SUCCESSFUL 2024 HOVIS RUSH RACING SERIES SEASON COMPLETED AS CHAMPIONS & TOP LATE MODEL, SPRINT CAR, SPORTSMAN MOD, PRO MOD & STOCK CAR RACERS HONORED WITH RECORD $190,000 IN POINT FUND MONIES DISTRIBUTED AT AWARDS BANQUET
By Mike Leone
February 1, 2025 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Edinburg, PA)…While the 2025 racing season is only a couple months away, Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Racing Series presented by Born2Run Lubricants Directors Vicki Emig and Mike Leone put a final wrap on the 2024 racing season with the annual awards banquet and dinner on Saturday night at the Gatherings Banquet & Event Center. Attendees from all over the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Mid-Ohio Valley filled the beautiful banquet hall as a record $190,000 in cash was distributed to RUSH Late Model, Sprint Car, Sportsman Modified, Pro Mod, and Stock Car racers. All told well over $350,000 in point fund monies and useful product contingencies were distributed to RUSH racers throughout the 2024 season!
The Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Models had events at 19 different speedways in 2024 with over 300 different racers participating in either a weekly-sanctioned and/or tour events. The Hovis RUSH Sprint Cars completed year number seven with more participants than ever. Year 11 for the Hovis RUSH Sportsman Modified season continued to feature the highest weekly car counts of any Modified division in the region. The Hovis RUSH Pro Mods wrapped up year number nine with excellent car counts at the five tracks that hosted events. The Hovis RUSH Stock Cars completed their fourth season with weekly events at Eriez along with shows at Freedom, McKean County, and Hummingbird for the first time as car count record highs were established at Eriez.
Congrats to the following 2024 RUSH Champions: Brock Pinkerous (Late Model Tour & Futures Cup), Jeremy Wonderling (Late Model Weekly), Ben Easler (Late Model "Wheelman"), John Mollick (Sprint Car Weekly), Luke Mulichak (Sprint Car Futures Cup), Chas Wolbert (Sportsman Mod Weekly), JC Boyer (Sportsman Mod "Route 7 Rumble"), Logen Lockhart (Sportsman Mod Futures Cup), Zain Harvey (Pro Mod Weekly), Kaden Michael (Stock Car Weekly), and Alex Bush (Stock Car Futures Cup).
All of the champions received their point fund monies, trophies, large championship checks thanks to Ontime Body & Graphic, embroidered RUSH championship jackets, and Hoosier championship jackets. Also, all 11 Late Model City Chevrolet "Track Pack" Champions received $1,000 as each RUSH weekly-sanctioned track's top six member racers split $2,500. D&V Jewelers provided beautiful custom designed sterling silver RUSH crosses for the 3C Graphix Futures Cup Champions as well as a special sterling silver pendant for the D&V "Wheelman" Champion!
Fourteen-year-old Brock Pinkerous left the banquet as the top point fund money recipient at a record $23,000! The Ellenville, New York phenom won the first two Flynn's Tire/Gunter's Honey Touring Series events of his career (Tri-City and Stateline) in route to the record $20,000 championship by a mere one-point over four-time champion, Jeremy Wonderling. Pinkerous finished in the top five 11 times in 14 races and outside the top seven just once. Pinkerous also finished third in the City Chevrolet National Weekly Series points and won the 3C Graphix Futures Cup title.
Wonderling meanwhile won 14 times overall in 2024, which earned him his fourth City Chevrolet National Weekly Series crown in the past five years. Four of those wins came on the Tour as he's now finished in the top three in points all eight years he's followed the Tour. In total, the Wellsville, NY standout took home $15,500 in point fund monies. It was good to have Jeremy and his wife at the awards banquet as they along with their son were involved in a serious automobile accident in January; all three are recovering from injuries.
Daryl Charlier teamed up with the Dobnak Family for the first time and took on the Tour in 2024. Charlier finished fourth in points, which earned him the inaugural 3C Graphix Rookie-of-the-Year crown worth $3,000! Charlier also competed at Pittsburgh PA Motor Speedway in weekly competition where he won two races and finished third in the "Track Pack". The Dobnak team took home $8,695 in point fund monies for their efforts.
