Story By: MARCIE BARLOW / RUSH RACING SERIES – PULASKI, PA – It was a busy weekend for the various Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Racing Series presented by Born2Run Lubricants divisions. Kyle Hardy stole the headlines scoring a $4,000 payday in RUSH Late Model City Chevrolet Weekly Series action at Winchester Speedway as he was one of six drivers to score their first RUSH Late Model wins of the season!
In addition, Chas Wolbert (Sportsman Modifieds), Zan Harvey (Pro-Mods) and Kaden Michael (Stock Cars) added to their win totals. Female racer Chelsie Gallagher scored a popular fourth career RUSH Sportsman Modified win on Saturday at Pittsburgh.
RUSH Late Model action at Raceway 7 saw Billy Henry, Jr. lead the entire distance of the 20-lap main event to score his second win of the season. Fifth place starter Breyton Santee worked his way to a second place finish with Jim Rasey coming home third. Colby Beighey was fourth with RUSH Sportsman Modified graduate Joe Watson recording his career best finish.
Ed Carley led the opening laps of RUSH Late Model action at the McKean County Raceway opener, but Jeremy Wonderling capitalized on a small bobble by Carley to take over the lead and go one to score the $1,000 victory in the 20-lap non-stop event. Carley came home second with Chuck LeFleur claiming third over Jake Wilber and Dusty Waters.
Also on Friday night, Mike Laughard scored the victory at Dog Hollow Speedway to become the first repeat winner in RUSH Late Model City Chevrolet Weekly Series action at the track. Last week’s winner Marino Angelicchio settled for second with Cale Schwartzmiller coming home a career best third. Scott Stein and Colin Casale finished four and fifth, respectively.
Saturday evening at Winchester Speedway, Jared Powell and Jacob Whitt battled during the opening laps of the RUSH Late Model main event while seventh place starter Kyle Hardy worked his way to the third position. Powell stayed out front while Whitt and Hardy battled for second with Hardy winning that battle on lap seven. The caution flag flew a lap later and on the ensuing restart Hardy used the top side of the speedway to try and take the lead from Powell. Hardy won the battle for the top spot on lap 11 and by lap 17 had built up a full straightaway lead. Several cautions slowed the field in the closing stages of the 35-lap main event, but each time racing action resumed Hardy pulled away from the field. At the checkered it was Hardy scoring the $4,000 victory in the “Tribute to the Legend Buddy Armel” event for his first win of the season. Davin Kaiser overtook Powell in the closing stages to claim second. Shaun Wetzel and Travis Campbell completed the top five.
Veteran racer Ed Carley and Austin Hauser led the field to the green at Genesee Speedway. Carley weathered several cautions and used the bottom of the speedway to easily defeat Hauser for his first victory since 2015 and first ever in a RUSH Late Model. An emotional Carley, who was subbing for his son, Zach, stated in victory lane, “I didn’t expect none of this. I expected to come and represent our sponsors.” Dave Dubois finished third with Jon Rivers fourth and Bill Holmes fifth.
Steve Peeden made the trek from Martinsville, Indiana to Muskingum County Speedway in Zanesville, Ohio a profitable one on Saturday as he scored the victory and a $1,000 payday. Peeden, who was making his first ever RUSH Late Model start, led the entire distance to defeat Kyle Lukon by just 0.133 seconds to become the third different winner from three different states in as many City Chevrolet Weekly Series events this season. Opening night winner, Logan Reed, was third over 3C Graphix Futures Cup driver Lincoln Smith, and Breyton Santee. Muskingum’s counts have risen each event and the RUSH Late Models will return to MCS on Thursday, June 13 with Ohio Sprint Speedweek.
Second place starter Jake Gunn led the first four circuits in RUSH Late Model action At Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Motor Speedway before Brandon Burgoon took the lead. Burgoon, who was making just his second start of the season, went on to dominate the event and win by a full straightaway. Brian Huchko was a career best RUSH Late Model finish of second as Zach Gunn, Ben Policz and Daryl Charlier rounded out the top five.
