SWEENEY RUSH SPORTSMAN MOD SOPHOMORE SEASON TO FEATURE 43 DATES WITH WEEKLY RACING AT SHARON & SPORTSMAN’S; 6 TOUR EVENTS SCHEDULED

By Mike Leone

March 2, 2015               FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Pulaski, PA)…Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Sportsman Modified Series Directors Vicki Emig and Mike Leone are proud to announce the release of the division's 2015 schedule of events.  The second season for the Northeast-style, center-steer Modifieds utilizing GM 602 crate engines, $135 Bilstein sealed spec shocks, and spec Hoosier Tires on steel wheels will feature approximately 43 dates at six different speedways throughout western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio.  The complete, tentative schedule is posted below.

 

The biggest news during the offseason was the announcement by both Sharon and Sportsman’s Speedways that they will feature the division on a weekly basis.  Sharon, which is located in Hartford, Ohio, operates on Saturday nights, while Sportsman’s is a Sunday night facility in Knox, Pennsylvania.  Sharon will begin their 86th anniversary season on Saturday, April 25, while Sportsman’s will wave the green flag for the first time in 2015 on Sunday, May 10.  That will also be the first ever RUSH Sportsman Modified event in the history of Sportsman’s.

 

In addition to the weekly shows at Sharon and Sportsman’s, several other speedways have again been gracious enough to schedule events including Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa., Pittsburgh’s PA Motor Speedway in Imperial, Pa., and Tri-City Raceway Park in Franklin, Pa.  At least one other speedway may host an event as well.

 

In 2014, 19 Sweeney Weekly Series events were held with seven-time winner, Greg Martin of Wilson, New York, capturing the $3,000 inaugural title.  That $10,000+ championship will return once again in 2015 paying the top 15 positions for drivers’ best 12 finishes. 

 

New in 2015 will be a mini Sweeney Touring Series and “Futures Cup” for eligible teenage racers.  Tracks hosting Sweeney Touring Series events will include Sharon, Sportsman’s, Lernerville, and Tri-City with the possible addition of two other speedways.  These events will pay a minimum of $600 to-win up to $1,000.  Highlights of the Tour include the “Sam and Bonnie Colwell Memorial” at Sportsman’s on August 9, the two-day “Apple Festival Nationals” at Sharon Speedway September 11-12, the first ever event at Tri-City on September 13 as they reopen in 2015 after being closed for four years, and a pair of events at Lernerville including the season finale on October 23-24 for the “Steel City Stampede”.

 

On July 24, Lernerville’s “Mod Madness” Sweeney Tour event will also see one driver win the GM 602 crate engine giveaway valued at $3,125!  Last year, Jeremy Zufall was the lucky winner at Sharon.  This event, like “Manufacturers Night”, changes locations annually.   

 

Not only will August 9 at Sportsman’s be the “Sam and Bonnie Colwell Memorial”, but also “Manufacturers Night”.  The inaugural event in 2014 was held at Lernerville where over $5,000 was distributed.  This year’s second annual event is expected to exceed $10,000 as it grows much like the Sweeney RUSH Late Model MFG Night, which has grown to over $30,000.  Some of the major prizes to date include two packages from MSD Ignition valued at $1,250, two complete sets of rod ends valued at $1,000 from FK Rod Ends, $1,000 of product from Jones Racing Products, a $750 Lincoln Electric welder and utility cart, and much more! 

 

The inaugural "Futures Cup" championship is one that is sure to filled with some awesome young racers, many bringing impressive resumes of accomplishments from their years of participation in go-kart racing, as did all three  of the RUSH Dirt Late Model "Future Cup" Champions, Ryan Montgomery, Eric Wilson, and defending champion Michael Lake.  After capturing the title in 2012 at 14 years of age, three years later Montgomery went on the become the 2014 Sweeney RUSH Late Model Touring Champion. 

 

There’s no doubt that the very same progression will be witnessed in the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds class, which will immediately provide an affordable stepping stone for go-kart racers interested in fielding a full-size Northeast style Modified car.  Potential candidates for the "Futures Cup" Modified title that fit this bill are both 14-year-old Kyle Martell and 13-year-old Jeremy Weaver.   

 

“I think it's safe to say that a strong foundation is now in place for the RUSH Sportsman Modified division,” stated Emig.  “We are right in line with what we had hoped for in the growth and development of this class and I really think that by mid-season we  may see 20 car fields or more at most events.  The class is definitely serving its purpose as it has already influxed a whole new group of racers.  Many of these racers are in their teens or 20s and are new to our sport along with some that previously raced Modifieds but have not in a while.  I can't thank the speedways, racers, and of course Sweeneys, enough for helping us get this great concept off the ground last year.  We are really looking forward to working on a daily basis to make sure this class enjoys the same success as their sister series, he RUSH Late Models.”

