"BILL HENDREN MEMORIAL" PRESENTED BY FK ROD ENDS UP NEXT FOR SWEENEY RUSH LATE MODEL TOUR THIS WEEKEND AT PITTSBURGH; $4000 TO-WIN PLUS $500 TO-WIN "ONE TO REMEMBER" NON-WINNERS PRESENTED BY PACE PERFORMANCE, $250 TO-WIN NQ & OTHER BONUSES
By Mike Leone
October 3, 2018 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Imperial, PA)...The stage is set for one of the biggest events of the season for the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Dirt Late Model Touring Series powered by Pace Performance as Pittsburgh's PA Motor Speedway will host the "Bill Hendren Memorial" presented by FK Rod Ends this Friday and Saturday (October 5-6) part of the "Pittsburgher" weekend that features the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. Thanks to FK Rod Ends along with friends of the Hendren Family, the sixth annual version will pay a record $4,000 to-win, $300 to-start. In addition, on Friday night Pace Performance will present the "One to Remember" non-winners feature paying $500 to-win, $50 to-start. An increased non-qualifiers event will be run on Saturday night and other bonuses have also been posted. Warm-ups begin at 6 p.m. both nights.
The weekend will get started on Friday with FK Rod Ends "Shock the Clock" Qualifying. The driver that sets fast time will receive $100 from FK Rod Ends plus thanks to CrateInsider.com a brand new GoPro Hero (2018), waterproof case, Joe's Racing GoPro mount, a 32gb memory card, Crate Insider racing bag and hat valued at $440!
Drivers will then compete in FK Rod Heats heat races paying $25 to-win. Later in the evening, the "One to Remember" Non-Winners Feature presented by Pace Performance will be run paying $500 to-win, $50 to-start. The winner of this race will also receive a $100 CrateInsider.com gift card, a special prize package, and a laser etched marble winner's plaque. In order to be eligible for this race, drivers must compete in the regular "Bill Hendren Memorial" event and never have won a Crate Late Model, Steel-Block Late Model or any headlining division feature event. The lineup will be determined off the event's regular qualifying times with a pill drawn for an invert of four, six or up to eight depending on car count.
Saturday will begin with the dash and last chance B mains that will set the lineup for the 40-lap $4,000 to-win, $300 to-start "Bill Hendren Memorial". The dash will pay $104 to-win thanks to Branden Lockwich in memory of John Beatty. The feature winner along with the second and third place finishers will also receive one of the sought-after laser etched marble plaques. Also, the "Wheelman" Bonus Event for non-qualifiers at the end of the night will have an increased purse for the top 12 finishers with $250 going to the winner.
In 2005, Bill Hendren, the patriarch of the Hendren family and founder of Hendren Racing Engines, had the foresight to began building his affiliation with crate racing. As many of his open engine customers looked to crate racing as an opportunity to continue racing Bill began offering free advice via the well know 4M.net message board. As the concept grew throughout the country, his generosity and expertise was rewarded as many of those who had utilized his knowledge in the beginning utilized him as their engine rebuilder as their needs arose. Bill passed away on March 19, 2011, but his legacy and dedication to crate racing lives on through his sons, Steve and Mike, as the Hendrens are recognized throughout the entire country as a leader in this specialized form of racing as they continue to operate Hendren Racing Engines.
This is the third straight year Pittsburgh has hosted the Northeast version of the "Bill Hendren Memorial". John Mollick won the 2016 event, while Daryl Charlier was victorious last year. Making this event possible are FK Rod Ends, Pace Performance, Miley Motor Sports, the Hendren Family, CrateInsider.com, Race 1, Ingram Engines, 955 Automotive, The Drive (Direct Racing Industry Virtual Expo), Durrence Layne Racing Series, Klotz Synthetic Lubricants, Daytona 1, On Time Body & Graphics, and Branden Lockwich.
"The Miley Motor Sports family is honored to host the Bill Hendren Memorial during the Pittsburgher 100 weekend," expressed Matt Miley. "Bringing back the Pittsburgher was a dream of Red Miley’s when he founded Miley Motor Sports. He always strived to make the Pittsburgher bigger and better. Here we sit, just days away from the 30th annual Pittsburgher, and we're again taking the event to another level, honoring another man who made a difference in our sport, Bill Hendren. I’m sure both are smiling down upon us."
"We have to thank Steve Hendren for coordinating efforts to take this event to the next level with the help of major sponsors FK Rod Ends and Pace Performance," stated RUSH Director Vicki Emig. "In the past he's always brought bonus monies that were distributed randonly, but this year those monies have gone into the purse and with others than have stepped up have turned this into our second biggest event of the season! The non winners event should be a unique addition to the show, the increased non-qualifiers event along with the other bonuses, and of course the beautiful awards he does."
Jason Genco leads the Sweeney Tour to Pittsburgh with a 12-point lead over Jeremy Wonderling as just two point events remain. The championship race has been tight all season long as both racers battle for their first title, but Genco has increased it over the past two events thanks to two top fives. Despite not finishing in the top five at three of the last four races, Wonderling has run his streak of top 10s to 12 straight after finishing out of the top 10 in two of the first three races.
