CHAD MCCLELLAN DOES IT AGAIN CHARGING FROM TAIL TO WIN HIS 2ND STRAIGHT SWEENEY RUSH LATE MODEL TOUR EVENT; $2000 WIN COMES IN “BILL HENDREN MEMORIAL” AT ROARING KNOB
September 27-28, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Markleysburg, PA)…The Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Dirt Late Model Touring Series returned to Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex for the fourth time this season on Friday and Saturday. The “Bill Hendren Memorial” was part of the scenic Markleysburg, Pa. facility’s annual “Big Kahuna” event. Bobby Lake Motorsports “Shock the Clock” Qualifying and Heats were contested on Friday night with the K&N Dash and feature on Saturday night. Some $8,000 in contingency product prizes were given away to the racers as part of the Memorial event. A complete list of the prize winners will be posted soon.
Eight days prior at McKean County Raceway, Chad McClellan got caught up in an accident, slowly worked his way forward then found himself the benefactor of several others’ misfortunates to claim an unexpected first career Sweeney Tour win. On Saturday night, McClellan clearly earned this one as he charged through the pack after an accident in just 14 laps to win his second straight Sweeney Tour victory. This time the win was even more prestigious as it came in the $2,000 to-win “Bill Hendren Memorial”. McClellan received a beautiful laser etched marble plaque commemorating the victory from the Hendren Family.
“This is an honor to win this event especially here at Roaring Knob,” acknowledged the 39-year-old Stoystown, Pa. resident. “We talk to Steve (Hendren) every week and he spent the last couple days with him. That was a great race. We definitely earned this one as last week was a gift from God handed to me. The cautions helped out, but the track was real racey.”
Dan Angelicchio earned the pole position after his K&N Dash win and took charge of the event over good friend Troy Shields. McClellan was able to pass Ryan Montgomery for third, while sixth starting Michael Lake moved into fourth after one lap. Lake was running the bottom while McClellan was on top. The two ran side-by-side from laps two through five before McClellan finally got past Lake.
Angelicchio opened up some ground, while McClellan closed in on Shields. McClellan was pounding the cushion, getting a great run off the top side of the racey speedway. After seven caution-free laps, Corey Metheney and Butch Lambert tangled and brought out the caution, which unfortunately started a yellow fever.
Back under green, Lake slipped high on the restart allowing Montgomery to take fourth, while Shields was able to stay side-by-side with Angelicchio. Angelicchio continued to lead, but it was now a five-car race for the lead with Angelicchio trying to fend off Shields, McClellan, Montgomery, and Lake. Montgomery tried to dive under McClellan for third on lap 10, but ran out of room as he made contact with the Jersey barrier and collected newcomer Troy Frazier.
When green replaced yellow, it was three-wide for second with Lake getting by both McClellan and Shields albeit with contact. McClellan finally got past Shields on lap 11, but only for third. McClellan came charging on the outside in turns one and two and made contact with Lake as both spun and collected Scott Tessman.
With Montgomery, Lake, and McClellan all on the tail, this moved Wylie to third with 13th starting Jeff Ferguson fourth, and Cody Dawson fifth. Wylie and Ferguson battled side-by-side for third on laps 12 and 13 with Ferguson picking up the spot on the 13th circuit. After a caution for a Frazier spin, Wylie made a move on the restart but contact was made with Shields. Wylie was shuffled sideways back through the field and eventually was hit by Tessman causing the caution.
Twelfth starting John Imler was making just his fourth Sweeney Tour start and first since June 22. Imler disposed of Ferguson for third on lap 17. With finally a stretch of green flag laps, the top four of Angelicchio, Shields, Imler, and Ferguson distanced themselves from the field. McClellan was working his way back through the field then got a much-needed caution with 21 laps scored. McClellan passed Ferguson, Imler and Shields for second on lap 22!
Once again another caution played right into McClellan’s hands as he’d line up on the outside of Angelicchio for the restart with seven laps to go. Once racing resumed for the final time, McClellan was all over Angelicchio. McClellan made the winning pass racing off the outside of turn four to sneak past Angelicchio at the start-finish line to lead lap 25.
Once in front, McClellan pulled away for his sixth victory of the season at his home track in his Onetime Body and Graphics/Fieg Coal/Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic/Hendren’s Racing Engines/Lazer Chassis #119. McClellan, who finished fourth in the Pace Performance “Summer Chase” standings, also solidified fourth in the Sweeney Weekly Series standings thanks to the victory.
Angelicchio’s second place effort was his third runner-up of the season at Roaring Knob and best Sweeney Tour finish of the season. Angelicchio now has four top six finishes in five Sweeney Tour starts. Angelicchio picked up $1,000 plus a laser etched marble plaque for his efforts. “The cautions killed us,” stated the 25-year-old Greensburg, Pa. native. “You just couldn’t get in a good rhythm then I think the right rear tire went away and I don’t think I was going to catch him (McClellan).”
Shields, who made just his fourth Sweeney Tour start all at his home track, turned in his best effort in third as did Imler, who held off Lambert for the fourth spot. “It was a good race, but the cautions were nerve-wrecking,” said the veteran Shields of Acme, Pa. “Had a good race going with Dan (Angelicchio)- he’s fun to race with.” Shields also received a laser etched plaque from the Hendren Family.
