7/8/2021
RUSH Late Model Series
RAY LOVE MAKES A WINNING 2021 PACE RUSH LATE MODEL DEBUT AT WINCHESTER; MAX BLAIR SWEEPS STATELINE-ERIEZ CIRCUIT FOR 1ST RUSH WINS OF 2021; RUTH CONTI
RAY LOVE MAKES A WINNING 2021 PACE RUSH LATE MODEL DEBUT AT WINCHESTER; MAX BLAIR SWEEPS STATELINE-ERIEZ CIRCUIT FOR 1ST RUSH WINS OF 2021; RUTH CONTINUES WINNING WAYS CAPTURING 1ST EVER RUSH SPRINT RACE AT DOG HOLLOW
By Marcie Barlow
July 8, 2021 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Pulaski, PA)...There was plenty of Pace Performance RUSH Racing Series together with Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC action over the Fourth of July holiday as the Late Models, Sportsman Modifieds, Sprint Cars, Pro Mods, Stock Cars, and Karting Series were all in action. Ray Love made his first ever visit to Winchester Speedway a profitable one as he picked up the victory in RUSH Late Model action, while Max Blair got off the schneid sweeping the Stateline-Eriez circuit for his first RUSH victories of the season.
The Flynn's Tire/Born2Run Lubricants Touring Series for the Late Models made its first ever appearance at Dog Hollow Speedway last Friday night for the "Jim Burns Tribute". Mother Nature may have interfered with the event, but the speedway’s new promotional team was not deterred, and the event was completed following a three-hour rain delay. Jeremy Wonderling led the first 10 laps before a caution slowed the field. Virginia driver Kyle Hardy powered by Wonderling when the racing action resumed and went on to claim his fifth victory in Touring Series action in 2021, worth $3,000. Sixth place starter Chub Frank came home in the runner-up position as he passed both Joe Martin and Wonderling on a lap 22 restart. Max Blair, who scored the $2,500 Super Late Model victory earlier in the evening, came home in fifth.
The Pace Performance RUSH Sprint Cars were also in competition at Dog Hollow for the first time ever with Gale Ruth, Jr. adding his name to the Dog Hollow record book. Ruth has now won four races at four different speedways in 2021! The 20-lap caution free main event was completed in just over six minutes. Pole-sitter Kevin Ruhlman came home in the second spot after dropping to fourth early on with Chad Ruhlman, Arnie Kent and Blaze Myers rounding out the top five. The RUSH Sprints will return to Dog Hollow on August 20 for another Equipment Rental Options Weekly Series event, but this time for $800 to-win, $160 to-start.
The Late Model Touring Series continued on to Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway the next night for the "Herb Scott Memorial". Jeremy Wonderling may have been the bridesmaid the previous night at Dog Hollow, but the New York driver was determined to be in the winner’s circle at “Dirt’s Monster Half Mile” and he did just that. Super Late Model ace Michael Norris led the first five laps until he was slowed by mechanical woes at which time Wonderling, who had started fourth, inherited the top spot. Wonderling weathered four cautions in the early stages of the event before the final 17 circuits went green-to-checkered to score a very well deserved $2,000 victory. Hardy took home the second spot over Joe Martin. Zach Gunn was a career best Tour effort in forth as Garret Paugh rounding out the top five in his first start of the season with RUSH.
The lone Pace RUSH Sportsman Modified Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Weekly Series event of the weekend took place Saturday night at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway. Preston Cope and Justin Shea tangled on the opening lap of the main event. Shea did a 360-spon in front of the field and fortunately was able to continue without any damage, while several others weren't as lucky. Tony Tatgenhorst took over the top spot when the action resumed and led the first 11 circuits before Shea took over. Shea then went on to lead the final four laps and score his second PPMS win of the season and third of his career at the "Monster Half-Mile". Tatgenhorst, Ayden Cipriano, Dave Price and Cope completed the top five- all with their season best finishes.
Ray Love made his first visit to Winchester Speedway a profitable one as he scored the victory in the Pace Performance RUSH Late Model Weekly Series special. Love’s heat race win earned him the pole position for the main event. Love, Megan Mann, Devin Brannon, and later Levi Crowl battled for the entire distance of the main event with Love, “the Maryland Invader”, defeating the speedway’s regulars to score a $1,000 payday. Brannon and Crowl were able to get by Mann for the second and third positions. Mann held on for fourth as the female racer continues to impress in 2021. Daniel Brown, Jr. came home fifth.
