Story By: MARCIE BARLOW / RUSH RACING SERIES – PULASKI, PA – It was another busy weekend in the various Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Racing Series divisions presented by Born2Run Lubricants. John Mollick celebrated a “perfect weekend” as he swept the three RUSH Sprint Car events that were held throughout western Pa. and eastern Ohio. Bryce Davis (Late Models), Zain Harvey (Pro Mods) and Cole Strickland (Stock Cars) all visited victory lane and collected some extra cash at Freedom Motorsports Park and Clayton Tarabori, Clate Copeman (Late Models) and Al Brewer (Pro Mods) captured their first wins of the season in their respective divisions. All-time RUSH Sportsman Modified winner, Chas Wolbert, hit a milestone of 50 victories in the division.
John Mollick scored a “hat trick” in Hovis RUSH Sprint Car Sunbelt Rentals Weekly Series action this past weekend. The division began their weekend Friday at Sharon Speedway part of the World of Outlaws Late Model event with Gale Ruth, Jr. and Mollick battling on the first lap of the main event. By lap three it was a three-way battle for the lead with Brent Rhebergen running the bottom, Mollick in the middle and Blaze Myers using the top of the speedway. Myers slapped the turn four fence on lap 13 causing an end to his night and moving Arnie Kent to third. When the action resumed Mollick would lead the final three circuits to defeat eighth starting Kent by just 0.683 seconds for the $800 victory in the Billy’s Garage sponsored event. Rhebergen settled for third. Charlie Utsinger came from the ninth spot to finish a career best fourth and Bill Cunningham charged from 15th to 5th.
Saturday evening the RUSH Sprints moved on to Hummingbird Speedway for the first time this season in a special $1,000 to-win event. Billy and Blaze Myers led the field to the green; however, it was John Mollick who immediately charged to the front and took the lead. Mollick led the entire distance of the event to score his second victory in as many days. Gale Ruth, Jr., Blaze Myers, Joe Buccola and Luke Mulichak completed the top five.
The RUSH Sprints concluded the weekend at Tri-City Raceway Park. Blaze Myers led the first six laps of the main event while Mollick, who started sixth, worked his way through the field. Mollick took the lead on lap seven and cruised to a 2.597 second victory over Myers. Veteran Arnie Kent came home third with Buccola claiming fourth, while Rhebergen completed the top five.
Hovis RUSH Late Model action kicked off the weekend at Freedom Motorsports Park Friday evening with a special $2,000 to-win event. Clayton Tarabori and Ed Carley led the field to the green. Tarabori led the first circuit but a miscue on his part gave Bryce Davis the opportunity to take the lead. Davis cruised to the victory, which was his second on the circuit this season. Jeremy Wonderling finished in the runner-up position with Andy Michael, Jason Knowles and Austin Allen following.
Dog Hollow Speedway also hosted RUSH Late Model City Chevrolet Weekly Series action on Friday. Second generation competitor Clate Copeman claimed his first victory of the season defeating Michael Duritsky, Jr. in his first RUSH race of 2024. Virginia invader Jacob Whitt was third with Marino Angelicchio and Andrew Koenig completing the top five. A season high field of cars were on hand at the Northern Cambria, Pa. oval.
Kassidy Kamicker and Tom Klein led the 24-car field to green Saturday at Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Motor Speedway. Klein led the first eight circuits before Zach Gunn took command. Gunn maintained the lead until a lap 14 caution and restart gave Daryl Charlier the opportunity he needed to take command. Charlier went on to lead the final six circuits to score his second consecutive victory at the speedway. 3C Graphix Futures Cup rookie, Lincoln Smith, started ninth came home in second. Joe Martin went 16th to 3rd in a tune-up for the July 27 “Jook George Steel City Classic”. Ben Policz and Jim Rasey rounded out the top five.
Like Charlier, Jeremy Wonderling was a victor for the second consecutive week in RUSH Late Model action. Wonderling capitalized on the misfortune of Austin Hauser and Dave DuBois on Saturday at Genesee Speedway to dominate the 25-lap main event. It was Wonderling’s fourth win in six starts at Genesee with his other two finishes resulting in runner-ups! Demetrios Drellos claimed the second spot for his best run at Genesee with Bill Holmes III getting third. Jon Rivers finished fourth with Allan Chapman getting fifth.
