BILL HOLMES DOUBLES UP WITH SWEENEY RUSH LATE MODEL WINS AT FREEDOM & GENESEE; CAREER 1ST LM WIN FOR JAMIE WRIGHTSMAN; JEFF PILKERTON WINS 1ST OF 2016 AT POTOMAC

By Jim Zufall & Mike Leone

 

August 31, 2016                      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

(Pulaski, PA)…It was a busy weekend in Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Racing Series powered by Pace Performance amongst the Late Models, Sportsman Modifieds, Pro Mods, and Pro Stocks as all scheduled events were completed.  Bill Holmes, Jamie Wrightsman, and Jeff Pilkerton all captured their first Late Model wins of some sort during the weekend.

 

On Friday night at Freedom Motorsports Park, J.J. Mazur and Jeremy Wonderling led the RUSH Late Models to the green flag.  Wonderling took the early lead after a battle with Mazur.  On a restart, Bill Holmes was able to shoot to the second spot and put on a challenge to Wonderling by running low on the track.  Wonderling held the spot though and during a series of yellow flag periods as Wonderling continued the choose the outside lane to restart the race with Holmes in tow each time.  Everything changed on lap 13 as Wonderling went pit side for mechanical issues and end his night.  Holmes inherited the lead, but now had to hold off Jeremy Wonderling's brother Brady.  Holmes was successful in holding of all challengers at the end passing under the checkered flag first for the second time in the past three events.  He was followed by Brady Wonderling, Mazur, Jason Tingue and Andy Michael. The RUSH Late Models are in the spotlight at Freedom this Friday as they compete in a $1000 to-win event.

 

In the RUSH Late Model 20-lap feature event at Potomac Speedway on Friday night, a bit of history was made as Jeff Pilkerton crossed the finish line. Pilkerton, who drew the pole position made the top starting stop work to his advantage, would go on to lead the entire distance. In scoring the win over Greg Roberson, Darren Alvey, Ben Bowie and Timmy Booth, Pilkerton notched his 50th career win at the Budd’s Creek, Maryland oval. "We have had no luck this season." Pilkerton stated. "When we drew the pole for the feature, I knew I had to get out front first, and the boys had this car as good as it's been all season here."  Action will take place at Potomac on Sunday night this weekend as the points title for the RUSH Late Models come to a close with Logan Robertson holding a 33-point lead over John Imler.

 

The RUSH Crate Late Models were back on the schedule Friday night at Path Valley Speedway Park in Spring Run, Pennsylvania where Brad McGinnis pulled off the victory over Bryon Benton, Steve Lowery, Tim Snare and Kris Eaton.  McGinnis has won six of the nine feature events at Path Valley this season.  With just one more scheduled appearance this year coming up this Friday night in another twin 15 format, McGinnis holds a 53-point lead over Eaton.  

 

The Knowles Brothers have dominated RUSH Late Model action this season at Outlaw Speedway.  This past Friday night at the Dundee, New York oval it was Jason Knowles' turn after his brother Brian had won the last two features.  It was Jason's fourth win of the season to Brian's five wins.  Brian Knowles was second over Bob Buono and Alan Chapman.  Going into this Friday’s Championship Night, Jason Knowles holds a slim four-point lead in the championship battle over Brian Knowles.  

 

The "Red Miley Rumble" is the tribute race for the Super Late Models at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway, honoring the longtime leader of Miley Motorsports. While the Supers were competing in the featured event, the RUSH Late Models were also in competition for an increased purse on Saturday night.  Bill Kessler and Jake Gunn led the field to the green, but after an early caution, Daryl Charlier began to put the pressure on leader Gunn. Charlier took the top spot on another restart at lap five.  The real battle for the lead came when John Mollick coming from his 12th starting spot was already up the second.  The battle between Mollick and Charlier was one to behold as they went side by side for several laps until the 12th circuit when the #12 of Charlier got too high into the turn three wall while leading.  

 

Mollick inherited the lead and went on to score his fifth of the year. The misfortune for Charlier gave the point lead to Mollick, but by just three points going into the final two points nights of the 2016 season.  Mollick was followed to the stripe by Ben Policz following by less than a second and coming from 10th starting spot, Michael Reft from ninth, Justin Lamb and Steve Beatty.  The RUSH Late Models will be in the spotlight this Saturday night at PPMS for the 27th annual Jook George Steel City Classic for $4,110 to win.

 

Saturday at Virginia's Winchester Speedway , Transton Stoner scored his third win of the season in a dominating fashion.  Stoner, starting outside on the front row, took the early lead and never looked back leading all 20 laps of the feature event.  "We had some traction issues the last few times we raced this car, but it was just about perfect tonight." Stoner stated. "This is such a tough class, and to win here again is a great feeling." Logan Robertson, Greg Robertson, Kyle Lee and Kris Eaton made up the top five after Stoner. Logan Robertson has a substantial lead in the standings with just two nights of racing for points to go.

 

Busti, New York was the site of the RUSH Late Model feature at the Stateline Speedway where Andy Boozel and Wyatt Scott brought the field to the green.  Darrell Bossard came to second just two laps down.  With a good bit of racing for position behind him, Bossard scored his fourth win of the 2016 campaign and maintained his runner-up Pace Performance "Summer Chase" standing.  Boozel, Ryan Scott, Jason Genco and Wyatt Scott were second through fifth.

 

Also at Stateline, the RUSH Pro Mods were in action where Jason Covey led the field to green with Jeramy Williams to his right. Six laps into the feature event, Justin Carlson had moved into the second spot, giving chase and catching leader Covey by lap nine. After a lap 12 caution, the restart saw Covey with Carlson in tow and gaining.  One lap later, Carlson slipped past Covey and took his seventh win. Covey settled for second with Scott Gurdak, Bill Silvis and Dennis Hagg making up the top five.  Stateline will be in action this Saturday night with the season coming to an end on September 9-10 for the Stateline Shootout.