With Woodhull Raceway raining out, Jason Knowles headed northwest and claimed his second win of the season at Genesee Speedway Saturday evening. Knowles, who started in the second spot, weathered several tricky moments in lapped traffic to lead the entire distance of the 25-lap main event. Doug Ricotta, who started in the eighth position, finished in second followed by Austin Hauser, Austyn Fugle and Paul Grigsby. A solid field of 23 cars were on hand.
Max Blair may no longer be a regular competitor in Pace Performance RUSH Late Model action, but the Centerville, Pa. driver is always a threat any time he is in action. Saturday evening at Stateline Speedway, Blair started on the pole and would weather several cautions in route to scoring the win in his first RUSH start of 2021 at the Busti, New York oval. Believe it or not, it was Blair's first RUSH win of 2021. Veterans Scott Garda and Darrell Bossard finished second and third respectively with David Parker and Jason Genco rounding out the top five.
On Sunday evening Blair travelled to Eriez Speedway. After scoring the win in the Super Late Model portion of the "Mike Farr Memorial", Blair climbed behind the wheel of his RUSH Late Model to pick up his second victory of the night. Matthew Sipes led the first six circuits before Jeremy Wonderling took over the lead. Wonderling built up a half straightaway lead by lap 12. Cautions on laps 14 and 17 slowed the field and provided Blair with the opportunity he needed to challenge Wonderling. Blair wrestled the lead from Wonderling on lap 18 to garner his second RUSH win in as many night. Wonderling completed his three race weekend with another podium finish in the second spot. Sipes followed in third with Genco and Breyton Santee in fourth and fifth respectively.
Pace Performance RUSH Pro Mod action at Stateline Speedway saw Greg Johnson visit victory lane for the second time this season as he bested the 18-car field. Veterans Al Brewer, Scott Gurdak, Mike Eschrich and Dennis Lunger, Jr. completed the top five. RUSH Pro Mod racing at Bradford Speedway Sunday evening saw Steve Dixon score his second consecutive victory and third overall of 2021. Eschrich, Brewer, Adam Peterson, and Tim Schram completed the first five.
Jeremy Zufall picked up his third victory in the RUSH Stock Car division at Dog Hollow on Friday and his fourth overall of 2021 in Pace Weekly Series Competition. Mikael Beaver traveled down to Dog Hollow on Friday night and was unable to start the feature; however, they got their gremlins worked out as he won on Sunday at Eriez to maintain the points lead.
Winners in RUSH Karting action at the Stateline Speedway were Emmie Bush (Amateur), Ethan Arnone (JR-1), Cody Rickard (JR-2), and Jay Groves (Adult).
Rain scored the win in Pace Performance RUSH weekly racing action at Raceway 7, The Hill Speedway, Delaware International Speedway and Woodhull Raceway. The RUSH Late Models had the week off at both Potomac Speedway and Fulton Speedway.
RUSH Sprint Car action will take place this Sunday at Sharon Speedway as part of the Justin Snyder “Salute to the Troops” racing that includes the All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Cars as the event will be live on FloRacing.
The Pace Performance RUSH Sportsman Modifieds will be in action Friday at Raceway 7 for a Wedge Motorsports "Route 7 Rumble" Series event then back to Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway on Saturday. Expo Speedway will host a $800 to-win Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Touring Series event next Thursday night, which will kickoff three straight nights of racing with Lernerville on Friday and Sharon on Saturday. The RUSH Mods will have five events in nine days starting this Friday night!
Weekly Pace Performance RUSH Late Model action is scheduled at Raceway 7, Dog Hollow Speedway, and the Hill Speedway this Friday. Saturday RUSH Late Model action will take place at Delaware International Speedway, Fulton Speedway, and Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway. RUSH Late Model action is also scheduled for Eriez Speedway on Sunday. There will be no RUSH Late Model action at Potomac, Genesee, Stateline, Woodhull, Winchester or Bradford Speedways this weekend.
Flynn’s Tire and Born2Run Lubricants RUSH Late Model Touring Series action resumes on Saturday, July 17th at Sharon Speedway for the Bill Forney Memorial event that pays $3,199 to win.
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, Born2Run Lubricants, Flynn's Tire & Auto Service, FK Rod Ends, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, TBM Brakes, Performance Bodies & Parts, Racing Electronics, Wrisco Industries, Frankland Racing Supply, Landrum Performance Spring, Ontime Body & Graphic, Zarin Truck & Automotive, Sherwood Wheels, Alternative Power Sources, Precise Racing Products, Stop-Fyre, Lincoln Electric, Velocita-USA, Waterstone Mortgage Hermitage, 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. The RUSH Racing Series website is www.rushracingseries.com. Like our various Facebook page and Twitter accounts by searching for the appropriate divisions.
Article Credit: Marcie Barlow
