Story By: MARCIE BARLOW / RUSH RACING SERIES – PULASKI, PA –Another fast-paced weekend of Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Racing Series action presented by Born2Run Lubricants is in the books with Joe Buccola capturing an emotional career first victory in RUSH Sprint Car Sunbelt Rentals Weekly Series action at Marion Center Raceway.
Josh Wilcox withstood the challenges of Zain Harvey to pick up his career first victory at Stateline Speedway in RUSH Pro Mod action while Bryce Davis and Jeremy Wonderling scored RUSH Dirt Late Model Flynn’s Tire/Gunter’s Honey Touring Series wins in the final “tune ups” for the $20,000 to win Bill Emig Memorial. Seventeen-year-old Alex Bush had the biggest weekend of his career winning at both Freedom and Eriez in RUSH Stock Car racing.
The racing weekend got off to an early start as Genesee Speedway hosted the RUSH Late Models last Thursday evening. Chad Homan claimed his first City Chevrolet Weekly Series victory of the season over Jeremy Wonderling, Braeden Dillinger, Dave DuBois, and Doug Ricotta.
Ryan Montgomery had a successful RUSH Late Model season debut on Friday at Dog Hollow Speedway. Montgomery defeated track standout Mike Laughard for his first RUSH victory since June 19, 2022. West Virginia’s Brent Trimble was third in his season debut beating out track regulars Colin Casale and Marino Angelicchio.
RUSH Dirt Late Model Flynn’s Tire/Gunter’s Honey Touring Series action returned to McKean County Raceway after a six-year hiatus with Bryce Davis holding off Jeremy Wonderling to complete a “perfect evening.” Davis, the 2017 Touring Series Champion, set fast time, won his heat and the Sunoco Dash, and passed Wonderling with six laps to go to become the fourth different victor in the four Tour events held to date in 2024. Brock Pinkerous recorded his fourth podium in four tries. Jared Miley, and Joe Martin completed the top five.
The Tour then ventured to Marion Center Raceway the next evening where drivers from seven states and Canada vied for the $3,000 top prize. Jeremy Wonderling and Joe Martin led the field to green with Wonderling taking command. Wonderling and Martin battled for the top spot with Ryan Montgomery and Mike Wonderling battling for third. Following a lap 11 caution, Mike Wonderling took the lead, however it only lasted for a lap as brother Jeremy regained the top spot on the next lap. The duo battled side-by-side for five laps until contact between the two sent Mike spinning, ending his bid for his first career Tour win. The final 13 laps were caution free with Jeremy Wonderling leading and scoring the victory by 0.906 seconds over Martin to become the season’s first repeat winner. Montgomery, who was making his 2024 RUSH Tour debut, came home third with Kyle Zimmerman and Canadian Brandt Graham, scoring his best ever RUSH Tour finish in fifth.
Pat Parker and Marshall O’Brian led the RUSH Late Model main event to green at Woodhull Raceway while Brett Marlatt and Brian Knowles worked their way through the field to track down leader Steve LeBarron. Marlatt claimed the top spot on lap six with Knowles taking the second spot by lap nine. Knowles pressured Marlatt for the remainder of the event but was unable to wrestle the top spot from him. At the checkered it was Marlatt scoring his second consecutive victory at the speedway with a disappointed Knowles scoring the runner-up position. Rickie Loucks had a good run to score third. LeBarron and Tony Kelley finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
Cole Petrelle and Zach Gunn led the field to the green in RUSH Late Model action at Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Motor Speedway. Petrelle led the early laps with third place starter Ben Policz taking the second spot by the third circuit. Policz wrestled the top spot away from Petrelle by lap seven and went on to score his second win of the season at the Imperial, Pa. oval. Gunn came home in a season best second with Brandon Burgoon, who started eighth, claiming third. Jake Gunn was fourth with Mike Reft coming from the 16th position to claim fifth.
David Parker led the first12 circuits of RUSH Late Model action at Stateline Speedway Saturday evening before Jason Genco slipped by on lap 13. Genco went on to lead the remainder of the main event to score his second consecutive victory at the Busti, New York oval. Parker settled for second followed by Scott Gurdak, Ward Schell, and Genesee regular William Taylor.