Kyle Zimmerman would lead the first nine circuits at Stateline Speedway on Saturday night before Jason Genco used the top of the speedway to grab the lead. Genco went on to lead the final 11 laps to score his first win of 2024. Zimmerman settled for second with David Parker third. Jake Wilber and Randy Hall completed the top five.
Saturday night RUSH Late Model action at Tyler County Speedway saw Ryan Hare hold off veteran Kyle Thomas to score his second consecutive RUSH Late victory at the West Virginia oval. Michael Moreland, Allen Clark, and Blake Runyon completed the top five.
Woodhull Raceway had two RUSH Late Model main events on their racing card. The first feature event was the rain out from May 4. John Waters held off teammate Steve LeBarron to claim his third straight victory of the season at the southern tier New York oval. Austin Allen, Brett Marlatt and Marshall O’Brian rounded out the top five. In the nightcap, Waters and LeBarron led the field to the green, but it was second generation competitor Brett Marlatt who took command of the main event and held off LeBarron for his first victory of the season. Austin Allen tallied his second third place finish of the evening with Rickie Loucks and Patrick Parker completing the top five.
Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Sportsman Modified competitors started their weekend off at Raceway 7 for a Wedge Motorsports “Route 7 Rumble” Series event on Friday evening. JC Boyer and Chas Wolbert led the field to the green with Wolbert immediately taking the top spot. The Warren, OH driver went on to score a 0.638 second victory over Rob Kristyak to tally his second consecutive win at the Conneaut, OH oval. Kole Holden, Bill Cunningham, and Boyer completed the top five.
Saturday evening at Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Motor Speedway lady racer Chelsie Gallagher dominated the 15-lap main event to score her first victory of 2024 and fourth overall of her career. Kole Holden settled for second with third generation competitor Karston King claiming a career best third. Jacob Jordan and Lucas Canon finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Pro Mod competitors competed in two events this past weekend with Zain Harvey picking up both wins. Friday evening at McKean County Raceway Harvey took the lead from Al Brewer on lap three and went on to score the win. Josh Wilcox, Jeremy Wonderling, Brewer, and Josh Canfield followed.
Saturday in the division’s season opener at Stateline Speedway, Harvey would come from the tail after bringing out an early race caution,to pass Wilcox on the final turn of the final lap to pick up his second checkered flag of the weekend. Veterans Al Brewer and Dennis Lunger, Jr. came home in third and fourth. Vaughn Nystrom was fifth in his 2024 debut.
Kaden Michael continued his winning ways as he tallied two victories this week upping his total to three for the season for the 2023 3C Graphix Futures Cup Champion. Michael was victorious at McKean County Raceway in the division’s debut at the East Smethport, Pa. track on Friday and also picked up the win on Saturday in their debut at Hummingbird Speedway n Reynoldsville, Pa.
Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH racing action at Eriez Speedway, Tri-City Raceway Park and Bradford Speedway was cancelled due to the weather.
This weekend it’s a double header for the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Dirt Late Model Flynn’s Tire/Gunter’s Honey Touring Series as they will be in action Friday at McKean County Raceway and on Saturday at Marion Center Raceway. Both events will pay $3,000 to win.
Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Model City Chevrolet Weekly Series action is scheduled at Genesee Speedway on Thursday. Friday’s racing action includes Dog Hollow Speedway and Raceway 7. Saturday evening RUSH Late Model weekly action is scheduled at Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Motor Speedway, Stateline Speedway, Tyler County Speedway, and Woodhull Raceway. RUSH Late Model action will also take place at Eriez Speedway on Sunday.
The Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Racing Series presented by Born2Run Lubricantsreturn to action with an $800 to win event at Marion Center Raceway Saturday before completing the weekend at Tri-City Raceway Park on Sunday. Sharon Speedway will then host an $800 to-win Sunbelt Rentals Weekly Series event on Wednesday, June 12 part of Ohio Sprint Speedweek. Billy’s Garage is the divisional sponsor at Sharon.
The lone Hovis RUSH Sportsman Modified event for the weekend is scheduled at Raceway 7 on Friday evening.
RUSH Stock Car action is slated for Freedom Motorsports Park on Saturday and Eriez Speedway on Sunday.
The racing season is in full swing so be sure to take in a RUSH event or two at a local speedway near you.