---

norris wins back to back jook george memorial steel city classics

Imperial, PA

The 32nd Annual Jook George Memorial Steel City Classic for the Rohrich RUSH Late Model Dirt Series presented by Zarin Truck and Auto would go down in the history books as one of the best ones yet. The competition was fierce with 36 RUSH Late Models signed in for their second touring race of the season at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway on Saturday night. PPMS would see qualifying, six heat races, a six-lap dash, two B-mains, and three A-main feature events. 

Defending Jook George Memorial champion Michael Norris (51N), from Sarver, would go the distance and defend his 2020 title, picking up his second Jook George Memorial Steel City Classic win in a row. Dave Gobel (20G), from Aliquippa, would win the RUSH Non-Qualifiers race to pick up his first-ever PPMS win. Stephen Shelpman (17S), from Pleasant Hills, would pick up the Priority Equipment Rental Hobby Stock win after sitting out a few weeks with a broken motor. 

Kyle Hardy (99), from Linden, Virginia, would set the overall fast-time during qualifying with a time of 19.509. But, Kyle Lukon (184L), from Burgettstown, was only 0.106 seconds behind him. Out of the 36 RUSH Late Models that were signed in, only five of them would have a qualifying time in the 19-second range. Norris (51N) was third overall with a time of 19.771. Michael Duritsky Jr. (90J), from Masontown, was fourth with a time of 19.851, while Jake Gunn (14G), from Mcdonald, was the only other driver in the 19-second range with a time of 19.918. 

The 36 RUSH Late Models were broken into four heat races. The top five from each heat would transfer into the A-main with the top two entering the redraw for the six-lap dash. The cars that didn’t transfer would go into one of two B-mains. 

Daryl Charlier (114), from Midway, would come in second in heat one with Hardy (99) the winner with both of them making the redraw for the dash. The top two from heat two would be Lukon (184L) and Ben Policz (14B), from Rices Landing. Norris (51N) would win heat three with Garret Paugh (03), from Elkins, West Virginia, in the second spot. Heat four would have Duritsky (90J) and Mike Reft (9R), from Pittsburgh, one and two respectively. 

During the dash redraw, only two drivers were left to pick, Paugh (03) and Reft (9R). Paugh (03) would pick pill seven, giving Reft (9R) the pole in the six-lap dash. When the green flag dropped in the dash, Reft (9R) would keep his early lead. Hardy (99) would pull into the pits on lap two with an unknown car issue. Fifth place starting Charlier (114) would take over the lead in the dash on lap three. Charlier (114) would go the distance in the dash, ensuring him as the pole-sitter in the 50-lap A-main. 

The two eight-lap B-mains were up next for the RUSH Late Models with the top two transferring into the A-main, and each third-place finisher would redraw for a provisional, and the rest would go to the Non-Qualifier Feature. The top two from B-Main one would be Ryan Frazee (11F), and, Tony White (27T), with Dave Gobel (20G) redrawing for the provisional. Going to the Non-Qualifier were Bud Watson (225), Bill Kessler (09), Bryan Hoffman (15H), and Chris Lander (18L). Philip Bubeck (184X) would win B-main two with Dan Lepro (2L) transferring and Dusty Waters (14W) redrawing for the provisional. Colby Beighey (36B), Cole Petrelle (84), Kassidy Kamicker (72B), Levi Spinneweber (10X), and Kurt Stebbins (26) would go to the Non-Qualifier. 

