PACE RUSH LATE MODEL TOUR SET TO JOIN THE WORLD OF OUTLAWS LM AT LERNERVILLE'S "FIRECRACKER" JUNE 25-27; $10,000 TO-WIN "BILL EMIG MEMORIAL" PRESENTED BY HOVIS WILL BE THE 2020 SEASON KICKOFF
By Mike Leone

June 19, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Sarver, PA)...After the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted much of the first half of the 2020 season, the Pace Performance RUSH Late Model Touring Series together with Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC is ready to launch the season in a big way. The Series has gotten the green light that it will indeed join up with the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series at Lernerville Speedway for the "Firecracker 100" weekend Thursday through Saturday, June 25-27. The "Bill Emig Memorial" presented by Hovis Auto & Truck Supply will once again pay $10,000 to-win on the Saturday night finale!

The 2019 edition of the "Bill Emig Memorial" ran in conjunction with the "Firecracker 100" for the first time and attracted a season high 53 cars from seven different states and Ontario, Canada- tying what was previously the third highest car count in Series history. Max Blair made a late race pass of Ross Robinson to capture the $10,000 race win in the event that was presented by Hovis Auto & Truck Supply.

"I can't thank Lernerville and the World of Outlaws enough for allowing the RUSH Late Models to once again be part of the renowned ‘Firecracker’ weekend especially with everything that has transpired during the pandemic," expressed RUSH Director Vicki Emig. "To be able to showcase our RUSH Late Model racers in what is considered to be one the country's premier Super Late Model events in front of such a huge crowd was truly an incredible experience for all of us last year. Our racers put on a tremendous show for the fans and we're really looking forward to being part of the event again as well as kicking off our season in such a spectacular way."

“The RUSH Late Models were a great addition to the ‘Firecracker 100’ weekend,” acknowledged Lernerville promoter Father Tim Tomson. “They really gave our fans some thrilling action and having them join the ‘Firecracker’ was a tremendous addition. Last year’s event was one of the most successful ‘Firecrackers’ in the history of the event so we’re excited bring them back for what will be the 30th running of the ‘Bill Emig Memorial’.”

The 2020 "Firecracker" will be the 14th annual edition featuring complete shows for the World of Outlaws on Thursday and Friday paying followed by the "Firecracker" on Saturday night with $30,000 on the line. The RUSH Late Models will get their chance to shine in front of a huge audience at this crown jewel event. Tickets are on sale through Lernerville's website at https://lernervilletickets.com/14th-...-25-26-and-27/.

The RUSH Late Model portion will get underway on Thursday night with warm-ups and FK Rod Ends $100 "Shock the Clock" Qualifying. Friday night will include $25 to-win FK Rod Ends heat races and the $100 to-win "John Buzzard Memorial" Dash, which will set the beginning rows of the feature lineup. Buzzard was a former racer for Bill Emig, who tragically lost his life at Expo Speedway. Saturday night will start off with last chance B mains followed by the 50-lap feature paying $10,000 to-win, $450 to-start and including with the $400 to-win, $200 to-start "Wheelman" non-qualifier race. There is a rain date of Sunday. Additional times and details will be released soon.

"On a personal note I honestly can't describe what it means to have the 'Bill Emig Memorial' at Lernerville where the inaugural event took place in 1991," added Emig. "To have this event pay $10,000 to win, which last year was the richest ever event throughout our region since my involvement with crate racing, of course makes it even more meaningful. As a car owner, my dad had a very long and storied history at Lernerville and I know he would be so proud to see that his love of racing and legacy continues on through this historic event. I also have to thank longtime friend and business associate, Cliff Hovis, for bringing Hovis Auto & Truck Supply on as a major event sponsor."

The majority of the RUSH Late Model weekly-sanctioned tracks throughout the entire region have given the class the night off to compete in this historic event, while other tracks will accommodate racers that choose to participate in the event.

