CAREER 1ST HOVIS RUSH LATE MODEL WIN FOR LEO IARRAPINO COMES AT DOG HOLLOW; MIKE REFT (RUSH LM AT PPMS) & CODY VANGUILDER (RUSH PRO MODS AT STATELINE) CAPTURE 1ST WINS OF 2026

By Marcie Barlow

August 21, 2026                     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Pulaski, PA)...It was another action-packed weekend in all of the Hovis Auto and Truck Supply RUSH Racing Series divisions presented by Born2Run Lubricants. Leo Iarrapino celebrated his career first victory in RUSH Late Model Colussy Chevrolet Weekly Series action.  Dave Hess, Jr. scored a $4,000 victory at Bradford Speedway and Mike Reft visited victory lane at Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Motor Speedway in other Colussy Chevrolet Weekly Series action. Blaze Myers and John Mollick added to their win totals in Hovis Auto and Truck Supply RUSH Sprint Car Rustler Sales & Service Weekly Series action. Todd English scored the win in RUSH Sportsman Modified action with Victor Earle, Jr. and Cody VanGuilder splitting the wins in Pro-Mod action at Stateline Speedway.

Second generation racer Leo Iarrapino claimed his career first Hovis RUSH Late Model victory Friday night at Dog Hollow Speedway in Colussy Chevrolet Weekly Series action. The 19-year-old from Butler, Pa. is part of the 2026 Russ King Racing Futures Cup class.  RUSH Track Pack points leader, Tom Snyder, Jr., was second over a career best run by Skylar Park, and Tyler Ellenberger.

Pole sitter Breyton Santee led the first circuit of the Hovis RUSH Late Model main event at Raceway 7 on Friday night before Ashton Briggs took over on laps two and three. Santee regained the lead on lap four and went on to score his first victory of the season at the facility.  It was also Santee’s second victory of the season in Colussy Chevrolet Weekly Series action.  Briggs settled for second with Jeff Watson finishing third.  Billy Henry, Jr. and Brendan Warner rounded out the top five.

Bradford Speedway hosted a special Saturday evening of racing that included the RUSH Late Models in Colussy Chevrolet Weekly Series action. Jeremy Wonderling led the first 10 laps before veteran Dave Hess, Jr., took the top spot on lap 11. Hess went on to score a 4.468 second victory over Kurt Stebbins at the conclusion of the 40-lap event.  Hess, Jr., scored a $4,000 payday for his efforts.  The Waterford, PA driver has now scored three wins at three different tracks this season in the RUSH Late Model.  John Waters was third over Jake Wilber and Dusty Waters.

Garrett Heffner and Rickie Loucks paced the RUSH Late field at Woodhull Raceway Saturday evening. Loucks grabbed the top spot and led the first nine circuits before Steve LeBarron took the top spot. Sixth place starter Brett Marlatt used the high side of the speedway to get by both Loucks and LeBarron on lap 16 and go on for the win, which was his fifth of the season at the New York oval. Loucks came home a career best second with LeBarron finishing third.  Russ King Futures Cup points leader, Marshall O’Brian, was fourth and Joe Layfield completed the top five.

Cole Petrelle and Mike Reft led the 17-car RUSH Late Model field to the green for Colussy Chevrolet Weekly Series action on Saturday at Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Motor Speedway.  Reft led the first circuit before the event’s lone caution slowed the field giving Petrelle another shot at the lead. Reft again took command when the action resumed and went on to score the victory in only his third night of action this season.  Petrelle, Jake Gunn, Brandon Burgoon and Tommy Schirnhofer completed the top five.

Derek Magee led the first three laps in RUSH Late Model action at Delaware International Speedway before Trevor Collins took over. Collins went on to lead the final 16 circuits to score his third win of the season at the speedway.  The win was also Collins’ fourth in Colussy Chevrolet Weekly Series action. Magee came home in second with Joey Warren third.  Donnie Tingle and Trent Colling rounded out the top five.