With a few provisionals handed out, the 32nd Annual Jook George Memorial Steel City Classic field was set. After winning the dash, Charlier (114) would start on the pole. Duritsky (90J) would start in second, Policz (14B) in third, Reft (9R) in fourth, Paugh (03) in fifth, Norris (51N) in sixth, Lukon (184L) in seventh, and Hardy (99) would complete the top four starting rows. When the green flag dropped, Charlier (114) would keep his lead. On lap seven, and with Charlier (114) still leading, Duritsky (90J) was still in second, Norris (51N) was in third, Reft (9R) in fourth, and Lukon (184L) in fifth. The event’s first caution would come on that same lap seven for a car that hit the wall in turn two. Chalier (114) would choose the outside on the restart with 43 laps remaining. The field wouldn’t even complete a lap before the caution was out again for a few cars that got tangled up on the exit of turn two. The field would line up with Charlier (114) as their leader, but again, cars would get tangled up in turn two, bringing out another caution. As per RUSH rules, back-to-back cautions on a restart would mean a single foul restart for the field. When the field returned to green-flag conditions, Charlier (114) would keep his lead. Charlier (114) was still leading on lap 10 with Norris (51N) now in second, Reft (9R) in third, Lukon (184L) in fourth, and Paugh (03) in fifth. Charlier (114) would catch the tail of the field on lap 15 and begin to contend with lapped traffic. Another caution would come on lap 20 and Charlier (114) would choose the outside on the restart with Norris (51N) to his inside. Lukon (184L) was in third, Paugh (03) in fourth, and Duritsky (90J) was in fifth. On the restart, Charlier (114) would keep his lead with Norris (51N) right behind him. Despite an awesome restart, Lukon (184L) would lose several positions when fourth-place Paugh (03) would make incidental contact with him. The caution was out again on lap 22 for debris on the track. During the caution, Paugh (03) would enter the pits to have his car checked out and made it back out before the green. As per RUSH rules, Paugh (03) was able to keep his spot. Charlier (114) would again choose the outside on the restart with Norris (51N) to his inside. When the green flag waved, Norris (51N) would make his move and take over the lead. Lap 23 had another caution when a car was off the pace entering turn three with a right-front flat. With 27 laps remaining, Norris (51) would take the outside on the restart with Charlier (114) to his inside in second place, while Paugh (03) was in third, Duritsky (90J) was in fourth, and Jeremy Wonderling (3J) was in fifth. Norris (51) would keep his lead but another caution would slow the pace on lap 24 when two cars got into each other on the front stretch. With 26 laps to go, Norris (51N) would take the outside on the restart with Charlier (114) to his inside in second, and Hardy (99) now in third. Norris (51N) would keep his lead on the restart but Lukon (184L) would go from seventh to third on that restart with Hardy (99) keeping second. Norris (51N) would enter lapped traffic on lap 33 with Hardy (99) and Lukon (184L) in tow. From lap 26 to the end of the race, the green flag would remain out and Norris (51N) would pick up his second Jook George Memorial Steel City Classic win in a row. He was followed to the line by Hardy (99) in second, Lukon (184L) in third, Charlier (114) in fourth, Joe Martin (10S) in fifth, Duritsky (90J) in sixth, Paugh (03) in seventh, Wonderling (3J) in eighth, Matt Latta (21L) in ninth, and Justin Kann (66) would round out the top 10. 

Notables

Car Count: 36

Feature Margin of Victory: 0.885 seconds

Feature Lap Leaders: Daryl Charlier (1-22), Michael Norris (23-50)

Ontime Body & Graphic “Spoiler Alert” Spoiler Kit: Michael Reft

Performance Bodies "Nosed Out": Dave Goble

Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down” Hard Charger: Kyle Hardy (+6)

Precise Racing Products 5-Gallon Race Jug: Michael Norris

Sunoco and Zarin Truck & Auto $100 Sunoco Fuel Cards: Bill Kessler & Daryl Charlier

TBM Brakes “Tough Brake of the Night”: Levi Crowl

$1,000 Feature Winner Contributor Bonus presented by Branden Lockwich & Miley Motorsports: Michael Norris

$107 7th Place Bonus "In Memory of Dave & Mary Lynn Nicholas" presented by Gunn Racing: Garret Paugh

$100 10th Place Bonus "In Memory of Jook George": Justin Kann

$150 11th Place Bonus presented by Langer Racing: Michael Reft

$100 15th on Lap 16 presented by All Interior Painting & Goble Motorsports: Dan Angelicchio

$100 18th of Lap 25 presented by All Interior Painting & Goble Motorsports: Bud Watson

$100 Close Racing Supply Gift Card for Top New York Finisher: Jeremy Wondering

$300 "Rookie of the Jook" presented by Stile's Marine: Justin Kann

$100 Second Fastest Qualifier "In Memory of Dow Carnahan" presented by Bryant Hank: Kyle Lukon

$100 Second Non-Qualifier presented by Lukon Racing: Colby Beighey

In the RUSH Late Model Non-Qualifier 10-lap feature, Gobel (20G) would start on the pole with Beighey (36B) to his inside in second place. Kessler (09) would start in third, while Hoffman (15H) would start in fourth, Kamicker (72B) would start in fifth, Lander (18L) would start in sixth, and Stebbins (26) would start in seventh. When the green flag dropped, Gobel (20G) would retain his lead. Lap two had Gobel (20G) still leading, Beighey (36B), still in second, Kessler (09) still in third, and Stebbins (26) now up to fourth. The top four would remain the same through lap four. Stebbins (26) would eventually take over the third spot towards the end of the race. But, Gobel (20G) would go the distance to pick up his first PPMS RUSH Late Model Win. He was followed to the line by Beighey (36B) in second, Stebbins (26) in third, Kessler (09) in fourth, Kamicker (72B), in fifth, Hoffman (15H) in sixth, and Lander (18L) in seventh. 

