Local Racing
Kyle Lukon Wins The Jook George Steel City Classic At PA Motor Speedway
IMPERIAL, PA (Pittsburgh Racing Now) – Kyle Lukon is the 2019 RUSH Late Models “Jook George Steel City Classic” champion after winning Saturday night’s feature at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway.
Lukon got around leader Logan Roberson on lap 46 of the 50-lap main event and held on for the final four laps to take home the $11,010 grand prize, the richest RUSH Late Model race in history.
“On the last restart I was a little surprised to see Logan take the bottom,” said Lukon. “I had a big run on the frontstretch, and I figured if I didn’t get him going into one, I wasn’t going to get him.”
Roberson, who started 18th, finished second and did not want to see that final caution period.
“Second is like kissing your sister,” said Roberson, of Waynesboro, VA. “That caution killed me. I think we had a really good race car. Good job by Kyle. I just wish that caution wouldn’t have come out. I was a sitting duck.”
John Mollick started on the pole with Lukon on the outside with his teammate Alex Feree on the inside of row 2 with Ross Robinson on the outside of row 2.
Lukon and Feree split Mollick going into turn 1 on the first lap with Lukon taking the lead, Feree moving into second and Mollick falling to third.
Mollick got back around Feree on lap 2 and set his sights on Lukon. Two laps later Mollick got back Lukon to take the lead. Mollick held the lead for 34-laps when disaster struck.
Mollick got into the turn 2 wall and Roberson, who had moved into second place, took over the top spot with followed by Lukon who had slipped to third.
The caution flag flew for Mollick on lap 44, who suffered damage from getting into the wall, and set up a six-lap showdown between Roberson, Lukon, Ross Robinson who was third and Eddie Carrier Jr. who was fourth.
Robinson ended up finishing third followed by Carrier and Garrett Paugh, who rounded out the top 5.
Ryan Moyer held off Jeff Broniszewski to grab the checkered flag in the PPMS Pro Stocks feature. The last two laps were epic after Danny Rich brought out the caution on lap 10 when he spun in the middle of turns 3 and 4. The restart saw Broniszewski try to make a move on the high side but Moyer dove low and rocketed off turn 4 and down the frontstretch to maintain his lead. Broniszewski passed Moyer on the backstretch on the next to last lap but Moyer again dove inside and was in front as the white flag waved. Broniszewski used the high side in turn 1 and 2 and again passed Moyer on the backstretch. The pair went into turn 3 side-by-side, but the Moyer got the bite down low and beat Broniszewski to the checkered flag.
In the Keystone Coach Works Hobbystock feature, Tyler Fox cruised to victory followed by Stephen Shelpman and Adam Ferree.
“We’ve had a rough season so far,” said Fox. “We’ve had engine trouble and transmission trouble, so this feels good tonight.”
The race was slowed by a lap 4 caution when Marcus Simmons spun in turn 2 and Kayla McManus didn’t have anywhere to go and made contact with Simmons’ driver’s door. Neither driver was injured.
Andy Garlinger won the Four Cylinders feature with John Gill in second place and Craig Rudolph in third. Jason Romine came home fourth and Tanya Charlier finished fifth after cutting a tire.
Susie Rudolph picked up the win in the Young Guns division taking the lead on lap 1 and never looking back. Kyle Janas finished second followed by Toy Magill and Cameron Hollister.
Next week at PPMS is the Ed Laboon Memorial and the Wee Willy White Memorial Race featuring the Penn Ohio Pro Stock Series.
PITTSBURGH, PA (Pittsburgh Racing Now) – This week on The Pittsburgh Racing Now Podcast, we talk with W Series and Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires driver Sabré Cook, who is also an engineer. We also talk with 3-time Lernerville 410-Sprint Car division Champion A.J. Flick. Sit back, relax and enjoy!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:01:12 — 56.0MB)
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PITTSBURGH, PA (Pittsburgh Racing Now) – Formula One and the World of Outlaws are the latest sanctioning bodies to postpone races because of the coronavirus outbreak. The RUSH Sprint Car Series gets a new points fund sponsor and “Super Tex” taking care of his employees during a difficult time.
