3/17/2021
RUSH Late Model Series
"BATTLE OF THE BAY" SPEEDWEEK FOR PACE RUSH LATE MODELS SET TO KICKOFF THE $12,000 TO-WIN FLYNN'S TIRE/BORN2RUN TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP APRIL 14-17 AT DELAW
"BATTLE OF THE BAY" SPEEDWEEK FOR PACE RUSH LATE MODELS SET TO KICKOFF THE $12,000 TO-WIN FLYNN'S TIRE/BORN2RUN TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP APRIL 14-17 AT DELAWARE, GEORGETOWN, POTOMAC & WINCHESTER
By Mike Leone
March 17, 2021 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Pulaski, PA)...The Pace Performance RUSH Late Model Series together with Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC is gearing up for the third annual "Battle of the Bay" Mid-Atlantic Speedweek. The four-race kickoff to the Flynn's Tire/Born2Run Lubricants Touring Series will take place April 14-17 at Delaware International, Georgetown, Potomac, and Winchester Speedways. The 2021 Tour point fund has more than doubled to $43,000 with a record $12,000 going to the champion!
For the second time, the opening round at DIS will be designated as the "Raelyn Huffman Memorial" and is being presented by Cornerstone Builders, LLC. The race will pay a minimum of $3,000 to-win, $250 to-start as will the other three nights. Team Blair Racing has posted $111 for the fastest overall qualifier at Delaware, while the normal FK Rod Ends "Shock the Clock" $100 will now go to the fastest car in the other qualifying flight. Matt Glanden Racing has posted $50 to the winner of each heat race, which will be in addition to the normal $25 from FK Rod Ends meaning each heat winner at Delaware will take home $75.
Anyone wishing to donate towards the "Raelyn Huffman Memorial" to help increase the purse can contact Shelby Bragdon at 302-853-0056 or Ray Huffman at 302-245-9609. Per the request of the Huffman Family, make checks payable to the RUSH Racing Series and send to 4368 US 422, Pulaski, PA 16143. The following link is for the donation flyer https://rushlatemodels.com/HuffmanDonationFlyer2021.pdf.
Once again, there will be a $3,000 "Battle of the Bay" point fund for RUSH member racers that will pay $1,000 to-win down 10 positions providing at least three of the events are completed. If two events are completed, the point fund will be pro-rated. And in addition, a $150 travel package will again be available for each competing top 12 drivers in 2020 Tour points. Driver must compete in at least two events including the first race of Speedweek to be eligible.
“You’re not going to find a better deal for crate racing than this Battle of the Bay,” stated Max Blair after winning the 2019 Georgetown event. “Huge props to Mike (Leone) and Vicki (Emig) along with all of the race tracks. This is a really, really good deal for crate guys. It’s the best stretch deal going in the country for us. This is a really stout field of race cars and to be able to win the first two nights is pretty awesome."
The 2020 "Battle of the Bay" was lost due to COVID-19. The 2019 "Battle of the Bay" saw 62 different drivers compete from eight different states (Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, New York, Ohio, and South Carolina) plus Ontario, Canada in the three completed events as the Potomac show was rained out. Thirty-five drivers participated in all three events (DIS, Georgetown & Winchester), which was an increase of seven from the 28 that participated in all 2018 events. The opening event at DIS attracted 53 cars, which was a "Battle of the Bay" record. Seven of the eight scheduled "Battle of the Bay" events have been completed over the first two years with no less than 40 cars at any of the events!
"The 'Battle of the Bay' was tremendous the first two years," acknowledged RUSH Director Vicki Emig. "The drivers have really supported it and have been rewarded with increased payoffs, the point fund, and travel money. It's an honor to again have the Huffman Family utilize RUSH and the 'Battle of the Bay' to hold Raelyn's memorial event at Delaware. We have to thank the promoters of these great speedways for continuing to allow us to open our Touring season in such a great fashion. This year's events are once again going to be an incredible kickoff to the $12,000 to-win championship!"
