RUSH SANCTIONED EVENTS RETURN TO TRI-CITY FOR THE 1ST TIME IN 2+ YEARS; RUSH SPRINTS PART OF "BRANDON HAWKINS MEMORIAL" AUGUST 23 PRESENTED BY BRUCE SMITH CONSTRUCTION; RUSH SPORTSMAN MODS ON AUGUST 30 PRESENTED BY TURN 4 TOILETS

By Mike Leone

 

August 20, 2020             FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Franklin, PA)…For the first time in more than two years, the Pace Performance RUSH Racing Series together with Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC will have a presence at Tri-City Raceway Park.  Up first will be the RUSH Sprint Cars this Sunday (August 23) in an Equipment Rental Options Weekly Series special presented by Bruce Smith Construction as part of the "Brandon Hawkins Memorial" Night followed one week later (August 30) by the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds in a Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Weekly Series special presented by Turn 4 Toilets.  Both races will pay a minimum of $800 to-win.

 

After sitting dormant in 2019, Tri-City was purchased by Merle Black of Volant, Pa.  Black was a former racer himself and most notably has owned race cars for his step-son Lonny Riggs for the past 25+ years.  Black has breathed life back into the Sunday night staple Tri-City running weekly this season.

 

This Sunday will be a tribute to the late Brandon Hawkins, who tragically lost his life in a work accident last month, and will also feature the "410" and "305" Sprint Cars.  Hawkins, a former Micro Sprint standout, moved to the RUSH Sprint Cars when the class debuted in 2018 along with his brother Scott and father Dave.  The trio also competed together in 2019 as well before Brandon made the move to the "305" Sprints where he won his first feature on July 17 at Bedford Speedway just days before his passing.  Dave and Scott made their first RUSH Sprint starts on July 24 at Lernerville in a 27-lap tribute event to Brandon.

 

Pace Performance has posted a $100 gift card to the hard charger in the feature on Sunday.  Also, "410" Sprint Car racer Ivan Johnson has posted a $50 bonus to the driver that finishes next to last in the feature.  Thanks to Bruce Smith Construction for making the event possible.  Bruce was a former Stock Car racer at Tri-City and his son Shawn, a third generation racer, has competed all three years in the RUSH Sprint division.  Shawn has been close to victory on numerous occasions.

 

Arnie Kent and Chad Ruhlman won the RUSH Sprint Car events at Tri-City in 2018.  Heading into this weekend, Jeremy Weaver leads the Equipment Rental Options Weekly Series points by 31 over Zach Morrow.  Third through fifth in points are Brian Hartzell, Steve Pedley, and A.J. MacQuarrie.  Weaver has won four of the six completed events in 2020, while Morrow and Pedley have also been victorious.  The RUSH Sprint Cars will also be racing at Pittsburgh's PA Motor Speedway on Saturday night.  Pace Performance and Jones Racing Products have posted heat race monies with $50 to the winners, $30 for runner-ups, and $20 for third place finishers. 

 

Thanks to the efforts by 2018 and 2019 RUSH Championship Car Owner Jerry Schaffer, the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds will have a Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Weekly Series special event on August 30 at Tri-City.  The race will be presented by his son's company Turn 4 Toilets and will pay a minimum of $800 to-win.  The race will be part of the "Rick Hall Memorial" for the BRP Modified Tour.  Hall's Big Daddy's Speed Center was not only a supplier for the RUSH Hoosier Tires and Bilstein Shocks, but also was an annual contributor to the numerous Sportsman Modified "Manufacturers Nights".

 

The RUSH Sportsman Modifieds will be off this weekend, but in addition to the Tri-City race next Sunday, they will also race on Friday night (August 28) at Raceway 7 for the final time of 2020 in a "Route 7 Rumble" Series event presented by Wedge Motorsports.  Chas Wolbert leads the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Weekly Series points in search of his first title.  By virtue of seven wins, Wolbert has a 61-point lead over Tony Tatgenhorst.  Third through fifth in points are July 3 Raceway 7 winner Kole Holden, "Futures Cup" points leader Ayden Cipriano, and August 14 Raceway 7 winner Kyle Martell.  Other 2020 winners include defending and two-time Weekly Series Champion Garrett Krummert along with Rob Kristyak.   

 

Past Tri-City winners from 2015-2018 include Garrett Krummert (2), Josh Seippel, Kyle Martell, Chas Wolbert, Adam Hilton & Rocky Kugel. 

 

Tri-City Raceway Park is a ½-mile dirt track located at 3430 Route 417, Franklin, PA 16323.  For more information, check out their website at www.tricityracewaypark.com or call 724-967-4601.  Like their Facebook by searching Tri-City Raceway Park.

 

RUSH Racing Series is brought to you by Pace Performance together with Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC 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, Equipment Rental Options, 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, Zarin Truck & Automotive, Sherwood Wheels, Alternative Power Sources, Precise Racing Products, Lincoln Electric, Velocita-USA, Accu-Force Dynos & Testers, Classic Ink USA, CrateInsider.com, and Wedge Motorsports.

 

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 Sprint Car Facebook page at www.facebook.com/rushsprintcars and follow us on Twitter @RUSHSprints.  Like our Sportsman Mod Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/rushsportsmanmods and follow us on Twitter @RUSHSportMods.

 

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