Northern States RUSH Late Model Series
November 20, 2012
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NEW RUSH LATE MODEL SERIES TO FORM ALLIANCE WITH NESMITH SERIES TO FURTHER DEVELOP CRATE RACING IN THE NORTHEAST; SHARON, MCKEAN, ROARING KNOB & THE ROCK ALREADY ON BOARD

by Mike Leone
(Pulaski, PA)…Building on six years of Crate Late Model racing in the Northeast, former FASTRAK Northeast Co-Directors Vicki Emig and Mike Leone are thrilled to announce the formation of the Northern States RUSH Late Model Series.  The new Series will sanction speedways in the Northeast hosting Crate Late Models on weekly basis in 2013 and will operate a Touring Series among other exciting programs as over $120,000 in cash and contingencies will be distributed.

“After six years of association with the Fastrak Racing Series, we believe that the needs of our part of the country are sufficiently unique,” explained Emig.  “With that said, we have elected not to renew our annual contract with Fastrak founder Stan Lester’s organization. We salute Stan for his great concept and the time we were associated saw Crate Late Model Racing grown and thrive in the Northeast.  We had no complaints with Stan’s program…only that we believe that we can better serve our racers by being an independent series.  By being a regional organization rather than a national one will allow us to be more responsive to our tracks, teams, and fans.”

In just a short period of time, four speedways have quickly aligned themselves with RUSH for weekly competition in 2013 including Sharon Speedway (Hartford, OH), McKean County Raceway (East Smethport, PA), Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex (Markleysburg, PA), and The Rock – Allegany County Speedway (Cumberland, MD).  The Rock will be moving to Sunday racing and will be the first weekly Crate Late Model track ever in Maryland!

"We are very happy to be one of the first tracks to move forward with the new RUSH Racing Series,” expressed Ken Leet co-promoter of McKean County Raceway with Rich Yeager, Rod Biehler, and Tom Gleason all who echoed the sentiments.  “We have had a great relationship with Mike Leone and Vicki Emig for the past 6 years, and are very excited about moving forward with the new series. We at McKean County Raceway feel this series will be great for racing in the northeast."

The Northern States RUSH Late Model Series will align itself quite closely with southern stalwart NeSmith Racing Series.  In order to work towards a goal of being able to create and develop more substantial programs for this division in the future, the RUSH Late Model Series Technical Rules will closely mirror the NeSmith Technical/Engine rules package, with just a few slight differences. Note all other programs and procedures will be specific to the RUSH Late Model Series.

While both Series will have the freedom of operating as separate entities, both will work in tandem towards the betterment of Crate Racing and expansion, if needed, into all forms and divisions of racing.  To symbolize our unity in achieving these goals and taking crate racing to the next level by joining the knowledge and abilities of both organizations, its speedways and racers, both series will be tagged with “Powered by Crate Racin’ USA”.

One of the major items racers can look forward to in 2013 is the Northeast Weekly Series Championship, which will allow racers to compete at RUSH-sanctioned speedways to accumulate points towards the championship.  Drivers best 15 finishes (two per weekend) from April through September will be utilized.  At season’s end, the top 30 racers will share in a guaranteed point fund of over $25,000 with $5,000 going to the champion! 

A new “Summer Chase” program will be incorporated into the RUSH Late Model Series program.  At the end of June, the top 10 RUSH Late Model Weekly member racers at each weekly-sanctioned track and the top 10 Touring Series members from the Touring Series will be competing for a separate stand-alone point series.  The same point system will be used as the Weekly Series; however, ranking will be determined by the best point average based on a minimum of eight completed events during July and August.  The top 10 racers will share in a guaranteed point fund of over $10,000 with $3,000 going to the champion, and again all of these monies will go to Northeast racers.

A Touring Series will also be a huge part of the RUSH Late Model Series.  The touring schedule will include 20 to 25 events and showcase the very best of the region’s Crate Late Model racers. Many additional exciting promotional concepts and events will also surround the touring events, along with a “Futures Cup” program.  

Finally, the goal is to put together a huge season ending championship event for member racers that will also include a first ever $2,000 to-win non-winners event!

Also, by aligning the Northern States RUSH Late Model Series with NeSmith, competitors will have the opportunity to participate in the following upcoming National Events: the eighth annual $10,000 to-win, 100-lap Chevrolet Performance Parts “World Championship” at Bubba’s Raceway Park in Ocala, FL November 30-December 1, 2012, and Florida Speedweek at Bubba’s from January 28-February 2, 2013.

Tracks wishing to sanction weekly Crate Late Model racing under the RUSH Racing should contact the office at 724-964-9300. 

A copy of the RUSH Late Model Series technical rules can also be obtained by contacting the office or at www.rushracingseries.com. In the short-term, racers can contact NeSmith Technical Director, Tim Sims, at 256-794-4047 or e-mail to tim@nesmithracing.com for any technical questions they may have.  Watch for the announcement of RUSH’s technical director to be appointed soon. 

E-mail can be sent to info@rushracingseries.com and snail mail to 4368 Route 422, Pulaski, PA 16143. The office is open daily late mornings and after 1:30 p.m. (724) 964-9300.   A RUSH Racing Series website will soon be released at www.rushracingseries.com.  Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/rushlatemodels or follow us on Twitter @RUSHLM.