RUSH Bill Hendren Memorial to Mollick in Bentz 60
Track Champ John Mollick Makes a Late Race Pass to Win $2500 “Bill Hendren Memorial” in Rush Late Model Tour Saturday at Pittsburgh; Becomes Season’s 10th Different Winner with His 1st Career Sweeney Tour Victory
Imperial, PA — The Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Dirt Late Model Touring Series powered by Pace Performance were part of the 28th annual “Pittsburgh 100” this past weekend at Pittsburgh’s PA Motor Speedway with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. After battling sporadic showers Friday night, the opening portion succumbed to Mother Nature after only warm-ups were completed setting up the entire event to be run beginning late Saturday afternoon.
A big field of 39 drivers from all over Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, and West Virginia competed in the “Bill Hendren Memorial”- the fourth event for the late engine builder held in the Northeast. Bill’s son, Steve, and grandson, Alex, made the seven-hour trip up from Rutherfordton, NC to distribute an additional $3,000 in cash and $550 in contingencies to random positions throughout the feature (prize winners list posted below) along with beautiful laser etched plaques to the top three finishers. They look forward to having Pittsburgh host the event again in 2017.
John Mollick won six of the 11 Sweeney Weekly Series events contested this season at Pittsburgh on his way to the track championship. On Saturday night, Mollick benefited from a late race restart and passed Ryan Montgomery with two laps to go to win his first career Sweeney Tour event. The 30-lap “Bill Hendren Memorial” victory was worth $2,500 as he became the Series’ 10th different winner of the season! Mollick was named the Maxima Racing Oil “Maximum Performance” winner, and also received an extra $100 cash as part of the Hendren giveaways plus $50 for his heat and dash event performances.
“That Montgomery car was really good tonight and if it wasn’t for that last caution we wouldn’t have got him,” expressed the 46-year-old Toronto, Ohio racer. “I thought he might have bobbled a bit. I tried to just go like hell and make it work, and we got lucky. We missed the setup a little in the dash, but got it good for the feature. We just needed a couple more clicks to run with the 12 (Montgomery). This is a big win for us. Bill Hendren used to build our Super Late Model motors years back. To win this memorial race is big for me. I have to thank this whole Stan’s Transmission team. Bob and Bobby take care of the shocks and chassis. Tom isn’t here, but Tommy is taking care of the engine and we had this baby good for the restarts. These guys got it done.”
The feature got off to a rough start when a major accident occurred entering turn one with Will Thomas III and Michael Reft sustaining the heaviest damage. Reft, who set fast time, was named the TBM Brakes “Tough Brake of the Night” recipient after being transported to the hospital with a broken wrist. All told, 15 cars were involved with seven of them eliminated from further competition.
Sweeney Tour point leader, Bryce Davis, took off in the lead via his K&N Dash victory. Mollick was able to pass 2014 champion, Ryan Montgomery, who was making his first start of the season, for second with John Waters trailing in third. Montgomery was able to get back by Waters for third on lap two then battled side-by-side with Mollick for second for the next five laps before finally getting by on lap six.
Montgomery then closed in on Davis on lap 10 and pulled alongside the leader in turns one and two on lap 13. The two would literally race side-by-side for the lead from laps 13-19. Lapped traffic came into play starting on lap 17. Davis got pinned behind traffic entering turn three on lap 19 allowing Montgomery to sneak under for the lead racing off turn four. After 19 consecutive green flag laps, Davis slowed to bring out the caution. This would move Mollick to second and sixth starting Kyle Lukon to third.
Back under green, the race was for fourth as it was three-wide with Jared Miley taking the spot over Waters, and Mike Pegher, Jr. Montgomery began to pull away on lap 23, while Mollick had his hands full with the fast closing Lukon and Miley. The event’s final caution was displayed for slowing cars on the backstretch with 27 laps completed.
The caution set-up a double file restart with three laps to go. Montgomery chose the inside and took off with Mollick hounding him. The veteran PPPMS racer made the winning move in turn four putting a slide job on Montgomery that stuck as he led lap 28. Montgomery didn’t go away as he stuck right with Mollick, but was unable to get back by as Mollick shut the door in turns three and four coming up just 0.366 of a second behind the Robert Bentz-owned, Stan’s Transmission-sponsored #60M.