 

2015 Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Sportsman Modified Master Schedule*

 

Saturday, April 25 Sharon Speedway, Hartford, OH (Weekly) - Season Opener

Friday, May 1 Lernerville Speedway, Sarver, PA (Weekly)

Saturday, May 2 Sharon Speedway, Hartford, OH (Weekly)  

Saturday, May 9 Sharon Speedway, Hartford, OH (Weekly)  

Sunday, May 10 Sportsman's Speedway, Knox, PA (Weekly) - Season Opener

Saturday, May 16 Sharon Speedway, Hartford, OH (Weekly)  

Sunday, May 17 Sportsman's Speedway, Knox, PA (Weekly)  

Saturday, May 23 Sharon Speedway, Hartford, OH (Weekly)  

Sunday, May 24 Sportsman's Speedway, Knox, PA (Weekly)  

Saturday, May 30 Sharon Speedway, Hartford, OH (Weekly)  

Sunday, May 31 Sportsman's Speedway, Knox, PA (Weekly)  

Saturday, June 6 Sharon Speedway, Hartford, OH (Weekly)  

Sunday, June 7 Sportsman's Speedway, Knox, PA (Weekly)  

Saturday, June 13 Sharon Speedway, Hartford, OH (Weekly) -Free General Admission/Autographs

Sunday, June 14 Sportsman's Speedway, Knox, PA (Weekly)  

Saturday, June 20 Sharon Speedway, Hartford, OH (Weekly)  

Sunday, June 21 Sportsman's Speedway, Knox, PA (Weekly)  

Saturday, June 27 Sharon Speedway, Hartford, OH (Weekly)  

Sunday, June 28 Sportsman's Speedway, Knox, PA (Weekly)  

Friday, July 3 Lernerville Speedway, Sarver, PA (Weekly)

Saturday, July 11 Pittsburgh's PA Motor Speedway, Imperial, PA (Weekly)  

Sunday, July 12 Sportsman's Speedway, Knox, PA (Weekly)  

Wednesday, July 15 TBA/Tentative (Tour)  

Saturday, July 18 Sharon Speedway, Hartford, OH (Weekly)   

Sunday, July 19 Sportsman's Speedway, Knox, PA (Weekly)  

Friday, July 24 Lernerville Speedway, Sarver, PA (Tour) – “Mod Madness” with GM 602 Engine Giveaway

Saturday, July 25 Sharon Speedway, Hartford, OH (Weekly)  

Sunday, July 26 Sportsman's Speedway, Knox, PA (Weekly)  

Saturday, August 1 Sharon Speedway, Hartford, OH (Weekly)  

Sunday, August 2 Sportsman's Speedway, Knox, PA (Weekly)  

Saturday, August 8 Sharon Speedway, Hartford, OH (Weekly)  

Sunday, August 9 Sportsman's Speedway, Knox, PA (Tour) “Sam & Bonnie Colwell Memorial” - MFG Night

Saturday, August 15 Pittsburgh's PA Motor Speedway, Imperial, PA (Weekly)

Sunday, August 16 Sportsman's Speedway, Knox, PA (Weekly)  

Saturday, August 22 Sharon Speedway, Hartford, OH (Weekly)  

Sunday, August 23 Sportsman's Speedway, Knox, PA (Weekly)  

Saturday, August 29 Sharon Speedway, Hartford, OH (Weekly)  

Sunday, August 30 Sportsman's Speedway, Knox, PA (Weekly)  

Sunday, September 6 Sportsman's Speedway, Knox, PA (Weekly) - Season Finale

Fri-Sat, Sept 11-12 Sharon Speedway, Hartford, OH (Tour) - "Apple Festival Nationals"

Sunday, September 13 Tri-City Raceway Park, Franklin, PA (Tour) - "Apple Fest"

Saturday, September 19 Lernerville Speedway, Sarver, PA (Weekly) - "Autumn-Motive Fest"

Fri-Sat, October 23-24 Lernerville Speedway, Sarver, PA (Tour) - "Steel City Stampede"

 

*Schedule is subject to change.

 

RUSH Sportsman Modified marketing partners: Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC, Pace Performance, Hoosier Tire, Bilstein Shocks, MSD Ignition, Maxima Racing Oil, Jones Racing Products, VP Racing Fuels, FK Rod Ends, AERO Race Wheels, Velocita-USA, Precise Racing Products, Alternative Power Sources, K&N Filters, Rocket Racing, and B.R.A.K.E.S.


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 pages at www.facebook.com/rushlatemodels and www.facebook.com/rushsportsmanmods or follow us on Twitter @RUSHLM and @RUSHSportMods.
 

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