SUCCESSFUL 2019 SWEENEY RUSH SERIES SEASON COMPLETED AS CHAMPIONS & TOP RACERS
HONORED AT AWARDS BANQUET; OVER $130,000 IN POINT FUNDS DISTRIBUTED
By
Mike Leone
January 25, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Edinburg, PA)…While the 2020 racing season
is only a few months away, Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Racing Series
powered by Pace Performance Directors Vicki Emig and Mike Leone put a final wrap
on the 2019 racing season with the annual awards banquet and dinner on Saturday
night at the Gatherings Banquet & Event Center in Edinburg, Pa.
A large number of attendees filled the beautiful banquet hall as over
$130,000 in cash was distributed to Sweeney RUSH Late Model, Sprint Car,
Sportsman Modified, Pro Mod, and Pro Stock racers.
All told well over a quarter million dollar in point fund monies and
useful product contingencies were distributed to RUSH racers throughout the 2019
season.
The Sweeney
Crowned 2019 Sweeney Late Model champions were Jeremy Wonderling-Touring Series,
Max Blair-National Weekly Series and "Summer Chase", Jakob Piper-"Futures Cup",
and Chad Sines-Wheelman Bonus Event Challenge Series.
In the Sweeney RUSH Sprint Cars, Chad Ruhlman captured the Bonnell's Rod
Shop Weekly Series crown again, while his son Kevin won the inaugural "Futures
Cup" title. In the Sweeney RUSH
Sportsman Modifieds, it was Garrett Krummert again taking both the Hovis Auto &
Truck Supply Weekly & Touring Series titles, while David Kalb, Jr. won the Hovis
"Futures Cup" and Cameron Nastasi the "Wheelman".
Dennis Lunger, Jr. won the Sweeney Pro Mod Weekly Series Championship
once again. Tyler Dietz captured the
Sweeney Pro Stock title for the second straight year.
All of the champions received their
point
fund monies, laser etched championship marble awards, large championship checks
thanks to Ontime Body & Graphic, inscribed RUSH championship jackets, and
Hoosier championship jackets
Jeremy
Wonderling of Wellsville, NY edged out Touring Series newcomer Kyle Lukon to
earn the $5,000 Tour title for the second time in three years of trying.
Wonderling started the
year off strong at the "Battle of the Bay" presented by Wehrs Machine finishing
in the top 11 all three nights against a fields of 40-53 cars each night.
Wonderling returned home and went on a tear winning three straight Tour
races in his home state. Wonderling
had a tough stretch with four finishes of 12th or worse in a five-race span;
however, his runner-up in the finale at Lernerville for the second straight year
allowed him to cop the title- this time by one over Lukon, whose three wins at
Pittsburgh were worth $18,800!
Max Blair left Saturday's banquet once again as RUSH’s top point fund earner
garnering $9,000.
Despite again focusing his efforts on
his Super Late Model program, Blair again won enough and was efficient enough to
capture the National Weekly Series & Pace Performance Summer Chase titles for
the Late Model division. In addition,
Blair finished eighth in the Touring Series thanks to six wins and two
runner-ups as he knocked down $27,250 in those eight starts.
The third
generation racer led the way with 18 wins with those coming at seven different
tracks. Blair finished in the top
five in all 26 races he competed in!
The 30-year-old Centerville, Pa. driver's $5,000 National Weekly Series
Championship was his fifth in seven years also winning in 2013, 2015-2016, 2018.
His $3,000 Summer Chase title was also his fifth in seven years as he
also won titles in 2013 and now four straight years from 2016 on!
In
his fourth year of trying, Jakob Piper became the latest to enshrine his name as
a “Futures Cup” Champion.
He was able to record top 10 finishes at five different speedways
including, but really made a statement at his home track, Winchester.
There he was able to record eight top 5s and an impressive 14 top 10s in
15 starts. He also picked up a win
on June 8.
Piper earned $500 for his "Futures Cup" efforts alone joining past champs Ryan
Montgomery, Nico Dabecco, Michael Lake, Eric Wilson, Clinton Hersh, Wyatt Scott,
Devin Brannon, and David Pangrazio.
In
his second year on the Touring Series, Chad Sines finished 12th in points and
won his first
“Wheelman” Bonus Event Challenge
Series title. The Orwell, Ohio
driver won two of the non-qualifier races including the $400 one at the "Bill
Hendren Memorial" and the finale at Lernerville that propelled him to the $300
title.