Formula One Postpones Monaco Grand Prix:
- Formula One has postponed three additional races because of the coronavirus pandemic including the Monaco Grand Prix. Also postponed were the Dutch and Spanish GP’s. The first seven races of the F1 season have now been postponed. The next race on the calendar is in Azerbaijan on June 7. F1 has moved the mid-season break from August to March and April and has extended the break from 14 to 21 consecutive days. The F1 season is scheduled to end with the Abu Dhabi GP on Nov. 29, but could be extended to fit in some of the postponed races.
World of Outlaws Postpones Races:
- The World of Outlaws has postponed all NOS Energy Sprint Car and Morton Building Late Model races through March. The sanctioning body hopes to reschedule the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series races originally planned for Friday, March 27th at Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, TN and Saturday, March 28th at Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney, SC. The World of Outlaws will continue to monitor developments across our nation and make decisions on future events when appropriate.
A.J. Foyt Racing To Pay Employees During COVID-19 Shutdown:
- A.J. Foyt Racing is continuing to pay their employees despite temporarily shutting down their race shops in Texas and Indianapolis due to the coronavirus outbreak. “Our biggest concern is for the health of our communities and our employees, so we are closing the race shops for the time being,” said Larry Foyt, president of A.J. Foyt Enterprises, Inc. “I want to thank our partners and sponsors for their support and understanding during these extraordinary times. Many people will face some difficult challenges in the coming days. A.J. and I wish everyone the best, and we look forward to going racing again when the time is right.”
The RUSH Sprint Car Series Gets A New Points Fund Sponsor:
- The RUSH Racing Series announced that Equipment Rental Options are stepping up to be the sponsor of the RUSH Sprint Car Series weekly championship points fund, replacing original points fund sponsor Bonnell’s Rod Shop. The RUSH Sprint Car Series opens their 2020 season May 2 at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway. Read our complete story here.
PULASKI, PA (Pittsburgh Racing Now) – The RUSH Racing Series has announced the Equipment Rental Options has signed on to be the presenting sponsor of the Weekly Championship Points Fund for the RUSH Sprint Car Series.
The 2020 Equipment Rental Options Weekly Series Championship will feature 30 RUSH Sprint Car events concluding with the “Steel City Stampede” at Lernerville Speedway on October 17.
Equipment Rental Options is co-owned by current RUSH Sprint Car racer, Arnie Kent. Kent, who got his start in Micro Sprints before moving up the Sprint Car ladder, won the division’s first ever race in 2018 at Lernerville.
“We’re very thankful Arnie has stepped up with his Equipment Rental Options so we can maintain the lucrative point fund,” said Vicki Emig, RUSH Racing Series Director. “Arnie has been a longtime friend of both Mike (Leone, RUSH Director) and myself as well as many of our racers, and we’re really looking forward to being able to promote his growing business!”
Equipment Rental Options currently has two locations in western Pennsylvania; one in Hermitage and another in New Castle; Equipment Rental Options will be moving into a larger facility at 3587 Clover Lane just off Wilmington Road (Route 18) in New Castle this summer.
Bonnell’s Rod Shop had been the presenting sponsor of the Weekly Series Championship during the first two years of the division’s inception. In fact, their sponsorship allowed the point fund to grow to more than $20,000 after the program was originally announced back in 2017.
“We have to thank Scott Bonnell for his unwavering support of the RUSH Sprint Cars,” said Emig. “Scott was behind the concept from day one, had a car in the Series, and offered financial support to grow the point fund without us even approaching him. We know he will remain a strong proponent of the Series.”
The RUSH Sprint Car Series Season Opener is scheduled for May 2 at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway.
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Racing Notebook – Wednesday, April 8: NASCAR Hall of Fame nominees plus the World of Outlaws are going iRacing tonight
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Racing Notebook – Monday, April 6: William Byron wins eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational plus Detroit Grand Prix Canceled and more
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