BRIAN WOODHALL KICKS OFF “EMPIRE STATE CLASSIC” WEEKEND WINNING THE 1ST
EVER SWEENEY RUSH SPRINT CAR RACE AT RANSOMVILLE; WOODHALL HOLDS OFF JEREMY
WEAVER FOR 2ND CAREER BONNELL’S ROD SHOP WIN WORTH $800
By Mike Leone
September 13, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
(Ransomville, NY)...The
Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Sprint Car Series powered by Pace Performance
kicked off the second annual “Empire State Classic” weekend on Friday night with
the first ever appearance at Ransomville Speedway.
It marked the furthest trip from home for the second year division with
more than three to over four hours for all competing teams.
The entire RUSH Sprint Car portion of the program went caution-free with
the checkered flag falling in the feature before 8:30 p.m. as it was a race
against Mother Nature, which was bringing in a strong cold front across Ontario,
Canada. The three-night swing
through western New York continues with nights two and three at Genesee Speedway
in Batavia, NY on Saturday and Sunday as part of their “Topless Nationals”.
Brian Woodhall entered the night as the Bonnell’s Rod Shop Weekly Series points
leader finishing in the top five in 11 of his 13 starts in 2019.
Woodhall however had only been able to make it to victory lane once
coming back on June 22 at Sharon Speedway for his first career RUSH win.
On Friday night, Woodhall led all 20 non-stop laps of the feature, but it
was far from easy as Jeremy Weaver hounded him for the entire duration.
Woodhall earned $800 for the Bonnell’s Rod Shop feature win, and takes
the early points lead in the “Empire State Classic” Championship presented by
CNC Specialties, Intense Fab & Design, and Pace Performance.
The caution-free feature was timed in 6:28.790.
“I heard him quite a few times,” acknowledged the recently-turned 35-year-old
Apollo, Pa. driver. “We were rushing
trying to beat the rain, and made some shock adjustments trying to tighten it up
through the center. I knew if I
could protect the bottom they would have a pretty tough time getting around me
on the top. We have a pretty good
setup with this DRC car that I think we can go anywhere in the country and be
relatively competitive. I have to
thank my dad along with my wife for putting up with me racing all the time.
I also have to thank Vicki (Emig) and the RUSH Series because we wouldn’t
be racing if it wasn’t for this. I
appreciate all of the fans coming out tonight.”
Woodhall got off to good start at the beginning of the feature over Weaver,
while Arnie Kent, Dave Hawkins, and seventh starting Brandon Blackshear followed
in positions three through five.
Zach Morrow, who started eighth, used the highline to move forward as he cracked
the top five on lap two getting by Blackshear.
Weaver began to pressure Woodhall and the two were side-by-side for the
lead on lap three, but Woodhall held on as the two pulled away from the field on
lap four.
Morrow continued to race to the front as he drove around Hawkins off turn two
for fourth on lap five. Morrow then
went after Kent and the two began their battle for the show position on lap six.
Back up front, Weaver was really
pressuring Woodhall on lap eight and continued to do so as the laps ticked off
without a caution. Weaver would get
under Woodhall and pull nearly even on several occasions, but Woodhall was
running the preferred line. With
those two going at it, Kent began to close in on lap 11, but would never get
close enough to challenge.
Woodhall was able to keep Weaver at bay for the victory by 0.672 of a second in
his CNC Specialties Manufacturing/RFI Resources/Precise Racing
Products-sponsored #8B. Weaver was
second for the third time this season as he continues to be close at his first
career Sprint win. Kent withstood
Morrow’s challenges to take the third spot.
Morrow tried to get around Kent on the final lap, but rode the fence in
turns one and two somehow managing to keep going without losing a spot.
Hawkins was fifth for his first top five of the season.
Brandon Blackshear and Shawn Smith were sixth and seventh.
Tyler Powell recorded his season’s best
effort in eighth. Brad Blackshear, a
one-time winner this season, and Steve Pedley completed the top 10.
Heat winners were Weaver and Hawkins.
Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Sprint Cars Bonnell's Rod Shop Weekly Series
Race #15 (20 laps, $800
to-win): 1. BRIAN WOODHALL (8B) 2.
Jeremy Weaver (Hull 41) 3. Arnie
Kent (18) 4. Zach Morrow (27)
5. Dave Hawkins (27) 6.
Brandon Blackshear (10) 7. Shawn
Smith (36) 8. Tyler Powell (35)
9. Brad Blackshear (19) 10.
Steve Pedley (21) 11. Matt Sherlock
III (55) 12. Brian Hartzell (69).
RUSH Racing Series is brought to you by Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC & Pace
Performance along with the support of Hoosier Tire, Bilstein Shocks, Sunoco Race
Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, Insinger Performance, MSD Performance, Holley
Performance Products, Hovis Auto & Truck Supply, FK Rod Ends, Wehrs Machine &
Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, TBM Brakes,
Performance Bodies & Parts, Racing Electronics, Dirt Defender, Wrisco
Industries, Frankland Racing Supply, Landrum Performance Spring, Ontime Body &
Graphic, Trailer-Alarms.com, Bonnell's Rod Shop, Zarin Truck & Automotive,
Sherwood Wheels, Alternative Power Sources, Precise Racing Products, Lincoln
Electric, Velocita-USA, Classic Ink USA, CrateInsider.com, and Valley Fashions.
E-mail can be sent to the RUSH Racing Series at [email protected] and
snail mail to 4368 Route 422, Pulaski, PA 16143. Office phone is 724-964-9300
and fax is 724-964-0604. The RUSH Racing Series website is
www.rushracingseries.com. Like our Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/rushsprintcars and follow us on Twitter @RUSHSprints
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