Montgomery earned $1,200 for his runner-up finish along with an extra $200 from the Hendren prizes. “I was trying to get to the top on that last restart, but I didn’t know he was going to cross me back over,” revealed the 19-year-old Fairmont, WV driver. “I knew I had to get past that hump (turn three) and it pushed a little bit. I pushed as hard as I could in the turn. I knew whoever got off this corner (turn four) was going to win. I nearly hit the wall so I figured I better take a second.”
Lukon was third giving him three top three finishes in just three Sweeney Tour starts this season. “We came out here a couple weeks ago to practice and found something wrong with the motor- it wouldn’t rev,” explained the soon-to-be 27-year-old Burgettstown, Pa. driver, who earned $700 plus $200 extra from the Hendren prizes. “We took last weekend off to change engines and prepare for this. Last night we felt a lot better with what we had. We hot lapped quick, ran real good in the heat race battling with Waters. It was a lot of fun. For some reason we couldn’t restart as it felt like we were giving up two spots every caution. Once we got rolling, I thought we were okay. It was a real nice run for us along with Ryan and John. I’m glad everyone came out this weekend to enjoy the races.”
Miley certainly earned the $100 Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down” Hard Charger gift card award. After dropping from his heat race, Miley passed five cars to win the second last chance B main then advanced from 21st to fourth in the feature. Miley received $600 in purse money plus $200 cash and $100 Dynatech Headers certificate from the Hendren prizes. Andrew Satterlee went from 10th to fifth in his first RUSH start of the season. Waters dropped to sixth over Justin Lamb, Clinton Hersh, 24th starting Jason Knowles, and Jake Gunn.
After getting in as a track provisional, Chuck Medved really made out. Medved started 25th and finished 14th in his first Sweeney Tour start of 2016. He was the last car on the lead lap and received a $25 CrateInsider.com gift certificate. Medved then made out better than any other driver in the Hendren prizes picking up $300 cash plus a $100 Dynatech Headers certificate.
After missing transferring to the feature by one spot in both his heat race and last chance B main to earn an ARbodies nose kit valued at $260, Scott Schempp ended the night on a positive note winning the eight-lap non-qualifier event. Schempp passed Touring regular, Brian Knowles, in turn four on the final lap for the $200 victory. The 35-year-old Munhall, Pa. driver of his Miley’s BP Car Wash/DOS Automotive-sponsored #75 became the 21st different winner in 23 non-qualifier races run all-time! Knowles was second over “Wheelman” Bonus Event Challenge Series point leader Greg Beach. Corey Neal was fourth in his first ever RUSH start ahead of Tony White- the defending two-time “Wheelman” champion.
Reft set his first Sweeney Touring Series fast time award with a lap of 19.410, which converts to 115.920 mph, to earn $100 from Bobby Lake Motorsports. Winning $25 Bobby Lake Motorsports heat races were Lukon, Mollick, Davis, and Montgomery. Wayne Robertson and Miley split the last chance B mains. Davis won his third K&N “Cold Air Induction” Dash of the season for a $100 K&N certificate. Montgomery finished second for a $50 K&N certificate, while Daryl Charlier and Mollick earned $25 cash for finishing third and fourth.
The Sweeney Touring Series will close out the 2016 season this Friday and Saturday (October 14-15) at Lernerville Speedway for the annual “Steel City Stampede” featuring a $2,000 to-win Marquee event. Bobby Lake Motorsports “Shock the Clock” qualifying and heat races will take place on Friday followed by the last chance B mains, feature, and non-qualifier on Saturday. The rain date is Sunday. There will also be an open practice on Thursday night.
Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC Touring Series “Bill Hendren Memorial” Race #14 (30 laps, $2,500 to-win): 1. JOHN MOLLICK (Bentz 60M) 2. Ryan Montgomery (12) 3. Kyle Lukon (184) 4. Jared Miley (H1) 5. Andrew Satterlee (2) 6. John Waters (LeBarron 11) 7. Justin Lamb (93x) 8. Clinton Hersh (16) 9. Jason Knowles (4) 10. Jake Gunn (14G) 11. Kyle Zimmerman (z17) 12. Bryce Davis (94) 13. Laura Pastorak (Lukon 84) 14. Chuck Medved (2M) 15. Mike Pegher, Jr. (Haseleu RJ1) 16. Dave Lyon (14L) 17. Russ Matejka (17M) 18. Alan Dellinger (Williams 8) 19. Ben Policz (14B) 20. Steve Beatty (B4) 21. Michael Reft (9R) 22. Will Thomas III (9) 23. Brandon Burgoon (02) 24. Wayne Robertson (20) 25. Bruce Hordusky, Jr. (3) 26. Daryl Charlier (12)-DNS. (Note: Jason Knowles took a Series provisional & Chuck Medved took a Track provisional.)
Non-Qualifier (8 laps, $200 to-win): 1. SCOTT SCHEMPP (75) 2. Brian Knowles (7) 3. Greg Beach (33x) 4. Corey Neal (1) 5. Tony White (27) 6. Matt Aber (31) 7. Andy Spooner (3) 8. Zach Kane (10) 9. Toby Massie (22)-DNS 10. Tim Shaffer (45)-DNS 11. Bill Kessler (09)-DNS 12. Brian Swank (12s)-DNS 13. Zach Gunn (114G)-DNS.
Car Count: 39
Feature Lap Leaders: Bryce Davis (1-18), Ryan Montgomery (19-27), John Mollick (28-30)
Margin of Victory: 0.366
Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down Hard Charger”: Jared Miley (+17)
Maxima Oil “Maximum Performance”: John Mollick
TBM Brakes “Tough Brake of the Night”: Michael Reft
CrateInsider.com “Last Car on Lead Lap”: Chuck Medved
ARbodies “Nosed Out”: Scott Schempp
Bobby Lake Motorsports “Shock the Clock” Qualifying ($100 for fast time): 1. Michael Reft 19.410 2. John Mollick 19.487 3. Bryce Davis 19.549 4. Ryan Montgomery 19.577 5. Kyle Lukon 19.680 6. Will Thomas III 19.695 7. Daryl Charlier 19.730 8. Jared Miley 19.772 9. John Waters 19.793 10. Ben Policz 19.859 11. Brandon Burgoon 19.915 12. Justin Lamb 20.021 13. Clinton Hersh 20.065 14. Jake Gunn 20.089 15. Andrew Satterlee 20.168 16. Russ Matejka 20.257 17. Wayne Robertson 20.308 18. Mike Pegher, Jr. 20.326 19. Dave Lyon 20.418 20. Steve Beatty 20.484 21. Alan Dellinger 20.567 22. Jason Knowles 20.607 23. Laura Pastorak 20.707 24. Scott Schempp 20.855 25. Bruce Hordusky, Jr. 21.096 26. Tim Shaffer 21.152 27. Toby Massie 21.224 28. Kyle Zimmerman 21.229 29. Chuck Medved 21.249 30. Zach Kane 21.251 31. Bill Kessler 21.439 32. Tony White 21.468 33. Brian Swank 21.472 34. Greg Beach 21.523 35. Andy Spooner 21.587 36. Corey Neal 21.608 37. Zach Gunn 21.620 38. Brian Knowles 21.759 39. Matt Aber 22.198.
Bobby Lake Motorsports Heat 1 (8 laps, $25 to-win, Top 5 transfer) 1. Lukon 2. Waters 3. Reft 4. Hersh 5. Dellinger 6. Hordusky 7. Robertson 8. Medved 9. Swank 10. Z. Gunn.
Bobby Lake Motorsport Heat 2 (8 laps, $25 to-win, Top 5 transfer): 1. Mollick 2. Policz 3. Thomas 4. Pegher 5. J. Gunn 6. Kane 7. Beach 8. B. Knowles 9. Shaffer 10. J. Knowles.
Bobby Lake Motorsports Heat 3 (8 laps, $25 to-win, Top 5 transfer): 1. Davis 2. Charlier 3. Satterlee 4. Burgoon 5. Lyon 6. Lukon 7. Massie 8. Aber 9. Kessler 10. Spooner.
