SWEENEY RUSH LATE
MODEL TOUR SET TO OPEN 2019 SEASON WITH "BATTLE OF THE BAY" SPEEDWEEK PRESENTED
BY WEHRS MACHINE APRIL 17-20 AT DELAWARE, GEORGETOWN, POTOMAC & WINCHESTER WITH
INCREASED PURSES & BONUSES
By Mike Leone
April 11, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Pulaski, PA)...The
Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Dirt Late Model Touring Series powered by Pace
Performance is set to open the 2019 season on Wednesday night, April 17 at
Delaware International Speedway in Delmar, DE for the "Raelyn Huffman Memorial"
that kicks off the four-night "Battle of the Bay" Speedweek presented by Wehrs
Machine & Racing Parts. Speedweek
then heads to Georgetown (DE) Speedway on Thursday night, Potomac Speedway in
Mechanicsville, MD on Friday night before wrapping up on Saturday night at
Winchester (VA) Speedway.
This year, racers will be vying for over $17,000 in additional purse monies over
last year's inaugural "Battle of the Bay".
The Huffman Family decided to have their daughter Raelyn's memorial event
to be the kickoff, which will pay $4,000 to-win, $300 to-start.
That announcement was the catalyst that due to the great support at last
year's "Battle of the Bay", prompted track promoters at Georgetown, Potomac, and
Winchester to increase their events from the $2,000 to-win purse to the $3,000
to-win purse. In the event
Wednesday's show would be rained out, the "Raelyn Huffman Memorial" will move to
Georgetown on Thursday. (See
complete payoffs below.)
The $3,000 "Battle of the Bay" point fund returns with $1,000 to the champion
paying down 10 positions to RUSH member racers in cumulative points over the
four-night Speedweek. (See complete
point fund below). Also returning is
a potential $1,800 in the RUSH travel package.
The top 12 teams from 2018 Tour points will be eligible for $150 provided
they compete in the first event and in at least two of the events.
NEW for 2019 is the "$500 Club" that will take place at the majority of Sweeney
Tour events. At the Delaware and
Georgetown shows, the top 15 drivers in 2018 DIS track points that compete will
be eligible for the five $100 drawings, and will be presented by PJ1
Motorsports. At Potomac, the five
$100 drawings will be for drivers in the 2019 Potomac track points, and will be
presented by J&L Electric and Three Mules Welding Supply.
At Winchester, the five $100 drawings will be for drivers in the 2019
Winchester track points, and will be presented by ARC Racing and Round Hill Auto
Service.
Each event will also include $100 "Shock the Clock" Qualifying and $25 to-win
each races presented by FK Rod Ends.
The dash for the "Raelyn Huffman Memorial" will pay $100 to-win and $50 for
second due to extra money raised.
Ray and Brenda Huffman have been heavily involved in racing over the years with
their R&J Poultry business and have sponsored RUSH Late Model drivers such as
Max Blair and Cody Dawson. Shortly
after last year's "Battle of the Bay", Raelyn lost her life in a tragic accident
on May 4. Ray Huffman is Raelyn's
father, while Brenda is her step-mother.
Raelyn's mother is Billie Jo Justice and her step-father is Tim Justice.
Raelyn was 22 years old and from Delmar, DE- the home of Delaware International
Speedway. Raelyn graduated from nearby
Seaford High School and worked for Lowe's Home Improvement.
She loved her job, racing, and any
four-legged furry friends. Raelyn spent
her weekends growing up at the races; from Friday nights at the go-kart track,
Saturday nights watching RUSH Late Models, and Sundays at the US 13 Dragway with
her longtime boyfriend, Matt Adams. Raelyn
was a big animal lover thus the Brandywine Valley SPCA will be setup in
the grandstand midway on Wednesday taking donations.
"It was just part of her lifestyle and that is why we we're so adamant on
perusing this memorial race," explained Raelyn's sister Shelby.
"She was a beautiful girl with a smile
that could light up a room and a laugh that was completely contagious.
We are so proud of her and how much of an
amazing person she turned out to be. We
love and miss her everyday and we strive to pass on her memory and share stories
that celebrate her life. Our family, the
Lowe's family and the racing community lost a very loved and valued member, and
we all miss her very much. There are many
memories that our family, co-workers and friends share that we will always
cherish, but there are so many we didn’t get to make.
She was a one of a kind girl with a big
heart, a bright smile and a loving nature. There
aren’t words for how loved and missed she is."
"We're
honored that the Huffman Family contacted us about doing a memorial for Raelyn,"
stated RUSH Director Vicki Emig.
