocita-USA, Classic Ink USA, CrateInsider.com, RockAuto.com, and Valley Fashions.