McKean becomes 3rd track to run RUSH Pro Mods in 2017; RUSH LM part of schedule

MCKEAN BECOMES 3RD HOME FOR SWEENEY RUSH PRO MODS JOINING STATELINE & BRADFORD IN 2017; RUSH LATE MODELS AGAIN PART OF MCKEAN SCHEDULE
By Mike Leone

December 20, 2016 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(East Smethport, PA)...The Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Pro Mod Series powered by Pace Performance is pleased to announce that McKean County Raceway has added the division as part of their 2017 racing program led by promoter Chris Zuver. The Sweeney RUSH Late Models will continue to be an important part of the schedule of events at the East Smethport, Pa. facility. A complete schedule of events will be announced soon.

The RUSH Pro Mods successfully debuted in 2016 at Stateline Speedway in Busti, New York with Scott Gurdak winning the track championship and Justin Carlson capturing the $3,500 Sweeney Weekly Series Championship. On November 17, the Old Bradford Speedway in Bradford, Pa. announced they will run the RUSH Pro Mods weekly on Sunday nights in 2017. The announcement by McKean will give racers another option as their dates will not conflict with Stateline or Bradford and will create a trio of great speedways hosting the class in this part of the region.

"This is more great news for the Pro Mod class," acknowledged RUSH Director Vicki Emig. "Chris Zuver has been a believer in the concept and now is the perfect time to introduce this class at McKean. The new interest in the class has been steady since late in the season and continued to build with the Bradford announcement. The addition of McKean is only going to further the growth and give additional incentive to racers to participate."

"I'm excited to bring the RUSH Pro Mods to MCR," said Zuver. "I was ready to bring crate E-Mods to MCR in 2015, but with the track not running the process was never completed. The class brings the cost factor down to make E-Mod racing affordable again and it's a great division to help bring the next generation of racers into our sport, which is so desperately needed."

While membership is not mandatory, RUSH Pro Mod members will be able to accumulate points at McKean toward the $15,050 Sweeney Weekly Series championship point fund that pays back 20 positions. Also, the "Futures Cup" program offers a $600 point fund for the top three eligible racers. Zach Johnson was the 2016 champion. Members will also receive a $100,000 excess participant accident insurance policy, which is over and above drivers’ health insurance and speedways’ participant accident policy.

In 2016, McKean held nine RUSH Late Model events with an average car count of 20. Eric Wilson led the way winning four feature events. Max Blair and Jeremy Wonderling each won a pair of features with Wonderling's being his first ever RUSH Tour event win as part of the McKean County Fair. Damian Bidwell also was victorious.

"The RUSH Crate Late Model program has always been very healthy at MCR," added Zuver. "Both RUSH programs will see action each night of our 2016 schedule, which will see eight or nine events, with the one exception being our June WoO Late Model event as the support class for that event has not been set yet. With the close proximity of MCR & Bradford, it will be a win-win situation for all concerned."

Once again in 2017, RUSH Late Model member racers will be able to participate at McKean and be eligible for all of the programs including the Sweeney Weekly Series Championship, the Pace Performance “Summer Chase”, along with the Bilstein Bandits and the “Futures Cup” for those eligible racers. Member racers will battle for the "Track Pack Bonus" with $300 going to the driver that accumulates the most RUSH points at each track, $200 to second, $150 for third, $100 for fourth, and $50 for fifth. Contingency prizes will then be posted for those racers in sixth through eighth in the RUSH member points at each track.

McKean County Raceway is a 1/3-mile dirt track located at the McKean County Fairgrounds in East Smethport, Pa. at the intersections of Route 6 and 46. For more information on McKean County Raceway, check out their website at www.mckeancountyraceway.net, like them on Facebook page by searching McKean County Raceway, and follow them on Twitter @McKeanCoRaceway.

RUSH Late Model 2016 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.

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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