October 11, 2014 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(East Smethport, PA)…The Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Dirt Late Model Touring Series returned to McKean County Raceway on Saturday night for the third and final visit of the 2014 season. Event #15 was part of the ninth annual “Fall Classic” and drew a season-high 45 cars with drivers from all over Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, and Ontario, Canada. After sunny conditions prevailed in the afternoon, the temperature dipped into the mid 30s by feature time with frost.
John Waters led for 49 3/4 laps, but Bryce Davis led when it counted as he stole the season richest event away from Waters at the checkered flag to win a thriller in a near photo finish by 0.073 of a second! The $3,000 Don Hardy Memorial “Outhouse 50” feature victory was Davis’ second of the season as he also won the McKean County Fair event on August 14. After eight consecutive new Sweeney Tour winners, Davis became just the season’s third repeat winner!
“I have no idea what to say,” said the exhausted 23-year-old Hornell, New York driver after being quickly congratulated by Waters, who ran to his car before Davis was unbuckled. “That was a fun race. Johnny (Waters) put on a hell of a show. We put on a hard right rear and I was just biding my time. I had no plan at all at the end. I saw the lapped car, Johnny left me a little room, and I hit the hole. This is awesome. This is the biggest win of my career. My crew works so hard and this is what we dream of and I can’t thank them enough. I also have to thank all of my sponsors, family, and friends for all of their support.”
Via his K&N “Cold Air Induction” Dash victory, Waters led the 25-car starting field to green for the Series’ first ever 50-lap event. Waters took control from Davis with Charlie Sandercock, Joe Martin, and Andrew Wylie in tow. Jason Rider slowed to bring out the first caution with seven laps completed doubling up the field again for the restart.
When racing resumed, Rick Singleton was able to move into the top five. On lap nine, Davis put the pressure on Waters for the lead as the front two began to pull away; meanwhile, Martin was able to get by Sandercock for third. Davis closed in even more as he ducked under Waters racing off turn four on laps 16 and 17, but Waters was able to continue to lead. Singleton had a setback on lap 17 when he got sideways in turn four losing fifth and sixth place to Wylie and Max Blair.
The race began to heat up on lap 20 as lapped traffic came into play. Martin, who won the $1,500 “Manufacturers Night” event on August 30 at McKean, appeared as if he had the fastest car once again. Martin snuck under Davis off turn four to nab second on the 20th circuit. Martin then closed in on the leader on lap 22 in traffic as it was a four-car race for the lead. In turn one on lap 23, Waters made contact trying to lap Wyatt Scott. The young Scott, who was making his first Sweeney Tour feature start, would spun and collected Wylie. Before the mishap, Wylie was running fifth and was closing on the lead pack, which earned him the TBM Brakes “Tough Brake of the Night” award.
The caution certainly wasn’t what Martin wanted to see as on the restart, Davis would get back by him for second on lap 23 before Wylie spun off turn three into the fence ending his night. That would be the event’s third and final caution as the final 27 laps went green-to-checkered! While Martin didn’t want to see the caution, the restart was a big break for Singleton as he was able to pass back Blair for fifth and began his way forward. Singleton and Sandercock really put on a great side-by-side side battle lap after lap for fourth.
Back up front, Davis began to put the heat again on Waters on lap 32. By lap 34, the top five distanced themselves from the field. Lapped traffic came back into play on lap 36 and the final 14 laps would keep the fans on their edge of their seats. Davis pulled alongside Waters on laps 36 and 37 then again on lap 40, but Waters still made the right moves and the preferred line to continue to lead; meanwhile, after a 17-lap battle, Singleton finally cleared Sandercock for fourth on lap 45.
Waters had put a little space on Davis as the laps had ticked off, but Davis closed back in and once again was alongside the leader on laps 47 and 48. Waters’ car continued to loosen up as the race went on. He was getting high off both turns two and four, and in fact nearly slipped off the backstretch several times. While this was happening, Singleton was really on the charge as he passed Martin for third on lap 49 and closed on the lead duo.
On the final lap, Waters cleared some traffic down the backstretch and it appeared as he entered turn three had the race won, but Davis ran a strong line in turns three and four to close in. As Waters hung out in turn four, Davis got a great bite off the bottom and won the drag race to the checkered flag with the large crowd cheering the finish!
