JASON GENCO SWEEPS $4,500 "TOPLESS NATIONALS" FOR SWEENEY RUSH LATE MODELS AT GENESEE; CAREER 1ST RUSH WINS FOR SCOTT GUNN IN LM & BILLY DEMING IN PRO MODS; WARD SCHELL ENDS 5-YR WINLESS DROUGHT WITH SEASON ENDING BRADFORD WIN
By Jim Zufall & Mike Leone
September 19, 2018 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Pulaski, PA)...As the racing for the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Racing Series powered by Pace Performance family of speedways begins to draw to a close, point titles and special shows are the order of the day. While standout racers Jason Genco and Chad Ruhlman both had a big weekend upping their season win totals, while others ended winless droughts with their first career RUSH wins.
Old Bradford Speedway brought down the curtain on the 2018 season with their rescheduled Season Championship Night last Friday, Billy Deming picked up his first career RUSH win in the Pro Mod division. Adam Ashcroft was second for the second straight race. Chad Carlson, the 2018 track champion, was third over Nate Hartzell and Jeremy Wonderling.
In RUSH Late Model action at Bradford, Ward Schell picked up his first win in the division in five years! Jeff Hoffman held on for the runner-up position. Brad Mesler was driving Jeremy Wonderling's car and his third place finish secured the season title. Dave Norton, Jr. and Clayton Tarabori made their first appearances of 2018 and were fourth and fifth.
A full slate of RUSH-sanctioned racing was on tap at Genesee Speedway over the weekend and it all got started on Saturday afternoon at the Batavia, NY 1/3-mile. The occasion was the "Topless Crate Nationals" and in a repeat of last year’s event, Jason Genco captured the $1,500-to-win opening night victory in dominating fashion. Not only dominating the feature, Genco set fast time and won his heat, putting him on the outside of the front row for the main event. Genco held off a strong field of competitors that included Doug Ricotta, Scott Gurdak, Jeremy Wonderling and JJ Mazur, who finished in second through fifth. Mazur was crowned champion for the second straight year.
The first of two nights for the RUSH Sprint Cars was also the first ever appearance for the division at Genesee. Chad Ruhlman led all 20 laps and took the inaugural $800 win followed by Shawn Smith, Brian Woodhall, Zack Bealer, and Steve Cousins.
Action returned to Genesee on Sunday afternoon when Genco repeated his efforts and landed in victory lane for the second time in as many nights, this time for a cool $3,000! Night two was no easy task though as Brady Wonderling put on a tough challenge for the lead but was unable to cash in and settled for second as standouts Mike Pegher, Jr., Max Blair, and Beamer Guzzardi completed the top five.
For Genco, the doubleheader and double payday made for his fourth straight win and fifth in the past seven races at Genesee. “We took care of business,” declared a jubilant Genco in Victory Lane. “I wanted this one more than any other race and just so glad to have it.”
In the Sunday RUSH Sprint action, Chad Ruhlman also pulled a double winning for the second night in a row as his two-day sweep after bonuses was worth $2,000! Zack Bealer was an impressive second. Brian Woodhall was third for the second straight race. Zach Morrow was fourth over Shawn Smith. Next up for Genesee Speedway is the Fall Finale on October 13 that will include the RUSH Late Models.
Another double bill for two RUSH divisions took place at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway on Saturday night. First up was the 20-lap feature for the RUSH Late Models where the #14G of Scott Gunn stood jubilant in victory lane after a winless streak that spanned most of a decade! Gunn held off a very stout field of competitors that included Daryl Charlier, Tommy Schirnhofer, Jr., Logan Zarin and Ron Hall for his first career RUSH win.
Making the first of three consecutive appearances at PPMS were the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds. Chas Wolbert moved up from his fifth place starting position to pull off the win. Wolbert moved into the top spot on lap nine of the 15-lap event, and went on for his first win at the "Monster Half-Mile" since July 15, 2017. Tony Tatgenhorst was a season best second over Josh Deems, Jeremy Weaver and 12th starting Rocky Kugel.
Both the RUSH Late Models and Sportsman Modifieds will be in action the next two Saturdays, and the Late Models will compete in the "Bill Hendren Memorial" Touring Series event on October 5-6 at PPMS. The RUSH Sprint Cars will join in the fun for their final appearance of the season this Saturday night making it a RUSH tripleheader at PPMS!
