(Franklin, PA)…One of the most exciting, recent announcements in the western Pennsylvania region for motorsports enthusiasts has been the completed purchase, renovation, and 2015 scheduled reopening of the former Tri-City Speedway. New owner Mark Tatalovic and crew have been hard at work getting the facility back in shape for 2015, and have announced that Tri-CityRacewayPark will have the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Series sanction its Crate Late Model for the upcoming season.
Tri-City is in the process of completing their schedule, which should be released soon. All Crate Late Model events held will be contested under the Sweeney RUSH banner, which will include the Sweeney Tour “Bill Emig Memorial” on Sunday, June 21. One additional Sweeney Tour event is also possible this season.
Tatalovic’s son, Sam, along with Chad Wagner will oversee the operation of the half-mile facility in VenangoCounty.Tri-City was heavily vandalized since its closing in mid-2011. The restoration has been underway including replacing much of the grandstand seating along with rewiring the electrical system, and numerous other improvements.
“To be able to add Tri-City to our tremendous group of RUSH-sanctioned speedways is another huge step in unifying the entire Northeast region under one banner,” stated RUSH Co-Director Vicki Emig. “The facility was instrumental in our early days of developing the Crate Late Model concept and the wide sweeping turns proved extremely conducive to some of our most exciting events. Factor in its central location to our entire region and there is no doubt that Tri-City will once again become a favored gathering point for some of the Northeast’s most talented RUSH racers.”
RUSH member racers will be able to participate at Tri-City in 2015 and be eligible for all of the programs including the Sweeney Weekly Series Championship, the Pace Performance Summer Chase, along with the Bilstein Bandits and the “Futures Cup” for those eligible racers. While membership is not mandatory to compete in any RUSH-sanctioned event, membership will again include a $100,000 excess participant accident policy which is over and above drivers’ health insurance and speedways’ participant accident policy.
“It’s very sentimental to now bring the ‘Bill Emig Memorial’ to Tri-City for the first time ever, especially because it’s Father’s Day,” stated Emig. “My Dad campaigned his cars here for numerous years with driver Lou Gentile winning many track championships and feature events. Some of my fondest memories are here, especially in the late 70s, when Lou battled weekly in the Semi-Late division with our six-cylinder against the V8’s capturing the 1978 track championship. He followed that with several others in the Six-Cylinder Modified division. I know my Dad will be smiling down on all of us that night and enjoying this RUSH event that will be held in his memory.”
Tri-City ran its first race on July 11, 1954 and created a strong legacy of racing over the past 60 years. Over the years, Tri-City featured Sprint Cars, Big-Block Modifieds, and Super Late Models. Crate Late Models became popular in the region and flourished at the speedway from 2008 until it’s closing during the 2011 season. Tri-City has hosted national events such as the World of Outlaw Sprint Cars and Late Models, the National Sprint Tour, All Star Circuit of Champion Sprint Cars, Super DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Series and much more.
Max Blair, who was the 2013 Sweeney RUSH Weekly Series and Pace Performance “Summer Chase” Champion, was a three-time track champion in 2008-2010. Max’s father Robbie also had success in the crates. Drivers like Mike Pegher, Jr., Joe Martin, David Scott, Bobby Powell, Bud Watson, Josh Holtgraver, Damian Bidwell, Carl McKinney, Alan Dellinger, Jim Frank, hometown racer Bobby Whitling, and many others had success at the half-mile oval.
In addition to dirt track racing, Tri-City will host go-kart racing on their infield track along with truck and tractor pulling throughout the season as well. For more information, check out their website at www.tricityracewaypark.com or contact them at 814-967-2175. You can also like their Facebook page by searching Tri-City Raceway Park and follow them on Twitter @TriCityRaceway.
RUSH Late Model marketing partners include Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC, Pace Performance, Hoosier Tire, Bilstein Shocks, Sunoco Race Fuels, MSD Ignition, Maxima Racing Oil, Jones Racing Products, Alternative Power Sources, Precise Racing Products, ARbodies, The Brake Man, K&N Filters, Lincoln Electric, TurboStart, Beyea Headers, FK Rod Ends, Bobby Lake Motorsports, Crate Innovations Inc., Moroso Performance Products, Velocita-USA, High Gear Speed Shop, CrateInsider.com, 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.