RUSH SERIES TO CLOSE OUT 2018 SEASON THIS WEEKEND AT LERNERVILLE IN "STEEL CITY STAMPEDE" WITH SWEENEY LATE MODEL & BICKNELL SPORTSMAN MOD TOURS PLUS SPRINT CAR FINALE; RUSH PRO STOCK "MFG NIGHT" PRESENTED BY MSD SATURDAY
By Mike Leone
October 10, 2018 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Sarver, PA)...The 2018 racing season for the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Dirt Late Model and the Sportsman Modified Touring Series powered by Pace Performance along with the RUSH Sprint Cars will come to a close this weekend (October 11-13) at Lernerville Speedway for the "Steel City Stampede". The RUSH Late Models will compete in a Sweeney Marquee Tour event, while the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds will battle in a Bicknell Racing Products Touring Series event, and the RUSH Sprint Cars in a Bonnell's Rod Shop Weekly Series special. Though not in competition, the RUSH Pro Stock "Manufacturers Night" presented by MSD Performance will take place in the registration tent at 2 p.m. for Lernerville racers.
An open practice will be held Thursday night (October 11) with heat races for all divisions on Friday night followed by the conclusion of the events on Saturday. Group qualifying for the RUSH Late Models will be at 7 p.m. on Friday with racing starting early at 4 on Saturday. The rain date is Sunday.
"This is always a great way to end our season," said RUSH Director Vicki Emig. "Our Late Model racers are always excited to get the chance to compete at Lernerville, which will actually be the first time in 2018. The car counts have always been strong and the racing at Lernerville is always some of the best of the season. The Sportsman Modifieds have been given the opportunity to race numerous times over the past five seasons at Lernerville. It's been a great way to continue to grow this division, and we expect a large turnout this weekend. And Lernerville has been a very important part of the growth of the new RUSH Sprints as this weekend is their 10th scheduled show at the track. We'll also reward the Lernerville RUSH Pro Stock racers on Saturday with their Manufacturers Night."
The RUSH Late Models are coming off a very successful "Bill Hendren Memorial" event presented by FK Rod Ends as part of the "Pittsburgher 100" at Pittsburgh's PA Motor Speedway last weekend where Daryl Charlier came out on top over a 43-car field taking home the $4,000 payday. Charlier became the season's 11th different winner in Touring competition, but it was his second straight "Bill Hendren Memorial" win. Saturday's event will pay $2,000 to-win.
This year’s “Steel City Stampede” will be the 10th edition of this huge event that includes 12 of the region’s racing divisions all showcased in this end of the season blowout for the region. There has yet to be a repeat winner in the Crate Late Models; past winners include Josh Holtgraver (2009), Bryan Force (2010), Butch Lambert (2011), Max Blair (2012), Dennis Lunger, Jr. (2013), Chad Ruhlman (2014), Jacob Hawkins (2015), John Mollick (2016), and John Waters (2017).
Jason Genco leads the Sweeney Tour to Lernerville with just a four-point lead over Jeremy Wonderling. The championship race has been tight all season long as both racers battle for their first title. Oddly, Wonderling finished fourth at both Pittsburgh races this season, while Genco was 10th at both races. Wonderling shaved eight points off Genco's lead on Sunday with his 13th straight top nine finish. Pittsburgh was a new track for Genco as will be the case with Lernerville.
After a strong middle part of the season, Brady Wonderling has struggled of late with finishes of 17, 21, 22, and 12 in four of his last five races, but remains third in points as he concludes his first year on the Tour. Another first time Tour regular, Canadian Adam Ferri, is fourth over John Waters, the 2016 champion, who has jumped back into the top five in points. J.J. Mazur, Cory Lawler, Bill Kessler, Jason Knowles, Damian Bidwell, Darrell Bossard, and Max Blair complete the top 12 points paying positions.
Meanwhile, the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds will join the "Steel City Stampede" for the fifth consecutive year. Greg Martin won the inaugural race in 2014, while Nick Ritchey won his first ever at Lernerville in 2015. Rocky Kugel topped what was at the time in 2016 was a record field of 29 cars. Last year, saw Steve Slater become the fourth different winner in as many years. The Sportsman Mods will complete their fourth season of Bicknell Touring Series competition and will be featured in an $800 to-win event.
The "Apple Festival Nationals" event at Sharon saw day two rained out and will be made up in the spring. The last completed Bicknell Tour event was at Sharon on August 25 as an all-time record 38 cars turned out for "Manufacturers Night" presented by MSD Performance and was won by Chas Wolbert. Wolbert currently has a four-point lead on Garrett Krummert, who clinched the $3,000 Bicknell Weekly Series crown last weekend at Mercer Raceway Park. Brandon Ritchey, who won his first career Tour race on July 12 at Expo, is third in points and is only six points out of the lead. Completing the top 10 points paying positions are Kyle Martell, Steve Slater, Kole Holden, Jeremy Weaver, Blaze Myers, Darin Gallagher, and Jordan Ehrenberg.