Rookie Flynn's Tire/Gunter's Honey Touring Series racer, Ben Easler, who was the 2022 RUSH Sportsman Modified Weekly Series Champion, captured the D&V Jewelers "Wheelman" Bonus Event Challenge Series Championship. Easler, who was in his first year of RUSH Late Model racing, won the Non-Qualifier at the "Bill Hendren Memorial" at Pittsburgh and finished in the top six in all five of his starts to become the 14th different champion in 15 years!
After finishing fourth, fourth, and third in points in his first three full seasons of RUSH Sprint Car racing, John Mollick became a champion in 2024. The Toronto, Ohio veteran won a career best 10 features to capture the $5,000 Sunbelt Rentals Weekly Series Championship for car owner Scott Clever. Mollick finished on the podium an amazing 19 times in 22 races!
Fifteen-year-old RUSH Sprint Car rookie, Luke Mulichak, made a successful transition from Dwarf Car racing.
Mulichak finished sixth in his first career Sprint Car race at Marion Center and would record three top five finishes including a career best fourth at Sharon to win the 3C Graphix Futures Cup points.
After winning RUSH Sportsman Modified championships in 2020 and 2021, Chas Wolbert moved up to the Big-Block Modifieds in 2022 and 2023. This past season saw the Warren, Ohio standout return to RUSH where he focused his efforts. Wolbert would win eight of his 14 starts including five at Raceway 7, two at Sharon, and ended nearly a seven-year winless drought at Tri-City as he upped his all-time leading win total to 54! That was good enough for the $3,500 Weekly Series Championship.
JC Boyer became the fourth different RUSH Sportsman Modified Wedge Motorsports Route 7 Rumble Series Champion in five years. The Burghill, Ohio racer had 11 top 5s in 15 races between Sharon and Raceway 7 including his first career Raceway 7 win on June 28 to earn the $1,000 title. Boyer also finished in a tie for third in the Weekly Series points where he added his first career Pittsburgh win.
After running the final two RUSH Sportsman Modified races of 2023, Logen Lockhart raced in the division full-time in 2024 missing just one of the 23 events. In his first race of the year and first ever at Pittsburgh, Lockhart was sixth. Impressively, Lockhart finished in the top 10 17 times. His career best finish came at Raceway 7 where he was second. At the season finale at Lernerville, his fifth place gave him five top 5s on the season which earned him the 3C Graphix Futures Cup title at 12 years of age! Logen also finished third in the "Route 7 Rumble" Series.
Zain Harvey became a new RUSH champion taking the Pro Mod Weekly Series title. The 2022 Futures Cup Champion won a record 19 races at all five tracks that hosted events including seven at McKean, five at Stateline, three at Freedom, two at Bradford, and one at Genesee! The Bradford, Pa. driver's title was worth $3,500.
In 2023, Kaden Michael won the Futures Cup in his rookie RUSH Stock Car season. The 16-year-old won on opening night at Eriez to take over the points lead and it was one he'd never relinquish capturing the $2,000 Weekly Series Championship. The Allegany, NY driver competed in all 21 events winning more than half with 11 as he won at all four tracks that hosted events- Eriez, McKean, Hummingbird & Freedom! He finished on the podium 16 times and failed to finish in the top five only twice!
After finishing second in the 2023 Futures Cup and fifth in the Weekly Series standings for the RSH Stock Cars, Alex Bush was able to move up the points ladder. Just prior to his 17th birthday on June 14, Bush swept the weekend winning his first career features at Freedom and Eriez. He added two more wins at Eriez later in the summer and finished in the top five an impressive 15 times in 17 starts, which propelled him to the 3C Graphix Futures Cup title and second in Weekly Series points.