The winning pass easily earned Davis his first Driven Oil “Slick Move of the Night” award. Davis’ third career Sweeney Tour win came in his Griswold’s E.T.R. Services/Close Racing Supply/Jody’s Hair Design-sponsored #94. It was also a big point night for Davis as it guaranteed him a spot in the top 15 points paying positions in the Sweeney Tour as well as gave him a shot at advancing two more positions with one race to go.
Waters, who just missed out on his second Sweeney Tour victory of the season, was able to beat point leader Ryan Montgomery for the third straight race and sixth time in the past seven races since his July 20 Humberstone win; however, Waters still trails last year’s runner-up point man by 36.
“That’s a tough one to swallow, but that’s racing and it was fun,” expressed the 33-year-old Whitesville, New York driver, who earned $1,500 for second in addition to other cash and contingencies. “I hope the fans saw a good show. I wouldn’t want to lose to anyone, but Bryce. We’ve grown up racing together. His family is great and everyone treats each other well. It was getting loose at the end. I had a Hoosier D21 on the right rear and these guys (Davis and Singleton) had a 55 on. I needed the cautions. I have to thank Dale LeBarron for this ride- without him I couldn’t have this much fun. Also my crew and my wife for putting up with this- it’s been great.”
Singleton’s Hoosier D55 harder tire really fired late in the race as he came up just 0.323 of a second behind in third place. Singleton, who leads the Series with four victories, also now has three third place finishes. Singleton was the $3,000 Pace Performance “Summer Chase” Champion.
“I’ll tell you what, if you’re a race fan and you didn’t like that race then you’re not a race fan because that was a great race,” said the soon-to-be 50-year-old Front Royal, Va. driver, who earned $800 for third. “I needed four more laps! I’ve raced Late Models all over, but these guys are fun to race with. It was a good clean race, and we were out there racing close. I have to thank Clint (Enyerat), he always keeps the car going. This MBH car is great and it’s just like the one that finished second (Waters). I love coming up here, but I just can’t seem to get my first win.”
Martin and Sandercock were a close fourth and fifth. It was a good Series debut for Sandercock, who made the five and a half hour trip down from Belleville, Ontario, Canada to compete. Sandercock was the 2014 Brighton Speedway Crate Late Model Champion and also leads the Go Nuclear Series points. While Sandercock earned $500 for fifth, he also picked up an additional $150 in qualifying, heat race, and dash monies bringing his night’s earnings to $650.
Mike Knight made his first ever Series start and raced from 16th to sixth to earn the $100 Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down” Hard Charger award. Blair, who won Friday night’s $800 to-win non-point event also with a last lap pass, finished seventh. Chad Ruhlman, who won the 2014 McKean weekly points with eight feature wins as well as the $5,000 Sweeney Weekly Series Championship, finished eighth. Montgomery’s ninth place was his 13th top nine finish in 15 races. Dusty Waters was a season best 10th.
Canadian Jorden Peters captured the Performance Plus award in 16th and received an Accelerator-1 carb spacer kit, while Maryland driver Matt Glanden was the last car on the lead lap in 18th and an earned the Moroso Custom Fit Plug Wire Set. Both awards were compliments of Crate Innovations.
Just four of the scheduled 20 starters took the green for the non-qualifier event. Ward Schell, who was coming off a career best Sweeney Tour finish of fourth at the last event at Woodhull, somewhat made up for a disappointing night as he led all six laps for the $200 victory. The 49-year-old Warren, Pa. driver was in the Ron Baker-owned, TPR Fabrication/Yorkshire Tire & Battery/Larry & Kay Nickerson/Bob McKerrow & Son/Gary Baker-sponsored #74.
Canadian Greg Belyea passed Maryland driver John Imler to finish second in his first ever Sweeney Tour start. Imler was third in his first ever weekend of racing at McKean. John Haggerty finished fourth and the 60-year-old Olean, New York driver said Saturday night was his final race. Haggerty has been a supporter of the Crate Late Models since the concept was started in the Northeast in 2007 by Series directors Emig and Leone.