In
addition to the above point funds, the top five in RUSH member points at each of
the 14 RUSH Late Model weekly-sanctioned track shared in $800 cash
($300,200,100,50) as part of the “Track Pack” Weekly Bonus Program.
One of the biggest
stories throughout the region in 2018 was not only that veteran and versatile
racer, Chad Ruhlman, was getting into a Sprint Car, but in the end the success
he would have. Ruhlman won the
inaugural title thanks to 15 victories; and even though he didn't win as much in
2019, he was still the driver to beat.
The Erie, Pa. racer captured 10 wins in route to his second straight
$5,000 Bonnell's Rod Shop Weekly Series title.
His son, Kevin, meanwhile beat out Nolan Groves to win the inaugural $300
"Futures Cup" championship. It was
quite the year for the first year Sprint Car driver as he finished in the top 5
at six of the seven tracks he raced at.
All told, Kevin had 8 top 5s and 12 top 10s.
His best finish was a third at Genesee, Pittsburgh, and Sharon.
In 2018, Garrett
Krummert simply wanted to race more thus was why he decided to team up with
Jerry Schaffer in the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds in route to their championship.
And while the 31-year-old Ellwood City, Pa. racer continued to focus his
efforts on the Big-Block Modifieds in 2019, Krummert was spot on every time the
#10s hit the track. In 15 races,
Krummert never finished worse than fourth.
He won a total of six times including three at Sharon and three at
Pittsburgh with three of those wins coming in Tour races.
At the "Betsy Kriegisch Memorial" Tour race at Pittsburgh, Krummert won a
record $2,200 along with another $600 in contingencies.
Krummert earned $3,800 in championship monies, and
joins Greg Martin as the only repeat
Weekly Series Champions and the only driver to win multiple Tour Championships.
All young racers
strive to improve each year. And
that's something David Kalb, Jr. has certainly done each of his three years in
the RUSH Sportsman Mods. In 2017,
the go-kart standout finished fourth in the Futures Cup, 17th in Weekly, and
19th in Touring. In 2018, he
finished second in the Futures Cup, tied for 14th in Weekly, and was 11th in
Touring. The 2019 season was another
improvement for the 17-year-old Aurora, Ohio racer as he recorded seven top 10
finishes including a pair of fourths at Raceway 7 and a pair of fifth at Sharon,
which would propel him to 13th in Weekly, 10th in Touring, but more importantly
the "Futures Cup" crown. Kalb also
added two wins in the "Wheelman" Series races at Sharon.
Speaking of the
"Wheelman", thanks to Ohio Intra Express, C&R Tire, and Sharon Speedway, a
non-winners race was held nightly in 2019 for the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds.
Cameron Nastasi competed in all 11 races with three top 5s including a
victory on August 3. The 21-year-old
Hubbard, Ohio driver earned an additional $300 from RUSH for his "Wheelman"
championship.
The RUSH Pro Mod
Weekly Series Champion is no stranger to RUSH competing over the years in the
Late Model division with lots of accolades.
In 2017, Dennis Lunger, Jr. decided to return to his E-Mod roots as he'd
do double duty on most nights racing both the Late Model and Pro Mod for car
owner Rueben Schwartz where he'd go on to win the RUSH Pro Mod Weekly Series
title.
2018 and 2019 was
much of the same though this time Lunger did double duty with his Open E-Mod and
the Pro Mod winning both track titles for both years at Stateline.
Lunger was again the top winner in the Pro Mods at six and never finished
worse than fourth all season long.
Those statistics allowed the 51-year-old Albion, Pa. racer to easily become the
$3,500 Weekly Series Champion for the third straight year.
For the second
straight year, Tyler Dietz garnered the RUSH Pro Stock Weekly Series
Championship. The 30-year-old
Saxonburg, Pa. driver had an impressive stat line with 11 podium finishes in 13
starts at Lernerville including four wins.
In addition, for the first time Dietz earned the Lernerville track
championship- something he had dreamed of since growing up as a child at
Lernerville.
The highlight of the banquet was the special awards ceremony.
The Series’ major sponsors, Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC/Pace Performance,
Hovis Auto & Truck Supply, and Bonnell's Rod Shop were each recognized with a
special appreciation plaque for their continued support of the Series.
Also, new marketing partner, Zarin Truck & Automotive, was awarded a
sponsorship appreciation plaque for his presenting sponsorship of the new "$500
Club" in addition to presenting the "Jook George Steel City Classic".
