12 DIFFERENT SWEENEY RUSH LATE MODEL WINNERS DURING BUSY WEEKEND; SANDERCOCK IS ONLY DRIVER TO REPEAT & DOES IT ON THE $135 BILSTEIN SEALED, SPEC SHOCKS

By Jim Zufall & Mike Leone

 

August 4, 2015               FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

(Pulaski, PA)... Another weekend of great weather was over the Northeast last weekend, which made for a fabulous weekend of racing to end the month of July and kickoff August at each of the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Dirt Late Model and Sportsman Modified Series family of race tracks.  Twelve different drivers captured Sweeney RUSH Late Model victories in 13 races, while two different drivers won the Bicknell RUSH Sportsman Modified Weekly Series events.

 

A special midweek racing program at La Fargeville NY’s Can Am Motorsports Park saw Charlie Sandercock start the 20-lap feature from the pole in the RUSH Late Model event on Wednesday night, July 29.  The dominant Sandercock pulled away to over a half-lap lead over the second place car of Phil Potts by mid race.  In the end it was Sandercock winning for the fourth time in five races this season on the $135 Bilstein sealed, spec shocks.  Potts retained the runner up spot with David McDonald, Billy Eisele and Tyler Rand making up the top five.

 

Action got underway on Friday at Freedom Motorsports Park in Delevan New York as heat race winners Jon Rivers and John Waters paced the 20-lap feature race in the RUSH Late Model division.  When the checkers fell over the field it was Andy Michael in Lewy Kratts’ #17X sitting in victory lane for the first time this season.  Michael was followed by Randy Hall, Ward Schell, Rivers and Jim Johnson.  Action returns to Freedom this Friday (August 7) when the RUSH series will join a full card for racing that includes a special $1,000 to win feature for the Sportsman Modified division.

 

It was a doubleheader weekend for the RUSH Late Models at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway last Saturday and Sunday.  The annual “Jook George Memorial” on Saturday had Colton Flinner standing on the roof of his number 60 late model collecting the $2,100 winner’s portion of the over $12,000 purse that honored one of the track’s most respected car builders.  Flinner was followed by Tommy Schirnhofer, Ben Policz, Kyle Lukon and Michael Reft in the season high 23-car field.

 

Sunday night, the RUSH Late Models were back in action as a support class for the second visit of the year for the All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Cars.  Ben Policz, who was coming off a third place finish the night before, bested Josh Holtgraver, Toby Massie, Tommy Schirnhofer and Justin Lamb in the 20-lap feature event.  There was a special treat for all in attendance when the owner of the All Stars, Tony Stewart flew in from the NASCAR race in the Poconos and joined the All Stars crew and sharing his thoughts with the fans about the state of the All Stars series. PPMS returns to action this Saturday when they host the PA Vintage Dirt Modified Association for Nostalgia Night.

 

Somerset, Pennsylvania’s Clinton Hersh started on the pole for the 20-lap RUSH Late Model feature event at Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex in Markleysburg, Pa.  Troy Shields kept a close pace with Hersh for the first few laps, but fell several seconds back over the course of the race.  Hersh managed to hold off any challenges through two caution periods. In the end it was Hersh winning his second career feature on the $135 Bilstein Shocks.  Shields, Russell Baird, Michael Lake and Dylan Lewis were second through fifth. A regular night of racing is on tap this Saturday at Roaring Knob along with an opportunity for the kids to take a lap with the Charger drivers.

 

It was “Fan Appreciation Night” at Brighton Speedway in Brighton, Ontario where the RUSH Late Models took to the track first for their makeup race from July 25.  Charlie Sandercock, coming off his Wednesday victory at Can Am took the victory for the sixth time this season.  Sandercock was followed under the checkers by Brandon Mowat, Corey Earl, Caley Weese and Tyler Rand.

 

Feature  number two for the RUSH Lates saw Sandercock start in the 12th position, but he was only able to muster a fourth place finish behind the likes of winner Phil Potts, Kyle Sopaz, and David McDonald. Sandercock was followed by Corey Earl for fifth.  The victory was Potts’ first ever in RUSH.  Racing resumes at Brighton Speedway this Saturday August 8th for a special show for the Southern Ontario Sprints. The RUSH Late Models return to the schedule on August 15th.

 

Bounce houses, Lowe’s Kid’s Clinic, snow cones and bike races highlighted the action at Wayne County Speedway on Saturday night where the RUSH Late Model feature went to Charlie Duncan.  Duncan relinquished the lead to Markham for the first half of the race, but on lap eleven, Markham’s experienced engine troubles and went pit side. Duncan took over the lead and went on to score his third victory of the year over Justin Chance, Eric Wilson, Jim Nicely and Hiram Bachmann.  The RUSH Late Models return to action at Wayne County on August 15.

 

At New York’s Fulton Speedway, Alan Fink would go to victory lane for the third time this season in the 20-Lap RUSH Late Model feature.  Fink would take the lead on lap two and never look back.  The win was anything but easy as he had to hold off Dale Caswell for the popular win.  Kevan Cook, Chris Fleming and Sean Beardsley would finish third through fifth.  The RUSH Lates return to action this Saturday along with the other regular divisions and a one-on-one spectator race.

