CAREER 1ST WIN FOR DOUG RUTANA COMES IN HOVIS RUSH SPORTSMAN MODS AT RACEWAY 7; 1ST RUSH LATE MODEL WIN OF 2023 FOR DAVID PARKER WHILE WARD SCHELL ENDS A 5-YEAR WINLESS DROUGHT

By Marcie Barlow

July 14, 2023              FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Pulaski, PA)...After several weeks of dodging rain showers and thunderstorms, Hovis Auto and Truck Supply RUSH Racing Series presented by Born2Run Lubricants competitors were graced with predominately dry weather and fans were treated to some great racing action as Doug Rutana picked up his career first RUSH Sportsman Modified victory at Raceway 7.  David Parker scored his first RUSH Late Model victory of the season last week at Stateline Speedway and Ward Schell returned to victory lane for the first time since 2018 at Bradford Speedway!  Zain Harvey won his first ever Bradford Speedway victory in the RUSH Pro Mods.

The Hill Speedway hosted their first of four 1,000 to-win RUSH Late Model City Chevrolet Weekly Series special events on Friday night.  Wellsville, NY native Jeremy Wonderling made the tow worthwhile as he scored his career first victory at the speedway.  His brother Mike Wonderling came in second.  Rickie Loucks, Mike Epler and Chad Homan rounded out the top five.

Kyle Lukon and Cole Petrelle led the 19-car RUSH Late Model field to the green at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway Saturday evening.  The duo batted for the top spot for the first three laps before a caution slowed the field.  On the restart, Lukon chose the outside, took the lead for good and went on to score his second victory of the season at PPMS.  Eleventh place starter Brandon Burgoon worked his way through the field to finish second with Garret Paugh, Tommy Schirnhofer and Jake Gunn completing the top five.

Brett Marlatt also used his front row starting position to his advantage Saturday night at Woodhull Raceway.  Marlatt bested the competition in the 20-lap main event to score his second win of the season at the southern tier New York facility.  Divisional points leader Austin Allan had a solid performance to score the second position followed by Jason Knowles, Brian Knowles and Aaron Miller.

Genesee Speedway competitors returned to action after a three-week hiatus and the fans were not disappointed.  Dave Dubois led the first 12 laps before Chad Homan took the top spot and went on to pick up his third victory of the season at the New York facility.  Eighth place starter Jeremy Wonderling battled Dubois for the second spot before finally making a pass on lap 18, but he was unable to overtake Homan on the final restart and settled for second.  Mike Wonderling, DuBois and Doug Ricotta rounded out the top five.    

RUSH Late Model competitors at Stateline Speedway battled in a caution filled main event that saw Khole Wanzer lead the first 10 circuits before David Parker took command on lap 11 and went on for his first victory of the 2023 season.  Matt Sipes, Scott Gurdak, Andy Michael and Josh Ferry followed Parker.  Another solid field of 27 cars were on hand as Stateline has averaged nearly 28 cars per night this season!

Brandon Weigle claimed his third consecutive victory and fifth in the last six races at Tyler County Speedway on Saturday night.  Weigle won in convincing style over Kyle Thomas, while Donnie Dotson, Lane Brock and George Castro rounded out the top five.

Breyton Santee recorded his third victory of the season in RUSH Late Model action as he was victorious at Eriez Speedway Sunday evening.  Early leader David Pangrazio was second for the third time this season and has finished on the podium in all five races this season!  Matt Sipes, David Parker, and Jason Genco complete the top five.  A solid field of 21 cars were on hand as Eriez has averaged more than 24 cars per night this season!

Ward Schell returned to victory lane for the first time since 2018 as he scored the victory in RUSH Late Model City Chevrolet Weekly Series action Sunday night at Bradford Speedway.  Mike Wonderling scored his second runner-up position finish of the weekend and third podium.  Dusty Waters, Brad Mesler and Garrett Mott completed the top five.

