Career 1st Win for JC Boyer comes at Sharon
By Marcie Barlow (August 5, 2022 – Pulaski, PA) JC Boyer captured a memorial career first victory in Hovis Auto and Truck Supply RUSH Sportsman Modified action at Sharon Speedway and Brandon Weigle celebrated his first ever RUSH Late Model win at Tyler County Speedway this past weekend. Sophomore RUSH Late Model racer, Austin Allen, won his first of the season at Woodhull. Late Model Hall of Famer, Chub Frank, captured two RUSH Late Model wins (Stateline and Eriez), while Dennis Lunger, Jr. (RUSH Pro Mods) and Gale Ruth, Jr. (RUSH Sprint Cars) continued to tally up victories in RUSH Racing Series action throughout the region. Steve Dixon performed the sweep winning both the RUSH Pro Mods and RUSH Late Models at Bradford!
The lone Hovis RUSH Sportsman Modified event of the weekend took place at Sharon Speedway Saturday evening and it was a thriller! Tony Tatgenhorst took the early lead as JC Boyer, Justin Shea and Garrett Krummert battled for second, third and fourth. By the mid-point of the event, Krummert had cleared Shea and Boyer and was battling Tatgenhorst for the lead. Krummert used the outside to get by Tatgenhorst and appeared to be headed for victory, but Boyer had other plans. Krummert got hung up in lapped traffic on the final circuit which allowed Boyer to duck down low and beat Krummert in a drag race to the finish line. The 28-year-old Burghill, OH resident scored his career first victory by a mere 0.024 seconds over Krummert! Boyer became the fifth different winner in five races this year at Sharon and fourth driver to win his first ever at the track! Tatgenhorst came home in third followed by Shea and Rob Kristyak.
Youngster Brandon Weigle scored a very memorable career first RUSH Late Model victory Saturday evening at Tyler County Speedway in the 10th annual “Bud Weigle Memorial”. Weigle took control when the green flag dropped and drove a smooth race to bring home the win as he became the fifth different winner of the season. Hayden Jacobs was a season best second. Donnie Dotson, who leads the $2,000 to-win Tyler County “Track Pack” points was third. “Futures Cup” racers Ryan Hare and George Casto III finished fourth and fifth respectively.
The second annual “Clayton Downs Memorial” was on tap at Genesee Speedway Saturday evening and attracted a strong field of 23 RUSH Late Models. David Pangrazio and John Waters battled for the top spot for the first seven circuits before coming together and collecting half of the field. Jimmy Johnson inherited the lead and appeared to be headed for victory when “Lady Luck” once again intervened and Johnson spun while working through lapped traffic giving the lead to Jeremy Wonderling. Having survived these two close calls Wonderling went on to lead the final 16 circuits to score his fourth victory of the season at the Batavia, NYk track as well as his fifth on the 2022 RUSH Late Model circuit. Wonderling earned $2,033! Paul Grigsby came home in second followed by Doug Ricotta, JJ Mazur, and Pangrazio.
Chad Sines and John Lacki led the RUSH Late Model field to the green Friday night at Raceway 7. Sines took command with Lacki, Josh Ferry, Dennis Lunger and Billy Henry, Jr. battling for spots two through five. The red flag flew on lap five when Will Pinckney’s car was engulfed in flames as he entered the pits in turn four. Action resumed with Sines continuing to lead over Ferry, Lacki, Jay Watson and Henry. On lap 13, Ferry nosed ahead of Sines at the stripe and Henry also overtook Lacki for third. Ferry led the remainder of the feature event and scored his second win of the season at the Conneaut, OH oval and his third victory in regional RUSH action this season. Sines held on for a season best second as he’s finished in the top four in all four of his Raceway 7 starts this season. Henry was third with Lacki fourth in his first Raceway 7 start of the season. Watson completed the top five.
Veteran Chub Frank started on the pole and led the first 13 laps of the RUSH Late Model main event at Stateline Speedway on Saturday. Sixth place starter Jason Genco wrestled the top spot away from Frank on lap 14, but his time out front ended just three laps later as he worked his way through the slower traffic. Frank inherited the lead on the restart and swapped the top spot with Damian Bidwell on the final six laps. As the duo entered the final turn Frank crowded Bidwell’s line causing him to spin, while Frank went on to score his second win in three starts this year at Stateline. Scott Gurdak finished in the runner-up position for the second straight week. Ward Schell was a season best third over David Parker. Logan Jaquay recorded his first top five of the season.
Frank returned to victory lane on Sunday as he scored the win in RUSH Late Model action at Eriez Speedway for the first time of the season. Jason Genco was second as he continues to lead the “Track Pack” points at both Stateline and Eriez as well as the Hovis National Weekly Series points. Billy Henry, Jr. was third. Logan Jaquay beat his season best fifth from the night before at Stateline with a fourth. Khole Wanzer completed the top five.
Points leader Travis Campbell led the first two circuits of the RUSH Late Model main event at Winchester Speedway until mechanical woes ended his evening. Kyle Hardy inherited the lead, weathered several cautions and dominated the $1,000 to-win event to capture just his second Winchester win of the season, but sixth overall of the 2022 season in RUSH racing action. Jared Powell was second in just his second outing of the season. Jacob Burdette was a season best third in just third race of the year at Winchester. Chuck Bowie was also a season best fourth in only his third start. Scott Sweeney, Jr. followed in fifth.
