SWEENEY RUSH SPORTSMAN MODIFIED SERIES MAKES CHANGES TO DRIVER ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS FOR 2018
By Mike Leone
October 23, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
(Pulaski, PA)...With the successful 2017 racing season now completed,
the fourth for the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Sportsman Modified Series
powered by Pace Performance, Series Directors have made a decision to alter the
driver eligibility requirements for the division for the 2018 season.
All western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio "358" Modified drivers will be
eligible to participate in the class, and changes have been made to allow more
of the regional Big-Block Modified drivers to be eligible for the entire season
as well (see below).
"Due to the changing dynamics of Modified racing in
western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio we had to take a look at our driver
eligibility rule that's been in place since the inception of the division,"
explained RUSH Director Vicki Emig.
"Modified racing, both 358s and big blocks, is in a different place than it was
when we announced the launch of this class at the end of the 2013 season.
We're very proud of the development of the Sportsman Modified division;
our racers have come a long way since the first couple years.
Our goal with RUSH in general is, and always has been, to keep racers
racing by providing an affordable option."
"Throughout the season we've received a lot of
feedback from several of our own racers as well as 358 racers, and some
big-block drivers expressing a desire for us to make changes to the eligibility
rules," continued Emig. "Some of
these racers have inquired due to financial reasons, but several due to the
decreasing number of scheduled events for open Modified racing.
At the end of the year, we had standouts
Alan Dellinger and Rob Kristyak get a head start on 2018 by joining the class;
however, they were eligible per the 2017 rules."
The change in eligibility will only be effective for
locally based western Pa. and eastern Ohio racers in the "358" Small-Block
Modified and Big-Block Modified divisions.
There will be no changes made to the current eligibility requirements for
drivers in other headlining divisions locally nor for Modified drivers outside
the western Pa./eastern Ohio area.
As stated, all "358" Small-Block Modified drivers
from the local area will be permitted to race in the RUSH Sportsman Modified
division in 2018. The change in
eligibility will now allow local Big-Block Modified racers that did not finish
in the top five in Big-Block Modified points at any speedway or touring series
in the previous season the ability to compete provided they did not win four or
more features in one of the past two years (2016 or 2017).
Obviously, all drivers must have 100% RUSH Sportsman Modified legal cars
to compete.
The RUSH Sportsman Modifieds completed 30 events in
2017 at a record eight different tracks; Sharon Speedway, Lernerville Speedway,
Pittsburgh's PA Motor Speedway, Tri-City Raceway Park, Mercer Raceway Park,
Eriez Speedway, Thunder Mountain Speedway, and Expo Speedway.
Also, a record 43 different cars were in action as this number has grown
each year. Sharon Speedway, which
ran the cars weekly, averaged a record high 24 cars per night with only one
night under 20 cars for the second straight year.
An all-time class record, 30 cars, turned out for the May 29 opener at
Sharon.
RUSH Sportsman Modified marketing partners include Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC, Pace Performance, Hoosier Tire, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, Insinger Performance, MSD Performance, Holley Performance Products, Earl's Performance Plumbing, Quick Fuel Technology, FK Rod Ends, Maxima Racing Oil, Sherwood Racing Wheels, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, Alternative Power Sources, Precise Racing Products, TBM Brakes, K&N Filters, Lincoln Electric, Velocita-USA, Classic Ink USA, CrateInsider.com, RockAuto.com, and Valley Fashions.
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/rushsportsmanmods and follow us
on Twitter @RUSHSportMods.
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