In the Priority Equipment Rental Hobby Stock 15-lap feature, John Cain (06), from North Versailles, would start on the pole with Shelpman (17S) to his inside in second place. Kayla McManus (00K), from Elizabeth, would start in third, while Cody Tokarski (26T), from Hickory, would start in fourth, Chloie Jones (76), from Bakersfield, California, would start in fifth, and Cody Koteles (1K), from Stockdale, would complete the top three starting rows. When the green flag dropped, Shelpman (17S) would pull away with the early lead. Lap two had Shelpman (17S) still leading, C. Koteles (1K) now in second, McManus (00K) in third, and Cain (06) in fourth. Shelpman (17S) and C. Koteles (1K) would enter lapped traffic on lap six. C. Koteles (1K) would make a move for the lead on the low side entering turn three, but pushed a little too hard, as he would make contact with the wall exiting turn four. Despite hitting the wall, he would keep his second-place spot and continue his pursuit of the leader. With the race running caution-free, Shelpman (17S) would lead all laps of the event, en route to another PPMS win. He was followed to the line by C. Koteles (1K) in second, Matt Benard (15) in third, Jones (76) in fourth, McManus (00K) in fifth, Danny Rich (221K) in sixth, Tokarski (26T) in seventh, Roberth Betz (22) in eighth, Cain (06) in ninth, and Tony Magill (5) would complete the top ten. The heat race winners were Shelpman (17S) and C. Koteles (1K). 

Racing resumes at Dirt’s Monster Half-Mile next Saturday, August 14, 2021, for the ADMAR Penn Ohio Pro Stock Wee Willie White Memorial. PPMS will also be featuring the Rohrich RUSH Late Model Dirt Series, the Priority Equipment Rental Hobby Stocks, the Crawford Auto Repair Four-Cylinders, and the All Ways Safe Young Guns. Gates open at 5 p.m., hot laps begin at 6 p.m., and the racing action will commence at 7 p.m. Visit our website our schedule section pricing and tickets. Happy racing!

RESULTS 

32nd Annual Rohrich RUSH Late Model Jook George Steel City Classic Memorial (50) - Laps 

Finishing spot - Starting Spot - Driver Name (Car Number) - Hometown

1 - 6 - Michael Norris (51N) - Sarver

2 - 8 - Kyle Hardy (99) - Linden, VA

3 - 7 - Kyle Lukon (184) - Burgettstown

4 - 1 - Daryl Charlier (114) - Midway 

5 - 11 - Joe Martin (10S) - Punxsutawney

6 - 2 - Michael Duritsky (90J) - Masontown 

7 - 5 - Garret Paugh (03) - Elkins, WV

8 - 9 - Jeremy Wonderling (3J) - Wellsville, NY

9 - 15 - Matt Latta (21L) - Conneaut Lake

10 - 16 - Justin Kann (66) - Huntingdon

11 - 4 - Mike Reft (9R) - Pittsburgh 

12 - 3 - Ben Policz (14B) - Rices Landing 

13 - 12 - Logan Zarin (1Z) - Moon 

14 - 18 - Dan Angelicchio (14A) - Mount Pleasant 

15 - 14 - Zach Morrow (48F) - Gibsonia 

16 - 20 - John Waters (60) - Whitesville, NY

17 - 22 - Philip Bubeck (184X) - Colliers, WV

18 - 21 - Ryan Frazee (11F) - Addison 

19 - 19 - J.J. Mazur (13) - Batavia, NY 

20 - 13 - Jake Gunn (14G) - McDonald 

21 - 25 - Bud Watson (225) - Conneaut, OH 

22 - 10 - Levi Crowl (5C) - Clear Spring, MD

23 - 23 - Tony White (27T) - Aliquippa 

24 - 17 - Zach Gunn (17G) - McDonald 

25 - 26 - Dusty Waters (14W) - Portville, NY

26 - 24 - Dan Lepro (2L) - Midway

 

