"BETSY KRIEGISCH MEMORIAL" DRAWING NEAR AT PPMS OCTOBER 4-5; HOVIS RUSH SPORTSMAN MOD TOUR EVENT TO BE PART OF "PITTSBURGHER" FOR THE 1ST TIME WITH LUCAS OIL & RUSH LATE MODELS
By Mike Leone
August 27, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Pulaski, PA)...With the calendar ready to flip to September and special events set to kick in across the region, the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Sportsman Modified Series powered by Pace Performance will be part of the "Pittsburgher 100" weekend at Pittsburgh's PA Motor Speedway for the first time on October 4-5. The second annual "Betsy Kriegisch Memorial" will be run under the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Touring Series banner. The weekend also includes the "Bill Hendren Memorial" for the Sweeney RUSH Late Model Touring Series and is highlighted by the $20,000 to-win "Pittsburgher 100" for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series on Saturday night. The event carries a rain date of October 6.
Betsy Kriegisch, the mother of RUSH Sportsman Modified racers Chelsie and Jessica Kriegisch, passed away after an extended illness on February 21, 2018 at the age of 57. She was a strong supporter of both her daughters' efforts and by their side as they rose to prominence in the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds. Both girls quickly became competitive and fan favorites. A memorial event as a Hovis Weekly Series show was put together and held last year at Pittsburgh that attracted an all-time Pittsburgh record count of 26, and was won by Rocky Kugel.
The "Betsy Kriegisch Memorial" will start at a minimum of $1,000 to-win, $150 to take the green, and the event has the opportunity to grow in payoff like it did last year. Ohio Intra Express will sponsor the "Shock the Clock" Qualifying with $100 going to the fastest qualifier on Friday night, while the pole position dash will pay $100 to-win thanks to Branden Lockwich.
Lap sponsorship is being sold at a minimum donation of $50. This money will go directly into the purse not toward the specific lap; however, all contributors will be recognized as sponsoring the lap. Multiple sponsors can be attained per lap. Please make all checks payable to RUSH Racing Series. Checks or money can be given to the Chelsie Kriegisch or sent to RUSH at 4368 US 422, Pulaski, PA 16143. Chelsie can be reached at 724-674-9550. A donation flyer is also available at the following link https://www.rushsportsmanmods.com/Kriegisch%20Memorial%20Flyer%202019.pdf
"We are honored to be able to do this prestigious event in honor of Betsy," stated Betsy's husband Randy Kriegisch. "We received a lot of support from the racing community and RUSH Modified drivers at last year's event so we're excited to be able to do this again this year."
"This is going to be a tremendous weekend for RUSH," stated Director Vicki Emig. "To have both RUSH classes share the spotlight with the Lucas Oil Late Models is tremendous via the minimum $4,000 to-win 'Bill Hendren Memorial' for the Late Models and the 'Betsy Kriegisch Memorial' for the Sportsman Modifieds. My goal is to help the Kriegisch Family grow this event into one of the most prestigious Sportsman Modified events in the region and I believe we can do that by working together in Betsy memory!"
"Miley Motor Sports is proud to be the home of the 'Betsy Kriegisch Memorial'," expressed PPMS promoter Matt Miley. "We were part of the very first meeting at Hoosier as this division was being formed. We immediately saw the potential, and it has taken off beyond our expectations. The teams are a pleasure to host, so it was only fitting to make them part of our biggest weekend. We are honored to have a role in making the 'Betsy Kriegisch Memorial' a huge annual event. Thanks to all who are a part of making this deal happen."
Both Kriegisch sisters got their start in go-karts, while growing up watching their father compete in the Sprint Car division for many years. Chelsie made her debut in the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds during the inaugural 2014 season running a limited schedule. In 2015, Jessica debuted in the class running a limited schedule, while Chelsie competed full-time. Ever since both sisters have raced full-time in the Series.
Chelsie won her first career race on July 13, 2016 in a Tour event at Expo Speedway making history becoming the first female to win a Tour event in the history of Northeast crate engine racing and also became the first female to win in the storied history of Expo. Chelsie added a second win last year on July 7 at Pittsburgh. Jessica meanwhile captured her first career win about a year later than Chelsie's first coming on July 24, 2017 at Pittsburgh.
Betsy was the Kriegisch sisters' biggest fan. She was with them growing up in the grandstands watching Randy race, and was able to see both girls not only win their first career feature, but also was in attendance at both awards banquets when each received their Outstanding Achievement Awards from RUSH.
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 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 the Sportsman Modified Facebook page at www.facebook.com/rushsportsmanmods and follow us on Twitter @RUSHSportMods.
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