The Hovis Auto and Truck Supply RUSH Sportsman Modified Series competitors kicked off their weekend Friday evening at Raceway 7.  Doug Rutana led the 20-lap main event flag-to-flag to score his career first victory.  Veteran Bill Cunningham came home in second for his career best finish in the division.  Ayden Cipriano, JC Boyer and Kole Holden rounded out the first five.

On Saturday evening the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds ventured to Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway.  Tiona, PA resident Kole Holden scored his second consecutive victory at “Dirt’s Monster Half Mile” defeating Chelsie Kriegisch, who was runner-up for the second straight race.  Rookie Jeff Watson was third in his first visit to PPMS.

This Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Sprint Car headed to Marion Center Raceway on Saturday for their first of two appearances. The second show in the history of the RUSH Sprints attracted 18 cars.  Chad Ruhlman's dream season continued with his sixth victory in nine races to lead the $5,000 to-win Sunbelt Rentals Weekly Series point chase.  Second year racer Zack Wilson turned in his career best finish in second.  Gale Ruth, Jr. was third over a season best finish by Brian Cressley.  Arnie Kent completed the top five.    

RUSH Pro Mod action at Stateline Speedway saw Steve Dixon dominate the 20-lap main event to tally his fourth victory of the season at the New York track.  Dixon's eighth overall win in RUSH Pro Mod action continues to keep him atop the standings.  Brendan Warner had one of his best outings of the 2023 season to come home in second with Dennis Lunger, Jr. claiming third.  Zain Harvey and Chad Ramsey, Jr. completed the top five.   

On Sunday, 2022 "Futures Cup" Champion, Zain Harvey claimed his first ever Bradford win and second overall of the season.  Steve Dixon was second to increase his points lead at the speedway and maintains the top spot in the $3,500 to-win Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Weekly Series Championship.  Critter Hemphill, Josh Wilcox and Ian Degolier rounded out the top five.

2022 "Futures Cup" Cody Rickard won for the third time in six tries at Eriez Speedway on Sunday night in the lone RUSH Stock Car event of the weekend.  William Baker, Jr., Nick Robie, Alex Bush, and Cole Strickland completed the top five. 

RUSH Late Model competitors had the weekend off at Freedom Motorsports Park, Raceway 7, Potomac Speedway, Delaware International Raceway and Winchester Speedway.   The $1,000 to win RUSH Late Model special scheduled for July 7 at Skyline was cancelled due to the weather and rescheduled to this Friday night. 

The RUSH Late Model Flynn's Tire Touring Series returns to action on Saturday night with the $3,000 to-win "Herb Scott Memorial" at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway.  City Chevrolet Weekly Series action is also on tap Friday at Potomac Speedway and Raceway 7.  Saturday evening weekly RUSH Late Model action is scheduled at Genesee Speedway, Stateline Speedway and Woodhull Raceway.  Bradford and Eriez Speedways will host RUSH racing action Sunday evening to close out the weekend.

The RUSH Sportsman Modifieds and RUSH Sprint Cars will both be in action on Saturday night at Sharon Speedway.

The RUSH Racing Series is brought to you by Hovis Auto & Truck Supply together with Born2Run Lubricants along with the support of Hoosier Tire, Rick Hendrick City Chevrolet, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, Insinger Performance, Flynn's Tire, Sunbelt Rentals, MSD Performance, Holley Performance Products, FK Rod Ends, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, TBM Brakes, Bilstein Shocks, Performance Bodies & Parts, Racing Electronics, Wieland Metal Services, Frankland Racing Supply, Landrum Performance Spring, Ontime Body & Graphic, Sherwood Wheels, Precise Racing Products, Velocita-USA, Wedge Motorsports, 3C Graphix, D&V Jewelers, CrateInsider.com, and Terry Bowser Excavating.  

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.  The RUSH Late Model website is www.rushlatemodels.com. Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/rushlatemodels and follow us on Twitter @RUSHLM.

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