RUSH LM Tour Points Fund To Double In 2020; Champion To Earn $12,000

Story By: MIKE LEONE / RUSH RACING SERIES – PULASKI, PA – On the heels of a record high car count average for the second consecutive year, Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Racing Series powered by Pace Performance Directors Vicki Emig and Mike Leone have announced that the 2020 Late Model Touring Series points fund will double to a minimum of $35,500 guaranteed to the top 10 racers with the champion earning a record $12,000!

In addition, Tour members that finish outside the top 10 in the final points and compete in 80% of the Marquee races will be guaranteed to receive $600. An additional $15,000 in bonus programs will also be available to eligible racers throughout the 2020 Touring season.
A major milestone was established not once, but twice in 2019 when the Series’ first $10,000 to-win events were held at Lernerville Speedway for the “Bill Emig Memorial” presented by Hovis Auto & Truck Supply with the World of Outlaws “Firecracker 100” then again at Pittsburgh’s PA Motor Speedway for the “Jook George Steel City Classic”! The season ending “Bill Hendren Memorial” presented by FK Rod Ends in conjunction with Pro Fab at Pittsburgh with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series increased to $5,200 to-win.

The “Battle of the Bay” presented by Wehrs Machine featured the $4,000 to-win “Raelyn Huffman Memorial” at Delaware International Speedway followed by $3,000 to-win events at Georgetown, Potomac, and Winchester Speedways. RUSH Late Models were again featured on MAVTV, which was presented by Sunoco Race Fuels distributed by Insinger Performance, at the state-of-the-art Weedsport Speedway. Over $30,000 in valuable product was distributed at the annual “Manufacturers Night” presented by MSD Performance at Pittsburgh.

“The 2019 season was tremendous on so many levels,” stated Emig. “Our Weekly program was stronger than ever and our Touring Series was phenomenal! Not only did we have several new major events, but many of our traditional events increased in stature. Our Marquee car count average increased to more than 38 per event with a season high 53 at Lernerville’s ‘Firecracker’. The championship battle was hotly contested between Jeremy Wonderling and Kyle Lukon and was decided by just one-point! With so much positive momentum, we felt the time was right to substantially increase our points fund. This is the time of the year racers starting asking about the new year so we felt now was perfect time to make this announcement as trade show season is upon us. Even before this announcement, we’ve heard of several new drivers looking to tour with us in 2020.”

“We had several drivers take home some serious money in our 2019 Tour events,” added Leone. “Max Blair earned $23,000 for his six Tour wins alone. Charlie Sandercock swept our two Quebec events for $8,000 US. Kyle Lukon went on a run winning the three consecutive Pittsburgh events for $18,800. To be able to double our points fund with $12,000 going to the champion is really a testament the RUSH drivers, speedways, and of course our loyal corporate sponsors. When everyone is pulling in the same direction exciting things happen!”
2020 RUSH Late Model Touring Series Points Fund ($35,500 guaranteed): 1. $12,000 2. $6,000 3. $4,000 4. $3,000 5. $2,500 6. $2,000 7. $1,800 8. $1,600 9. $1,400 10. $1,200. In addition, any Tour member outside the top 10 in the final points that competed in 80% of the Marquee races will be guaranteed $600.

In addition to the Tour points fund, drivers will also eligible for an additional $15,000 in bonuses via the following programs. The “Battle of the Bay” Speedweek $3,000 points fund that was presented by Wehrs Machine in 2019 will pay $1,000 to the champion with positions two through ten splitting $2,000; the top 12 drivers from the 2019 Tour points that compete will also receive a $150 travel package. The Zarin Truck & Automotive “$500 Club” will award five $100 drawings at the majority of Tour events for drivers in the host track’s top 15 points or the nearest two track’s top 15 in points when not at a weekly-sanctioned track. Tour members also will receive a free entry fee for every four consecutive Tour events competed in (excluding the “Battle of the Bay”).

In 2019, Jeremy Wonderling became the Tour’s first repeat champion. Drivers will be honored at the 2019 Awards Banquet & Dinner on Saturday, January 25, 2020 at Gatherings Banquet & Event Center located just west of New Castle, Pa. on Route 422 in Edinburg, Pa.

Stay tuned for more announcements on the 2020 season throughout the offseason.