His son Logan was in his second year of RUSH racing and competed on the
Tour as well weekly at Pittsburgh.
He finished sixth in Tour points along with fifth in both RUSH member points at
Pittsburgh and in the "Futures Cup".
Rueben Schwartz was awarded the 2019 RUSH "Car Owner of the Year".
Schwartz has been involved with Dennis Lunger, Jr. since 2003 first as a
sponsor then transitioned to a car owner in 2006.
The duo had prior success in the RUSH Late Model division before focusing
on the RUSH Pro Mod. Lunger won his
third straight $3,500 Pro Mod Weekly Series title and has won 28 RUSH-sanctioned
Pro Mod events during that stretch.
Schwartz's wife Kim passed away in October and Lunger has been really struggling
of late with medical issues and wasn't able to attend the banquet.
Schwartz gave an emotional, heartfelt speech imploring attendees to stop
and appreciate their time with their loved ones before it's too late.
Three "Miles
Traveled" awards were doled out.
When the RUSH Late Model Tour kicked off
last April at the "Battle of the Bay", three young racers ranging in age
from 16 to 22 would begin a journey that would take them to 14 different
speedways in five states and a Canadian province.
Although they all had various types of racing experience under their
belts, nothing compared to the journey they embarked on.
With a strong family bond and their parents by their side, Ryan Frazee,
Braeden Dillinger, and Michael Duritsky, Jr. took on the Tour.
All three live in southwest Pennsylvania
and fulfilled their commitment of following the Tour to all 16 events.
This included a trip to the East Coast during the "Battle of the Bay",
three trips to New York, and most impressively a trip to Quebec to Autodrome
Granby and Le RPM Speedway. The Quebec
adventure was roughly a 1400-mile, 22-hour roundtrip for each of these racers!
RUSH
Series announcer, Brian Spaid, emceed the affair and also previewed the upcoming
2020 season, which will be a historic season.
The RUSH Late Model Touring Series point fund will nearly double with
$12,000 going to the champion. The
Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Weekly Series point fund for the RUSH Sportsman
Modifieds will increase by 36% with $3,500 going to the champion.
Raceway 7 will run a bi-weekly schedule of events on Friday night.
There will also be a $2,500 "Route 7 Rumble" point fund presented by
Wedge Motorsports for the Raceway 7 and Sharon RUSH Mod events.
The RUSH Sprint Cars will have a strong schedule of events and the RUSH
Pro Mods will see events at new
venues in 2020. Ken Potter photographed
the event.
2019 Sweeney Chevrolet Buick
GMC RUSH Late Model Touring Series Top 12 Driver Points:
1. Jeremy Wonderling 1241 2. Kyle
Lukon 1240 3. Michael Duritsky, Jr.
1201 4. Braeden Dillinger 1171
5. Ryan Frazee 1143 6. Logan
Zarin 1091 7. Bill Kessler 1047
8. Max Blair 866 9. Jason
Genco 787 10. Kyle Murray 765
11. Chad Sines 702 12. John
Waters 681.
2019 Sweeney Chevrolet Buick
GMC RUSH Late Model Weekly Series Top 40 Points:
1. Max Blair 1344 2. Logan Roberson
1334 3. Matt Hill 1333
4. Jeremy Wonderling 1330 5.
Chad Homan 1329 6. Darrell Bossard &
Matt Latta 1326 8. Kyle Zimmerman
1322 9. Jason Genco 1314
10. Kurt Stebbins 1309 11.
Scott Gurdak 1307 12. Sparky White
1306 13. Darren Alvey 1305
14. Derek Magee 1299 15. Dale
Hollidge 1298 16. Devin Brannon 1297
17. Chris Fleming 1285 18.
Jason Knowles 1282 19. J.J. Mazur
1280 20. Ben Policz 1279
21. John Waters & Michael Duritsky, Jr. 1278
23. Jimmy Johnson & David Pangrazio 1275
25. Breyton Santee 1274 26
Jakob Piper & Joe Warren 1271 28.
Bruce Hordusky, Jr. 1270 29. Chuck
Bowie 1268 30. Damian Bidwell &
Tyler Reed 1267 32. Ward Schell 1265
33. Kevan Cook 1261 34. Dale
Caswell & Brian Knowles 1259 36.