Veteran Kyle Thomas scored his first RUSH Late Model victory of the season at Tyler County Speedway on Saturday. Michael Moreland was a career best second over Pennsylvania racer Zach Kane. Ryan Hare, who had won the last two features, was fourth ahead of Blake Runyon.
Eriez Speedway was able to beat Mother Nature last Sunday as Jason Genco was able to sweep the Stateline-Eriez weekend picking up the RUSH Late Model win for his third overall win in City Chevrolet Weekly Series action. Khole Wanzer was a season best second over Breyton Santee, Shane Crotty, and David Parker.
The Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Sprint Cars competed in two Sunbelt Rentals Weekly Series shows this past weekend. Joe Buccola capitalized on Blaze Myers’ misfortune Saturday night at Marion Center Raceway to score an emotional career first victory in the division. Myers led the first 17 laps of the event, but lost power on a lap 18 restart, which allowed Buccola to take command. The Falconer, NY driver then held off veteran Gale Ruth, Jr. for a very popular win. Brent Rhebergen, Zach Wilson and 14-year-old Ricky Tucker III rounded out the top five in just his second race.
On Sunday evening at Tri-City Raceway Park, John Mollick and Blaze Myers led the RUSH Sprint Car field to the green with Myers taking command. Myers took command and went on to score the win over Mollick in the non-stop event. Joe Buccola backed up his victory at Marion Center with a solid third place finish. Veteran racers Arnie Kent and Brent Rhebergen completed the top five.
Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Mod action kicked off at McKean County Raceway on Thursday with Zain Harvey scoring his third consecutive win in Series action. Harvey weathered several cautions in the victory over Josh Wilcox, Joe Chamberlain, Steve Watson, and Josh Canfield.
It was a night to remember for RUSH Pro Mod competitor Josh Wilcox at Stateline Speedway last Saturday. Wilcox muscled his way through heavy lapped traffic in the feature event, keeping enough distance between himself and Zain Harvey, who is currently the top winner in divisional action, to score his career first victory at the speedway. Al Brewer, Josh Canfield and Nick Arnold finished third through fifth.
3C Graphix Futures Cup contender, Alex Bush, swept the weekend for the Hovis RUSH Stock Cars! Bush won on Saturday at Freedom for the first time ever and backed it up with his second win of the season on Sunday at Eriez Speedway. At Freedom, the top five consisted of all current or past Futures Cup racers with Cole Strickland second over Kaden Michael, Cody Rickard, and Raiddan Wilson. At Eriez, William Baker, Jr. had his best finish of the season in second with Strickland, Rickard, and Michael posting their second top five finishes of the weekend in third through fifth respectively.
RUSH racing action at Raceway 7, Bradford Speedwayand Eriez Speedway were rained out while competitors at Winchester Speedway were off.
Friday night RUSH Late Model action is scheduled at Dog Hollow Speedway and Raceway 7. Saturday evening Genesee Speedway, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Motor Speedway, Stateline Speedway, Tyler County Speedway, Winchester Speedway and Woodhull Raceway will all be in action, and you can conclude the weekend at Erez Speedway Sunday evening.
It’s a three-race weekend for Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Mod competitors as they will compete at Freedom Motorsports Park on Friday and then follow up at Stateline Speedway on Saturday and Bradford Speedway on Sunday.
RUSH Sportsman Modified competitors will be in action Friday at Raceway 7 for Wedge Motorsports “Route 7 Rumble” Series action and Saturday at Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Motor Speedway.
RUSH Sprint car teams will compete in a pair of Sunbelt Rentals Weekly Series events beginning on Saturday evening at Sharon Speedway and Sunday at Tri-City Raceway Park.
The RUSH Stock Car division continues to grow, and they have a two-race weekend slated. Friday evening, they will be in action at Freedom Motorsports Park and conclude the weekend with a special $500 to win event at Eriez Speedway.
It’s Father’s Day weekend so be sure to treat dad to some great RUSH racing action at a speedway near you.