"The R.J. Poultry name has been very recognizable over the years in racing.
This event will honor Raelyn's memory and her love of racing.
We cannot thank all of the contributors that made this event possible
(see list below), along with the promoters of Georgetown, Potomac, and
Winchester for stepping up and increasing their payoffs.
We also have to thank Wehrs Machine for coming on board to present the
entire 'Battle of the Bay' swing that also includes the point fund and travel
money."
In
2017, a total of 63 different drivers competed in at least one of the four
"Battle of the Bay" events. The car
counts were 46 at Delaware, 40 at Georgetown, 41 at Potomac, and 44 at
Winchester. Max Blair opened the
season victorious in the first ever Tour race at Delaware, while Ross Robinson
won round two for his first career RUSH win at his home track at Georgetown.
Logan Roberson ended the Speedweek winning the final two events to
capture the "Battle of the Bay" title by one over Robinson and two over Blair!
Prior
to last year's "Battle of the Bay", other past Sweeney Tour winners at Potomac
include Rick Singleton (2014) and Walker Arthur (2015), while at Winchester
victories have gone to Singleton (2014), Arthur (2015), and Allen Brannon
(2015).
Roberson has started the year off hot winning three RUSH Weekly Series events
including both at Winchester and one at Potomac to take the early Sweeney Weekly
Series points lead. Other winners
include Michael Duritsky, Jr., who made the long tow to Georgetown to win their
opener, and Darren Alvey capturing the Potomac opener.
Jeremy
Wonderling will start his Sweeney Tour title defense on Wednesday at Delaware.
Last year was Wonderling's second year on the Tour, and he finished in
the top 12 each night at the "Battle of the Bay" including a second at the
Winchester finale. Meanwhile, his
nemesis, Jason Genco, returns for his second year on the Tour after coming up
just six points shy of Wonderling for the title.
Several
heavy hitters have stated their intentions to follow the Tour, which will be the
richest in Series history boasting more than half of the shows paying $3,000 or
more to win and six at $4,000 or more to win including the "Raelyn Huffman
Memorial", the $10,000 to-win "Bill Emig Memorial" at Lernerville Speedway, the
$4,000 to-win/$400 to-start events in Quebec along with the "Jook George Steel
City Classic" and the "Bill Hendren Memorial" at Pittsburgh's PA Motor Speedway.
All 2019 shows will be a minimum of $2,000 to-win, $225 to-start along
with $200 to-win, $150 to-start non-qualifiers with $125 tow.
Precise Racing Products will award a $100 gift card for the "Pedal Down" Hard
Charger that passes the most cars at each event.. The TBM Brakes
“Tough Brake of the Night” will award three bottles of Xtreme6 Racing Brake Fluid valued at approximately $45
along with a certificate for a discount off any TBM Brakes purchase each
night. RUSH Late Model Series Officials will also determine the Dirt Defender
"Defensive Drive" to the driver that best defended his position throughout the
night, and will receive a $40 product package each night.
New contingency programs for the 2019 season include the "$500 Club", Sunoco
5-Gallon Race Jugs, and Ontime Body & Graphic "Spoiler Alert.
A Sunoco 5-Gallon Race Jug will go to the winner of each Tour race.
Ontime's "Spoiler Alert" will award a $150 spoiler in race one to the
winner, followed by second place at race two, and so on throughout the season.
Combined these programs will influx approximately $800 of additional
value into each Tour event.
You do not have to be a member of RUSH to compete; only to be eligible for
"Battle of the Bay" point fund along with Weekly and Touring points.
The AMB/MyLaps transponders will be used at Delaware and Georgetown,
while the Westhold transponders will be used at Potomac and Winchester.
One-way driver radios are always mandatory on the default 454.000 channel.
There will be a $100 entry fee and $35 pit pass each night.
Pit gate opening times: 4 p.m. (Delaware & Georgetown), 3 p.m. (Potomac), and 2
p.m. (Winchester)
Driver meeting times: 6 p.m. (Delaware & Georgetown), 7 p.m. (Potomac), and 5
p.m. (Winchester)
Warm-up times: 6:30 p.m. (Delaware), 6:20 p.m. (Georgetown), 7:30 p.m.
(Potomac), and 5:30 p.m. (Winchester)
Delaware Feature
Payoff: 1. $4,000
2. $2,000
3. $1,000 4. $800
5. $600 6.
$550 7. $500
8. $450 9.
$425 10. $400
11. $390 12.
$380 13. $370
14. $360 15.
$350 16. $340
17. $330 18.
$320 19. $310
20-24. $300.