 

Tri-City Raceway Park hosted their first ever RUSH Late Model event on a special Saturday night program that was added on to the schedule due to the rainouts and the closure of Stateline Speedway.  It was a big night for Max Blair, who swept both the RUSH and Super Late Model mains for a $2,300 payday.  Blair’s RUSH win came over a great field of 25 cars as Damian Bidwell, Matt Latta, Alan Dellinger, and Darrell Bossard completed the top five.  The next event at Tri-City will feature RUSH in an Insinger/Sunoco Northern Tour “Bill Emig Memorial” paying $2,000 to-win. 

 

Another strong field of RUSH Sportsman Modifieds was on hand at Sharon Speedway last Saturday night where Greg Martin made it three wins in a row, dominating the recent action at Sharon.  "The track was real bitey and this car was just awesome tonight," said Martin of the win.  Traveling from New York, Martin has found something he likes that keeps him coming back. “It's not easy. These guys are fast. They're all friends and it's fun coming down."  Martin was followed to the line by a career best finish by Jim Bryce, Larry Kugel, Kyle Martell and Jordan Eck. The RUSH Sportsman Modifieds return to Sharon Speedway this Saturday, August 8 for a regular show and Pittsburgh Circle Track Club Night.

 

With the closing of Stateline Speedway and McKean County Raceway only running late season special events, the time seems to have been just right for the re-opening of Bradford Speedway in Bradford, Pa.  The RUSH Late Models had Bradford’s highest car count of the four divisions with 17.  The 20-lap feature got underway with Mikey and Jeremy Wonderling making up row one as the green waved.  A series of yellow flag periods plagued the feature, leaving a battle between Jeremy Wonderling and Damian Bidwell in the closing laps. In the end, Wonderling held off Bidwell for his first RUSH win of 2015.  Ward Schell, Andy Michael and Randy Hall were third through fifth. The Sweeney RUSH Weekly Racing Series is proud to welcome back Bradford Speedway as weekly racing continues this Sunday.

 

Sunday night’s action in the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Dirt Late Model Weekly Series at Eriez Speedway near the shores of Lake Erie in Pennsylvania saw Jason Genco on the pole for the feature race.  Max Blair lined up on the outside of the front row and the two put on quite a show, but Blair wasn’t able to complete the pass early in the race. Blair continued his assault on Genco, but had to settle for second as Genco picked up his first Eriez win. Billy Henry, Scott Gurdak, and defending champion and current point leader Kyle Zimmerman rounded out the top five.  Racing resumes at Eriez this Sunday night.

 

In Port Colborne, Ontario on Sunday night, Dennis Lunger Jr. continued his dominance of the RUSH Late Model division at Humberstone Speedway.  Colton Ledingham started on the front row with Lunger in the 30-lap feature, but Ledingham spun bringing out a caution early in the event.  Lunger continued to be the pace setter for the race while Ledingham recovered and took over second place from Rob Pietz who inherited second when Ledingham spun.  Lunger continued unchallenged and took his ninth win of the 2015 campaign in 11 RUSH starts.  Ledingham settled for second, with Pietz, Luke Carleton and Tim Gillespie making up the top five.  The Southern Ontario Sprints headline this Sunday’s action at Humberstone, with all other regular division in competition as well.

 

Sunday at Sportsman’s Speedway, the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds set a new record for the Knox oval with 13 cars competing.  The ever improving Nick Ritchey won for the third time in the past five races at Sportsman’s and the victory was his fourth overall in Bicknell Racing Products Weekly Series action.  Kole Holden was second over Jordan Eck’s best finish in third as Larry Kugel and Josh Deems completed the top five.  This Sunday at Sportsman’s is the “Sam & Bonnie Colwell Memorial” featuring “Manufacturers Night” presented by MSD Performance.

 

Mid-Atlantic speedways, Potomac and Winchester, will have the RUSH Late Models back on their schedule this Friday and Saturday in Sweeney Weekly Series events.  Also, New York’s Woodhull Raceway will hold a Sweeney Weekly Series event for the Late Models this Saturday night!

 

Current point leaders are Max Blair in the Sweeney Weekly Series, Bazell/Sunoco Southern Tour, Insinger/Sunoco Northern Tour, and combined Sweeney Tour points; Bryan Davis leads the Pace Performance “Summer Chase” and Clinton Hersh leads the “Futures Cup” points, while Charlie Sandercock leads the “Bilstein Bandits”.  In the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds, Nick Ritchey leads the Bicknell Weekly Series points, while Larry Kugel leads the Bicknell Tour, and Kole Holden leads the Bicknell “Futures Cup”. 

 

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, Maxima Racing Oil, Jones Racing Products, Alternative Power Sources, Precise Racing Products, ARbodies, TBM Brakes, K&N Filters, Lincoln Electric, Beyea Headers, FK Rod Ends, Bobby Lake Motorsports, Velocita-USA, High Gear Speed Shop, CrateInsider.com, B.R.A.K.E.S., RockAuto.com, and Valley Fashions.

 

RUSH Sportsman Modified marketing partners: Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC, Bicknell Racing Products, Pace Performance, Hoosier Tire, Bilstein Shocks, MSD Ignition, Maxima Racing Oil, Jones Racing Products, VP Racing Fuels, FK Rod Ends, Sherwood Racing Wheels, Velocita-USA, Precise Racing Products, Alternative Power Sources, K&N Filters, TBM Brakes, Lincoln Electric, CrateInsider.com, Rocket Racing, and B.R.A.K.E.S.

 

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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