 

Saturday at Wayne County Speedway, it was Jamie Wrightsman of Cortland, Ohio seeing both the green and the checkered flag first as he led wire-to-wire in the RUSH Late Model feature.  Charlie Duncan seemed to be Wrightsman’s only challenger, but to no avail as he would settle for second with Justin Chance clinching the 2016 title with his third place finish.  Matt Aber and Eric Wilson made up the rest of the top five. The RUSH Late Models are on the card this Sunday as Tony Stewart's All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Cars return to Wayne County.

 

It was the second to last point night at Fulton Speedway on Saturday night where Kevan Cook led every lap of the 20-lap event, but that doesn’t say it was easy for him.  Cook spent the entire race holding off challenges from Steve Coit, AJ Kingsley and Bret Belden with the latter giving Cook the biggest challenge.  Belden ran side-by-side in the closing laps only to settle for second by less than a half second to Cook's second win of the season.  Kingsley, Sean Beardsley and Chris Fleming made up the top five.  Championship Night is up next with Fleming holding a narrow lead of Belden.

 

Saturday at Genesee Speedway, J.J. Mazur was in the lead when Bill Holmes took over the top spot on lap 12.  Holmes took a comfortable lead once out front.  Holmes had a pair of runner-up finishes recently, but broke through on Saturday for his first win at the track backing up his Friday night win at Freedom.  Mazur came home second with Jimmy Johnson Sam Pennacchio and Dave DuBois rounding out the top five.  With one race night left to settle the championship, Beamer Guzzardi holds a slim two-point lead over Dave DuBois.

 

Saturday night at Sharon Speedway, the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds were in action in their final night of points.  Brian Schaffer shot to the lead early on with Chelsie Kriegisch moving into the second spot behind him in the early part of the event.  Schaffer dominated the race even through the lapped traffic he encountered in the later laps. He diced his way through the 22-car field’s backmarkers for his convincing second win.  “I love this track,” expressed the 29-year-old Boyers, Pa. racer. “I’d like to thank Sharon for having the RUSH Modifieds here. I just took my time and picked my way through traffic. It was fun.”

 

Kyle Martell, Jeremy Weaver and Kole Holden rounded out the top five.  Two-time winner Brandon Ritchey wrapped up the track title with his sixth place finish.  Congrats to Jessica Kriegisch on her first career heat race win!  The RUSH Sportsman Modifieds and the Late Models will return to Sharon Speedway for Touring Series events on September 16-17 as part of the "Apple Festival Nationals".

 

At Eriez Speedway on Sunday night, Max Blair once again proved how dominant he is at the Northwestern Pennsylvania track.  The RUSH Late Model feature began with Wyatt Scott and Andy Boozel on the front row. Blair, who started in the fifth spot was moving forward while Kyle Zimmerman was now in the lead.  By the eight lap, Blair had put all of the field behind him except Zimmerman when the two went side-by-side for the lead with Blair taking the spot by the ninth lap. Blair went on to pick up his eighth win of the year at Eriez over Zimmerman, Scott, Dave Lyon and Andy Boozel.  Blair leads Jason Genco heading into the track's last night of points. 

 

Sunday night at Old Bradford Speedway, Jeremy Wonderling and Zach Wiech led the RUSH Late Models to the green flag.  Wonderling would jump out to the early lead with Brad Mesler moving into second and Andy Michael to third. The three would finish the race in the order with John Haggerty and Brian Haggerty rounding out the top five.  Bradford returns to action this Sunday.

 

Much like Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway, Humberstone Speedway was also honoring it’s late promoter with the running of the "Pete Cosco Memorial" highlighted by the return of the Big-Block Modifieds.  The RUSH Late Models were part of the night, as Sam Pennacchio and Jeff Dayman led the field to the green flag with Dayman showing the way.  Dennis Lunger, Jr. took over second and would go after Dayman on lap three.  Dayman and Lunger would pull away from the field as Lunger worked underneath him to take the lead away on lap 11 just as the field hit lap traffic.  Lunger then pulled away from the field to take his seventh win of the season, and 19th victory at Humberstone in just two years.  Jeff Dayman, Tim Gillespie, Sam Pennacchio and Rob Pietz made up the rest of the top five.  Humberstone still has three events remaining for the RUSH Late Models including this Sunday night.

 

RUSH Pro Stock member, Corey McPherson, won his fifth feature of the season at Lernerville Speedway in route to his third title in four years then went and picked up the win on Saturday night at Pittsburgh.  McPherson leads the RUSH Pro Stock Weekly Series points on the $135 sealed, spec Bilstein Shocks. 

Speaking of Lernerville and Pittsburgh, both tracks will host Bicknell Racing Products Weekly Series events this weekend for the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds with Friday at Lernerville and Saturday at Pittsburgh. 

 

Current RUSH Late Model point leaders are Bryce Davis (Tour), Max Blair (Weekly & Summer Chase), Kris Eaton (Bilstein Bandits), and Wyatt Scott (Futures Cup). 

 

Current RUSH Sportsman Modified point leaders are Brian Schaffer (Weekly), Chas Wolbert (Tour), and Kyle Martell (Futures Cup). 

 

Current RUSH Pro Mod point leaders are Scott Gurdak (Weekly) and Brian Mohawk (Futures Cup), while Corey McPherson leads the Sweeney RUSH Pro Stock Weekly Series points.

 

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, FK Rod Ends, Velocita-USA, Classic Ink USA, Rocket Chassis, Bobby Lake Motorsports 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, Sunoco Race Fuels, MSD Ignition, Maxima Racing Oil, Jones Racing Products, 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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