8/24/2019
ROSS ROBINSON WINS GEORGETOWN SWEENEY RUSH LATE MODEL SPECIAL FOR 1ST WIN OF 2019
(Pulaski, PA)...Flooded tracks, rain delays, curfew beaters, mid-week racing and more defined a wild weekend in the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Racing Series powered by Pace Performance family of speedways. Twp veteran racers were able to pick up their season's first wins in the RUSH Late Model division.
The weekend kicked off early at Delaware's Georgetown Speedway on Thursday where Ross Robinson chose the right time to win one at his home track. Robinson picked up a cool $2,000 for winning the Thursday night $5 Fan Appreciation special for the RUSH Late Models Weekly Series special event in front of a packed grandstands. Robinson held the lead for the full distance of the 25-lap race but was slowed when he caught lapped traffic. Robinson he was able to hold off the challenges of Joey Warren and 11th starting Amanda Whaley, who ultimately finished in second and third, respectively for his first RUSH win of 2019. Nick Davis and Tyler Reed rounded out the top five.
McKean County Raceway was scheduled to have the RUSH Late Models and RUSH Pro Mods last Thursday night for their annual fair race; however, big storms rolled in while teams were arriving and flooded the fairgrounds in East Smethport, Pa. It marked the third time in four years the Fair race has succumbed to Mother Nature.
Friday night at Conneaut, Ohio's Raceway 7, Kyle Zimmerman was looking to double up on his sole win of the season when he started from the front row of the 20-lap feature alongside of Joe DeFazio. Zimmerman held off all challengers, including some heavy hitters in the division through a series of cautions and a red flag period. Zimmerman prevailed over Matt Latta, Jason Genco, Dave Airgood and DeFazio. A strong field of 25 cars were on hand as Raceway 7 has had solid car counts all season. With just two race nights to tally points at Raceway 7, Darrell Bossard holds a substantial lead over Airgood. Five-division racing resumes this Friday.
Dog Hollow Speedway made yet another move this week, this time to Friday night. Colin Casale and Braeden Dillinger led the RUSH Late Models to the green flag with Dillinger taking the lead. He set the pace for the first four laps, before mechanical problems caused him to relinquish the lead to Jakob Piper. Piper of Mercersburg, Pa. then held off Casale and Tim Snare Jr. the rest of the way to pick up his first ever DHS victory. The top five were: Piper, Casale, Snare, Mark Read and Devin Grubb. With the exception of a possible race on October 14, the 2019 season has concluded at Dog Hollow.
It all comes down to Friday night at Lernerville Speedway in the RUSH Pro Stock division, where a season-long battle has raged on between Tyler Dietz and Corey McPherson. Last Friday night, Dietz was leading the 20-lap feature, when ninth starting Joey Zambotti was able to get around him for the lead on the 17th circuit. Zambotti went on for his third win, with Dietz holding on to the runner-up spot putting himself in the driver's seat on top of the point standings following a fifth-place finish by McPherson. Lernerville's RUSH Pro Stocks are always the last event of the evening so it will be well into the evening until a champion is finally crowned this Friday night on Champions Night.
After an exciting night for the "Jook George Steel City Classic" that featured a record payoff and Kyle Lukon winning more than $11,600, the RUSH Late Models returned to Pittsburgh's PA Motor Speedway on Saturday night for a regular night of racing. Despite a lengthy rain delay, the show was completed just before the curfew. Once again driving for Bobby Springer, Daryl Charlier bested the field, which included three RUSH Touring Series regulars for his first win of 2019. Christian Schneider was the runner-up with Nico Dabecco, John Mollick and Ben Policz making up the top five. Points will be counted until the end of September in all divisions at PPMS. Ben Policz holds a slim lead over Christian Schneider in the championship standings.
The RUSH Sportsman Modified Touring Series paid its third visit of the season to Hartford, Ohio's Sharon Speedway on Saturday night and second points race. It was also the "Manufacturers Night" presented by MSD Performance with $23,000 in giveaways to the racers. Sharon fought through evening showers that delayed the program 30 minutes.