50-Lap Feature Payoff: 1. $10,000 2. $5,000 3. $2,500 4. $2,000 5. $1,500 6. $1,200 7. $1,000 8. $900 9. $800 10. $700 11. $650 12. $625 13. $600 14. $550 15. $525 16. $500 17. $490 18. $480 19. $470 20. $460 21-24. $450 25. $450 (Series provisional, if necessary, must be in the top 15 of Tour points).

Non-Qualifier Payoff: 1. $400 2. $300 3. $250 4. $240 5. $235 6. $230 7. $225 8. $220 9. $215 10. $210 11. $205 12-24. $200. Anyone not starting a feature will receive $125.

You do not have to be a member of RUSH to compete only to receive Weekly and/or Tour points. The entry fee for the event is $100. AMB/MyLaps transponders will be used. Westhold transponders will NOT work. Units are available to rent for the weekend for $25. Driver radio will be channel 454.000.

Precise Racing Products, located minutes south of Lernerville on Route 356, will provide track side service every night during the "Firecracker". Precise will have the Hoosier Tires, Sunoco 110 and RUSH 91 fuel, as well as parts for sale.

Lernerville is a 4/10-mile high-banked clay oval located 11 miles southeast of Butler, Pa. on Route 356 at 313 North Pike Road, Sarver, PA 16055. Lernerville is just 30 miles northeast of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. For more information, check out their website at www.lernerville.com or call 724-353-1511 (office) or 724-353-1350 (track). Like them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Lernerville/ and follow them on Twitter @Lernerville.

Hovis Auto & Truck Supply is headquartered in Mercer, Pa. Hovis has 17 locations throughout western Pennsylvania and expanded their business to include heavy duty truck parts and paint, body and equipment sales. Hovis Auto Wrecking, Inc. was first opened as a family business in 1952. By 1969 their business had grown to include new parts sales and Hovis Auto & Truck Supply was formed. Since that time, Hovis has grown to 17 locations and expanded their business to include heavy duty truck parts and paint, body and equipment sales. For 50 years, Hovis Auto & Truck Supply has based their success on four key ingredients: their dedicated professionals, large inventories, quality name brand parts, and competitive prices.

Hovis Auto & Truck Supply belongs to one of the largest automotive program distribution groups in the nation. As a member of Federated Auto Parts, they keep abreast of changes in technology and quality parts in today's fast paced economy. Hovis is one of the largest distributors for each of its two automotive refinish lines: Axalta and Akzo Nobel. Hovis is also a member of Vipar, one of the largest independent Heavy Duty Truck Parts Distributor Programs in the nation. Hovis' officers sit on advisory councils of numerous manufactures, allowing Hovis Auto and Truck Supply to be on the cutting edge of technology.

The Hovis Auto & Truck Supply corporate office and distribution Center is located in Mercer, Pa. Hovis has locations in the following western Pennsylvania cities: Allison Park, Butler, DuBois, Emlenton, Erie, Franklin, Grove City, Hermitage, Meadville, New Brighton, New Castle, North Huntingdon, Oil City, Titusville, Wexford, and Zelienople. All of the store are open Monday through Friday from 8 p.m. until 6 p.m. All of the stores open at 8 a.m. on Saturdays have different closing times. For more information on Hovis Auto & Truck Supply, check out their website at www.hovisauto.com and "like" their page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HovisAutoSupply.

RUSH Racing Series is brought to you by Pace Performance together with Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC along with the support of Hoosier Tire, Bilstein Shocks, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, Insinger Performance, MSD Performance, Holley Performance Products, Hovis Auto & Truck Supply, Equipment Rental Options, FK Rod Ends, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, TBM Brakes, Performance Bodies & Parts, Racing Electronics, Dirt Defender, Wrisco Industries, Frankland Racing Supply, Landrum Performance Spring, Ontime Body & Graphic, Trailer-Alarms.com, Zarin Truck & Automotive, Sherwood Wheels, Alternative Power Sources, Precise Racing Products, Lincoln Electric, Velocita-USA, Accu-Force Dynos & Testers, Classic Ink USA, CrateInsider.com, and Wedge Motorsports.

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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