Bobby Lake Motorsports Heat 4 (8 laps, $25 to-win, Top 5 transfer): 1. Montgomery 2. Beatty 3. Lamb 4. Matejka 5. Zimmerman 6. Schempp 7. Neal 8. Miley 9. White.
Last Chance B Main 1 (10 laps, Top 2 transfer): 1. Robertson 2. Hordusky 3. J. Knowles 4. B. Knowles 5. Beach 6. Shaffer 7. Medved 8. Swank 9. Kane 10. Z. Gunn.
Last Chance B Main 2 (10 laps, Top 2 transfer): 1. Miley 2. Pastorak 3. Schempp 4. Aber 5. Massie 6. Kessler 7. White 8. Neal 9. Spooner.
K&N “Cold Air Induction” Dash (6 laps, $100 K&N certificate to-win): 1. Davis 2. Montgomery 3. Charlier 4. Mollick 5. Waters 6. Policz 7. Lukon 8. Beatty.
“Bill Hendren Memorial” Feature Lap Prize Winners ($3,000 cash & $550 contingencies):
1. Race 1 – $100 to the 11th place car (Russ Matejka)
2. Crate Insider – $100 to the 17th place car (Chuck Medved)
2. Dynatech Headers – $100 Product Certificate to the 17th place car (Chuck Medved)
3. High Velocity Heads – $100 to the 14th place car (Kyle Zimmerman)
4. Maria Melillo (FK Rod Ends) – $100 to the 4th place car (John Waters)
5. CrateInsider.com – $100 to the 5th place car (Kyle Lukon)
6. Jonathan Davenport – $100 to the 6th place car (Mike Pegher, Jr.)
7. On Time Body & Graphics – $100 to the 19th place car (Ben Policz)
8. Jennerstown Engine Technologies – $100 to the 15th place car (Kyle Zimmerman)
9. Maria Melillo (FK Rod Ends) – $100 to the 9th place car (Justin Lamb)
10. RUSH Racing Series – $100 to the last place car on the track (Dave Lyon)
11. Hendren Racing Engines – $100 to the 7th place car (Jared Miley)
11. Dynatech Headers – $100 Product Certificate to the 7th place car (Jared Miley)
12. Flyin’ Ryan Montgomery Racing – $100 to the 2nd place car (Ryan Montgomery)
13. Lake Norman Motors – $100 to the 10th place car (Jake Gunn)
14. Pace Performance – $100 to the 14th place car (Laura Pastorak)
15. Crate Racin’ USA/NeSmith Racing Series – $100 to the 12th place car (Russ Matejka)
16. Pace Performance – $100 to the 5th place car (Kyle Lukon)
17. Don Ramon’s Mexican Restaurant – $100 to the 3rd place car (John Mollick)
18. Pace Performance – $100 to the 1st place car (Bryce Davis)
19. 955 Automotive – $100 to the 6th place car (Mike Pegher, Jr.)
20. Willy’s Carburetor & Dyno Shop – $100 to the 9th place car (Jason Knowles)
21. South Eastern Crate Association (SECA) – $100 to the 13th place car (Bryce Davis)
22. Pace Performance – $100 to the last car on the lead lap (Chuck Medved)
23. Lake Norman Motors – $100 to the 8th place car (Andrew Satterlee)
24. Dirtwrap – $100 to the 8th place car (Andrew Satterlee)
25. Daytona 1 – $100 to the 4th place car (Jared Miley)
26. Alex, Igor, Steven, Alyssa, Michayla, & Johnathan Hendren – $100 to the 5th place car (Mike Pegher, Jr.)
26. Bernheisel Racing Components – $250 Lazer Lid Roof to the 11th place car (Jake Gunn)
27. Bobby Lake Motorsports – $100 to the 14th place car (Laura Pastorak)
27. www.raizedcrazy.bigcartel.com – $100 Gift Certificate to the last place car on the track (Dave Lyon)
28. Crate Racin’ USA / NeSmith Racing Series – $100 to the 2nd place car (Ryan Montgomery)
29. Hendren Racing Engines – $100 to the 9th place car (Clinton Hersh)
30. Ingram Racing Engines – $100 to the last car on the lead lap (Chuck Medved)
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, Beyea Headers, FK Rod Ends, Bobby Lake Motorsports, 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.
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