ERIEZ TO HOST 1ST OF 2 APPEARANCES BY SWEENEY RUSH LATE MODEL TOUR SUNDAY

By Mike Leone

June 6, 2018               FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Pulaski, PA)...The Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Dirt Late Model Touring Series powered by Pace Performance will resume action this Sunday evening (June 10) at Eriez Speedway in Erie, Pa.   Race #6 of the 2018 season will be a $2,000 to-win "Marquee" Tour event that was rescheduled from May 20.  The Tour will return to Eriez on July 29 following Stateline on July 28, which is the May 19 rescheduled event.

The Sweeney Tour has made five visits over the past three seasons to Eriez with the Blairs winning all five as Max has four wins and his father, Rob, one in a substitution role at the May 2016 event.  The average car count for the four events has been 33 cars per night.  

Eriez, like most tracks throughout the region, has battled every week with Mother Nature completing just one show, which took place on May 17.  On that night, Max Blair topped a solid field of 25 cars for the Sweeny Weekly Series victory. 

"We have to thank Eriez for rescheduling this event," stated RUSH Director Vicki Emig.  "They sure have had a tough time with the weather and we appreciate the opportunity to still being able to complete both events.  The early call is for great weather so hopefully that holds true.  Despite Max being so dominant at Eriez, the races have always been tremendous shows and we expect that once again Sunday." 

Mike Knight was the 2017 track champion at Eriez, while Kyle Zimmerman was the top RUSH member point earner.  Blair and Chad Wright were tied atop the win list with three victories apiece.  Andy Boozel won two of the first four feature events in 2017 at the track, while single wins went to Genco, Knight, and Russ King.   

The Sweeney Tour completed all four events as part of the "Battle of the Bay" Speedweek.  Blair opened the 2018 season winning his first ever race in the "First State" at Delaware International Speedway.  The following night saw, Ross Robinson, who lives across the street from Georgetown Speedway capture his first career RUSH win.  The third night saw Logan Roberson win at his Friday night home track, Potomac Speedway, for his first career Sweeney Tour win.  Speedweek then wrapped up with Roberson repeating the feat taking the win at his Saturday night home track, Winchester Speedway.  And most recently, Jason Genco picked up his first career Sweeney Tour win last Saturday at NY's Genesee Speedway.

Jeremy Wonderling leads the Sweeney Tour to Eriez on Sunday with the early 16-point lead; however, is still looking for his first win of the season.  2016 champion, John Waters, and Jason Genco are currently tied for second.  Genco's victory propelled him up into a tie for runner-up in his first season on the Tour.  Sitting fourth in points is another newcomer to the Tour in Brady Wonderling.  Jason Knowles' season best sixth place has him currently fifth in points. 

FK Rod Ends will present the $100 "Shock the Clock" Qualifying award 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 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.  

RUSH 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.  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. 

The Sweeney Tour then moves on to Tri-City Raceway Park on Sunday, June 17 for the $2,000 to-win "Bill Emig Memorial".  Eriez has dropped the RUSH Late Models on this night.

Feature Payoffs: 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  18-24. $210. 

Non-Qualifier Payoffs: 1. $175  2. $150  3. $140  4. $135  5. $130  6. $125  7. $120  8. $115  9. $110  10-24. $105.  Tow $100.

2018 Sweeney RUSH Late Model Touring Series points (only Tour members receive points): 1. Jeremy Wonderling 442  2. John Waters & Jason Genco 426  4. Brady Wonderling 416   5. Jason Knowles 414  6. Adam Ferri 387  7. Max Blair 382  8. Beamer Guzzardi 376  9. Cory Lawler 373  10. J.J. Mazur 370  11. Jimmy Johnson, Jr. 365  12. Bill Kessler 361  13. Darrell Bossard 346  14. Charlie Sandercock 335  15. Garret Paugh 320  16. Damian Bidwell 312  17. Cody Dawson 302  18. Bruce Hordusky, Jr. 299  19. Christian Schneider 292  20. Mike Franklin 282  21. Joe Watson 210  22. Braeden Dillinger 160  23. Kyle Murray 92.

For Sunday, pit gates open at 3:30 p.m.  Drivers meeting will be at 5:35 p.m. with warm-ups at 6 followed by qualifying.  Pit passes are $30.  There is a $100 entry fee.  Eriez has the Westhold transponder system; however, both the Westhold and AMB/MyLaps transponder can be used.

Eriez Speedway is a 3/8-mile track located outside of Erie, Pa. in Hammett at 9821 Sampson Rd., Erie, PA 16509.  For more information, check out www.eriez-speedway.com.  Follow them on Twitter @EriezSpeedway1 and like their page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/eriezspeedway. 

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, K&N Filters, Lincoln Electric, Pancho's Racing Products, Velocita-USA, Classic Ink USA,  Landrum Performance Spring, Schwartzmiller Ground Maintenance, CrateInsider.com, 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.

 ###