10/4/2019
"BILL HENDREN MEMORIAL" UP NEXT FOR SWEENEY RUSH LATE MODEL TOUR AT PITTSBURGH THIS WEEKEND; $5200 TO-WIN FEATURE PRESENTED BY FK ROD ENDS IN CONJUNCT
(Imperial, PA)...The Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Dirt Late Model Touring Series powered by Pace Performance is ready to resume action this weekend (October 4-5) at Pittsburgh's PA Motor Speedway for the "Bill Hendren Memorial" presented by FK Rod Ends in conjunction with Pro Fabrication. The seventh annual Northeast version will pay a record $5,200 to-win, $325 to-start. In addition, Pace Performance will present the second annual "One to Remember" non-winners feature paying $800 to-win, $75 to-start on Friday night and the weekend will conclude with the $500 to-win, $150 to-start Non-Qualifier. The "Pittsburgher 100" highlighted by the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will also include the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Sportsman Modified Touring Series for the first time running the "Betsy Kriegisch Memorial" for $2,000 to-win.
This marks the fourth straight year PPMS has hosted the "Bill Hendren Memorial" and second straight year that the event purse will see an increase. Last year's show jumped to $4,000 to-win, $300 to-start with the addition of the $500 to-win, $50 to-start "One to Remember" race. For 2019, the feature, non-winners, and non-qualifier has seen an increase for every position! This is due to the great efforts by Bill Hendren's son Steve and his family. FK Rod Ends in conjunction with Pro Fabrication have stepped up their involvement to grow the feature purse as has Pace Performance to present the "One to Remember". In addition, CrateInsider.com, Miley Motor Sports, RUSH, Ingram Engines, 955 Automotive, and Race 1 have helped to increase the "One to Remember" purse.
And since last week's announcement press release, Winning Motorsports Marketing along with Bill's grandchildren Alex, Igor, Alyssa, Michayla, Johnathan, and Steven have both added an extra $100 to the winner's share of the feature, non-winners, and non-qualifier races. This means the "Bill Hendren Memorial" will now pay $5,200, the "One to Remember" Non-Winner race $800, and the Non-Qualifier $500!
In 2005, Bill Hendren, the patriarch of the Hendren family and founder of Hendren Racing Engines, had the foresight to began building his affiliation with crate racing. As many of his open engine customers looked to crate racing as an opportunity to continue racing Bill began offering free advice via the well know 4M.net message board. As the concept grew throughout the country, his generosity and expertise was rewarded as many of those who had utilized his knowledge in the beginning utilized him as their engine rebuilder as their needs arose. Bill passed away on March 19, 2011, but his legacy and dedication to crate racing lives on through his sons, Steve and Mike, as the Hendrens are recognized throughout the entire country as a leader in this specialized form of racing as they continue to operate Hendren Racing Engines.
"I look back to several years ago to a surprise phone call I received from Steve Hendren expressing interest in having a memorial event for his late father Bill Hendren in conjunction with a RUSH Touring event," explained RUSH Director Vicki Emig. "Although I never knew Bill Hendren personally, I certainly was well aware of his pioneering spirit and great success in the world of GM Performance crate engine racing. And now to have the Hendren Family allow us to hold their patriarch's only memorial event of the year under the RUSH banner is truly an honor. What Steve and his family have added to the purses this year is tremendous! We have to thank all of the contributors as well as the Mileys for allowing this event to be part of the Pittsburgher 100 weekend."
The weekend will get started on Friday (October 4) with $100 FK Rod Ends "Shock the Clock" Qualifying. Drivers will then compete in FK Rod Heats heat races paying $25 to-win. Following the conclusion of the night's regularly scheduled events, the "One to Remember" RUSH Late Model feature will be run paying $800 to-win, $75 to-start. The winner of this race will also receive a GoPro Hero 7 white kit valued at $400 thanks to CrateInsider.com, a large winner's check, a laser etched marble winner's plaque, and a $250 gift certificate from Crash's Custom Graphics through the efforts of Steve Hendren.
In order to be eligible for the "One to Remember" race, driver must compete in the regular "Bill Hendren Memorial" event and never have won a Late Model race of any kind or any headlining division feature event or prior "One to Remember" race. The lineup will be determined off the "Bill Hendren Memorial" Tour qualifying times with a pill drawn for an invert (4, 6 or 8) depending on car count.
Following the dash and last chance B mains on Saturday, the stage will be set for the 40-lap $5,200 to-win, $325 to-start "Bill Hendren Memorial". The feature winner along with the second and third place finishers will also receive one of the sought-after laser etched marble plaques.
Also, the "Wheelman" Bonus Event for non-qualifiers at the end of the night will have an increased purse with $500 to-win, $150 to-start. The winner will also receive a laser etched marble plaque. Contingencies have also been posted for drivers eligible for the non-qualifier.
Along with being a financial support for the event, CrateInsider.com has also posted a second GoPro Hero 7 white kit ($400 value), which will be awarded to a lucky driver by a random draw at the drivers meeting! In addition to the night's regular $100 Precise Racing Products "Pedal Down" Hard Charger, that driver will also receive a $250 gift certificate from Crash's Custom Graphics.