The RUSH Sportsman Modifieds have only completed two events thus far this season at Lernerville. Kugel won over a 26-car field on July 20, while Krummert topped a 22-car field on August 31. Both were Bicknell Weekly Series events.
The RUSH Sprints will wrap up their inaugural season this weekend racing for $800 to-win, $160 to-start. Lernerville has been the home for the Series with 10 events scheduled and eight being completed to date at the Sarver, Pa. oval. Gale Ruth, Jr. leads the way with three wins, while Chad Ruhlman and Zach Morrow picked up a pair of victories. Arnie Kent won the Series' race back on May 16 and went on to win the $1,000 "Wednesday Night Lightning Series" title.
A total of 21 different Sprint Cars have hit the track for year one. Chad Ruhlman has clinched the $5,000 Bonnell's Rod Shop Weekly Series title thanks to 14 wins overall. Ruth has locked up second in points. Kent and Morrow are in a close battle for third. Shawn Smith looks to hold off Brandon Hawkins for the fifth spot. Smith had a strong second half of the season with seven straight top five finishes.
The annual "Manufacturers Night" presented by MSD Performance for the RUSH Pro Stocks will take place on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. in the registration tent. Only the 20 drivers that competed at Lernerville in 2018 will be eligible for the prize drawings. There will be one prize per driver. Due to the Stampede being an open rules event, drivers do not need to be eligible to win the prizes. Complete prize list is posted below.
FK Rod Ends "Shock the Clock Qualifying and Beat the Heat" will be utilized on Friday night for the Late Models meaning the fastest qualifier will receive $100 and all heat race winners will earn $25.
For both the Late Models and Modifieds, Precise Racing Products will award a $100 gift card for the "Pedal Down" Hard Charger that passes the most cars in the feature. 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 for both classes.
RUSH Sportsman Modified Series Officials will determine the Sherwood Racing Wheels "Man of Steel" award winner as one that bounced back from an earlier mishap to finish the event strongly each night. The selected driver will receive a certificate for a free Sherwood Racing Wheel.
New this year is the Dirt Defender "Defensive Drive" to the driver that best defended his position throughout the night in both the Late Models and Modifieds. This award chosen by RUSH Officials will award a $40 Dirt Defender product package. 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.
RUSH Late Model Feature payoff: 1. $2,000 2. $1,000 3. $650 4. $550 5. $470 6. $435 7. $410 8. $370 9. $340 10. $310 11. $280 12. $270 13. $260 14. $250 15. $240 16. $230 17. $220 18-26. $210.
RUSH Late Model Non-Qualifier payoff: 1. $175 2. $150 3. $140 4. $135 5. $130 6. $125 7. $120 8. $115 9. $110 10-24. $105. Tow $100.
RUSH Sportsman Modified Feature Payoff: 1. $800 2. $500 3. $350 4. $300 5. $250 6. $220 7. $180 8. $175 9. $170 10. $165 11. $160 12. $155 13. $150 14. $145 15. $140 16. $135 17. $130 18-24. $125. Tow $75.
RUSH Sprint Car Feature Payoff: 1. $800 2. $400 3. $300 4. $250 5. $225 6. $220 7. $210 8. $200 9. $190 10. $185 11. $180 12. $175 13. $170 14-18. $165 19-24. $160. Tow $75.