Sandercock set a blistering 15.660 lap in Bobby Lake Motorsports “Shock the Clock” qualifying to earn $100. Bobby Lake Motorsports heat race winners also received an extra $25 and those included Sandercock, John Waters, Martin, Davis, and Wylie. Brad Mesler and Adam Sixt won the last chance B mains. Damian Bidwell finished a close third in the first last chance B main and just missed out on transfering to the feature; however, he did receive the ARbodies “Nosed Out” nose kit award valued at $245.
Waters second K&N “Cold Air Induction” Dash victory of the season moved him within one point of Singleton for the lead in the K&N Dash Championship standings. Waters received a $100 K&N certificate with Davis picking up a $50 K&N certificate for second. Sandercock, Martin, and Wylie finished third through fifth and received an extra $25 cash.
That brought the curtain down on the 2014 season at McKean. For the eighth straight year, McKean has been a supporter of the Crate Late Models as a weekly track under Emig and Leone. McKean averaged over 27 cars for its 18 completed events this season with the three Sweeney Tour events attracting 38, 43, and 45 cars!
Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Dirt Late Model Touring Series Race #15 (50 laps, $3,000 to-win): 1. BRYCE DAVIS (94) 2. John Waters (LeBarron 11) 3. Rick Singleton (Enyeart 99*) 4. Joe Martin (55) 5. Charlie Sandercock (57) 6. Mike Knight (Harvey 55) 7. Max Blair (111) 8. Chad Ruhlman (Suppa 4s) 9. Ryan Montgomery (12) 10. Dusty Waters (14) 11. Chad McClellan (119) 12. Josh Holtgraver (00) 13. Jason Knowles (4) 14. Cody Dawson (36) 15. Eric Wilson (27W) 16. Jorden Peters (11P) 17. Wayne Robertson (20) 18. Matt Glanden (01) 19. Kyle Scott (3Jr) 20. Adam Sixt (6T) 21. Brad Mesler (24B) 22. Wyatt Scott (3) 23. Jason Rider (76) 24. Andrew Wylie (84) 25. Jeremy Wonderling (3J). (Note: Eric Wilson took a Series provisional)
Non-Qualifier (6 laps, $200 to-win): 1. Ward Schell (Baker 74) 2. Greg Belyea (25) 3. John Imler (63) 4. John Haggerty (49) 5. Damian Bidwell (17)-DNS 6. Paul Grigsby (24)-DNS 7. Justin Smith (22)-DNS 8. Bob Kish (5)-DNS 9. Ralph Morgan, Jr. (Powell 100)-DNS 10. Cody Mason (Wright 42)-DNS 11. Junior Peters (00)-DNS 12. Garrett Mott (43x)-DNS 13. Steve LeBarron (50)-DNS 14. Jon Lichy (35)-DNS 15. W.L. Stile (1W)-DNS 16. Andy Michael (Kratts 41)-DNS 17. Scott Fitch (28F)-DNS 18. Brady Wonderling (10)-DNS 19. Doug Ricotta (01)-DNS 20. Bruno Mowery (48)-DNS.