Saturday evening at Woodhull Raceway Austin Allen would lead the first two laps before retiring with a mechanical problem. Steve LeBarron’s inherited the lead until Brett Marlatt took over on lap eight and cruised to his fourth victory of the season which have all come in the last five races at the southern tier New York oval. Marlatt also continues to lead the City Chevrolet Track Pack points at Woodhull. Brian Knowles charged from sixth to claim the second spot at the finish. LeBarron, Joe Layfield and Rickie Loucks completed the top five.
After a miscue at Freedom on Friday, Coudersport, Pa. driver Clayton Tarabori redeemed himself as he led the entire distance of the RUSH Late Model feature at Bradford Speedway on Sunday. It was Tarabori’s second career RUSH Late Model victory, but first ever at Bradford. Jacob Tubbs had a good run to finish second. John Haggerty, Ward Schell and Ian Travis completed the top five.
The lone Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Sportsman Modified event took place at Sharon Speedway on Saturday part of the World of Outlaws Late Model program. Doug Rutana and Caden Petry led the 21-car field to the green with Rutana leading lap one before a caution slowed the field. Petry took over on the restart with Chas Wolbert following. Another caution slowed the field and when the action resumed, Wolbert made the winning pass of Petry to become the third leader in as many laps. Wolbert pulled away from the field and cruised to his 21st divisional victory at the Hartford, OH oval, but more impressively his 50th of his career in the division. Garrett Krummert and Ayden Cipriano battled for the second spot with Cipriano finally claiming the spot on lap 18. Krummert settled for third with Kole Holden and JC Boyer rounding out the top five.
Joe Chamberlain and Bill Holmes III led the RUSH Pro Mod field to the green at Freedom Motorsports Park on Friday night. Chamberlain took the early lead with the division’s top winner Zain Harvey pressuring Holmes for the second spot. A caution provided Harvey with the opportunity he needed to overtake Holmes by using the top grove of the speedway when the action resumed. Harvey cruised to the win, his second at Freedom, and also collected the $1,000 top prize for his efforts. Chamberlain finished second with Josh Wilcox getting the third spot. Bryson Hill and Holmes finished fourth and fifth respectively.
RUSH Pro Mod action on Sunday at Braford Speedway saw veteran Al Brewer visit victory lane for the first time this season. Brewer defeated 2023 champion Steve Dixon, who was making just his second start of the season. Joe Chamberlain, Larry Mitchell, Jr. and Tim Schram were third through fifth.
The RUSH Stock Cars joined the racing action at Freedom Motorsports Park on Friday for a RUSH tripleheader. Seven-time 2024 winner, Kaden Michael, appeared to be on his way to win #8 when the car slowed, and the field was able to catch up. Michael did regain power momentarily, but the mechanical issue was enough to allow Cole Strickland to take the lead and score his second feature win of the season at the Delevan, NY New York oval. Raiddan Wilson, Camron Kramer and Michael followed.
RUSH action at Eriez Speedway was rained out while competitors at Raceway 7, McKean County, Tyler County, Stateline, Muskingum and Winchester Speedways had the week off.
Coming up this weekend the Hovis RUSH Dirt Late Model Flynn’s Tire/Gunter’s Honey Touring Series will try for the third time this season to complete the “Bill Law Memorial” on Saturday evening at Stateline Speedway. The event will pay $3,000 to win.
Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Model Rick Hendrick City ChevroletWeekly Series action is scheduled at Dog Hollow Speedway, McKean County Raceway and Raceway 7 on Friday. Saturday evening RUSH Late Model weekly action is scheduled at Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Motor Speedway, Tyler County Speedway, Winchester Speedway and Woodhull Raceway. RUSH Late Model action on Sunday is scheduled for Eriez Bradford Speedway.
The RUSH Sportsman Modified teams will resume Wedge Motorsports “Route 7 Rumble” action as they will be action at Raceway 7 on Friday and then travel to Sharon Speedway on Saturday for their “Steel Valley Thunder” event.
The RUSH Sprint Cars will also be in action at Sharon on Saturday and then finish their Sunbelt Rentals Weekly Series weekend at Tri-City Raceway Park on Sunday.
RUSH Pro Mod teams will be in action at Stateline Speedway on Saturday and then travel to Bradford Speedway for their annual “Manufacturers Night” presented by MSD Performance as more than $14,500 of valuable products will be given away to the teams that evening part of the $2,000 to-win event!
Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Stock Car action is slated at Eriez Speedway on Sunday.
Regardless of the division you enjoy or the racing facility that you choose to visit; the RUSH racing action will keep you on the edge of your seat.