Saturday night at Strongstown, Pennsylvania’s Dog Hollow Speedway, Clate Copeman won his fourth RUSH Late Model feature of the season leading all 20 laps. Copeman is the only weekly driver with a repeat win in the class. Colin Casale was on his tail, but was unable to pass Copeman. Casale finished second over Mike Laughard, Collin Burke and Paul Ivory. Dog Hollow's season ending Thunder Dog has been postponed to late October.
With Lernerville Speedway’s title chase in the books, it was 2018 RUSH Pro Stock champion Corey McPherson picking up right where he left off at Saturday night’s "Autumn-Motive Fest" at the Sarver, Pa. oval. McPherson wasted no time getting to the front of the field by lap four and held off all comers to take the win worth more than $1,000 over Noah Brunell, Tyler Dietz, Ryan Moyer and Joe Kelley. Dietz and McPherson are now tied for the RUSH Weekly Series Championship with two weekends to go.
Season championships were on the line on Saturday night on the pavement at Jennerstown Speedway where three divisions run under the RUSH Asphalt Racing banner. Just one-point separated Late Model championship contenders Mike Hemminger and Gary Wiltrout at the start of the evening on Saturday at the Jennerstown, Pennsylvania half-mile. When the checkered flag waved, it was Barry Awtey standing in victory lane. Jeremiah Kuntz, Wiltrout, Brian Shipp and Todd Price made up the top five, but Hemminger only finished in the ninth position giving Wiltrout his second championship.
Adam Kostelnik took the win in the RUSH Asphalt Modifieds over Anthony Aiello, Tom Golik, Jason Busch and Pete Rech. But it was rookie Aiello who led the point chase all season long thanks to 10 wins and walked away with the Modified title. Aiello's engine was confiscated by Jennerstown following the event and the engine's legality was confirmed during a complete teardown by RUSH Competition Director Travis Harry.
In the RUSH Asphalt Street Stocks, Josh Coughenour made a statement win on Saturday securing a place in victory lane and in the books as the 2018 champion. Coughenour took the victory in the 20-lap race over Zac Torado, newcomer Casey Fleegle, Rick Meehlieb and Aaron VanFleet. Saturday’s races concluded the season at Jennerstown- the second under the RUSH banner.
The post season is in full swing at Outlaw Speedway as the Outlaw Nationals happen this weekend to end the season. Saturday night, the RUSH Late Models will compete for $1,200-to-win in a Sweeney Weekly Series special.
Eriez Speedway will wrap up their season this weekend with the September Sweep. Friday will be heat race action for the RUSH Late Models followed by the $3,011 to-win feature event, the richest of the season, on Saturday. The rain date is Sunday.
Fulton Speedway's final event for the RUSH Late Models will be on Friday, September 28.
McKean County Family Raceway will wrap up their season on Friday and Saturday, September 28-29. The RUSH Late Models will race in a Sweeney Weekly Series special on Friday night then for $1,500 to-win on Saturday night in a Platinum Touring Series event. The RUSH Sprint Cars will make their first ever appearance on Saturday night in a $600 to-win event.
Delaware International Speedway succumbed to the rains of Hurricane Florence but will wrap up their points on Saturday, September 29.
After a couple of weeks off, Potomac Speedway returns to action on October 6 when it will be the final points night for the RUSH Late Models. Chuck Bowie holds a 34-point lead over Darrin Alvey going into the final.
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.
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, Sherwood Racing Wheels, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, Racing Electronics, Dirt Defender, Dynamic Drivelines, Wrisco Industries, Frankland Racing Supply, Alternative Power Sources, Precise Racing Products, TBM Brakes, K&N Filters, Lincoln Electric, Velocita-USA, Classic Ink USA, Schwartzmiller Ground Maintenance, CrateInsider.com, RockAuto.com, Valley Fashions, Dirt Late Model Magazine, and Three Rivers Karting.
RUSH Sprint Car marketing partners include Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC, Pace Performance, Hoosier Tire, Bonnell's Rod Shop, Bilstein Shocks, Insinger Performance, MSD Performance, Holley Performance Products, Racing Electronics, Dirt Defender, Frankland Racing Supply, Earl's Performance Plumbing, FK Rod Ends, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, Precise Racing Products, TBM Brakes, K&N Filters, Lincoln Electric, Velocita-USA, Classic Ink USA, Landrum Performance Spring, Pancho's Racing Products, RockAuto.com, and Valley Fashions.
RUSH Pro Mod and Pro Stock 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, Wrisco. Precise Racing Products, TBM Brakes, K&N Filters, Lincoln Electric, Velocita-USA, Classic Ink USA, 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.
###