Saturday evening at the Dirt Track at Genesee, Doug Ricotta and Jimmy Johnson led the field to the green. Ricotta took the early lead with Johnson close behind until he caught the cushion in turns three and four. Dave DuBois took advantage of Johnson’s mishap to take second and begin the hunt to catch Ricotta. The duo of DuBois and Ricotta raced side-by-side for the final laps with Dubois getting the win by just 0.027 seconds over Ricotta.  DuBois became the first repeat winner of the season at Genesee after 11 events!  Johnson came home in this with Bill Taylor and Paul Grigsby in fourth and fifth.

Davin Kaiser and Jacob Whitt led the 20-car RUSH Late Model field to the green Saturday at Winchester Speedway in Colussy Chevrolet Weekly Series action.  Whitt led the way for the first 19 circuits with Kaiser right behind him in second.  As the duo came to the checkered flag, Whitt slipped up a bit and Kaiser was able to snatch the victory away from him. Kaiser picked up the $1,200 payday.  The win was Kaiser’s second of the season at the Virginia oval and his first since April.  A disappointed Whitt finished in second with Devin Brannon in third.  Kyle Hardy and Branson Woodward finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Hovis RUSH Sprint Car teams returned to action with two Rustler Sales and Services Weekly events.  On Friday night at Tri-City, Blaze Myers and Gale Ruth, Jr. led the field to green with Ruth dogging Myers for the top spot. Myers weathered two cautions to claim the win and the 2026 Divisional Championship at the speedway. Ruth, Jr. came home in the runner-up position with seventh place starter Grayson Bayles finishing third. Devon Deeter and Joe Buccola finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Saturday evening, the RUSH Sprint Car teams travelled across the border to compete at Sharon Speedway for just the third time this season.  An invert zero pill draw saw Joe Buccola and John Mollick lead the field to green. Mollick led the entire distance of the 20-lap main event to score his seventh victory of the season in divisional action and his third in three tries this season at Sharon.  Fourteen-year-old Logen Lockhart, who started 11th, had a great run during the second half of the feature event, came home a career best second in the division. Buccola was third in his 2026 Sharon debut.  Trent Marshall and Arnie Kent rounded out the top five.

The lone Hovis RUSH Sportsman Modified event took place Friday at Raveway 7. It was also the division’s Manufacturers Night presented by MSD Performance with valuable product giveaways to all of teams in attendance.  Todd English started on the pole and led the entire distance of the 20-lap main event to score his third win of the season at the Ashtabula County, OH facility. Kole Holden was second.  Dalton Gabriel was third in his first RUSH start of the season.  Brothers Doug Rutana, and Jacob Rutana followed.

Hovis RUSH Pro Mod teams were in action at Stateline Speedway both Friday and Saturday.  Victor Earle, Jr. navigated a chaotic 15-lap feature event to score the Friday night win over Cody VanGuilder. Cody Rickard, Joseph Chamberlain, and Nick Arnold completed the top five.  It was Earle's second win of 2026.

Saturday evening’s main event saw Earle. lead until a mechanical failure sidelined him. Cody VanGuilder then took control and went on to score his first win of the season and second of his career. Trenton Curry had a good run to finish second. Al Brewer, Josh Wilcox and Greg Marsh rounded out the top five.

William Baker, Jr., and Raiddan Wilson led the RUSH Stock Car main event to the green Friday at Tri-City Raceway Park. Wilson took the lead however two early cautions slowed the racing action. On the final restart Wilson again took command with Baker retiring to the pit area with a vibration in the right rear. Wilson went on to score the victory, which was his first at the speedway this season and collect the $300 bounty that had been placed on Baker as he took home a $600 payday.  Kaden Michael came home in the runner-up position with Cole Laskey finishing third.  Robert Switzer and Jim Buchanon completed the top five.

