RUSH DOUBLEHEADER SATURDAY WITH SWEENEY LATE MODEL TOUR ALONG WITH RUSH SPRINTS IN THEIR 1ST EVER MCKEAN APPEARANCE

By Mike Leone

 

September 27, 2018             FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(East Smethport, PA)…The Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Racing Series powered by Pace Performance is set for a doubleheader of action this Saturday (September 29) at McKean County Family Raceway.  The Sweeney RUSH Late Model Touring Series will compete in a $1,500 to-win Platinum Event, while the RUSH Sprint Cars will make their first ever visit to McKean in a $600 to-win Bonnell's Rod Shop Weekly Series special.  RUSH Late Model Qualifying will begin immediately following RUSH Sprint engine starts, which begin at 4:15 p.m., and then will be followed up by Sprint warm-ups.  Heat races are slated for 6 p.m.

 

Due to a rain out at the annual McKean County Fair event on August 16, Saturday will mark the first and only appearance of the season for the RUSH Late Model Touring Series at McKean.  This year, McKean returned to weekly racing under the promotional efforts of the Bigley Family.  Eleven Sweeney Weekly Series events have been completed with an impressive eight different winners.  Max Blair, Brad Mesler, and Paul Grigsby have been able to repeat, while John Waters, Steve LeBarron, Andy Michael, Eric Wilson, and Jeremy Wonderling have each captured a win.  There will also be a $1,000 to-win Sweeney Weekly Series event on Friday night.

 

"We have to thank the Bigley Family for continuing racing at the McKean County Fairgrounds this season and allowing the RUSH Late Models to be the featured attraction," stated RUSH Director Vicki Emig.  "It's great to again have a strong presence at the Fall Invitational with our Late Models getting two events including our Tour race, and also giving our RUSH Sprints the opportunity to be showcased.  McKean will be the 11th different track to give the RUSH Sprints a date during their inaugural 2018 season!"

 

The championship points battle in the Sweeney Late Model Tour has been tight all season long between Jason Genco and Jeremy Wondering.  Genco has just a five-point lead on Wonderling, but enters Saturday night on a hot streak in Sweeney Weekly Series action.  Genco swept the "Topless Nationals" at Genesee Speedway September 15-16 for $4,500 then won last Sunday's finale at Eriez Speedway for $3,011.  That's over $7,500 for two weekends of work!

 

Genco is in his first year on the Tour, while Wonderling is in his second.  Genco has two Tour wins- both at Genesee, while Wonderling's only win came at Outlaw.  Wonderling brings an 11-race top 10 win streak into Saturday with five of those being podium finishes.  Jeremy's brother Mike Wonderling sits third in points and needs a strong finish to get back in the championship hunt as just two more races remain after McKean.  Canadian Adam Ferri is fourth in points and is the third driver in the top four Touring for the first time in his career.  J.J. Mazur has worked his way up to fifth in points.  Completing the top 12 points paying positions are Cory Lawler, John Waters, Jason Knowles, Bill Kessler, Damian Bidwell, Darrell Bossard, and Beamer Guzzardi.

 

Chad Ruhlman leads the RUSH Sprint Cars into their first ever appearance at McKean, and the only Sprint Car race of 2018 at the East Smethport, Pa. oval.  Ruhlman will be doing double-duty also driving the Terry Suppa-owned #4S Super Late Model.  Ruhlman leads the $5,000 to-win Bonnell's Rod Shop Weekly Series Championship points and is coming off a $2,000 weekend sweep at Genesee two weekends ago. 

 

For the Late Models, FK Rod Ends will award $100 to the driver that sets fast time in qualifying and $25 to each heat race winner.  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. 

 

RUSH Late Model Feature Payoff : 1. $1,500  2. $800  3. $550  4. $410  5. $375  6. $340  7. $325  8. $295  9. $285  10. $280  11. $255  12. $250  13. $230  14. $225  15. $200  16. $195  17. $190  18-24. $185.  Tow $75.

 

RUSH Sprint Car Feature Payoff:  1. $600  2. $300  3. $250  4. $225  5. $200  6. $195  7. $190  8. $185  9. $180  10. $175  11. $170  12. $165  13. $160  14-18. $155  19-24. $150.  Tow $75.

 

2018 Sweeney RUSH Late Model Touring Series Points (Adjusted on Marquee/Platinum; only Tour members receive points): 1. Jason Genco 1116  2. Jeremy Wonderling 1111  3. Brady Wonderling 1074  4. Adam Ferri 997  5. J.J. Mazur 957  6. Cory Lawler 955  7. John Waters 907  8. Jason Knowles 840  9. Bill Kessler 822  10. Damian Bidwell 687  11. Darrell Bossard 626  12. Kyle Murray 571  13. Beamer Guzzardi 539  14. Bruce Hordusky, Jr. 529  15. Chad Sines 487  16. Max Blair 482  17. Christian Schneider 474  18. Jimmy Johnson, Jr. 447  19. Charlie Sandercock 431  20. Brian Knowles 420  21. Garrett Paugh 420  22. Mike Franklin 362  23. Cory Sines 304  24. Cody Dawson 302  25. Paul Norman, Jr. 237  26. Tony White 232  27. Joe Watson 210  28. Eric Wilson 187  29. Braeden Dillinger 160  30. Andy Boozel 89  31. Jared Kane 84  32. John Mollick 71.

 

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 1219  9. Dave Hawkins 1215  10. Brad Blackshear & Tyler Powell 1192  12. Steve Cousins 1189  13. Steve Pedley 772  14. Dalton Daniels 717  15. Phil Thornton 582  16. Jim Kurpakus 536  17. Brian Woodhall 493  18. Brian Ruhlman 486  19. Mike Lutz 419  20. Darin Gallagher 272  21. John Mollick 190  22. Kevin Mohney 189.

 

The AMB/MyLaps transponders will be used for both classes.  One-way driver radios are always mandatory on the default 454.000 channel.  There will be a $75 entry fee for Late Models.  Pit passes are $40.  Pits open at noon.  RUSH drivers meeting will be at 3:45 p.m.  Heat in motors for Sprints will be at 4:15 p.m. followed by RUSH Late Model qualifying and RUSH Sprint warm-ups.  Heat races are slated for 6 p.m. 

 

McKean County Raceway is a 1/3-mile dirt track located at the McKean County Fairgrounds in East Smethport, Pa. at the intersections of Route 6 and 46.  For more information on McKean County Family Raceway, check out their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ McKeanCoFamRaceway or their website at www.mckeancountyfamilyraceway.com.  Follow them on Twitter @CountyMcKean.

 

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 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.

 

E-mail can be sent to the RUSH Racing Series at [email protected] 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.

###