MESLER WINS SEASON'S 1ST AT GENESEE & BRAFORD; 1ST EVER FOR FEDDER AT PATH VALLEY & WRIGHT ALSO GETS 1ST OF SEASON AT ERIEZ IN SWEENEY RUSH LATE MODEL WEEKLY SERIES ACTION; HARVEY STOPS LUNGER'S STATELINE PRO MOD STREAK

By Jim Zufall & Mike Leone

July 14, 2017              FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Pulaski, PA)...The second half of the season is now underway as the majority of the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Racing Series powered by Pace Performance weekly-sanctioned speedways were able to complete their events last weekend.  Several drivers won their first races of the season including career first RUSH wins for Tim Fedder in the Late Models and Matt Harvey in Pro Mods.  It was a good weekend for Brad Mesler as he won not one, but two events for his first victories of 2017!

The weekend kicked off at Outlaw Speedway where Brian Knowles bested Andy Michael, Brad Smith and Chris Fleming in the RUSH Late Model feature.  For Knowles, it was his fourth victory of the season at the Dundee, New York oval.  A full “Super Six” program is on tap for this Friday at Outlaw Speedway including the "Double Down" Series with Genesee for RUSH.

Friday night at Path Valley Speedway Park, Tim Fedder made his first RUSH start of the season a successful one as captured his first career RUSH win.  Matt Glanden made his first ever RUSH start at Path Valley and was thrilled with his runner-up finish.  Third through fifth were Bryon Benton, Levi Crowl and Jakob Piper. The RUSH Late Models return to Path Valley on August 18.

At Virginia’s Winchester Speedway on Saturday night, defending track champion, Logan Roberson, started on the pole and wired the field for his third win of the season in the 20-lap RUSH Late Model main. Roberson's win, aboard his Rocket XR-1, came over Transton Stoner, Allen Brannon, Levi Crowl and Mike Franklin. "We drew a good number for the feature and made the most of it." Roberson said. "We tore this car up pretty bad last night at Path Valley and a big thank you to all who helped us put this thing back together."   The RUSH Late Models return to action this Saturday at Winchester for the 81^st Anniversary celebration.

It was a clean green-to-checkered feature race for the RUSH Late Models at Fulton Speedway on Saturday night. Bret Belden got off to a good start with a straightaway lead with Jason Occhino and Jason Parkhurst duking it out for second well back of Belden. Parkhurst won the battle for runner up and began his assault on the leader.  By the 13^th circuit, Parkhurst was looking to make his move and did just that by lap 14.  Parkhurst won the battle to the end with Belden second.  It was Parkhurt's second win in the past three races and third of the season.  Chris Fleming, Chad Homan and Jason Occhino finished third through fifth. Spectator races are also part of the evening at Fulton this Saturday along with a full show.

Defending Delaware International Speedway Champion, Sparky White, notched his first RUSH win at the Delmar, DE track.  White, who won just the Sunday prior at Georgetown Speedway, got under leader Trevor Collins in the closing laps.  David Pettyjohn was second as Collins dropped to third.  Matt Glanden and Chip Disharoon rounded out the top five. The RUSH Late Models return to Delaware on July 22.

An interesting format for racing on Saturday night at Stateline Speedway. It was Stateline’s Super Late Model vs. RUSH Late Model mystery team event at the one-third mile dirt oval. Each Super Late Model driver was paired with a RUSH Late Model driver prior to the feature races and the three teams with the best combined finish in their respective features were awarded extra pay for their performances.

When the dust settled, it was the team of Wyatt Scott and John Lobb splitting a $500 bonus with Scott finishing second in the RUSH feature and Lobb fourth in the Super Late event. The second-place team, splitting $300 was Dennis Lunger and Bump Hedman and finishing third and splitting $200 were Chad Wright and Darrell Bossard. In the RUSH Late Model feature portion of the event, it was Dennis Lunger, Jr. copping his second win of the season at Busti, NY oval.  Wyatt Scott, Max Blair, Darrell Bossard and Jason Genco made up the top five.

In the RUSH Pro Mod feature event, the perfect season Lunger had been enjoying came to an end when his left front tire went down.  That left Matt Harvey without the familiar Lunger number 71L in his rear view mirror and gave him his first career RUSH win over Ryan Scott, Justin Carlson, Scott Gurdak and Zach Johnson. Racing returns to Stateline this Saturday for “Christmas in July.”

Saturday night in Batavia, NY, Brad Mesler turned in a dominant performance in the RUSH Late Model feature at Genesee Speedway.  Mesler led each of the 20 laps for his first win in a year.  Two late-race restarts would give J.J. Mazur an opportunity to take a look at the lead, but Mesler was too strong.  Mazur held on for second with Andy Michael coming home in third.  Jimmy Johnson and Jon Rivers rounded out the top five.  The RUSH Late Models will be part of the "Double Down" Series this Saturday with Outlaw Speedway.

In the newly formed RUSH Asphalt Racing Series at Jennerstown Speedway, some familiar names were in victory lane on Saturday night. In the Late Models it was former champion Garry Wiltrout with the win over Brian Shipp, Barry Awtey, Jeremiah Kuntz and Todd Price. In the Modified division, Jason won out over Zane Ferrell, Tom Golik, Pete Rech and Chris Brink. Shawn Beam took the victory in the Street Stocks, besting Lauren Butler, Anthony Aiello, Josh Coughenour and Aaron Van Fleet. This Saturday all six regular divisions will be on hand at Jennerstown for a racing card that includes the ISMA Super Modifieds.

Sunday night at Humberstone Speedway in Port Colborne, Ontario, Chad Homan was able to score his third victory of the season in the RUSH Late Model event.  Homan and Rob Pietz would duke it out early for second position with Jeff Dayman in the lead.  Then on a restart, Homan got by Dayman and held on for his sixth overall win of 2017.  Dayman was a season best second as Pietz, Sam Pennacchio and Tim Gillespie made up the rest of the top five.  More racing this Sunday at Humberstone when it is autograph night.

At Eriez Speedway on Sunday, Chad Wright took his season's first RUSH Late Model victory over Kyle Zimmerman, Mike Knight, Max Blair and Scott Gurdak.  It will also be autograph night at Eriez this Sunday with a full racing card.

Also on Sunday in RUSH Late Model action, Brad Mesler won his first of the season at Old Bradford Speedway giving him two wins on the weekend.  Andy Michael, Kyle Murray, C.J. Irons, and W.L. Stile also recorded their best finishes of the season at Bradford in second through fifth.  Bradford will have the 30-lap "Craig Norton Memorial" this Sunday paying $1,200 to-win.

Potomac Speedway will return to action this Friday.  Lernerville Speedway’s RUSH Pro Stocks were rained out along with the rest of the Fab Four divisions, and will try again this Friday night.  Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway gets back to racing this Saturday when the RUSH Late Models and RUSH Sportsman Modifieds will be in action.  Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex succumbed to rain on both Thursday and Saturday last weekend.  Sharon Speedway’s RUSH Sportsman Modifieds took a night off as the All Star Sprints and Big Block Modifieds competed in the "Lou Blaney Memorial".  Sharon will be off this Saturday night for the Trumbull County Fair.

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.

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, Maxima Racing Oil, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, 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 [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.

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