Story By: MARCIE BARLOW / RUSH RACING SERIES – PULASKI, PA – All five of the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Racing Series divisions presented by Born2Run Lubricants were in action this past weekend as Mother Nature produced three beautiful race days.
Cory Sines entered the record books in the RUSH Late Models as he scored his career first victory last week at Raceway 7. Several familiar also faces graced the victory lane; one in a division that you may not have expected as veteran E-Mod and Super Late Model racer Brent Rhebergen captured his career first Sprint Car win at Tri-City Raceway Park.
Zain Harvey continued his winning ways in the RUSH Pro Mods collecting the $2,000 payday at Bradford Speedway. Standouts Chas Wolbert and Rob Kristyak adding RUSH Sportsman Modified Wedge Motorsports “Route 7 Rumble” Series wins.
The RUSH Late Model City Chevrolet Weekly Series event at Raceway 7 was led to the green by Billy Henry, Jr. and Cory Sines. Sines took the lead at the start and went on to score his career first RUSH Late Model victory joining his brother Chad as a winner now at the Conneaut, Ohio oval. Henry came home in second with Ashton Briggs third. Breyton Santee was fourth. Late Model rookie Jeff Watson was a career best fifth.
With the Flynn’s Tire/Gunter’s Honey Tour off on Friday, Jeremy Wonderling invaded McKean County Raceway and once again dominated the RUSH City Chevrolet Weekly Series event. Wonderling took the lead on the first lap and went on to score his fourth win of the season at the Smethport, Pa. oval worth $1,000. After his first career RUSH Late Model win the Sunday before at Bradford, Clayton Tarabori was a strong second as Mike Wonderling, Paul Grigsby, and Chuck LaFleur completed the top five.
Veteran Mike Laughard captured win number four of the 2024 season Friday evening at Dog Hollow Speedway in RUSH Late Model action. Marino Angelicchio claimed second over Scott Stein. Ohio invader Brian Nethers was fourth in his first ever Dog Hollow visit. Joe Martin rounded out the top five.
The Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Dirt Late Model Flynn’s Tire/Gunter’s Honey Touring Series was in action at Stateline Speedway on Saturday for the “Bill Law Memorial”. An impressive 43 cars were on hand for the event, which honors Law, who owned the first Crate Late Model in the Northeast more than 17 years ago. Youngster Brock Pinkerous led the entire distance of the 30-lap event, which would go non-stop and be completed in a little over nine minutes, to score a hard-fought victory over Bryce Davis. Pinkerous’ margin of victory was a mere 0.354 seconds. Austin Allen had his career best Tour finish in third as did fourth place finisher Jacob Wilber. Jeremy Wonderling rounded out the top five.
Tom Klein and Tommy Schirnhofer, Jr. led the field to green at Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Motor Speedway in a tune-up for this Saturday’s “Jook George Steel City Classic”. Klein led the first nine circuits while Michael Norris methodically worked his way to the second position and then closed the distance between himself and Klein. Norris took the top spot on lap 10 and went on to score his first victory of the season at the speedway. Brandon Burgoon claimed second with Schirnhofer getting third. Mike Reft and Kassidy Kamicker rounded out the top five.
Hovis RUSH Late Model City Chevrolet Weekly Series action at Winchester Speedway saw Kyle Hardy tally his third victory in as many tries Saturday evening. Mike Franklin, Davin Kaiser, Shaun Wetzel and Travis Campbell completed the top five.
In RUSH Late Model action at Tyler County Speedway, Ryan Hare, picked up win number three on the season. AJ Spagnoulo came home in second followed by Brian Nethers, who recorded his second top four finish in as many nights. Hayden Jacobs finished fourth and Philip Bubeck, who made his first start of the season, came home in fifth.
Brett Marlatt tallied win number five on the season Saturday in RUSH Late Model action at Woodhull Raceway. It was also Marlatt’s third consecutive win at the New York oval with his five wins coming in the last six events! McKean County and Genesee Speedway promoter, Kurt Stebbins, enjoyed the evening off from his promotor duties, got behind the wheel and came home in second place for his season best finish on the circuit. Steve LeBarron, Brian Knowles and Joe Layfield completed the top five.
Rookie Andrew Chess and Jason Genco led the 18-car RUSH Late Model field to the green Sunday at Eriez Speedway. Genco led the entire distance of the main event to score his second victory of the season at the speedway and his fourth overall in RUSH action. Fifth place starter Andy Michael finished in the second spot with ninth place starter Breyton Santee claiming third. Bobby Rohrer and David Parker finished fourth and fifth respectively.
Hovis Auto RUSH Sprint Car Sunbelt Rentals Weekly Series action returned to Sharon Speedway on Saturday. Top runners Blaze Myers and John Mollick started the feature in the first row and battled for the top spot the entire distance of the 20-lap main event. On the final circuit the duo crossed the line side-by-side with Myers winning by the closest of margins, 0.001 seconds in the 20-lap Billy’s Garage feature. Myers ended up flipping after the checkered flag and walked to victory lane. It was Myers’ second victory of the season at the speedway and his fourth in RUSH action this season. Brent Rhebergen, Arnie Kent and Trent Marshall completed the top five.