Lambert, who recorded his season’s best finish of sixth eight days prior at McKean, bettered that by one with his first top five of the season. Montgomery came back from the tail to finish sixth and now trails Mike Pegher, Jr. by just 18 points- the closest margin since after the opening event at Hagerstown Speedway.
Ferguson was seventh in another substituting role for John Over, who continues to recover from a broken wrist. Garrett Paugh made his first ever Sweeney Tour start a successful one finishing eighth after starting 21st and earned the $100 Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down” Hard Charger Award. Pegher and Bob Gordon completed the top 10.
On Friday night, Wylie established a new track record in Bobby Lake Motorsports “Shock the Clock” Qualifying with a lap of 16.895 and earned $100. The previous record was set by Max Blair with a 16.897 one year ago at the event. Wylie, McClellan and Montgomery earned an additional $25 for winning the Bobby Lake Motorsports Heats on Friday night.
After having such a fast car on Friday night then in position to take second in the feature on Saturday night before the contact with Shields, which led to a DNF, Wylie was awarded The Brake Man’s “Tough Brake of the Night”.
Dan Angelicchio became the amazing 17th different K&N “Cold Air Induction” Dash winner in 20 races this season and earned the $100 K&N certificate. Shields received a $50 K&N certificate for second, while Montgomery and McClellan picked up an extra $25 cash for finishing third and fourth.
The next events on the Sweeney Tour will be race #21 and 22 of 24 at Pittsburgh’s PA Motor Speedway in Imperial, Pa. on October 11-12. Friday night will be $1,500 to-win and Saturday night will be $3,000 to-win. There will be practice on Thursday, October 10.
Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Dirt Late Model Touring Series “Bill Hendren Memorial” Race #20 (30 laps, $2,000 to-win): 1. CHAD MCCLELLAN (119) 2. Dan Angelicchio (14) 3. Troy Shields (11) 4. John Imler (63) 5. Butch Lambert (27) 6. Ryan Montgomery (12) 7. Jeff Ferguson (Over K2) 8. Garret Paugh (03) 9. Mike Pegher, Jr. (Geisler 1c) 10. Bob Gordon (Sieger 99) 11. Troy Frazier (0) 12. W.L. Stile (1W) 13. Bryan Rankin (7x) 14. Nico Dabecco (Karalagas 1FR) 15. Cody Dawson (36) 16. Russell Baird, Jr. (17) 17. Ken Herman (58) 18. Scott Tessman (19s) 19. Corey Metheney (11c) 20. Andrew Wylie (84) 21. Michael Lake (27).
Car Count: 21
Feature Lap Leaders: Angelicchio (1-24), McClellan (25-30)
Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down Hard Charger”:Garrett Paugh (+13)
The Brake Man “Tough Brake of the Night: Andrew Wylie
Bobby Lake Motorsports Qualifying ($100 for fast time) (Track record Max Blair 16.897 9/28/12): 1. Andrew Wylie 16.895 (NTR) 2. Chad McClellan 17.031 3. Ryan Montgomery 17.142 4. Jeff Ferguson 17.144 5. Dan Angelicchi0 17.218 6. Michael Lake 17.220 7. Troy Shields 17.292 8. Mike Pegher, Jr. 17.298 9. Bob Gordon 17.394 10. Cody Dawson 17.403 11. Troy Frazier 17.455 12. Ken Herman 17.537 13. Butch Lambert 17.595 14. Corey Metheney 17.598 15. John Imler 17.619 16. Nico Dabecco 17.775 17. Bryan Rankin 17.849 18. Garrett Paugh 17.294 19. W.L. Stile 18.193 20. Scott Tessman 18.302 21. Russell Baird, Jr. 18.350.
Bobby Lake Motorsports Heat 1 (8 laps, $25 to-win)1. Wylie 2. Shields 3. Dawson 4. Lambert 5. Ferguson 6. Dabecco 7. Stile.
Bobby Lake Motorsports Heat 2 (8 laps, $25 to-win)1. McClellan 2. Angelicchio 3. Metheney 4. Rankin 5. Tessman 6. Pegher 7. Frazier.
Bobby Lake Motorsports Heat 3 (8 laps, $25 to-win)1. Montgomery 2. Lake 3. Gordon 4. Imler 5. Herman 6. Baird 7. Paugh.
K&N “Cold Air Induction” Dash (4 laps/$100 K&N certificate to-win): 1. Dan Angelicchio 2. Troy Shields 3. Ryan Montgomery 4. Chad McClellan.
2013 RUSH marketing partners include Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC, Pace Performance, RainEater Wiper Blades, Hoosier Tire, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, Precise Racing Products, ARbodies, The -Brake Man, K&N Filters, Lincoln Electric, TurboStart, K1 RaceGear, Beyea Headers, FK Rod Ends, Bobby Lake Motorsports, Wrisco Industries, High Gear Speed Shop, Utsinger’s Towing, RockAuto.com, and Valley Fashions.
E-mail can be sent to the RUSH Racing Series at info@rushracingseries.com 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.