GARRETT KRUMMERT SWEEPS THE "BETSY KRIEGISCH MEMORIAL" WEEKEND AT PITTSBURGH SETTING FAST TIME, WINNING HIS HEAT, THE DASH & FEATURE FOR $2200 IN RICHEST SWEENEY RUSH SPORTSMAN MOD RACE IN HISTORY
By Mike Leone
October 4-5, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Imperial, PA)…The Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Sportsman Modified Series powered by Pace Performance was part of the "Pittsburgher 100" weekend for the first time ever with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and the RUSH Dirt Late Model Touring Series in the running of the second annual "Betsy Kriegisch Memorial". The event also marked the first Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Touring Series race ever run at Pittsburgh's PA Motor Speedway. A huge thank you to the 52 contributors for making this event the richest in the six-year history of the RUSH Sportsman Modified Series as a total of $4,850 in cash plus $3,500 in contingencies was added to the guaranteed purse posted by Miley Motor Sports!
Defending Hovis Touring Series Champion, Garrett Krummert, is on a roll. After winning both Tour events at Sharon during the month of August, Krummert completely dominated the "Betsy Kriegisch Memorial" weekend at the "Monster Half-Mile". Krummert set fast time, won his heat race, the dash, and led all 25 laps of the non-stop feature timed in 9:16.692 winning by nearly nine seconds for his third win in the last four Tour races. Krummert earned a RUSH Sportsman Modified record $2,200 in cash plus more than $600 in contingency prizes!
"At the beginning I was just trying to ride because normally we don't go 25 laps then I saw Chas (Wolbert) get alongside of me and thought 'man I better pick this thing up', revealed the 31-year-old Ellwood City, Pa. driver. "The two races before this tonight were really good and the RUSH Late Models had a lead change with six to go, and thought 'shit I hope that's not me'! I wanted to ride a little bit and save the tires, but when I saw Chas I figured we better get this thing going. We live in the same area as the Kriegischs so this is a cool event with Randy and the girls (Chelsie and Jessica). I wish my car owner Jerry (Schaffer) was here because he's always helped the girls. I have to thank RUSH and Pittsburgh for putting this on as to race for two grand with a crate car is pretty awesome."
Krummert jumped to the early lead in the feature over Tony Tatgenhorst, Jim Rasey, Kole Holden, and Rob Kristyak. While Krummert led Tatgenhorst, the battle for third was three-wide on lap two with Holden taking the spot over Rasey and Kristyak. By lap four, Chas Wolbert joined the battle making it a four-car race for third. After starting fifth and dropping back to sixth, Wolbert was on the move taking third from Holden on lap five. Wolbert then caught Tatgenhorst and drove under him in turn four for second on lap seven.
By the time Wolbert got to second, Krummert had a half-straightaway advantage built up, but by lap nine, Wolbert started cutting into the deficit. Krummert got held up by the lapped car of Joe Gibson on laps 11 and 12 allowing Wolbert to catch Krummert. Wolbert tried a move in turn one, but may have showed his hand too early as Krummert blocked the move.
At the halfway point, Krummert started to extend his lead like earlier in the race, which continued to grow throughout the second half of the race. By the time the checkered flag was displayed, Krummert's fourth career Hovis Tour win came by a whopping 8.917 seconds in the Jerry Schaffer Racing, Turn 4 Toilets-sponsored #10s. The win extended Krummert's Hovis Tour points lead and put him in a three-way tie with Wolbert and Kristyak for the Hovis Weekly Series Championship heading into the season finale at Lernerville in two weeks.
Wolbert earned $1,100 for second along with another $700 in contingencies including the Precise Racing Products "Pedal Down" Hard Charger honors. "That son of a gun," expressed the 25-year-old Warren, Ohio driver. "He seen me I'm pretty sure. It's hard to find the line where you should be in here. You have to make a move quick here because once you get a couple laps in it's wide open and everyone spreads out. I saw the Super and Crate Late Model racers were both running the bottom. I'm not a bottom guy if anyone knows me. I like to run the top here, but you had to get down to the bottom and almost stop to run that groove. Garrett is a good guy to race with along with Tony (Tatgenhorst) and everyone else. I'm just glad the car ran and we finished the feature in the top three- no complaints."
Tatgenhorst, who won his first career feature on September 7 at Pittsburgh, was a solid third to earn $850 plus a Racing Electronic Switch Receiver. "Those guys (Krummert and Wolbert) are tough to beat that's for sure but I'm okay with them in front of me- I'll lose to those guys anytime," acknowledged the 39-year-old Columbiana, Oho racer. "Third is a great run for us. It's been a heck of a weekend. To be honest with you, the three cars out here aren't the winners. These two girls we have this race for are the two winners. They are class acts in this sport and we are doing this race for their mother- that's the most important thing for us. I'm happy to be standing here, but even happier to be supporting them. I wouldn't have missed this race for anything. I have to thank my girlfriend- she's my crew chief and does it all, my dad who is sitting up there in the grandstands and doesn't miss a race, RUSH, and Matt Miley at Pittsburgh's PA Motor Speedway; we're happy to be here."
