1ST CAREER RUSH LATE MODEL WINS FOR STEVE LEBARRON & KYLE LEE; KEVAN COOK WINS FULTON'S "TOPLESS" LM RACE FOR 1ST VICTORY OF 2017

By Jim Zufall & Mike Leone

 

August 1, 2017                       FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

(Pulaski, PA)...In yet another weekend of dodging the rain, not all the tracks in the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Racing Series powered by Pace Performance family were able to get their events in. Rain dominated just about everywhere throughout the region on Friday, while Saturday saw rain confined to the southern portion of our area, and despite a dry forecast, Mother Nature even threw some rain at McKean County on Sunday.  Three Late Model drivers were able to cop their first wins of the season including career first RUSH wins for Steve LeBarron and Kyle Lee!

 

In a special Thursday night "Battle of the Bay" show at Delaware International Speedway, Matt Glanden made his way to the front in a 25-car feature and in the end held off Joe Warren, who came from the rear of the field to take the runner up spot.  It was Glanden's second win of the season at Delaware and was worth $1,000.  Sparky White, Chuck Bowie, and Cory Lawler made up the top five. The RUSH Late Models return to DIS for another Thursday Night Thunder night on August 10.

 

Also on Thursday, action at McKean County Speedway in East Smethport, Pa. saw both the RUSH Late Models and RUSH Pro Mods in action.  Vic Vena took off to the early lead in the Pro Mods but saw it disappear on lap two when Dana Stephens spun in turn two.  Chad Carlson assumed the runner-up spot when racing resumed.  Vena opened his lead to half a straight by halfway with Dixon back up to second. Vena continued to lead through to the checkered flag for his second win of the season with Dixon settling for second over Carlson, Nate Hartzell, and Critter Hemphill.

 

Andy Michael and Steve LeBarron brought the RUSH Late Models to green with Michael grabbing the lead and Brad Mesler coming to second.  By halfway, John Waters had moved his way into the lead only to suffer damage when passing lapped cars late in the event.  After the restart, it was his teammate LeBarron taking the lead and ultimately winning his first ever in RUSH over Mesler, Garrett Mott, Jason Tingue, and Andy Michael.

 

After rain washed out Potomac Speedway on Friday and Winchester Speedway on Saturday, a few visitors made their way to Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway where they were treated to a reward of sorts by Miley Motorsports.  With the RUSH Late Models being the highest car count on a weekly basis, they were given the opportunity to race in two 20-lap feature races. The Twin 20s saw a fierce battle between several the PPMS regulars and a few others for a very exciting event.  Winner Ben Policz took on all comers including regulars Justin Lamb and Chuck Medved as well as 2016 Lucas Oil Late Model Series Rookie of the year, Colton Flinner.  Policz took the win by just 0.363 seconds over Flinner, Lamb, Chuck Medved and Clinton Hersh.  As an added bonus, Policz produced an engagement ring from inside his car and proposed to his now fiancé in victory lane!

 

In the second feature, it was visitor Kyle Lee from south-central Pennsylvania taking the win over Daryl Charlier, Lamb, invader Logan Roberson and Policz.  It was Lee’s first visit to the monster half-mile and in victory lane announced his desire to come back to PPMS for the upcoming RUSH Touring Series "Jook George" race coming up on August 12.  Action returns at PPMS this Saturday.

 

At Fulton Speedway, the RUSH Late Models went “topless” on Saturday night taking off their roofs for the 20-lap feature as a season high 18 cars were on hand.   Kevan Cook swapped the lead with Chris Fleming in the opening laps of the event with furious battles going on behind them. Cook took the advantage to a five car length over the runner up and never looked back.  Behind him though, the battles raged on for the top five spots.  When the dust settled, it was Cook with his first win of the season after six podium finishes.  Bret Belden, Chad Homan, AJ Kingsley and Sean Beardsley came  home second through fifth.  The RUSH Late Models will be off this Saturday night at Fulton, but will be making an appearance at Brewerton Speedway on Friday night.

 

Zack Carley claimed his third RUSH Late Model win of the year at the Genesee Speedway on Saturday Night, a beautiful evening for racing which featured all six regular divisions competing on the 1/3-mile oval.  Carley was strong in each element of the 20-lap feature staying up on the cushion with a ton of power that kept his nearest competitors at bay.  Bill Holmes would move up to second but would have nothing for Carley and would settle for his second runner-up showing of the year.  Brad Mesler was also stout, coming home in third while Jimmy Johnson and Jon Rivers scored top five finishes.  Another “5 Star” program is on tap for this Saturday at Genesee.