Sunday evening the RUSH Sprint Car teams headed to Tri-City Raceway Park. Veteran Brent Rhebergen, who has wins in Late Model and E-Mod action at the speedway added a RUSH Sprint Car victory to his Tri-City win total, which now stands at 53! Rhebergen led the entire distance of the main event aboard the Tim Engles-owned #68 to become the sixth different winner of 2024 in Sunbelt Rentals Weekly Series action. John Mollick settled for second with Blaze Myers claiming third. Arnie Kent and Joe Buccola finished fourth and fifth respectively.
Another weekend of Wedge Motorsports “Route 7 Rumble” action was on tap for the Hovis RUSH Sportsman Modified teams. Friday at Raceway 7, Bill Cunningham and Lucas Canon led the field to green in the 20-lap main event. Veteran Rob Kristyak took the lead and appeared to be headed to his third victory of the season at the Conneaut, OH oval until he was sidelined by mechanical woes. Chas Wolbert inherited the lead and went on to score his fourth win of the season at the speedway and his fifth overall in “Route 7 Rumble” Series action. Twelve-year-old Logen Lockhart had a career best finish in the second position with JC Boyer, Kole Holden and Karston King completing the top five.
Saturday night at Sharon Speedway, Rob Kristyak redeemed himself as he took the lead from JC Boyer on lap four, survived challenges from Boyer, Chas Wolbert and finally Darin Gallagher to score a popular and well-deserved victory. Kristyak’s margin of victory over Gallagher, who made his debut in a car owned by Jerry Schaffer, was 0.883 seconds. In Kristyak’s last races at Raceway 7, he’s flipped and blown a motor so hopefully lucky has changed for the Bristolville, Ohio driver. Wolbert claimed third with Kole Holden fourth and Boyer fifth.
Hovis RUSH Pro Mod teams started their three-race weekend at McKean County Raceway on Friday. Zain Harvey took the lead on lap two of the main event and went on to score his fourth victory of the season at the track. It was also Harvey’s 11th win in RUSH action this season. Joe Chamberlain finished second with Steve Watson, Bryson Hill, and Larry Mitchell, Jr. who all had their best runs of the season at the speedway, finishing third through fifth.
RUSH Pro Mod action at Stateline Speedway on Saturday saw veteran Al Brewer hold off the challenges of Zain Harvey to score his first victory of the season at the speedway. It was also Brewer’s second victory of the season on the circuit as he scored a win last weekend at Bradford Speedway. Harvey settled for second with Vaughan Nystrom getting third. Nick Arnold and Cody Rickard finished fourth and fifth respectively.
RUSH Pro Mod action on Sunday evening at Bradford Speedway included their annual “Manufacturers Night” presented by MSD Performance. More than $14,500 in valuable products were distributed to the teams in attendance with each team receiving a package with a minimum value of $300 with the majority receiving two!. Zain Harvey bested the 16-car field to tally his 12th victory of the season in divisional competition and collect the $2,000 top prize. Al Brewer followed up the previous night’s win with a fine second place finish. Steve Dixon, Josh Wilcox and Larry Mitchell Jr
The lone RUSH Stock Car event of the weekend took place at Eriez Speedway on Sunday. Raiddan Wilson and William Baker Jr. led the field to the green, but it was Kaden Michael who would charge to the front and score the victory. It was Michael’s second straight win at Eriez and his eighth on the circuit in 2024 as the 2023 3C Graphix Futures Cup Champion continues to lead the $2,000 to-win Weekly Series Championship. Alex Bush came in second with Baker third. Wilson and Jimmy Roberson rounded out the top five.
This weekend Hovis Auto RUSH Dirt Late Model Flynn’s Tire/Gunter’s Honey Touring Series action moves to Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Motor Speedway for the “Jook George Steel City Classic” Saturday evening. The event pays a minimum of $6,010 to win and if the winning team financially contributed a minimum of $50 to the event prior to the evening’s drivers meeting, they will receive a $1,000 bonus from event promoter Branden Lockwich and the speedway!
City Chevrolet Weekly Series action for the RUSH Late Models is scheduled at Dog Hollow Speedway, McKean County Raceway and Raceway 7 on Friday. Saturday night RUSH Late Model weekly action will take place at Stateline Speedway, Tyler County Speedway and Woodhull Raceway. Sunday evening the division will be in action at Eriez Speedway.
The Hovis RUSH Sprint Cars will make their first ever appearance at Blanket Hill Speedway on Sunday in a Sunbelt Rentals Weekly Series event.
It’s a busy weekend for the RUSH Sportsman Modified teams as they will be in action Friday, Saturday and Sunday! The Tripleheader weekend kicks off at Raceway 7 Friday with night 1 of Wedge Motorsports “Route 7 Rumble’ action. Saturday evening action moves to Sharon Speedway for the second night of “Route 7 Rumble” action. Sunday evening the division stops by Tri-City Raceway Park in Franklin, Pa. for their first appearance in nearly two years for a $600 to-win event.
Hovis RUSH Pro Mod drivers also have a busy tripleheader weekend with McKean County Raceway on Friday, Stateline Speedway on Saturday and Bradford Speedway on Sunday. The lone RUSH Stock Car event is slated for Eriez Speedway on Sunday.
Once again it looks to be a great weekend weatherwise so be sure to get out and enjoy the exciting RUSH racing action at a speedway near you.