Kristyak was fourth. After dropping out of the top five, Rasey would get by Holden on lap 20 to finish fifth and maintain the second spot in the Hovis Tour points. Rasey was also selected as the Dirt Defender "Defensive Drive of the Night" for holding off Holden in that tremendous back and forth battle. Holden, the 2017 and 2019 Sharon Speedway track champion, dropped to sixth at the finish over Jessica Kriegisch, Jacob Jordan, Kyle Martell, and Greg Porter.
Not only did Jordan turn in his best Tour finish of the season in eighth, but also won the grand prize in the contingency drawings of a Holley Performance 80541-1 650 carburetor valued at $700, four Landrum VB Coil Springs valued at $300, and was the lucky recipient of the $100 "Hot Rod 64 Heat Race Drawing" from Rodney Beltz amongst all of the sixth and fourth place finishers. Jordan earned $1,625 in cash and contingencies!
Kyle Martell was selected as the Sherwood Wheels "Man of Steel" as he trucked it back from Toledo, Ohio on Friday night just in time for action as the 2016 "Futures Cup" Champion and 2017 Touring Series Champion went on to finish ninth in the feature to receive a Sherwood steel wheel valued at $225.
While the "Bill Hendren Memorial" was also taking place on the RUSH Late Model side at Pittsburgh, Bill's wife Bettie added $100 afterwards for the slowest qualifier, which was Joe Gibson. Even though a flat tire with two to go in the feature ended Chelsie Kriegisch's seventh place run in her mother's memorial event, Chelsie received a $50 bonus for finishing last from Don and Margie Frickanish along with a case of Penn-Grade oil from Matus Motorsports and brake fluid from TBM Brakes for being "Tough Brake of the Night" recipient. Despite the last place finish, Chelsie earned $475 in cash plus contingencies.
Krummert just missed the track record of 21.324 set by Tatgenhorst last year in the inaugural "Betsy Kriegisch Memorial" with a lap 21.343 to pick up the $100 from Ohio Intra Express in "Shock the Clock" Qualifying on Friday night. Krummert and Holden won the heat races on Friday night. Krummert's dash win not only earned him the pole position, but also $100 from Branden Lockwich, who is the event coordinator of the "Jook George Steel City Classic" at Pittsburgh for the RUSH Late Models.
Thank you to the following 52 contributors to the "Betsy Kriegisch Memorial" along with Pittsburgh's PA Motor Speedway that made the event the richest in RUSH Sportsman Modified history: 955 Automotive, Bruce & Leah Altman, Anonymous Donor 1, Anonymous Donor 2, Rodney Beltz, Big Daddy's Speed Center, Blackshear Brothers Racing, Bolland Machine, C&R Tire, Preston Cope, Phil Crouse, D&T Auto Body, Rich Gerald, Joe Gibson, Fire Fighter Sales & Service, Flinner Signs & Decals, Josh Ferry, John Flinner, Jr., Don & Margie Frickanish, Bettie Hendren, Kole Holden, Hudzik Racing, Jacob Jordan Racing, Arnie Kent, Connor King, Chelsie Kriegisch, Jessica Kriegisch, Jo & Garrett Krummert, Branden Lockwich, Kevin Long, Kyle Martell, Matus Motorsports, Pat Miller, Ohio Intra Express, Greg Porter, Andy & Lisa Priest, Jim Rasey, Ripper Auto Sales, Rock House Bar & Grill, Chad Roland, C.J. Rombold Engines Builders, RUSH Racing Series, Russ King Racing, Jerry Schaffer, Deb Shaffer, Tony Tatgenhorst, Wallace Towing, Weaver Racing, Wedge Motorsports, Jackie West, Chas Wolbert, and Brian Woodhall
The 2019 season will conclude at Lernerville Speedway on October 17-19 with the annual "Steel City Stampede" to determine both the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Tour and Weekly Series Championships. Thursday will include practice followed by heat races on Friday night. Saturday will be last chance B main(s) and the $800 to-win feature. Sunday is the rain date.
Sweeney RUSH Sportsman Modified Hovis Touring Series Race #5 "Betsy Kriegisch Memorial" (25 laps, $2,000 to-win): 1. GARRETT KRUMMERT (Schaffer 10s) 2. Chas Wolbert (c3) 3. Tony Tatgenhorst (63T) 4. Rob Kristyak (00) 5. Jim Rasey (32) 6. Kole Holden (2) 7. Jessica Kriegisch (63) 8. Jacob Jordan (28J) 9. Kyle Martell (8) 10. Greg Porter (25) 11. Joe Gibson (19) 12. Chelsie Kriegisch (10). (See complete cash and contingency breakdowns below.)
