Dirt Racing
Michael Norris makes it back-to-back Jook George Steel City Classic Wins!
IMPERIAL, PA (Pittsburgh Racing Now) – Michael Norris is one of the toughest competitors on the dirt track scene and on Saturday night ‘The Crusher Kid’ made it back-to-back victories in the RUSH Late Model Touring Series Jook George Steel City Classic at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway.
Norris started sixth in the field as Daryl Charlier and Michael Duritsky led the field to green. As expected Norris worked his way to the front battling with Charlier, Kyle Hardy and Kyle Lukon.
“I felt good at the beginning,” said Norris. “We rode around so much, I burned off so much fuel I started getting free.”
That was exactly what Hardy was looking for as he tried to use the bottom lane to get past Norris and into the lead.
“We’re happy to have a good run after getting run over in our heat race,” said Hardy, who finished second. “One time I caught Michael it took him to the exit to get back by me. I wanted to go to the top but I’m not going to race him like that. I wanted to earn it, great job by Michael.”
“I saw him and I was getting pretty nervous,” explained Norris. “I just wasn’t good enough to run the bottom. I needed to be from middle-to-high, just trying to motor on through there.”
Norris’ victory came in brother-in-law Nico Dabecco’s car, just like in 2020.
“It’s huge,” said Norris. “I’m really excited for my brother-in-law and my whole family and I love coming here. I wish they would have more super races so I could be here more. It’s a huge family effort and I’m lucky enough to be the face of it.”
Norris captured the $6,010 and the $1,000 contributor bonus for winning the race, which saw an additional $2,000 in purse money thanks to the efforts of event coordinator Branden Lockwich.
“I’ve got to thank ‘Cleetus’ (event coordinator Branden Lockwich),” said Norris. “To be able to race for this much money, this close to home is awesome.”
Lukon finished third followed by Charlier in fourth and Joe Martin in fifth.
The next race for the RUSH Late Models is ‘Manufacturer Night’ August 15, 2021 at Eriez Speedway.
Next Saturday at PPMS is the ‘Wee Willie White Memorial’ for the Penn Ohio Pro Stocks.
Finishing spot – Starting Spot – Driver Name (Car Number) – Hometown
- 6 – Michael Norris (51N) – Sarver
- 8 – Kyle Hardy (99) – Linden, VA
- 7 – Kyle Lukon (184) – Burgettstown
- 1 – Daryl Charlier (114) – Midway
- 11 – Joe Martin (10S) – Punxsutawney
- 2 – Michael Duritsky (90J) – Masontown
- 5 – Garret Paugh (03) – Elkins, WV
- 9 – Jeremy Wonderling (3J) – Wellsville, NY
- 15 – Matt Latta (21L) – Conneaut Lake
- 16 – Justin Kann (66) – Huntingdon
- 4 – Mike Reft (9R) – Pittsburgh
- 3 – Ben Policz (14B) – Rices Landing
- 12 – Logan Zarin (1Z) – Moon
- 18 – Dan Angelicchio (14A) – Mount Pleasant
- 14 – Zach Morrow (48F) – Gibsonia
- 20 – John Waters (60) – Whitesville, NY
- 22 – Philip Bubeck (184X) – Colliers, WV\
- 21 – Ryan Frazee (11F) – Addison
- 19 – J.J. Mazur (13) – Batavia, NY
- 13 – Jake Gunn (14G) – McDonald
- 25 – Bud Watson (225) – Conneaut, OH
- 10 – Levi Crowl (5C) – Clear Spring, MD
- 23 – Tony White (27T) – Aliquippa
- 17 – Zach Gunn (17G) – McDonald
- 26 – Dusty Waters (14W) – Portville, NY
- 24 – Dan Lepro (2L) – Midway
Dirt Racing
Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway cancels Saturday night program
IMPERIAL, PA (May 9, 2026) – Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway (PPMS) is cancelling their Saturday night program after heavy overnight rains and cloudy skies throughout the morning forced track officials to make the difficult decision.
“After evaluating conditions throughout the property Saturday morning, speedway officials determined that the amount of water absorbed overnight created conditions that would not allow for a practical or enjoyable event experience for fans, teams, and staff” the Speedway announced in a statement.
Fans who purchased advanced tickets for tonight’s event have already had their refunds processed automatically..
Next Saturday PPMS will host a ‘Night of Champions’, which will honor 2025 track Champions and those who finished in the top 10 in points in the respective divisions.
“We’re ready to get this season rolling in a big way and hopefully Mother Nature starts working with us soon,” said Tyler Harris, PPMS Operations Manager. “We know fans, racers, and teams are anxious to get back to the speedway, and we appreciate everyone continuing to stick with us through a difficult start to the year.”
Dirt Racing
Lernerville Speedway and Tri-City Raceway Park hoping to get seasons started Friday night
Lernerville Speedway and Tri-City Raceway Park are hoping Mother Nature cooperates so they can get their 2026 seasons started on Friday night.
Lernerville is planning on Fab 4 Racing with the McConnell Memorial on top. Sprint Cars, Late Models, Modifieds and Pro Stocks are on the card this evening.
Pits open at 4 p.m. with spectator gates opening at 5 p.m. Hot Laps begin at 6:15 p.m. followed by racing at 7:30 p.m.
Four weather-related postponements have delayed opening night at Tri-City Raceway Park, who are preparing to drop the green flag Friday night with their regular 4 Star Racing show on its half-mile oval.
410 Sprint Cars will be competing for a $3,000 winner’s purse. Joining the 410’s on tonight’s card will be the Pro Stocks, with the winner taking home $700!
