"BILL EMIG MEMORIAL" RUSH SERIES DOUBLEHEADER SUNDAY AT TRI-CITY WITH SWEENEY LATE MODEL TOUR & BICKNELL SPORTSMAN MODIFIED TOUR

By Mike Leone

 

June 16, 2016            FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

(Franklin, PA)…The Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Racing Series powered by Pace Performance heads to Tri-City Raceway Park on Sunday for a doubleheader featuring the Sweeney Late Model Touring Series and the Bicknell Racing Products Sportsman Modified Series in the annual "Bill Emig Memorial".  Also, with the Pro Stocks on the schedule, RUSH member racers in that division have the ability accumulate points.  Racing begins at 6 p.m.  

Last year, racing returned to Tri-City for the first time in over four years under the new ownership of Mark Tatalovic and management by his son Sam along with Chad Wagner.  After a successful practice on Wednesday night, Sunday will be the season opener at the beautiful half-mile facility in Venango County.  Sunday will mark the first of two appearances by both divisions' Touring Series as the Late Models will return for "Manufacturers Night" presented by MSD Performance on August 14, and the Sportsman Modifieds will return on September 18. 

 

For the second straight year, Tri-City will host the annual “Bill Emig Memorial”.  The event will be highlighted by a $2,000 to-win RUSH Late Model feature along with $100 Bobby Lake Motorsports “Shock the Clock” Qualifying, and $25 to-win heat races in addition to the $100 to-win K&N Cold Air Induction “John Buzzard Memorial” Dash.  One driver could earn $2,225 with a clean sweep of the night!

The Bicknell RUSH Sportsman Modified Tour meanwhile opens their second season on Sunday with a $600 to-win feature.  Last year, Larry Kugel was crowned the inaugural champion.  This year's schedule has been expanded to seven events featuring two at Tri-City, Lernerville, and Sharon Speedways and one again at Expo Speedway during the Trumbull County Fair on July 13.  Bicknell Weekly Series car counts have been strong this season with Sharon attracting 23-25 cars for each of their shows along with improved car counts at Lernerville.  Sunday will wrap up the first ever three-race weekend for the Series as Bicknell Weekly Series events will take place on Friday at Thunder Mountain Speedway and of course Saturday at Sharon.  The Thunder Mountain race will be the first ever at the Brookville, Pa. facility and will pay $500 to-win.   

 

The winner of both feature events will also receive a natural hardwood "Bill Emig Memorial" laser etched award by Steve Hendren of Hendren Racing Engines.  Emig was a Semi-Late and Six-Cylinder Modified car owner from 1969 until his passing in 1990.  Emig had successful drivers pilot the #1 Ford such as Jim Becker, Bob Krauss, Donnie Martin, John Buzzard, Jerry Lesnak, Butch Haefke, and Lou Gentile.  In later years, Andy Priest, Jimmy Hawley, Frank Guidace, and Rodney Beltz drove Emig #1 Six-Cylinder and "358" Modified for Bill's daughter Vicki.

 

Emig's cars won over 300 feature events along with multiple track championships and several of Walt Wimer's prestigious Cavalcade Championships.  In 1986, his car was featured in a full color article in the special Christmas issue of Stock Car Racing magazine.  He was one of the original recipients of Lernerville Speedway's "Milestone in Racing" award in 1988.  Emig was recently inducted into both the Pittsburgh Circle Track Club and Twin-State Auto Racing Club Hall of Fames. 

 

“Bringing my dad's Memorial to Tri-City on Father's Day is really special,” explained RUSH Co-Director Vicki Emig.  “Last year this completed the circle of regional speedways where his cars competed throughout the years that have hosted the event.  I know if he was here today he would tell you that some of his greatest memories as a car owner were watching Lou Gentile battle against the V-8 powered semi-lates with the six-cylinder on the big half-mile against the likes of Lou Steadman, Les Myers, Mark Weaver and many more.  His cars won numerous feature events and track championships at Tri-City in both the Semi-Late and Six-Cylinder Modified divisions with the  highlight being 1978 Semi-Late Track Championship.”        

 

Past “Bill Emig Memorial” winners in the Late Models include Max Blair last season at Tri-City, Chad McClellan (Lernerville) & Rick Singleton (Sharon) in 2014, Mike Pegher, Jr. (Lernerville) & Ryan Montgomery (Sharon) in 2013, Blair (won bon events at Sharon) in 2012, and Blair (Lernerville) & Josh Holtgraver (Sharon) in 2011.