RUSH Stock car action moved to Stateline Speedway on Saturday for a special $750 to win event. Cole Strickland led early and held off the challenges of Darr Diegelman and Raiddan Wilson.  As this trio battled for the lead sixth place starter William Baker, Jr. slowly worked his way towards the front and capitalizing on a bobble by Strickland to take the lead.  Baker went on to lead the remainder of the 25-lap event and score the victory. Wilson settled for second with Alex Bush claiming third. Cole Strickland and Kaden Michael rounded out the top five.

William Baker, Jr., and Raiddan Wilson led the RUSH Stock Car main event to the green Friday at Tri-City Raceway Park. Wilson took the lead however two early cautions slowed the racing action. On the final restart Wilson again took command with Baker retiring to the pit area with a vibration in the right rear. Wilson went on to score the victory, which was his first at the speedway this season and collect the $300 bounty that had been placed on Baker. Kaden Michael came home in the runner-up position with Cole Laskey finishing third. Robert Switzer and Jim Buchanon completed the top five.

RUSH Stock car action moved to Stateline Speedway on Saturday for a special $750 to win event. Cole Strickland led early and held off the challenges of Darr Diegelman and Raiddan Wilson. As this trio battled for the lead sixth place starter William Baker, Jr. slowly worked his way towards the front and capitalizing on a bobble by Strickland to take the lead. Strickland went on to lead the remainder of the 25-lap event and score the victory. Wilson settled for second with Alex Bush claiming third. Cole Strickland and Kaden Michael rounded out the top five.  Baker's engine was protested and found to be 100% legal per the GM 602 Technical Manual following a teardown by RUSH Competition Director, Travis Harry.    

RUSH Late Model and Stock Car action at Eriez Speedway was rained out on Sunday.

Coming up this weekend Hovis RUSH Late Model Colussy Chevrolet Weekly Series action will take place at Raceway 7, Georgetown Speedway and Dog Hollow on Friday.  The Dirt Track at Genesee, Stateline Speedway, Winchester Speedway and Woodhull Raceway will be in action on Saturday with both Bradford Speedway and Eriez Speedway scheduled for Sunday.

Hovis RUSH Sprint Car teams will take part in Rustler Sales and Service Weekly Series action Friday at Michaels Mercer Raceway Park before heading to Lernerville Speedway for Saturday evening’s Sprint Spectacular.

RUSH Sportsman Modified competitors will visit Raceway 7 on Friday and Sharon Speedway Saturday. The lone event for RUSH Pro Mod competitors is scheduled for Saturday at Stateline Speedway.  Hovis RUSH Stock Car teams have another three-day race weekend with Tri-City Raceway Park kicking off the action on Friday. Stateline Speedway hosts the division on Saturday, and they will conclude the weekend at Eriez Speedway on Sunday.

In what has been a most unusual summer weatherwise, we encourage you to get out and enjoy a night or two or three of Hovis Auto and Truck Supply RUSH racing action at a speedway near you this weekend.

The RUSH Racing Series is brought to you by Hovis Auto & Truck Supply together with Born2Run Lubricants along with the support of Hoosier Tire, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, Insinger Performance, Colussy Chevrolet Flynn's Tire, Gunter's Honey, Rustler Sales & Service, MSD Performance, Holley Performance Products, FK Rod Ends, Capital Contracting Service, Joseph J. Oliva Attorney at Law, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, Landrum Performance Springs, Russ King Racing, 3C Graphix, Velocita-USA, Wieland Metal Services, Real Merchant Services DMV, IllusionCoats Powder Coating, Hoosier Tire Western Pennsylvania/Big Daddy's Speed Center, Close Racing Supply, Keyser Manufacturing/Integra Racing Shocks, Seal-Tite Paving & Excavating, MotoRad, Schneider Trucks, Ontime Body & Graphic, Henry's Headers & Exhaust Systems, D&V Jewelers, AERO Race Wheels, Racing Electronics, Design Creations, and Competition Crate Parts.

E-mail can be sent to the RUSH Racing Series at [email protected] and 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 X (formerly known as Twitter) @RUSHLM.

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