The RUSH Sprint Cars are set to compete in their 40th race at the Venango County speedway. Tonight’s winning will get $600 for taking home the checkered flag.
The RUSH Stock Cars round out the evening as they return for their second season. Tonight’s winner will take home a $300 top prize. The racing starts at 7 p.m.
Dirt Racing
Kofoid Wins A Close One
ABBOTTSTOWN, PA (May 6, 2026): Buddy Kofoid held off a last lap charge by Carson Macedo to claim his second straight win in the Gettysburg Clash held at the Fabulous Lincoln Speedway. Kofoid’s $12,000 victory gave the World of Outlaws the edge over the Pennsylvania Posse heading into the Morgan Cup weekend at Williams Grove Speedway.
Kofoid admitted to watching the big screen that was positioned between turns one and two.
Initially, the strategy worked to his advantage, as it prompted him to abandon the high line with about six laps to go in the race. “I was watching the screen. I was losing speed. I was up on the cushion but I was having trouble closing on the lappers, so I went down and I stayed in line because it was clean.”
However, the tactic almost backfired on him as the race was drawing to a close, for he got confused by what he saw and he was uncertain whether he was getting the white flag or the checkers. “I was watching the screen and I wasn’t sure if it was white or checkers because I was seeing what the lapped cars were seeing.” That slight hesitation by Kofoid, who was trying to stay in clean air, allowed Carson Macedo to get a big run on him on the final lap.
The margin of victory was .06 seconds. “I thought I may have gotten him at the line. We were close,” Macedo said.
David Gravel started from the pole position as a result of his dash victory. Logan Rumsey, who made his first Outlaws dash, lined up next to him. Carson Macedo and Kofoid lined up in row two, followed by Sheldon Haudenschild and Bill Balog. The final dash participants, Danny Dietrich and Chase Dietz, came next. Ashton Torgerson and Cameron Smith were in row five. Row six paired Kasey Kahne with Donny Schatz. Kody hartlaub was slated to be in the twelfth spot, but an electrical problem forced him into the pits. While his crew did replace the faulty ignition box, he had to drop to the rear for the initial green.
Gravel took control at the start of the thirty-five lap event. Carson Macedo followed him into second, dropping Rumsey to third. Kofoid, Haudenschild, Dietz, Dietrich, Torgerson, Balog, and Kahne followed in the early rounds. Kofoid moved into third in the early going.
Gravel reached the backmarkers on lap nine. He was able to maintain his advantage as he started to pick them off. However, Carson Macedo lost second place to Kofoid in traffic on lap ten.
Soon thereafter, a four-car tangle at the exit of turn four brought out the first red flag of the event.
Gravel led Kofoid when the race resumed. Behind them, Carson Macedo and Haudenschild were fighting for third and Dietz and Dietrich were jousting for fifth. After a couple of intense laps, Haudenschild struck the wall in turn four.
On the ensuing restart, Dietz picked up speed. He moved into the third position on lap seventeen and he was closing in on the leaders, Gravel and Kofoid. However, a caution for Freddie Rahmer, Jr. on lap eighteen slowed his advance. At the time of the incident, Rahmer had advanced more than thirteen positions.
Although Gravel resumed his lead after the race went green again, Kofoid was on the charge. He stayed close to the leader for three quarters of a lap. In turn four, he executed a slider to take the lead. Gravel mounted a counterattack, and passed Kofoid back again. However, the pass was nullified by another red flag for a crash that eliminated four cars, including those of Schuchart, Torgerson, Balog, and Cole Macedo.
Kofoid thus was restored to first place for the restart. Gravel, Carson Macedo, Dietz, Rumsey, Dietrich, Kahne, Tyler Ross, Garet Williamson, and Cameron Smith made up the balance of the top ten for the remaining sixteen laps.
The second red flag changed the complexion of the race in other respects, as well.
Phil Dietz made significant changes to the car of Carson Macedo. Macedo explained that he was fading before the stoppage, but the adjustments made by his crew chief made his car better.
Further, Gravel was unable to maintain his pace when the race resumed. Chase Dietz, who eventually wrestled third away from him, explained, “he was in clean air a lot of the race, but that restart got him in with some other cars, and I was able to get by him.”
After the race resumed, both Carson Macedo and Dietz moved forward, and Gravel faded.
Kofoid remained out front for the remainder of the race. He migrated from the top to the inside line and followed the slower cars to the finish. Carson Macedo made a big push on the final lap but came up a bot short at the checkers.
Dietz, Gravel, and Dietrich rounded out the top five. The next five finishers were Rumsey, Ross, Smith, Kahne, and Williamson.
Ross was the hard charger, at plus seventeen. Dylan Norris, who was twelfth at the checkers, advanced sixteen positions.
The heat winners were Dietrich, Gravel, Carson Macedo, and Haudenschild. Schuchart won the B Main. Dietrich was the evening’s fastest qualifier, topping Group A with a lap of 13.584 seconds. Smith was the best of Group B with a time of 14.424 seconds.
Brett Perigo drove his Ford powered Wingless Sportsman to the win in the twenty-lap nightcap. He drove by the early leader, Eric Walker, coming off turn two on lap fifteen. It was Perigo’s third win of the season and the first on the tour.
Cliff Brian, Brandon Shearer, and Tony Jackson followed Perigo and Walker across the line. Positions six through ten went to Jay Fannasy, Donnie Farlling, Steve Wilbur, Lee Kauffman, and Chad Thomas.
Fannasy was the fastest qualifier in timed hot laps. He turned in a time of 18.543 seconds.