The highlight of the banquet was the special awards ceremony. The prestigious Legacy Award was won by RUSH Late Model racer Joe Martin. Martin made his debut in racing in 2009 in a Crate Late Model competing throughout the years. In 2020, Martin took over the driving duties of the Tom Snyder-owned #10s as he would finish second in points four straight years and third in 2004. Martin's biggest career win came in the 2023 "Bill Hendren Memorial" when he won $10,000 at Pittsburgh! Martin has been a model racer on and off the speedway, has always given the Series important feedback in the utmost professional way, and we can't thank him enough for his unwavering support over the years. While none of us knows what the future may bring, Martin has certainly left his mark in Chevrolet Performance racing and this Legacy Award is gesture that he'll never be forgotten.
Series announcer, Brian Spaid, was presented with the Majestic Award by Mike Lysakowski. Spaid has been the Series announcer since 2012 bringing professionalism and excitement to Series events. Spaid has a long history in racing from his roots in New York where he was a reporter and producer of the syndicated TV show "This Week on Dirt" before moving to Pennsylvania where he had long stints as the announcer and handled public relations at both Tri-City and Sharon Speedways. Spaid was also a columnist for local newspapers and was the announcer at Franklin High School football games. Spaid was inducted into the Tri-City Hall of Fame in 2010. He's also on the board of the Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame in Weedsport, NY.
Logen Lockhart was the recipient of the Horizon Award. Lockhart may be small in stature and only 12 years of age, but as the year went on not only improved, but began to earn the respect of his fellow racers in not only one, but two divisions! Coming into this season, Lockhart had only run six total races, four in a RUSH Sprint and 2 in a RUSH Sportsman Mod. Between the two classes, Lockhart recorded 21 top 10s in 31 races in 2024 to go along with the RUSH Sportsman Mod Futures Cup Championship, sixth in points and a third in the Wedge Motorsports "Route 7 Rumble" Series.
Russ King received the inaugural Crew Chief of the Year Award. The former Big-Block Modified and Super Late Model standout, led 14-year-old Brock Pinkerous to the $20,000 Flynn's Tire/Gunter's Honey Touring Series Championship. King has also mentored and performed setup duties on numerous RUSH Sportsman Modified racers over the years including champions Ayden Cipriano, Ben Easler, and Logen Lockhart to name a few.
Kassidy Kamicker was chosen for the first of two Outstanding Achievement Awards. Kamicker became just the second female in RUSH history to win a track championship joining Chelsie Kriegisch (RUSH Sportsman Modifieds), who also accomplished the feat at Pittsburgh. Kamicker however was the first to do it in a RUSH Late Model. Kamicker rattled off seven consecutive top 10 finishes including a pair of fifths. In September, she finished third and fourth in back-to-back weeks and ended the year by finishing 15th in the "Bill Hendren Memorial"- her career best Tour finish. One year removed from failing to qualify for any of the Tour features, Kassidy put her #72B into the show at all four Tour events at Pittsburg; that's a feat in itself as those shows averaged more than 47 cars per event!
Zain Harvey was the recipient of the second Outstanding Achievement Award. Harvey beat Dennis Lunger, Jr's all-time RUSH Pro Mod mark of 14 wins in a season with his 19 victories. Harvey's 19 victories also established a single season high win total overall in the RUSH Racing Series.
Special thanks to Velocita-USA for providing custom drivers suits to the five Weekly Series Champions; Jeremy Wonderling, John Mollick, Chas Wolbert, Zain Harvey, and Kaden Michael. Landrum presented the inaugural "Loyalty Bonus" in 2024 to RUSH Late Model Touring Series driver, Austin Allen, which was worth $5,000. Landrum was also the victory lane sponsored and awarded numerous product to all of the Series' "Manufacturers Nights" presented by MSD Performance.
The promoters from Lernerville, Eriez, Tri-City, and Dog Hollow Speedways were on hand. Landrum Performance Springs sales rep, Mark Miller, made the trip in from Indiana.
RUSH Series announcer, Brian Spaid, emceed the affair and also previewed the upcoming 2025 season with details to be released soon, while Mike Lysakowski photographed the event. Stay tuned to all of the RUSH Series social media channels and websites for the latest news.