Garrett Krummert took his second straight Tour win at Sharon in an excitement-filled 25-lap feature event. In victory lane, Krummert, who only took the lead with two laps to go by passing Rob Kristyak. "That was a hell of a race- if you didn't enjoy that then I don't know what to say- that was RUSH Mod racing at its finest," said Krummert, who earned his third Sharon win of the year. Kole Holden, Rob Kristyak, Chas Wolbert and Jim Rasey made up the top five. Tony Tatgenhorst took the win in the non-winners race for the third time this season.
The RUSH Sprints were also a part of the racing card at Sharon on Saturday night and once again, Chad Ruhlman towed from his Bemus Point, New York home and stood in victory lane at Sharon for the second time in three tries this season and third time in four tries in the history of the division at Sharon. Zach Morrow and Brian Ruhlman were a very close and third. Brandon Blackshear and 12th starting Andy Feil rounded out the top five. Both RUSH divisions will return to Sharon Speedway this Saturday night.
Max Blair picked up the win over Dave Lyon at Busti, New York's Stateline Speedway on Saturday night. The win came over a strong 22-car field and was Blair's third Stateline win of the season; meanwhile, it was Lyon's first time out for the season. Jason Genco was third for the second straight race as Scott Gurdak and Darrell Bossard completed the top five. Stateline will be off this Saturday night, but racing resumes on August 31 when all point titles will be decided with Blair holding a large lead over Gurdak.
Much like PPMS and Sharon, a rain delay altered the race night activities at New York's Woodhull Raceway. Steve LeBarron seemingly had the RUSH Late Model race in his control through the early laps once racing got underway, but Jason Knowles and Kurt Stebbins worked their way from the rear of the pack to put pressure on LeBarron for the lead. When LeBarron hooked the cushion in the late laps, Knowles was able to slip by and take the lead. Knowles and Stebbins battled for the lead, but in the end it was Jason Knowles with his third in a row and fourth of the season over Stebbins, Brian Knowles, John Haggerty and Wayne Robertson for the top five. Sixteen cars were on hand, which was the second highest count of the season. No RUSH Late Models at Woodhull this Saturday night.
In RUSH Asphalt Series action, Jennerstown Speedway Late Model point leader Teddy Gibala picked up his sixth win of the 2019 campaign, cushioning his lead over Barry Awtey. Gibala bested Gary Wiltrout, Awtey, Bryan Shipp and Joe Maruca. Anthony Aiello, the current point leader in the RUSH Asphalt Modifieds, notched his second win of the season over Jason Busch, RJ Dallape, Adam Kostelnik and Tom Golick. Not to be outdone, RUSH Asphalt Street Stock point leader also took home the checkered flag on Saturday night over Casey Fleegle, Zac Todaro, Jeremy Shaffer and Mel Wilt. Five-division racing continues at Jennerstown with the point chases coming into focus.
After a week off for Motocross racing, Potomac Speedway returns to action this Friday.
Winchester Speedway will have the RUSH Late Models back on the schedule after a couple weeks off and will hold a double-header with two 20-lap feature races. The first is a make-up race from August 3 followed by the regularly scheduled 20-lapper that will determine the point title with former 2017 "Futures Cup" Champion Devin Brannon holding a nearly insurmountable lead over another former "Futures Cup" racer in Levi Crowl.
Delaware International, Fulton and Genesee Speedways all fell victim to Mother Nature on Saturday. Fulton and Genesee will have the RUSH Late Models in action this Saturday night, while DIS has no racing this Saturday.
Humberstone got pounded with rain leaving a flooded facility on Sunday morning forcing them to cancel. They will try again this Sunday night. Both Eriez and Old Bradford Speedway will return to action this Sunday evening as well. Extra money will be on the line for the RUSH Late Models at Bradford.
RUSH Racing Series is brought to you by Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC & Pace Performance 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, 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, Bonnell's Rod Shop, Zarin Truck & Automotive, Sherwood Wheels, Alternative Power Sources, Precise Racing Products, Lincoln Electric, Velocita-USA, Classic Ink USA, CrateInsider.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.
Article Credit: Mike Leone