 

Sunday's race is a "Marquee" Tour event for the Late Models.  Mike Pegher, Jr., who won the Wayne County event, currently leads the Sweeney Tour points by just two over John Waters, who swept the Canadian weekend at Humberstone and Merrittville Speedways.  Bryce Davis is third in points with Jason and Brian Knowles tied for fifth.  At the last two events, Rob Blair and Andy Boozel became first time Tour winners, while Matt Latta won the April 16 event (2015 "Apple Festival Nationals" make-up) at Sharon for his first career Tour win. 

 

For the Modifieds, the K&N “Cold Air Induction” Dash will be run paying a $100 K&N certificate to win, $50 K&N certificate for second with $25 cash for third and fourth place.  The dash will set the line-up for the first five positions outside of the redraw cars.

 

For both classes, Precise Racing Products will award a $100 gift card for the "Pedal Down" Hard Charger that passes the most cars in the feature.  The TBM Brakes “Tough Brake of the Night” will award three bottles of Xtreme6 Racing Brake Fluid valued at approximately $45 along with a certificate for a discount off any TBM Brakes purchase.  

 

RUSH Officials will choose the "Maxima Performance" Award for a driver that exhibits a performance worthy of such.  The winners will receive a free case of either Maxima Semi-Syn High Performance Racing Oil or Maxima Performance Racing Oil of your choice.  In addition, the winner will receive one can of SC-1 clear coat, one 16-oz bottle of Maxima Cool-Aide concentrate, one 32-oz quart of Maxima PSF power steering fluid, and a Maxima t-shirt.  The value of this prize package is $170!  

 

Also, CrateInsider.com will award a $25 gift certificate to the driver that finishes last on the lead lap at the finish of each feature.  And for the Modifieds, Sherwood Racing Wheels "Man of Steel" award will see a racer that bounced back from an earlier mishap earn a free wheel!

 

Late Model Feature payoff: 1. $2,000  2. $1,000  3. $650  4. $550  5. $470  6. $435  7. $410  8. $370  9. $340  10. $310  11. $280  12. $270  13. $260  14. $250  15. $240  16. $230  17. $220  18-24. $210. 


Late Model Non-Qualifier payoff: 1. $175  2. $150  3. $140  4. $135  5. $130  6. $125  7. $120  8. $115  9. $110  10-24. $105. Tow $100.

 

Sportsman Modified Feature Payoff: 1. $600  2. $400  3. $300  4. $250  5. $225  6. $200  7. $170  8. $165  9. $160  10. $150  11. $140  12. $135  13. $130  14. $125  15. $120  16. $115  17. $110  18-24. $100.  Tow $50.

 

2016 Sweeney Late Model Touring Series Points (Adjusted on Marquee/Platinum; only Tour members receive points): 1. Mike Pegher, Jr. 296  2. John Waters 294  3. Bryce Davis 286  4. Jason Knolwes & Brian Knowles 271  6. Dave Lyon 266  7. Will Thomas III 264  8. Eric Wilson 257  9. Bruce Hordusky, Jr. 243  10. Brian Swank 239  11. Randy Hall 175  12. Alan Dellinger 168  13. Charlie Duncan 166  14. Dennis Lunger, Jr. 161  15. Tony White 160  16. Clinton Hersh 151  17. Matt Latta 94  18. Kyle Zimmerman 92  19. Josh Double 89  20. Damian Bidwell 83.

 

You do not have to a member of RUSH to compete.  The red AMB transponders are required at Tri-City.  RACEceivers are always mandatory.  The entry fee is $100 for Late Models and $25 for Sportsman Modifieds.  Pit passes are $35.  Pits open at 3 p.m. with warm-ups slated for 5:20 followed by Late Model qualifying at 5:45 and racing at 6.

 

Tri-City Raceway Park is a ˝-mile dirt track located at 3430 Route 417, Franklin, PA 16323.  For more information, check out their website at www.tricityracewaypark.com or call 814-676-2894 on race day.  Like their Facebook 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, Bazell Race Fuels, Insinger Performance, MSD Performance, Maxima Racing Oil, Jones Racing Products, Alternative Power Sources, Precise Racing Products, ARbodies, TBM Brakes, K&N Filters, Lincoln Electric, FK Rod Ends, Velocita-USA, Classic Ink USA, Rocket Chassis, Bobby Lake Motorsports 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 [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/rushlatemodels and follow us on Twitter @RUSHLM.
 

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