RUSH Late Model Non-Qualifyer (10) - Laps 

Finishing spot - Starting Spot - Driver Name (Car Number) - Hometown

1 - 1 - Dave Gobel (20G) - Aliquippa 

2 - 2 - Colby Beighey (36B) - Taylor, MI 

3 - 8 - Kurt Stebins (26) - Wellsville, NY 

4 - 3 - Bill Kessler (09) - Freedom 

5 - 6 - Kassidy Kamicker (72B) - Aliquippa 

6 - 5 - Bryan Hoffman (15H) - Imperial 

7 - 7 - Chris Lander (18L) - Burgettstown

DNS - Tommy Schirnhofer Jr. (8S) - Dormont

DNS - Cole Petrelle (84) - Follansbeen, WV

DNS - Levi Spinneweber (10X) - Butler

 

RUSH Late Model Quailfying

Finishing spot - Driver Name (Car Number) - Time

1 - Kyle Hardy (99) -  19.509

2 - Kyle Lukon (184L) - 19.615

3 - Michael Norris (51N) - 19.771

4 - Michael Duritsky Jr. (90J) - 19.851

5 - Zach Gunn (17G) - 19.918

6 - Ben Policz (14B) - 20.054

7 - Garret Paugh (03) - 20.067

8 - Mike Reft (9R) - 20.140

9 - Jeremy Wonderling (3J) - 20.186

10 - Dan Angelicchio (14A) - 20.253

11 - Joe Martin (10S) - 20.259

12 - Logan Zarin (1Z) - 20.264

13 - Daryl Charlier (114) - 20.328

14 - Zach Morrow (48F) - 20.443

15 - Matt Latta (21L) - 20.482

16 - Justin Kann (66) - 20.512

17 - Jake Gunn (14G) - 20.533

18 - Levi Crowl (5C) - 20.549

19 - J.J. Mazur (13) - 20.602

20 - Philip Bubeck (184X) - 20.636

21 - Bud Watson (225) - 20.699

22 - Dave Gobel (20G) - 20.708

23 - Dusty Waters (14W) - 20.722

24 - Cole Petrelle (84P) - 20.789

25 - Ryan Frazee (11F) - 20.824

26 - Tony White (27T) - 20.861

27 - Colby Beighey (36B) - 20.891

28 - John Waters (60) - 21.008

29 - Bill Kessler (09) - 21.237 

30 - Bryan Hoffman (15H) - 21.626

31 - Kassidy Kamicker (72B) - 21.730 

32 - Dan Lepro (2L) - 21.983

33 - Chris Lander (18L) - 22.099

34 - Tommy Schirnhofer Jr. (8S) - 0.00

35 - Levi Spinneweber (10X) - 0.00

36 - Kurt Stebbins (26) 21.383 *** DQ ***

 

RUSH Late Model Heat 1 (8) - Laps 

Finishing Spot - Driver Name - Car Number - [Starting Spot]

Kyle Hardy - 99 - [1];  2. Daryl Charlier - 114 - [4];  3. Jeremy Wonderling - 3J - [3];  4. Jake Gunn - 14G - [5];  5. Zach Gunn - 17G - [2[;  6. Ryan Frazee - 11F - [7];  7. Bud Watson - 225 - [6];  8. Bill Kessler - 09 - [8];  9. Chris Lander - 18L - [9];  

 

RUSH Late Model Heat 2 (8) - Laps 

Finishing Spot - Driver Name - Car Number - [Starting Spot]

Kyle Lukon - 184L - [1];  2. Ben Policz - 14B - [2];  3. Levi Crowl - 5C - [5];  4. Zach Morrow - 48F - [4];  5. Dan Angelicchio - 14A - [3];  6. Tony White - 27T - [7];  7. Dave Gobel - 20G - [6];  8. Bryan Hoffman - 15H - [8];  9. Tommy Schirnhofer Jr. - 8S - [9];  

 

RUSH Late Model Heat 3 (8) - Laps 

Finishing Spot - Driver Name - Car Number - [Starting Spot]

Michael Norris - 51N - [1];  2. Garret Paugh - 03 - [2];  3. Joe Martin - 10S - [3];  4. Matt Latta - 21L - [4];  5. J.J. Mazur - 13 - [5];  6. Dusty Waters - 14W - [6];  7. Colby Beighey - 36B - [7];  8. Kassidy Kamicker - 72B - [8];  9. Levi Spinneweber - 10X - [9];  

 