Brady Wonderling has struggled of late with finishes of 17, 21, and 22 in three of his last four races, but still has a mathematical shot at the title. Canadian Adam Ferri is fourth over J.J. Mazur and Cory Lawler. 2016 champion, John Waters, is fresh off a third place finish at McKean and is seventh in points with one win in the televised MAVTV race on July 3 at Weedsport Speedway. Jason Knowles, Bill Kessler, Damian Bidwell, Darrell Bossard, and Max Blair, who won at McKean for his third win of the season, complete the top 12 points paying positions.
Pittsburgh has had a strong season running the RUSH Late Models on a weekly basis with an average car count of over 21 per event. There's been an amazing 12 different winners in 16 races as only Daryl Charlier has been able to win multiple events! Charlier picked up five wins during the season despite missing four races. Other winners include track champion Justin Lamb, RUSH Weekly Track Pack Bonus Pittsburgh Champion John Mollick, Michael Reft, Colby Beighey, Ben Policz, Mike Pegher, Jr., Jacob Hawkins, Nico Dabecco, and most recently Scott Gunn, Keith Barbara, and Christian Schneider all captured their first career RUSH wins.
Precise Racing Products will award a $100 gift card for the "Pedal Down" Hard Charger that passes the most cars. The TBM Brakes “Tough Brake of the Night” will award three bottles of Xtreme6 Racing Brake Fluid valued at approximately $45 along with a certificate for a discount off any TBM Brakes purchase each night.
RUSH Late Model Series Officials will also determine the new Dirt Defender "Defensive Drive" to the driver that best defended his position throughout the night, and will receive a $40 product package each night. The award could go to a driver holding off another for the final heat race or B main transfer position, a driver denying a hard charging racer a feature win, a move to stay on the lead lap before a caution, or any such deserving move.
Sweeney RUSH Late Model Tour "Bill Hendren Memorial" presented by FK Rod Ends Feature Payoff: 1. $4,000 2. $2,000 3. $1,000 4. $800 5. $600 6. $550 7. $500 8. $450 9. $425 10. $400 11. $390 12. $380 13. $370 14. $360 15. $350 16. $340 17. $330 18. $320 19. $310 20-26. $300.
"One of to Remember" Non-Winners presented by Pace Performance Feature Payoff: 1. $500 2. $250 3. $175 4. $150 5. $135 6. $120 7. $115 8. $110 9. $105 10. $100 11. $90 12. $80 13. $70 14. $60 15. $55 16-24. $50.
"Wheelman" Non-Qualifier Payoff: 1. $250 2. $200 3. $175 4. $150 5. $145 6. $140 7. $135 8. $130 9. $125 10. $120 11. $115 12. $110 13-24. $105. Tow $100.
2018 Sweeney RUSH Late Model Touring Series Points (Adjusted on Marquee/Platinum; only Tour members receive points): 1. Jason Genco 1125 2. Jeremy Wonderling 1113 3. Brady Wonderling 1074 4. Adam Ferri 998 5. J.J. Mazur 957 6. Cory Lawler 955 7. John Waters 926 8. Jason Knowles 840 9. Bill Kessler 822 10. Damian Bidwell 772 11. Darrell Bossard 704 12. Max Blair 582 13. Kyle Murray 580 14. Beamer Guzzardi 539 15. Bruce Hordusky, Jr. 529 16. Chad Sines 487 17. Christian Schneider 474 18. Jimmy Johnson, Jr. 463 19. Brian Knowles 434 20. Charlie Sandercock 431 21. Garrett Paugh 410 22. Mike Franklin 362 23. Paul Norman, Jr. 317 24. Cory Sines 304 25. Cody Dawson 302 26. Tony White 232 27. Joe Watson 210 28. Eric Wilson 190 29. Braeden Dillinger 160 30. Andy Boozel 89 31. Jared Kane 84 32. John Mollick 71.
You do not have to be a member of RUSH to compete. The AMB/MyLaps transponders will be used. One-way driver radios are always mandatory on the default 454.000 channel. There will be a $100 entry fee. Pit passes are $30 on Friday or $75 for a two-day pass. Teams may enter the pit area on arrival on Friday. Pit passes will be sold throughout the afternoon in the pit area. Registration opens at 2 p.m. Drivers meeting is at 5:35 p.m. on Friday with pill cutoff at 5:45. Warm-ups are 6 p.m. both days. In the event of rain on Friday, provisions have been made to run the entire show Saturday. A Sunday rain date is also available.
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, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, Racing Electronics, Dirt Defender, Dynamic Drivelines, Wrisco Industries, Frankland Racing Supply, Alternative Power Sources, Precise Racing Products, TBM Brakes, Lincoln Electric, Pancho's Racing Products Velocita-USA, Classic Ink USA, Landrum Performance Spring, Schwartzmiller Ground Maintenance, Close Racing Supply, CrateInsider.com, RockAuto.com, Valley Fashions, Dirt Late Model Magazine, and Three Rivers Karting.
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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