John Mollick & Sam Pennacchio 1252
38. Jeremy Pilkerton 1251 39. Brett
Belden 1250 40. Levi Crowl 1249.
2019 Pace Performance “Summer Chase” Late Model Top
10 Points: 1. Max Blair 114.65
2. Darrell Bossard 112.7 3.
Matt Latta 111.28 4. Scott Gurdak
110.57 5. Kyle Zimmerman 110.31
6. Chad Homan 110.29 7. Jason
Genco 110.09 8. Devin Brannon 109.83
9. Sparky White 109.79 10.
Matt Hill 109.
2019 Late Model “Futures Cup” Points:
1. Jakob Piper 1271
2. Jeremy Pilkerton 1251 3.
Kyle Murray 1246 4. Ryan Frazee 1223
5. Logan Zarin 1212 6. Max
Hill 1194 7. Jacob Peterson 1166.
2019 “Wheelman” Bonus Event
Challenge Series Late Model Champion:
Chad Sines 480.
2019 Bonnell's Rod Shop RUSH Sprint Car Weekly Series Top 20 Points: 1. Chad Ruhlman 1321 2. Zach Morrow 1310 3. Brian Woodhall 1297 4. Jeremy Weaver 1280 5. Kevin Ruhlman 1251 6. Brandon Blackshear 1243 7. Shawn Smith 1227 8. Andy Feil 1208 9. Arnie Kent 1208 10. Brad Blackshear 1207 11. Steve Pedley 1194 12. Dave Hawkins 1185 13. Matt Sherlock III 1174 14. Brian Hartzell 1171 15. Tyler Powell 1142 16. Brian Ruhlman 959 17. Nolan Groves 850 18. Brandon Hawkins 775 19. John Mollick 763 20. Scott Hawkins 673.
2019 RUSH Sprint Car "Futures Cup" Points: 1. Kevin Ruhlman 1251 2. Nolan Groves 850.
2019 Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Sportsman Modified Weekly Series Top 20 Points: 1. Garrett Krummert 1326 2. Rob Kristyak & Chas Wolbert 1326 4. Kole Holden 1296 5. Tony Tatgenhorst 1263 6. Jim Rasey 1255 7. Josh Deems 1237 8. Chelsie Kriegisch 1199 9. Kyle Martell 1189 10. Jacob Jordan 1183 11. Gary Haupt 1175 12. Jessica Kriegisch 1172 13. David Kalb, Jr. 1163 14. Greg Porter 1154 15. Amelia Clay 1132 16. Clayton Deems 1131 17. Cameron Nastasi 1125 18. Preston Cope 1109 19. Calvin Clay 1107 20. Jacob Wolfe 939.
2019 Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Sportsman Modified Touring Series Top 10 Driver Points: 1. Garrett Krummert 588 2. Jim Rasey 557 3. Rob Kristyak 548 4. Chas Wolbert 538 5. Kole Holden 535 6. Kyle Martell 503 7. Jacob Jordan 483 8. Greg Porter 482 9. Tony Tatgenhorst 441 10. David Kalb, Jr. 323.
2019 Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Sportsman Modified "Futures Cup" Points: 1. David Kalb, Jr. 1163 2. Nathen McDowell 701.
2019 RUSH Sportsman Modified "Wheelman" Top 5 Points: 1. Cameron Nastasi 995 2. Amelia Clay 993 3. Tony Tatgenhorst 913 4. Clayton Deems 909 5. Greg Porter 869.
2019 Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Pro Mod Weekly Series Points: 1. Dennis Lunger, Jr. 1321 2. Chad Carlson 1294 3. Adam Ashcroft 1293 4. Nate Hartzell 1246 5. C.J. Irons 1235 6. Vaughn Nystrom & Jarrod Silvis 1187 8. Brian Mohawk 1182 9. Michael Johnstone 1175 10. Nick Mohawk 1088 11. Scott Gurdak 1053 12. Steve Dixon 936 13. Justin Carlson 693 14. Jeramy Williams 492.
2019 Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Pro Stock Weekly Series Points: 1. Tyler Dietz 1310 2. Corey McPherson 1300 3. Ryan Moyer 1285 4. Jason Fontaine & Joey Zambotti III 1255 6. Mike Bordt 1210 7. Brett McDonald 1203 8. Terry Young 1189 9. Chase Lambert 1185 10. Dale Tuche 1179.
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 Wedge Motorsports.
E-mail can be sent to the RUSH Racing Series at [email protected] 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.
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