RUSH Pro Stock "Manufacturers Night" presented by MSD Performance Giveaways:
1. TBM Brake - 4 "Thunderstorm" Blueprinted Calipers (D52's or D154) & Fluid ($1,145)
2. Holley - 650 CFM Carburetor ($650)
3. Insinger Performance/Precise - 1 Drum of Sunoco 110 Racing Fuel ($460)
4. Jones Racing Products - 1 Crate Engine Pulley Kit (Part #1004-S-CE) ($412)
5. Schoenfeld Headers - 1 Set of Schoenfeld Cross Sportsman Headers ($300)
6. Landrum Springs - Package of VB Coil Springs ($300)
7. Landrum Springs - Package of 4 VB Coil Springs ($300)
8. Landrum Springs - Package of 4 VB Coil Springs ($300)
9. Dynamic Drivelines - 1 New Steel Driveshaft ($300)
10. Bilstein Shocks - 2 RUSH "Bilstein Bandit" Shocks ($270)
11. Ingram Engines - $250 Gift Certificate ($250)
12. Wrisco Industries - Four Sheets White Aluminum ($240)
13. Precise/Sunoco/Ultra-Shield - 1 Performance Body Classic Nose Piece, 2 Sunoco Fuel Jugs & 1 Box of (200) Tear-offs ($235)
14. FSR-Precise/K&N - 1 Single Pass Radiator & $50 K&N Gift Card ($230)
15. Quick Fuel/Earls - $200 Gift Certificate & Ultra Shield - Box 200 Tear-Offs ($220)
16. Quick Fuel/Earls - $200 Gift Certificate & Ultra Shield - Box 200 Tear-Offs ($220)
17. Hoosier Tire Distributor/TBM Brakes - 1 Hoosier Sportsman Tire & Brake Fluid ($215)
18. Hoosier Tire Distributor/TBM Brakes - 1 Hoosier Sportsman Tire & Brake Fluid ($215)
19. Precise $100 Gift Card//Ultra Shield -Harness System/Dirt Defender ($210)
20. Precise Racing Products - $200 Gift Certificate ($200)
2018 Sweeney RUSH Late Model Touring Series Points (Adjusted on Marquee/Platinum; only Tour members receive points): 1. Jason Genco 1211 2. Jeremy Wonderling 1207 3. Brady Wonderling 1158 4. Adam Ferri 1071 5. John Waters 1003 6. J.J. Mazur 957 7. Cory Lawler 955 8. Bill Kessler 897 9. Jason Knowles 840 10. Damian Bidwell 772 11. Darrell Bossard 704 12. Max Blair 582 13. Kyle Murray 580 14. Chad Sines & Christian Schneider 557 16. Beamer Guzzardi 539 17. Bruce Hordusky, Jr. 529 18. Garret Paugh 481 19. Jimmy Johnson, Jr. 463 20. Brian Knowles 434 21. Charlie Sandercock 431 22. Cory Sines 374 23. Mike Franklin 362 24. Paul Norman, Jr. 317 25. Cody Dawson & Tony White 302 27. Joe Watson 210 28. Eric Wilson 190 29. Braeden Dillinger 160 30. John Mollick 143 31. Andy Boozel 89 32. Jared Kane 84.
2018 Bicknell Racing Products Touring Series Points (only Tour members receive points): 1. Chas Wolbert 456 2. Garrett Krummert 452 3. Brandon Ritchey 450 4. Kyle Martell 436 5. Steve Slater 420 6. Kole Holden 416 7. Jeremy Weaver 404 8. Blaze Myers 398 9. Darin Gallagher 338 10. Jordan Ehrenberg 315 11. Justin Shea 279 12. David Kalb, Jr. 222 13. Brian Schaffer 176 14. Jason Hufnagel 148 15. Jacob Jordan 146.
2018 Sweeney RUSH Sprint Car Bonnell's Rod Shop Weekly Series Points (based on best 12 finishes): 1. Chad Ruhlman 1342 2. Gale Ruth, Jr. 1313 3. Arnie Kent 1302 4. Zach Morrow 1301 5. Shawn Smith 1257 6. Brandon Hawkins & Joe McEwen 1247 8. Scott Hawkins 1224 9. Dave Hawkins 1221 10. Brad Blackshear 1200 11. Tyler Powell 1192 12. Steve Cousins 1191 13. Steve Pedley 870 14. Dalton Daniels 717 15. Jim Kurpakus 632 16. Brian Woodhall 590 17. Phil Thornton 582 18. Brian Ruhlman 486 19. Mike Lutz 419 20. Darin Gallagher 272 21. John Mollick 190 22. Kevin Mohney 189.
The AMB/MyLaps transponders are required at Lernerville. Driver radios are always mandatory at the 454.000 channel. The entry fee is $100 for Late Models and $35 for Sportsman Modifieds. There will be an open practice from 7-9 p.m. on Thursday night. Registration and tech opens at 2 p.m. on Friday. Drivers meeting at 6:20 with group qualifying for the RUSH Late Models at 7:00. Racing begins early on Saturday at 4 p.m. Check out the following link for additional "Steel City Stampede" event details
https://www.rushlatemodels.com/Steel%20City%20Stampede%20Competitor%20Guide%202018.pdf 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).
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, Maxima Racing Oil, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, Alternative Power Sources, Precise Racing Products, ARbodies, TBM Brakes, K&N Filters, Lincoln Electric, Velocita-USA, Classic Ink USA, Rocket Chassis, Landrum Performance Spring, CrateInsider.com, RockAuto.com, and Valley Fashions.
RUSH Sportsman Modified marketing partners include Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC, Pace Performance, Hoosier Tire, Bicknell Racing Products, 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, Maxima Racing Oil, Sherwood Racing Wheels, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, Alternative Power Sources, Precise Racing Products, TBM Brakes, K&N Filters, Lincoln Electric, Velocita-USA, Classic Ink USA, CrateInsider.com, 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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