DEMETRIOS DRELLOS- NEW YORK STATE BIG-BLOCK MOD CHAMPION IS QUICKLY TRANSITIONING INTO A RUSH LATE MODEL CONTENDER

By Doug Kennedy

March 7, 2024                        FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Pulaski, PA)...Probably one of the most versatile racers that have recently found success in the RUSH Late Model division is Demetrios Drellos.  While it's not uncommon to see a Super Late or UMP Modified racer successfully transition to a RUSH Late Model it certainly is to see a Big-Block Modified racer do so; that is until Demetrios Drellos.

Hailing from Queensbury, New York, Drellos holds outstanding credentials as a Big-Block Modified racer.  Drellos is the reigning Big-Block Modified Champion at both Fonda & Albany-Saratoga Speedways.  Drellos also captured a Super DIRTcar Series win at Albany in 2019 and a Short Track Super Series win at Afton in 2022.  He also won a Sportsman Modified title at Vermont's Devil's Bowl Speedway in 2020.  All of these accomplishments coming in the New York area where some of the best Big-Block Modifieds racer in the country compete on a weekly basis.

However, today another type of race car has garnered Drellos' attention, a RUSH Late Model, and he has quickly has been learning the ropes and experiencing success behind the wheel of this type car, one that is completely different in numerous aspects from the other from top to bottom.   

“I enjoy the technology aspect of a Late Model,” Drellos revealed. “The way the car is built, how the suspension functions, and finding the correct set-ups.  Modifieds are a little behind the times compared to the Late Models in this department.  A Big-Block Modified and Late Model steer totally differently, one’s like driving a bulldozer and the other is like driving a F1 car; there's really not much to compare.  When I go from the Modified to the Late Model I'm learning to break my bad habits from going from one type of car to the next.  That usually takes me about 10 laps or so, after that I’m good to go.  I'm getting better at that though; maybe by the end of the year I'll be down to five laps.  With that said, I like each car in  certain circumstances.  Right now the Late Model is a novelty for me and that’s what makes it fun.”

 “I've run with quite a few other Crate Late Model series and it’s so different with RUSH-  it’s extremely professional and well organized," stated Drellos.  "Vicki (Emig) and her crew do a fantastic job with the RUSH Touring schedule and overall organizing the events.  She’s very good at watching over the technical aspect of the Series, which in turn makes it very affordable.  She's at all the races and with her team have been able to handle every situation that might come up.  If you call her, she will answer; she truly has the racer in mind and that's why RUSH continues to grow.  RUSH's promotional efforts with the series, for both their drivers and their sanctioned race tracks, is tremendous, and that in turn really helps us as drivers with our sponsors.  I've really enjoyed racing with RUSH!"

Drellos knew at an early age that he wanted to be involved with racing.  "My dad always took me to the race track when I was very young- it was a weekend type of thing," explained the 27-year-old.  "When I got old enough to drive I knew that I wanted to race and at the age of 14 I finally got the opportunity to do that."  

His first ride was in a Slingshot then after three seasons of racing that he moved to a Sportsman followed by 358 Modified, and finally to the Big-Block, which he has been racing for the last eight years before debuting in the RUSH Late Model last season.  

“I grew up watching Big-Blocks -it’s big in our area, they’re fast and powerful with 900 horsepower," added Drellos.   "Even though I race my Big-Block full time, I really enjoy racing my RUSH Late Model and wish there were more places to race the RUSH car in my immediate area; however, I do love to travel with it and I try and make as many RUSH races as my schedule permits." 

In January 2023, Drellos took his RUSH Late Model to the "Sunshine Nationals" at Volusia Speedway Park in Florida, where he captured a feature win and made a stop at Georgetown Speedway, Delaware late in October where he won the crate late model feature.  In between, Drellos competed in four of RUSH's Flynn's Tire Touring Series events.     

Drellos was glad to hear that the RUSH Series will be coming to Glen Ridge Motorsports Park part of the City Chevrolet Weekly Series program for 2024.  Glen Ridge is about 65 miles from his home.  “We've never had Late Model racing in our area and I'm really hoping by Glen Ridge running the cars weekly it helps grow this type of racing in the region.  Albany-Saratoga will also be hosting two RUSH Weekly Series special events and that will also be a great help.  With these two tracks running RUSH events as well as me being able to get out to some other RUSH events throughut the season, I feel should have a pretty good shot at their National Weekly Series Championship that takes in account a racers best 12 finnishes.”       

 “I’ve been on a hot streak with my Big-Block Modified, but I really want to get to more bigger events with my RUSH Late Model, specifically some of the their Touring events.  I'd like to win one of the major RUSH events, especially at Lernerville or Pittsburgh to add to my resume.”

His 2024 schedule includes Friday nights at Albany-Saratoga Speedway for his Modified and Sundays at Glen Ridge with both the Modified and RUSH Late Model.  Saturday nights are still open right now, which will give him an opportunity to hit some of the major RUSH events.

Typically Drellos runs about 60 races a year.  The race team is a family-owned operation with basically his father George and himself working on the cars.  Racing has been part of the Drellos family dating back to when his grandfather Chris became a car owner. 

Besides racing, Demetrious spends time working for the family-owned business, Sanitary Sewer Service, a company that specializes in septic tank work.  The business has been in operation since 1947.  “I’m everything at the company,” said Drellos.  “I’m a laborer, a manager, an overseer, just about anything.  I’m the one employee besides my dad.  I’ll be the one to show up on your front porch.”

Between work and racing, Drellos doesn’t have a lot of spare time, but when he does, he likes to snowboard in the winter and spend time with his family at his parents’ pool in the summer.  His family consists of his parents George and Dawn, wife Alexis, and son Paxton (3 years old).

Versatile; To be able to adapt to many different functions and activities, turning with ease from one thing to another, so yes we think Demetrios Drellos is a perfect example of a versatile racer!    

The RUSH Racing Series is brought to you by Hovis Auto & Truck Supply together with Born2Run Lubricants along with the support of Hoosier Tire, Rick Hendrick City Chevrolet, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, Insinger Performance, Flynn's Tire, Gunter's Honey, Sunbelt Rentals, MSD Performance, Holley Performance Products, FK Rod Ends, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, TBM Brakes, Bilstein Shocks, Racing Electronics, Wieland Metal Services, Frankland Racing Supply, Landrum Performance Spring, Ontime Body & Graphic, Sherwood Wheels, Precise Racing Products, Velocita-USA, Wedge Motorsports, 3C Graphix, D&V Jewelers, and Terry Bowser Excavating.  

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 Racing Series website is www.rushracingseries.com. Like our various Facebook and Twitter pages by searching for the appropriate RUSH Series.

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