9/14/2019
CAREER 1ST WIN FOR TONY TATGENHORST COMES IN RUSH SPORTSMAN MODS AT PITTSBURGH WHILE GARRET PAUGH WINS BIGGEST CAREER RUSH LATE MODEL RACE WITH $2053
(Pulaski, PA)...The white flag is flying over the 2019 season for the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Racing Series powered by Pace Performance family of speedways as some tracks have finished up for the season, others have point titles coming to a head, while others are in full post-season mode.
Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Motor Speedway was the site of an intense battle between John Mollick and Garret Paugh looking for the win in the Miley Motorsports Rumble for the RUSH Late Models. Paugh and Mollick would use each of the several restarts in the 35-lap main event to attempt to outdo each other. The Rumble, which honors three members of the Miley Motorsports family, comes not only with a substantial paycheck for the winner, but the prestige of winning one of the most coveted races on the PPMS calendar. When the 35 laps were all counted, it was Paugh of Elkins, WV standing in victory lane for his biggest career RUSH win worth $2,053! Mollick would settle for second with Ben Policz, Mike Reft and Nico Dabecco rounding out the top five.
Also on the card were the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds and RUSH Sprints. A first time winner emerged from the Sportsman Mod ranks when the #63T of Tony Tatgenhorst scored the win in the main event. Tatgenhorst has run several divisions over the years and never found victory lane outside of his three "Wheelman" non-winner race victories at Sharon this year. Tatgenhorst, who was awarded the opportunity to take the checkered flag for a victory lap to celebrate his first win, crossed the line ahead of pole sitter Chelsie Kriegisch in her season best finish, Rob Kristyak, Chas Wolbert and Kole Holden for the top five. Kristyak and Wolbert remain tied for $3,000 to-win Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Weekly Series Championship.
In the RUSH Sprints, Chad Ruhlman scored yet another win at PPMS beating out Zach Morrow, Jeremy Weaver, Kevin Ruhlman and Brian Ruhlman. Ruhlman has won all three of his PPMS starts this season and both races held in 2018. The Sportsman Mods return to the "Monster Half-Mile" this Saturday night, while the Sprints will be back on September 21 and both classes will run on September 28. Also, both the Sweeney RUSH Late Model and Hovis Sportsman Modified Touring Series will be a part of the season ending Pittsburgher 100 weekend on October 4-5.
Saturday night at New York's Woodhull Raceway, the point title was on the line in the RUSH Late Model division with Jason Knowles heading into the night's action with a slim nine-point lead over Kurt Stebbins. In early race action, Brian Knowles and John Waters were swapping the lead while Jason Knowles and Stebbins battled for position deeper in the field but moving forward. Waters was out front with battles for position going on behind him; most notably, a three-wide battle between his brother Scott Waters along with the Knowles brothers. John Waters took the race win, his first of the season, at Woodhull and second in Sweeney Weekly Series action. Scott Waters, Jason Knowles, Brian Knowles, and Steve LeBarron rounded out the top five. Jason Knowles held on to clinch the track championship over Stebbins. The RUSH Late Models will be a part of post season racing at Woodhull on September 14 and 28 that will award Sweeney Weekly Series points.
Saturday at Delaware International Speedway, pole sitter Geoff Carey's time at the front of the field in the RUSH Late Model main event was short lived as Derek Magee and Matt Hill were moving forward. Hill took his familiar high groove to get to the front and never look back, scoring his eighth win of the 2019 campaign and building on his insurmountable lead in the point standings. Magee finished second with Jason Dean, Billy Thompson and central Pennsylvania invader Jacob Piper making up the top five. No racing this Saturday night at DIS, but the RUSH Late Models will return on September 21 and 28 with other post-season shows TBA. Down the road at Georgetown Speedway, the RUSH Late Models will appear next on Friday, November 1 for $1,000 to-win
On the asphalt Saturday night at Pennsylvania's Jennerstown Speedway, Barry Awtey picked up yet another victory in the RUSH Asphalt Late Model division. The multiple time champion from nearby Jenners, Pa. was followed across the line by Todd Price, Zane Ferrell, Bryan Shipp and Jarred Barclay. In the RUSH Asphalt Modifieds, Racin' Jason Bush bested Anthony Aiello, Adam Kostelnik, RJ Dallape and Brad Milburn. RUSH Asphalt Street Stock action saw point leader Aaron Van Fleet win over Josh Coughenour, Casey Fleegle, Zac Todaro and Andrew Kostelnik.
Genesee Speedway in Batavia, NY returns to action this Saturday and Sunday for their third annual "Topless Nationals". The RUSH Late Models will compete in Sweeney Weekly Series special events each day with $1,500 to-win Saturday and $3,000 to-win on Sunday. The RUSH Sprints are part of the show for the second straight year as they will race for $800 to-win each night.
The RUSH Sprints will kickoff the weekend for the first time ever at New York's Ransomville Speedway on Friday night. Ransomville will open the expanded three-night "Empire State Classic" with an $800 to-win Bonnell's Rod Shop Weekly Series special. The three nights will have a five-position points fund thanks to CNC Specialties, Intense Fab & Design, and Pace Performance with $300 going to the champion.
The RUSH Pro Stocks will race for $1,300 to-win this Saturday night at Lernerville Speedway part of the annual "Autumn-Motive Fest".
Sharon Speedway's "Apple Festival Nationals" coming up September 20-21 will include the RUSH Sprint Cars on Friday night, while the Hovis RUSH Sportsman Modified Touring Series participates both days capped off by Saturday night's (9/21) $800 to-win feature.
The RUSH Late Models will join up with the World of Outlaws Late Models next Thursday night at Stateline Speedway for a $1,000 to-win Sweeney Weekly Series special. Also coming up next weekend is the "September Sweep" at Eriez Speedway, which will include the RUSH Late Models on Friday and Saturday with a rain date of Sunday
The RUSH Late Models still have three events remaining at Potomac Speedway on September 27, October 5, and October 11-12. Sister track, Winchester Speedway, has one event left on September 28 paying $2,000 to-win.
With mid-September upon us, the curtain is beginning to close on another fabulous racing season for the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Racing Series powered by Pace Performance family of speedways.
RUSH Racing Series is brought to you by Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC & Pace Performance along with the support of Hoosier Tire, Bilstein Shocks, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, Insinger Performance, MSD Performance, Holley Performance Products, Hovis Auto & Truck Supply, FK Rod Ends, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, TBM Brakes, Performance Bodies & Parts, Racing Electronics, Dirt Defender, Wrisco Industries, Frankland Racing Supply, Landrum Performance Spring, Ontime Body & Graphic, Trailer-Alarms.com, Bonnell's Rod Shop, Zarin Truck & Automotive, Sherwood Wheels, Alternative Power Sources, Precise Racing Products, Lincoln Electric, Velocita-USA, Classic Ink USA, CrateInsider.com, and Valley Fashions.
E-mail can be sent to the RUSH Racing Series at info@rushracingseries.com and snail mail to 4368 Route 422, Pulaski, PA 16143. Office phone is 724-964-9300 and fax is 724-964-0604. The RUSH Racing Series website is www.rushracingseries.com. Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/rushlatemodels and follow us on Twitter @RUSHLM.
Article Credit: Mike Leone