2024 Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Model Flynn's Tire/Gunter's Honey Touring Series Driver Points: 1. BROCK PINKEROUS 1149 2. Jeremy Wonderling 1148 3. Joe Marin 1054 4. Daryl Charlier 1009 5. Jim Rasey 1004 6. Damian Bidwell 1003 7. Austin Allen 977 8. Mike Wonderling 974 9. Ashton Briggs 943 10. Brad Mesler 921 11. Ben Easler 913 12. Kyle Zimmerman 883.
2024 Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Model Flynn's Tire/Gunter's Honey Touring Series 3C Graphix Rookie-of-the-Year: 1. DARYL CHARLIER 1009 2. Damian Bidwell 1003 3. Austin Allen 977 4. Brad Mesler 921 5. Ben Easler 913 6. Kyle Zimmerman 883.
2024 Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Model City Chevrolet National Weekly Series Top 40 Points: 1. JEREMY WONDERLING 1344 2. Jason Genco 1336 3. Brock Pinkerous 1326 4. Breyton Santee 1326 5. Davin Kaiser 1301 6. Brett Marlatt 1297 7. David Parker 1292 8. Logan Reed 1291 9. Brandon Burgoon 1279 10. Mike Laughard 1274 11. Andy Michael 1272 12. Austin Allen & Tyler Hoy 1269 14. Austin Hauser 1266 15. Bill Holmes III 1265 16. Steve LeBarron 1263 17. Paul Grigsby & Brian Knowles 1255 19. Billy Henry, Jr. 1254 20. Scott Gurdak 1253 21. Daryl Charlier 1251 22. Chuck LaFleur 1248 23. Marino Angelicchio & Jeremiah Marshall 1243 25. Joe Martin 1229 26. Damian Bidwell 1225 27. Ryan Hare 1220 28. Ward Schell 1218 29. Joe Layfield & Doug Ricotta 1216 31. Jim Rasey 1215 32. Jacob Tubbs & Jacob Wilber 1214 34. Ben Easler 1207 35. Demetrios Drellos & Rickie Loucks 1205 37. Kyle Zimmerman 1203 38. Braeden Dillinger 1202 39. Randy Hall 1199 40. Ashton Briggs 1196.
2024 Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Model 3C Graphix Futures Cup Top 5 Points: 1. BROCK PINKEROUS 1326 2. Marshall O'Brian 1191 3. Brodie Oravetz 1123 4. Lincoln Smith 1121 5. Allen Clark 882.
2024 Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Model D&V Jewelers “Wheelman” Bonus Event Challenge Series Champion: BEN EASLER
2024 Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Model $1,000 City Chevrolet "Track Pack" Champions: Mike Laughard (Dog Hollow), Jason Genco (Eriez & Stateline), Bill Holmes III (Genesee), Chuck LaFleur (McKean), Logan Reed (Muskingum), Brandon Burgoon (Pittsburgh), Billy Henry, Jr. (Raceway 7), Allen Clark (Tyler County), Davin Kaiser (Winchester) & Brett Marlatt (Woodhull).
2024 Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Sprint Car Sunbelt Rentals Weekly Series Top 20 Points: 1. JOHN MOLLICK 1196 2. Blaze Myers 1190 3. Arnie Kent 1160 4. Brent Rhebergen 1154 5. Gale Ruth, Jr. 1146 6. Joe Buccola 1114 7. Trent Marshall 1101 8. Luke Mulichak 1082 9. Ricky Tucker III 1075 10. Charlie Utsinger 1045 11. Billy Myers 1044 12. Devon Deeter 1024 13. C.J. McClintock 1013 14. Zack Wilson 957 15. Curt Emings 950 16. Kevin Kaserman 840 17. Logen Lockhart 838 18. T.J. Rosario 639 19. Tyler Clark 583 20. Bill Cunningham 528.
2024 Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Sprint Car 3C Graphix Futures Cup Top 3: 1. LUKE MULICHAK 1082 2. Ricky Tucker III 1075 3. Logen Lockhart 838.
