Story By: MARCIE BARLOW / RUSH RACING SERIES – PULASKI, PA – The month of June came to an end with several Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Racing Series presented by Born2Run Lubricants sanctioned events beating Mother Nature at her own game.
Bill Henry scored a “birthday” victory in RUSH Late Model action at Raceway 7 while Austin Hauser visited victory lane for the first time this season at Bradford Speedway. JC Boyer withstood the challenges of Jake Rutana to score his first RUSH Sportsman Modified victory at Raceway 7.
In addition, Jeremy Wonderling and Marino Angelicchio were repeat winners in RUSH Late Model action, while Blaze Myers (RUSH Sprints), Kaden Michael (RUSH Stock Cars) and Zain Harvey (RUSH Pro Mods) added to their 2024 win totals.
Hovis RUSH Late Model City Chevrolet Weekly Series action at McKean County Raceway on Friday night saw Jeremy Wonderling and Bill Holmes lead the field to the green. Wonderling dominated that event and went on to score his third $1,000 victory of the season at the Smethport, PA oval. Andy Michael, Holmes, Jacob Wilber and Clayton Tarabori rounded out the top five.
RUSH Late Model action at Dog Hollow Speedway saw Marino Angelicchio garner his second victory of the season and for his career for that matter. Joe Zulisky was a career best second as Mike Laughard, Colin Casale and Mason Booze completed the top five.
Billy Henry, Jr.. celebrated his birthday by scoring his third RUSH Late Model victory of the season at Raceway 7 on Friday night. Henry led the entire distance of the 20-lap main event to capture a convincing win over Cory Sines. Michigan driver Colby Beighey came home in third with Breyton Santee and Kyle Zimmerman completing the top five.
Bradford Speedway held their first RUSH Late Model event of 2024. With the rain out of the Flynn’s Tire/Gunter’s Honey Touring Series event at Eriez Speedway, Austin Hauser’s decision to go to Bradford paid off as he scored his first victory of 2024 in the City Chevrolet Weekly Series special. Clayton Tarabori was a season best second as Bill Holmes III, Dusty Waters and Ward Schell rounded out the first five.
The RUSH Sportsman Modified teams were also in action at Raceway 7. Kole Holden led the first three circuits until JC Boyer took the top spot. Boyer withstood the relentless challenges of Jake Rutana, who started 11th, and fifth place starter Rob Kristyak to score his first career victory at the Conneaut, OH track. Earlier this season, Boyer did the same at Pittsburgh. Boyer, who also has two career wins at Sharon Speedway in years past, continues to lead the Wedge Motorsports “Route 7 Rumble” Series points. Rutana and Kristyak finished second and third respectively with Lucas Canon claiming fourth. Holden finished in fifth as he leads the Weekly Series points.
After a lengthy delay for a power outage, Kyle Babcock and Joe Chamberlain led the RUSH Pro Mod field to the green at McKean County Raceway. Babcock lost the handle with just one lap completed and collected Zain Harvey, the top winner on the circuit, in the accident. When the action resumed both drivers were forced to start at the rear of the field. Harvey methodically worked his way through the field and by lap 17 was “hot on the heels” of race leader Chamberlain. Unfortunately Chamberlain’s front end was failing and he could not hold off Harvey, who took command at the white flag. Harvey went on to score the victory, which was his seventh on the circuit. Chamberlain nursed his ailing car home for second with Tyler Oakes finishing third. Josh Canfield and Steve Watson rounded out the top five.
Harvey tallied his second win of the weekend, eighth overall of the season, but first at Bradford Speedway on Sunday night as he held off Al Brewer. Josh Canfield claimed third with Steve Watson and John Woodward completing the top five.
The Hovis RUSH Sprint Cars were also limited to just one night of racing action, which took place Sunday evening at Tri-City Raceway Park for Sunbelt Rentals Weekly Series action. Veteran Arnie Kent led the first three laps before fourth place starter Blaze Myers took over. Myers then held off the challenges of John Mollick in the closing laps to score a 0.556 second victory. It was Myers’ second win of the season at Tri-City and his third career victory at the Franklin, Pa. oval. Kent was third over Brent Rhebergen. Gale Ruth, Jr. rounded out the top five in his first Tri-City RUSH race of the year.
The lone RUSH Stock Car event of the weekend took place at McKean County Speedway on Friday for their second appearance of the year at the East Smethport, Pa. oval. Raidden Wilson and Kaden Michael led the field to the green with Michael taking the lead. Wilson had the faster car but Michael was able to use the bottom of the speedway to maintain the lead and went on to score his seventh overall victory of 2024 by just 0.273 seconds. Wilson settled for second with Camron Kramer in third. Cody Rickard and Cole Strickland rounded out the top five.
Mother Nature scored the win in Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Model Flynn’s Tire/Gunter’s Honey Touring Series action that was scheduled at both Stateline and Eriez Speedways. RUSH Weekly Series racing action at Genesee Speedway, Hummingbird Speedway, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Motor Speedway, Sharon Speedway, Tyler County Speedway and Woodhull Raceway was also canceled.
Coming up this week the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Dirt Late Model Flynn’s Tire/Gunter’s Honey Touring Series will head south for a first ever West Virginia doubleheader. On Thursday the Tour will visit Tyler County Speedway and then head to Ohio Valley Speedway on Friday. This will be the first ever RUSH sanctioned event at Ohio Valley. Both events pay $4,000 to win and are being presented by Dave Poske’s Performance Parts.
Hovis RUSH Late Model City Chevrolet Weekly Series action is scheduled at Dog Hollow Speedway and Raceway 7 on Friday. Saturday evening RUSH Late Model City Chevrolet Weekly Series action is scheduled at Genesee Speedway, Muskingum County Speedway, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Motor Speedway, Stateline Speedway, Winchester Speedway and Woodhull Raceway.
Hovis RUSH Sportsman Modified teams will be in action on Friday at Raceway 7 for Wedge Motorsports “Route 7 Rumble” Series action and the Hovis RUSH Sprint Cars will be in action Sunday at Tri-City Raceway Park.
Hovis RUSH Pro Mod competitors will start their holiday racing at Bradford Raceway on Thursday, move to McKean County Raceway on Friday and complete their weekend at Stateline Speedway Saturday evening.
Hovis RUSH Stock Car competitors are off this weekend.
The midway point of the 2024 racing season is here so be sure to get out and enjoy all of the Fourth of July festivities as well as the fast and furious RUSH racing action at a speedway near you.