For the second consecutive race, Jon Lee scored the victory in RUSH Late Model action at Dog Hollow Speedway. Lee led the main event for the entire 20-lap distance to pick up the victory over “Track Pack” points leader Michael Duritsky, Jr. Joe Martin was third in just his second start of the season. Ryan Frazee and Colin Casale completed the top five.
Cole Petrelle and Dan Lepro led the RUSH Late Model main event to the green at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway Saturday evening. Petrelle grabbed the lead with Ben Policz and Daryl Charlier following close behind. The trio entered lapped traffic on the seventh circuit with the running order remaining the same until Policz used the high side of the speedway to take command on lap 15. A caution on lap 19 set up a two-lap shootout to the finish however Petrelle was unable to regain the top spot and Policz went on to score his second straight victory and third in his last five starts. Charlier, Mike Reft and Lepro rounded out the top five.
Second year competitor Austin Allen overcame the “sophomore jinx” at Woodhull Raceway to score a very popular win Saturday evening. Allen, who won a feature in 2021 during his rookie season, led the entire distance of the 20-lap event to pick up his season’s first victory over rookie competitor Brett Marlatt. Brian Knowles beat brother Jason in the battle for the third position with Steve LeBarron finishing fifth.
RUSH Late Model competitors had the weekend off at The Hill Speedway, Delaware International Speedway, Skyline Raceway and Potomac Speedway.
The Hovis RUSH Sprint Cars were in action at Knox Raceway Sunday evening for a make-up for the rain out the week before. Gale Ruth, Jr. started on the front row, weathered several cautions and went on to score his second straight at Knox and seventh Equipment Rental Options Weekly Series win of the season. Arnie Kent was a season best second. Blaze Myers, Andy Priest and John Mollick followed. A good field of 20 cars were on hand. The RUSH Sprints will return to Knox for the fourth time this season on August 21.
The Hovis Auto and Truck Supply RUSH Pro Mod Series had two events this weekend. On Saturday evening, the teams competed at Stateline Speedway with veteran Dennis Lunger, Jr. remaining perfect on the season going eight-for-eight with his ninth straight win at the track dating back to last season. Adam Ashcroft and Al Brewer battled for the top spot for the first 10 laps while Lunger worked his way through the field from the 12th starting spot. On lap 14, Lunger joined Ashcroft and Brewer in a three-car battle for the top spot. Lunger took over the top spot one lap later and went on to win his 10th of the season overall in RUSH action. Brewer, Zain Harvey, Ashcroft, and Tyler Oakes were second through fifth.
On Sunday, the RUSH Pro Mod Series held their seventh annual “Manufacturers Night” presented by MSD Performance at Bradford Speedway as drivers shared in $14,500 of product giveaways. The 23 teams that competed was an all-time division record high car count! Steve Dixon scored the win and a $1,500 payday! It was Dixon’s fifth win in six attempts at the Northern Pa. oval. Tyler Oakes came home in second to score his second top five finish of the weekend. “Futures Cup” points leader, Zain Harvey, was third for his best career Bradford finish. Lunger was fourth in just his third Bradford start of the season. Victor Earle, Jr. completed the top five.
Dixon then came back to score the RUSH Late Model victory at track in just his fourth overall RUSH Late Model start of the season. Jeremy Wonderling was second to maintain the “Track Pack” points lead. Jeff Hoffman returned for the first time since opening night and was third. Ward Schell recorded his second top five of the weekend in fourth. Flynn’s Tire Tour regular, Andy Michael, was fifth.
RUSH Late Model racer, Mike Laughard, subbed for brother Tim at Dog Hollow Speedway and picked up his first ever RUSH Stock Car checkered flag on Friday night. Mikael Beaver won for the third straight week at Stateline Speedway, and fourth overall of the season on Saturday night. Cody Rickard captured his fifth win of the season at Eriez Speedway on Sunday and 10th overall of the season in Hovis Weekly Series action.
Winners in RUSH Karting Series action at Stateline Speedway on Saturday were Bexley Smith (Rookie), Ethan Arnone (JR-1), Trenton Curry (JR-2), and Mike Boardman (Adult).
The Flynn’s Tire Tour race scheduled for Dog Hollow Speedway on Friday night has been cancelled due to inclement weather for the second time this season. The Tour will be at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway on Saturday night for the 33rd annual “Jook George Steel City Classic” that will pay $6,010 to-win, $500 to start. More than $33,000 has been posted for the event!
Raceway 7 also cancelled for Friday night. Delaware International Speedway added a $1,000 to-win Weekly Series special. The Hill Speedway was also scheduled for action. On Saturday night, the RUSH Late Models will also be in action at Genesee Speedway, Skyline Raceway, Stateline Speedway, Woodhull Raceway and Winchester Speedway. Sunday RUSH Late Model action is scheduled for both Eriez Speedway and Bradford Speedway. Tyler County and Potomac Speedways will not be in action this week.
The Hovis RUSH Sportsman Modified teams will be in action on Saturday at Sharon Speedway Saturday after Friday was cancelled at Raceway 7. The RUSH Sprint Cars are off this weekend. The RUSH Pro Mods have a $1,200 to-win special at Stateline on Saturday night, and will return to competition on Sunday at Bradford.
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