2024 Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Sportsman Modified Weekly Series Points: 1. CHAS WOLBERT 1190 2. Kole Holden 1168 3. JC Boyer & Rob Kristyak 1158 5. Ayden Cipriano 1154 6. Logen Lockhart 1095 7. Lucas Canon, Karston King & Jacob Rutana 1091 10. Doug Rutana 1072 11. Brayden Beatty 1064 12. Jackson Kristyak 1020 13. Chelsie Gallagher 868 14. Brandon Tercho 831 15. Bill Cunningham 810 16. Jacob Jordan 768 17. Dalton Gabriel 755 18. Darin Gallagher 741 19. Cole Edwards 330.
2024 Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Sportsman Modified Wedge Motorsports "Route 7 Rumble Series" Top 8 Points: 1. JC BOYER 1489 2. Kole Holden 1479 3. Logen Lockhart 1401 4. Rob Kristyak 1331 5. Lucas Canon 1326 6. Karston King 1316 7. Chas Wolbert 1270 8. Jackson Kristyak 1168.
2024 Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Sportsman Modified 3C Graphix Futures Cup Top 3 Points: 1. LOGEN LOCKART 1095 2. Karston King 1091 3. Brayden Beatty 1064.
2024 Hovis Auto & Truck Supply GMC RUSH Pro Mod Weekly Series Top 20 Points: 1. ZAIN HARVEY 1344 2. Josh Wilcox 1319 3. Al Brewer 1308 4. Joe Chamberlain 1292 5. John Woodward, Jr. 1279 6. Josh Canfield 1267 7. Steve Watson 1264 8. Nick Arnold 1246 9. Vaughn Nystrom 1243 10. Tyler Oakes 1228 11. Critter Hemphill 1223 12. Derek Austin 1208 13. Tommy Kemp 1194 14. Cody Rickard 1178 15. Kyle Babcock 1161 16. Kevin Doud 1160 17. Tim Peterson 1122 18. Caleb Heitzenrater 933 19. Bill Silvis 797 20. Bill Holmes III 597.
2024 Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Stock Car Weekly Series Points: 1. KADEN MICHAEL 1288 2. Alex Bush 1271 3. Cole Strickland 1246 4. Raiddan Wilson 1240 5. William Baker, Jr. 1230 6. Cody Rickard 1217 7. Camron Kramer 1200 8. Jimmy Roberson 900 9. Gavin Eddy 897.
2024 Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Stock Car 3C Graphix Futures Cup Top 3 Points: 1. ALEX BUSH 1271 2. Cole Strickland 1246 3. Raiddan Wilson 1240.
2024 Special Award Winners:
Legacy: Joe Martin
Majestic: Brian Spaid
Horizon: Logen Lockhart
Crew Chief of the Year: Russ King
Outstanding Achievement: Kassidy Kamicker & Zain Harvey
The RUSH Racing Series is brought to you by Hovis Auto & Truck Supply together with Born2Run Lubricants along with the support of Hoosier Tire, Rick Hendrick City Chevrolet, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, Insinger Performance, Flynn's Tire, Gunter's Honey, Sunbelt Rentals, MSD Performance, Holley Performance Products, FK Rod Ends, Joseph J. Oliva Attorney at Law, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, Landrum Performance Springs, 3C Graphix, Dave Poske's Performance Parts, Velocita-USA, Wieland Metal Services, Frankland Racing Supply, Dusted Steak Seasoning, Ontime Body & Graphic, Sherwood Wheels, D&V Jewelers, Dusted, Heritage Wine Cellars, Precise Racing Products, Wedge Motorsports, Racing Electronics, and Billy’s Garage.
E-mail can be sent to the RUSH Racing Series at info@rushracingseries.com and mail to 4368 Route 422, Pulaski, PA 16143. Office phone is 724-964-9300. The RUSH Racing Series website is www.rushracingseries.com. Like our various Facebook and Twitter pages by searching for the appropriate RUSH Series.
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