Daryl Charlier has won the last two "Bill Hendren Memorial" races at PPMS, while John Mollick won the event in 2016. Charlier and Mollick will be two of the favorites trying to stop Kyle Lukon, who has won both of the PPMS Sweeney Tour races this year including "Manufacturers Night" presented by MSD Performance and the "Jook George Steel City Classic". Lukon's wins accounted for more than $13,600 and will look for the sweep on Saturday night to add another $5,200!
The Sweeney Tour has completed 13 events this season with Blair leading the way with five victories. Jeremy Wonderling won his three races in consecutive events in New York. Charlie Sandercock swept the "Quebec Invasion" events at Autodrome Granby and Le RPM Speedway. Lukon has won both PPMS races. Logan Roberson won the Winchester portion of the "Battle of the Bay" Speedweek presented by Wehrs Machine.
Wonderling, who seemingly was in cruise control to his second straight Sweeney Tour Championship, has seen his points lead shrink to just 13 due to finishes of 15th or worse in three of the last four races. Lukon's back-to-back wins have propelled him to second in the standings and hopes his home track advantage will allow him to close the gap even more on Saturday night with just one other race remaining- that being the "Steel City Stampede" at Lernerville Speedway October 18-19. Michael Duritsky, Jr., Braeden Dillinger, Ryan Frazee, and Logan Zarin sit third through sixth in points all in their first year on the Tour. Bill Kessler, Jason Genco, Blair, Kyle Murray, Brian Knowles, and Chad Sines complete the top 12 points paying positions.
There have been nine different winners in 15 RUSH Late Model races run in 2019 at PPMS. Mollick leads the way with three wins, while Justin Lamb, Ben Policz, Lukon, and Garret Paugh each have two victories with singles wins to Duritsky, Colton Flinner, and Nico Dabecco. Past PPMS Sweeney RUSH Tour winners include Ryan Montgomery (3), Lukon (3), Charlier (2), Flinner, Mollick, Mike Pegher, Jr., and Jacob Hawkins.
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 Late Model Series Officials will also determine the Dirt Defender "Defensive Drive" to the driver that best defended his position throughout the event, and will receive a $40 product package. The feature winner will receive a Sunoco 5-Gallon Race Jug. Ontime Body & Graphic's "Spoiler Alert" will award a $150 spoiler to the 14th place finisher on Saturday.
Sweeney RUSH Late Model Tour "Bill Hendren Memorial" presented by FK Rod Ends in conjunction with Pro Fabrication Feature Payoff: 1. $5,200 2. $2,500 3. $1,250 4. $1,000 5. $800 6. $700 7. $600 8. $500 9. $475 10. $450 11. $425 12. $400 13. $390 14. $380 15. $370 16. $360 17. $350 18-26. $325.
"One of to Remember" Non-Winners presented by Pace Performance Feature Payoff: 1. $800 2. $300 3. $225 4. $200 5. $150 6. $125 7. $120 8. $115 9. $110 10. $105 11. $100 12. $95 13. $90 14. $85 15. $80 16-24. $75.
"Wheelman" Non-Qualifier Payoff: 1. $500 2. $200 3. $195 4. $190 5. $185 6. $180 7. $175 8. $170 9. $165 10. $160 11. $155 12-24. $150. Tow $125.
2019 Sweeney RUSH Late Model Touring Series points (only Tour members receive points): 1. Jeremy Wonderling 1059 2. Kyle Lukon 1046 3. Michael Duritsky, Jr. 1025 4. Braeden Dillinger 1006 5. Ryan Frazee 959 6. Logan Zarin 924 7. Bill Kessler 902 8. Jason Genco 787 9. Max Blair 766 10. Kyle Murray 685 11. Brian Knowles 579 12. Chad Sines 562 13. Sam Pennacchio 537 14. John Waters 516 15. Darrell Bossard 498 16. J.J. Mazur 472 17. Ross Robinson 464 18. Jared Kane & Jamie Wrightsman 436 20. Scott Gunn 404 21. Logan Roberson 384 22. Matt Latta 342 23. Dale Hollidge 254 24. Jason Knowles 244 25. Trever Feathers 243 26. Cody Dawson 233 27. Paul Norman 217 28. Cory Sines 215 29. Dale McDonald, Jr. 210 30. Jon Rivers 171 31. John Mollick 152 32. Al Shawver, Jr. 140 33. Garret Paugh 92 34. Beamer Guzzardi 80.
You do not have to a member of RUSH to compete. The AMB/MyLaps transponders are required. One-way driver radios are always mandatory at 454.000. The entry fee is $100. Pit passes are $75 for the weekend. Pits are open throughout the afternoon. A drivers meeting will be held at approximately 5:35 p.m. on Friday with pill cutoff at 5:45. Warm-ups will get underway at 6 p.m. followed by qualifying at racing.
Pittsburgh's PA Motor Speedway is a ½-mile dirt track with a GPS address of 170 Kelso Rd, Imperial PA 15126, which is located just off the Noblestown exit on Routes 22/30. For more information, check out their website at www.ppms.com or call 412-279-7223. The track number on race day is 724-695-3363 or 724-695-0393. As for their social media outlets, you can like their page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PittsburghsPennsylvaniaMotorSpeedway or follow them on Twitter @PAMotorSpeedway.
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 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.
Article Credit: Mike Leone
