SWEENEY RUSH SERIES TO OFFER PRO STOCK "WEEKLY" CHAMPIONSHIP PILOT PROGRAM FOR GM CRATE 602 & 604 COMPETITORS IN 2015
By Mike Leone
January 23, 2015 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Pulaski, PA)...With a new racing season now on the horizon, Series Directors Vicki Emig and Mike Leone are excited to announce the development of a Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC Pro Stock "Weekly" Series Championship program for GM crate 602 and 604 drivers set to begin in 2015. The program is being established as a pilot program for continued development and opportunities for participating RUSH speedways that permit the GM 602 and GM 604 crate engine package to compete in their current pro stock division.
"It's no secret that the region's Pro Stock Car counts at most local speedways are beginning to decrease," stated Emig "On a brighter note, over the past few years a good handful of teams in the area have already been competing very successfully with both GM 602 and GM 604 engines. We are aware of other racers in the area that are beginning to consider this option and believe that the number of racers using these engines packages are going to grow in the future. Hopefully by beginning to offer Pro Stock racers the same valuable incentive programs that have proven successful in both our Late Model and new Sportsman Modified Divisions this division can be once again be healthy throughout the entire region."
Three tracks, Lernerville Speedway, Sharon Speedway, and McKean County Raceway, have seen multiple wins and championships claimed in recent years with racers utilizing GM 602 and 604 engines. In 2013, Corey McPherson won seven features with a GM 604 on his way to his second Lernerville championship. Adam Ashcroft dominated action with numerous feature wins at McKean in 2013 taking the championship with a GM 604. Steve D'Apolito's GM 602 was a force to be reckoned with over the course of several years winning the 2011 Sharon Speedway title in addition to the prestigious "Applefest 100" at Tri-City Speedway. Also, Sharon standouts Mike Clark and Brian Carothers won several features at the Hartford, Ohio oval.
The initial Sweeney RUSH Pro Stock "Weekly" Championship program will post at $5,250 point fund that will pay 15 positions for legal GM 602 and 604 drivers; if there are over 20 member drivers the point fund will increase to 20 paying positions. Drivers who wish to participate in the program must be a RUSH member with membership being $100 in the pilot program, the membership will also offer them an additional $100,000 of participant accident insurance over and above the speedway's limit and their own personal health insurance. Note however, that RUSH will honor DIRTcar memberships and those racers will have their RUSH membership fee waived; however DIRTcar members must complete a RUSH form for administration purposes.
Points will "only" be calculated for member drivers that compete with a legal GM 602 and 604 at speedways throughout the region that host sanctioned RUSH Late Model or RUSH Sportsman Modified Series events, either weekly or touring events, throughout the season. Drivers will utilize their best 12 feature point finishes at these events.
In addition, Lernerville Speedway will host the inaugural Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Pro Stock GM Performance "Sportsman Stock Classic", the first ever exclusive GM 602 & GM 604 feature event in conjunction with their traditional "Autumn-Motive Fest" on September 19. The RUSH Pro Stocks will also be permitted to compete in the "Automotive-Fest" feature, giving them two exciting feature events!
Additional bonuses will also be awarded throughout the region to any RUSH or DIRTcar member driver who wins a feature event with a GM 602 or GM 604 engine package at eligible speedways.
"All of us remember when Pro Stock classes throughout the region required B mains, but as in other forms of racing, that is sadly not the case anymore," stated Leone. "The majority of regional speedways have taken a very positive step in allowing crate engines to compete with their Pro Stock division, and we're hoping that the Sweeney RUSH "Weekly" Championship program can be an asset to their Pro Stock programs and give racers in this division an exciting option to consider."
As part of the program RUSH Series Officials will assist all eligible speedways' weekly tech officials in ensuring that all competing GM 602 and GM 604 engines are legal per the RUSH Racing Series technical rules package. At Lernerville, RUSH will work in conjunction with DIRTcar who sanctions their Sportsman Stock Car division to ensure the same. NOTE: individual tracks' Stock Car rules will be utilized in this program.
Note: racers are eligible at any time throughout the season to participate and become RUSH member drivers, as is the case with all RUSH divisions. Points begin upon receipt of membership form and payment. This allow racers who may experience issues with their current engine package an opportunity to join the program at anytime and consider the GM 602 or GM 604 engine package.
Speedways that are currently eligible to be part of this program that permit the GM 602 and/or GM 604 engine package are as follows: Brighton (602 only), Expo, Freedom (602 only), Humberstone (602 only), Lernerville, Pittsburgh, Potomac, Roaring Knob, Sharon (602 only), Sportsman's, Wayne County, and Winchester.
Additional details concerning the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC Pro Stock "Weekly" Championship Program will be forthcoming. Interested racers are ask to send their email addresses to the RUSH office.
Sweeney Pro Stock Weekly Series Championship ($5,250): 1. $1,000 2. $500 3. $400 4. $375 5. $350 6. $325 7. $300 8. $275 9. $270 10. $265 11. $260 12. $255 13. $250 14. $225 15. $200.
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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