RUSH Late Model Heat 4 (8) - Laps 

Finishing Spot - Driver Name - Car Number - [Starting Spot]

Michael Duritsky Jr. - 90J - [1];  2. Mike Reft - 9R - [2];  3. Logan Zarin - 1Z - [3];  4. Justin Kann - 66 - [4];  5. John Waters - 60 - [7];  6. Philip Bubeck - 184X - [5];  7. Cole Petrelle - 84P - [6];  8. Dan Lepro - 2L - [8];  9. Kurt Stebbins - 26 - [9];

 

RUSH Late Model Dash (6) - Laps 

Finishing Spot - Starting Spot - Driver Name (Car Number) 

1 - 5 - Daryl Charlier (114)

2 - 3 - Michael Duritsky (90J) 

3 - 8 - Ben Policz (14B) 

4 - 1 - Mike Reft (9R) 

5 - 7 - Garret Paugh (03) 

6 - 6 - Mike Norris (51N) 

7 - 4 - Kyle Lukon (184L) 

8 - 2 - Kyle Hardy (99) 

 

RUSH Late Model B-main 1 (8) - Laps 

Finishing Spot - Starting Spot - Driver Name (Car Number)

1 - 1 - Ryan Frazee (11F) 

2 - 2 - Tony White (27T) 

3 - 4 - Dave Gobel (20G) 

4 - 3 - Bud Watson (225) 

5 - 5 - Bill Kessler (09) 

6 - 6 - Bryan Hoffman (15H) 

7 - 7 - Chris Lander (18L)

8 - 8 - Tommy Schirnhofer (8S) 

 

RUSH Late Model B-main 2 (8) - Laps 

Finishing Spot - Starting Spot - Driver Name (Car Number)

1 - 2 - Philip Bubeck (184X)

2 - 6 - Dan Lepro (2L) 

3 - 1 - Dusty Waters (14W) 

4 - 3 - Colby Beighey (36B) 

5 - 4 - Cole Petrelle (84P) 

6 - 8 - Kurt Stebbins (26) 

7 - 5 - Kassidy Kamicker (72B) 

8 - 7 - Levi Spinneweber (10X)

 

Priority Equipment Rental Hobby Stock Feature (15) - Laps 

Finishing spot - Starting Spot - Driver Name (Car Number) - Hometown

1 - 2 - Stephen Shelpman (17S) - Pleasant Hills 

2 - 6 - Cody Koteles (1K) - Stockdale 

3 - 7 - Matt Benard (15) - Oakdale 

4 - 5 - Chloie Jones (76) - Bakersfield, CA 

5 - 3 - Kayla McManus (00K) - Elizabeth 

6 - 9 - Danny Rich (221K) - Imperial 

7 - 4 - Cody Tokarski (26T) - Hickory 

8 - 12 - Robert Betz (22) - South Heights 

9 - 1 - John Cain (06) - North Versailles 

10 - 16 - Tony Magil (5) - Jefferson Hills 

11 - 10 - Ben Anton (13) - Jefferson Hills 

12 - 14 - Tom Anton (64) - Jefferson Hills 

13 - 13 - Jack Grimm (47T) 

14 - 17 - Rick Ours (70) - East Liverpool, OH 

15 - 15 - Marc Corio (14) 

16 - Frank Magill (05) - Jefferson Hills 

17 - 11 - Jonathan Koteles (2K) - Stockdale 

DNS - Cody Behanna (25) - Finleyville 

 

Hobby Stock Heat 1 (8) - Laps 

Finishing Spot - Driver Name - Car Number - [Starting Spot]

Cody Koteles - 1K - [5];  2. Matt Benard - 15 - [2];  3. Kayla McManus - 00K - [6];  4. Cody Tokarski - 26T - [3];  5. Danny Rich - 221K - [7];  6. Jonathan Koteles - 2K - [9];  7. Jack Grimm - 47T - [8];  8. Cody Behannah - 25 - [4];  9. Tony Magill - 5 - [1];  

 

Hobby Stock Heat 2 (8) - Laps 

Finishing Spot - Driver Name - Car Number - [Starting Spot]

Stephen Shelpman - 17S - [4];  2. Frank Magill - 05 - [8];  3. John Cain - 06 - [2];  4. Chloie Jones - 76 - [7];  5. Ben Anton - 13 - [1];  6. Robert Betz - 22 - [5];  7. Tom Anton - 64 - [6];  8. Marc Corio - 14 - [3];  9. Rick Ours - 70 - [9];

Back to News