Car Count: 12
Feature Margin of Victory: 8.917 seconds
Feature Lap Leaders: Garrett Krummert (1-25)
Sunoco 5-Gallon Race Jug: Garrett Krummert
Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down Hard Charger”: Chas Wolbert (+3)
Sherwood Wheels "Man of Steel": Kyle Martell
TBM Brakes “Tough Brake of the Night": Chelsie Kriegisch
Dirt Defender "Defensive Drive of the Night": Jim Rasey
"Hot Rod 64 $100 Heat Race Draw": Jacob Jordan
$100 for Slowest Qualifier from Bettie Hendren: Joe Gibson
$50 for Last Place Finisher from Don & Margie Frickanish: Chelsie Kriegisch
Case of Penn Grade Oil from Matus Motorsports for Hard Luck: Chelsie Kriegisch
Ohio Intra Express "Shock the Clock Qualifying" ($100 to fastest qualifier) (Track record 21.324 by Tony Tatgenhorst on 9/2/18): 1. Garrett Krummert 21.343 2. Kole Holden 21.409 3. Jim Rasey 21.428 4. Tony Tatgenhorst 21.570 5. Jessica Kriegisch 21.610 6. Rob Kristyak 21.876 7. Chas Wolbert 22.013 8. Chelsie Kriegisch 22.149 9. Jacob Jordan 22.274 10. Greg Porter 22.337 11. Kyle Martell 22.669 12. Joe Gibson 22.825.
Heat 1 (8 laps): 1. Krummert 2. Rasey 3. Wolbert 4. Martell 5. J. Kriegisch 6. Jordan.
Heat 2 (8 laps): 1. Holden 2. Tatgenhorst 3. Kristyak 4. C. Kriegisch 5. Gibson 6. Porter.
Dash (4 laps, $100 to-win from Branden Lockwich): 1. Krummert 2. Tatgenhorst 3. Rasey 4. Holden.
Here are the final cash & contingencies taken home by racers during the second annual "Betsy Kriegisch Memorial":
1. Garrett Krummert: $2000 1st place, $100 fast qualifier Ohio Intra Express, $100 dash win from Branden Lockwich for $2200 plus 8 Landrum Performance Springs Coil Springs ($600) & a Sunoco 5-Gallon Race Jug ($30) for a TOTAL OF $2830 in cash & contingencies.
2. Chas Wolbert: $1000 2nd place, $100 bonus plus 8 Landrum Coil Springs ($600) & the $100 Precise Racing Products Pittsburgh Hard Charger for a TOTAL OF $1800 in cash & contingencies
3. Tony Tatgenhorst: $750 3rd place, $100 bonus plus a Racing Electronics Switch Receiver ($100) for a TOTAL OF $950 in cash & contingencies.
4. Rob Kristyak: $600 4th place, $100 bonus plus 4 Landrum Coil Springs ($300) for a TOTAL OF $1000 in cash & contingencies.
5. Jim Rasey: $500 5th place, $100 bonus plus $40 Dirt Defender certificate & $100 Ultra Shield Race Products, LLC certificate for a TOTAL OF $740 in cash & contingencies.
6. Kole Holden $475 6th place, $100 bonus plus $100 Ultra-Shield certificate for TOTAL OF $675 in cash & contingencies.
7. Jessica Kriegisch $450 7th place, $100 bonus & 2 sheets of white Wrisco Industries aluminum ($150) for a TOTAL OF $700 in cash & contingencies
8. Jacob Jordan $425 8th place, $100 bonus, $100 Hot Rod Heat Race Draw by Rodney Beltz, Holley Performance Products 80541-1 650 carb ($700), 4 Landrum Coil Springs ($300) for a TOTAL OF $1625 in cash & contingencies
9. Kyle Martell $400 9th place, $100 bonus & Sherwood Racing Products Steel Wheel ($225) for a TOTAL OF $725 in cash & contingencies
10. Greg Porter $375 10th place, $100 bonus & a $100 Ultra-Shield gift certificate for a TOTAL OF $575 in cash & contingencies
11. Joe Gibson $330 11th place, $100 bonus & $100 for slowest qualifier from Bettie Hendren for a TOTAL of $530 cash.
12. Chelsie Kriegisch $325 12th place, $100 bonus, $50 last place from Don Frickanish, case of Penn-Grade Oil from Matus Motorsports ($80) & TBM Brakes brake fluid ($45) for a TOTAL OF $600 in cash & contingencies.
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.
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 our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/rushsportsmanmods and follow us on Twitter @RUSHSportMods.
###