Georgetown,
Potomac & Winchester Feature Payoff: 1. $3,000 2. $1,500
3. $800 4.
$600 5. $500
6. $475 7.
$450 8.$425
9. $400 10.
$350 11. $310
12. $300 13.
$275 14. $270
15. $265 16.
$260 17. $255
18-24. $250.
Non-Qualifier
Payoff Each Night: 1. $200 2. $190 3. $185 4. $180 5. $175 6. $170
7. $165 8. $160 9. $155 10-24. $150. Tow
$125
"Battle of the Bay"
Speedweek Point Fund ($3,000*): 1. $1,000
2. $500 3. $350
4. $225 5. $200
6. $180 7. $150
8. $140 9. $130
10. $125. (Must be a RUSH member.
A minimum of three events must be completed or will be pro-rated with two
events being completed. No point
fund if only one event is completed.)
Special thanks to the
following contributors that have made the "Raelyn Huffman Memorial" increased
payoff possible:
Aqua Electric (Lewes, DE), Tim Justice Farms (Delmar, DE), Hastings Butcher Shop
(Laurel, DE), Quality Automotive (Seaford, DE), Coastal Maintenance (Seaford,
DE), Bi-Rite Auto Sales (Seaford, DE), Dawson & Bedsworth Electrical Contractors
(Georgetown, DE), Amick Farms (Batesville-Leesville, SC), Denny Electric Supply
of Delaware (Millsboro, DE), K&B Auto (Delmar, DE), Robert Nibblett, Jr.
(Seaford, DE), Dukes Lumber (Seaford, DE), Mullins Auto Brokers (Bridgeville,
DE), Cornerstone Builders (Seaford, DE), R&J Poultry Servicing (Seaford, DE),
Tax Free Liquors of Delmar (Delmar, DE), and Tacaco Alpacas of Delaware (Laurel,
DE).
Delaware International Speedway is a 1/2-mile track located at 37854 Sussex
Highway, Delmar, DE 19940.
DIS is located on a 125 acre
Motorsports Complex which house's three racing facilities in one. The
Speedway will celebrate their 48th consecutive year, when it opens in April of
2018. For more information on DIS, check out their website at
www.delawareracing.com. The track
office number is 302-846-3911. You
can like their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/DelawareRacing and follow them
on Twitter @delawareracing.
Georgetown
Speedway is a 1/2-mile clay oval
located at 24505, 24513 S. Dupont Blvd, Georgetown, DE
19947. Deyo signed a three-year lease that runs through 2019 and improvements
continue at the Sussex County track, which hosted its first race in 1950. The
speedway operates on a special-events-only schedule with high-profile programs
from March through October. For more information on Georgetown,
check out their website at www.thegeorgetownspeedway.com. You can like
their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GeorgetownSpeedway and follow them on
Twitter @thegtownspdwy.
Potomac Speedway is a high-banked 3/8-mile dirt track located on Route 234 at
27963 Budds Creek Road, Mechanicsville, MD 20659. The track first
opened in 1973, and is located about an hour south of Washington D.C and
Baltimore. For information, check out their website at
www.potomacspeedway.com or call 301-481-8855.
You can like their Facebook at www.facebook.com/PotomacSpdwy and follow them on
Twitter @PotomacSpdwy.
Winchester Speedway is also a high-banked 3/8-mile dirt track located just off
Route 50 at 950 Airport Road Winchester, VA 22604. The track first opened
in 1936 under the name of Airport Speedway. The track has been home to the
Winchester 200, a major Super Late Model event, since 1963! For more
information, check out their website at
www.winchestervaspeedway.com or call 301-481-8855.
You can like their Facebook at www.facebook.com/wincvaspeedway and follow
them on Twitter @Wincvaspeedway.
RUSH
Racing Series is brought to you by Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC & Pace
Performance along with the support of Hoosier Tire, Bilstein Shocks, Sunoco Race
Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, Insinger Performance, MSD Performance, Holley
Performance Products, Hovis Auto & Truck Supply, FK Rod Ends, Wehrs Machine &
Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, TBM Brakes,
Performance Bodies & Parts, Racing Electronics, Dirt Defender, Wrisco
Industries, Frankland Racing Supply, Landrum Performance Spring, Ontime Body &
Graphic, Trailer-Alarms.com, Bonnell's Rod Shop, Sherwood Wheels, Alternative
Power Sources, Precise Racing Products, Lincoln Electric, Velocita-USA, Classic
Ink USA, CrateInsider.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 the Late Model Facebook page at www.facebook.com/rushlatemodels and follow
us on Twitter @RUSHLM.
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