 

The RUSH Sportsman Modifieds were back in action at their home track Sharon Speedway after spending a couple of weeks at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway.  To simply say that Chas Wolbert led all 20 laps for the victory is selling the action in the race short.  With several restarts with Rocky Kugel alongside and a late race charge by Josh Deems, Wolbert had his work cut out for him.  In the end, Wolbert crossed the line first for his first Sharon win of the season with furious battles going on behind him for position.  Deems settled for a season best second with Kugel, Chelsie Kriegisch, and Brandon Ritchey third through fifth.  Racing resumes at Sharon Speedway for the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds this Saturday with a regular event along with the several time postponed 2016 "Apple Festival Nationals" make-up feature paying $800 to-win.

 

Saturday at Stateline Speedway, the RUSH Pro Mod special 25-lap event saw a familiar face in victory lane as Dennis Lunger, Jr. scored the popular win.  Steve Dixon was the leader until lap four when Lunger took the top spot and never looked back, winning his ninth of the season.  Lunger was followed by Ryan Scott in second, Chad Carlson was third, Gurdak was fourth and Dixon was fifth.  A season high 16 cars were on hand for the event, which also included "Manufacturers Night" presented by MSD Performance as over $11,000 in product was distributed to the racers.

 

In the RUSH Late Model race at Stateline, it was Max Blair taking his fourth victory of the year at the Busti, NY oval.  Lunger was second missing out on the sweep of the night.  Wyatt Scott beat out his cousin Ryan Scott for third with Scott Gurdak fifth.  The Patriot Sprint Tour will join the regular divisions at Stateline this Saturday night.

 

On to Sunday when Humberstone Speedway was in action with Chad Homan picking up his fourth win of the season at the Port Colborne, Ontario bullring.  It was no easy task however as he spent a good deal of the race trying to negotiate his way around leader and pole-sitter Jeff Dayman. By lap 12, Homan did take the lead with Dayman dropping to third behind Rob Pietz who pestered Homan for the lead, but just couldn’t pull it off and settled for second.  Dayman held on for third while Tim Gillespie and Sam Pennacchio were fourth and fifth.  Racing picks up at Humberstone this Sunday with the annual All-Canadian Nationals with a full card of racing.

 

Sunday night at Eriez Speedway, the Sweeney Late Model Touring Series rolled into the Erie, Pa. oval. Max Blair is a previous RUSH Touring Series champion, but had only raced one time in the 2017 campaign narrowly getting defeated by Jeremy Wonderling in the season opening event.  On Sunday, Blair made this start a winning one as he took the lead from Chad Wright in the early going and held on to best the 31 racers that came from four states.  He had no small amount of competition behind him though, as he held of some of the heavy hitters in the RUSH ranks including Russell King, Jason Genco, Bryce Davis and John Waters.  Eriez gets back to regular racing this Sunday with the annual Relay for Life night.  A full card of racing including the first ever appearance by the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds will also be in action.

 

McKean County Raceway held their second program in four days with a rare Sunday evening program.  An expected storm hit the East Smethport, Pa. track forcing a delay, but it didn't stop the show from going on.  One driver that was certainly glad the show was completed was Brad Mesler.  Mesler has RUSH wins this season at Genesee and Old Bradford Speedway, but had never won at McKean.  That changed on Sunday when Mesler scored the Sweeney Weekly Series win over a season best finish by Garrett Mott.  Andy Michael, Kyle Murray, and Dennis Lunger, Jr. were third through fifth.

 

Former RUSH Late Model racer, Steve Dixon picked up the ride this season driving for Kelly Frederes, and on Sunday night scored his second RUSH Pro Mod win in the last three MCR races.  Dennis Lunger, Jr., Vic Vena, Chad Carlson, and Critter Hemphill were second through fifth. 

 

Potomac, Lernerville, Winchester, Roaring Knob and Jennerstown Speedways all fell to the weather.  Old Bradford Speedway was closed on Sunday, but resumes this Sunday night with the RUSH Late Models and Pro Mods.  The RUSH Late Models had the night off last Friday at Outlaw Speedway as the All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Cars sold the Dundee, New York oval out for their appearance.  The RUSH Late Models will be back on the card this Friday night.

 

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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