Car Count: 45
Feature Lap Leaders: John Waters (1-49), Bryce Davis (50)
Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down Hard Charger”: Mike Knight (+10)
Driven Oil “Slick Move of the Night”: Bryce Davis
TBM Brakes “Tough Brake of the Night: Andrew Wylie
Crate Innovations “Performance Plus” Accelerator-1 Carb Spacer Kit Giveaway: Jorden Peters
Crate Innovations “Ignite” Moroso Custom Fit Plug Wire Set: Matt Glanden
ARbodies “Nosed Out” Nose Kit: Damian Bidwell
Bobby Lake Motorsports “Shock the Clock” Qualifying ($100 for fast time): 1. Charlie Sandercock 15.660 2. John Waters 15.741 3. Joe Martin 15.782 4. Max Blair 15.783 5. Andrew Wylie 15.853 6. Ryan Montgomery 15.910 7. Dusty Waters 15.923 8. Chad McClellan 15.923 9. Bryce Davis 15.927 10. Chad Ruhlman 15.927 11. Rick Singleton 15.960 12. Matt Glanden 15.974 13. Josh Holtgraver 16.053 14. Kyle Scott 16.061 15. Wayne Robertson 16.068 16. Brady Wonderling 16.082 17. Cody Dawson 16.088 18. Jorden Peters 16.120 19. Adam Sixt 16.139 20. Damian Bidwell 16.141 21. Mike Knight 16.143 22. Justin Smith 16.176 23. Jason Rider 16.191 24. Wyatt Scott 16.222 25. Jason Knowles 16.230 26. Brad Mesler 16.249 27. Cody Mason 16.256 28. Steve LeBarron 16.262 29. Greg Belyea 16.275 30. Ward Schell 16.281 31. Ralph Morgan, Jr. 16.282 32. Jeremy Wonderling 16.287 33. Eric Wilson 16.291 34. Garrett Mott 16.415 35. Doug Ricotta 16.459 36. Bob Kish 16.468 37. Andy Michael 16.515 38. W.L. Stile 16.547 39. John Haggerty 16.649 40. Scott Fitch 16.649 41. Jon Lichy 16.742 42. Junior Peters 16.789 43. John Imler 16.986 44. Bruno Mowery 17.531 45. Paul Grigsby NT.
Bobby Lake Motorsports Heat 1 (8 laps, $25 to-win, top 5 transfer): 1. Sandercock 2. Singleton 3. Montgomery 4. Knight 5. Mesler 6. Morgan 7. Kish 8. Lichy 9. B. Wonderling.
Bobby Lake Motorsports Heat 2 (8 laps, $25 to-win, top 5 transfer,): 1. J. Waters 2. D. Waters 3. Dawson 4. J. Wonderling 5. Glanden 6. Mason 7. Smith 8. Michael 9. Jr. Peters.
Bobby Lake Motorsports Heat 3 (8 laps, $25 to-win, top 5 transfer): 1. Martin 2. McClellan 3. Holtgraver 4. Rider 5. Jo. Peters 6. LeBarron 7. Imler 8. Stile 9. Wilson-DNS.
Bobby Lake Motorsports Heat 4 (8 laps, $25 to-win, top 5 transfer): 1. Davis 2. Blair 3. K. Scott 4. W. Scott 5. Sixt 6. Mott 7. Belyea 8. Haggerty 9. Mowery-DNS.
Bobby Lake Motorsports Heat 5 (8 laps, $25 to-win, top 5 transfer): 1. Wylie 2. Ruhlman 3. Robertson 4. Knowles 5. Bidwell 6. Grigsby 7. Schell 8. Fitch 9. Ricotta.
Last Chance B Main 1 (10 laps, top 2 transfer): 1. Mesler 2. Jo. Peters 3. Bidwell 4. Schell 5. Kish 6. Mason 7. Imler 8. Mott 9. Haggerty 10. Wilson 11. Michael 12. B. Wonderling-DNS 13. Ricotta-DNS.
Last Chance B Main 2 (10 laps, top 2 transfer): 1. Sixt 2. Glanden 3. Grigsby 4. Smith 5. Morgan 6. Jr. Peters 7. Belyea 8. LeBarron 9. Lichy 10. Stile 11. Fitch 12. Mowery-DNS.
K&N “Cold Air Induction” Dash (4 laps): 1. John Waters 2. Bryce Davis 3. Charlie Sandercock 4. Joe Martin 5. Andrew Wylie.
The Sweeney Tour will be in action next for the 2014 season finale at Lernerville Speedway for the annual “Steel City Stampede” on October 23-25. Practice will be held on Thursday night with heat races on Friday and last chance B mains, K&N Dash, and the 30-lap $2,000 to-win feature on Saturday night.
RUSH Late Model marketing partners include Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC, Pace Performance, Hoosier Tire, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, Precise Racing Products, ARbodies, The Brake Man, K&N Filters, Bilstein Shocks, Lincoln Electric, TurboStart, Beyea Headers, FK Rod Ends, Bobby Lake Motorsports, Driven Racing Oil, Crate Innovations Inc., Moroso Performance Products, Velocita-USA, High Gear Speed Shop, CrateInsider.com, Utsinger’s Towing, B.R.A.K.E.S., 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.