Ray and Brenda Huffman have been heavily involved in racing over the years with their prior R&J Poultry business and have sponsored RUSH Late Model drivers such as Max Blair and Cody Dawson. They now own Cornerstone Builders. Shortly after the 2018 "Battle of the Bay", Raelyn lost her life in a tragic accident. Ray Huffman is Raelyn's father, while Brenda is her step-mother. Raelyn's mother is Billie Jo Justice and her step-father is Tim Justice.
Raelyn was 22 years old and from Delmar, DE- the home of Delaware International Speedway. Raelyn graduated from nearby Seaford High School and worked for Lowe's Home Improvement. She loved her job, racing, and any four-legged furry friends. Raelyn spent her weekends growing up at the races; from Friday nights at the go-kart track, Saturday nights watching RUSH Late Models, and Sundays at the US 13 Dragway with her longtime boyfriend, Matt Adams.
"It was just part of her lifestyle and that is why we we're so adamant on pursuing this memorial race," explained Raelyn's sister Shelby. "She was a beautiful girl with a smile that could light up a room and a laugh that was completely contagious. We are so proud of her and how much of an amazing person she turned out to be. We love and miss her everyday and we strive to pass on her memory and share stories that celebrate her life. Our family, the Lowe's family and the racing community lost a very loved and valued member, and we all miss her very much. There are many memories that our family, co-workers and friends share that we will always cherish, but there are so many we didn’t get to make. She was a one of a kind girl with a big heart, a bright smile and a loving nature. There aren’t words for how loved and missed she is."
"Battle of the Bay" Speedweek Point Fund ($3,000*): 1. $1,000 2. $500 3. $350 4. $225 5. $200 6. $180 7. $150 8. $140 9. $130 10. $125. (A minimum of three events must be completed or will be pro-rated with two events being completed. No point fund if only one event is completed. Drivers must be a member of RUSH to be eligible for point fund monies.)
The "Battle of the Bay" events will also count towards the RUSH National Weekly Series Championships and "Futures Cup" for those eligible racers. In addition, points will also be awarded for the expanded "Track Pack" at the weekly-sanctioned tracks of Delaware, Potomac, and Winchester. The expanded track pack features a $2,500 per track point fund for the top six racers in RUSH member points at year's end with $1,000 going to the champion.
The 2021 Touring Series is being presented by new marketing partners Flynn's Tire along with Born2Run Lubricants. The "Battle of the Bay" will make-up four of the 23 events on the 2021 schedule as drivers compete for the richest Chevrolet Performance Crate Engine Touring Series championship with $43,000 on the line. Points will be accumulated at each Marquee Event. Drivers can use Platinum Event(s) to replace worst Marquee finishes and/or up to two for missed Marquee Events. Memberships forms are available at https://rushlatemodels.com/memberships.html.
Delaware International Speedway is a 1/2-mile track located at 37854 Sussex Highway, Delmar, DE 19940. DIS is located on a 125 acre Motorsports Complex which house's three racing facilities in one. The Speedway will celebrate their 51st consecutive year, when it opens in April. For more information on DIS, check out their website at www.delawareracing.com. The track office number is 302-846-3911. You can like their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/DelawareRacing and follow them on Twitter @delawareracing.
Georgetown Speedway is a 1/2-mile clay oval located at 24505, 24513 S. Dupont Blvd, Georgetown, DE 19947. Brett Deyo signed a three-year lease that runs through 2022 and improvements continue at the Sussex County track, which hosted its first race in 1950. The speedway operates on a special-events-only schedule with high-profile programs from March through October. For more information on Georgetown, check out their website at www.thegeorgetownspeedway.com. You can like their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GeorgetownSpeedway and follow them on Twitter @thegtownspdwy.
Potomac Speedway is a high-banked 3/8-mile dirt track operated by Denise and Ronnie Hollidge. The track is located on Route 234 at 27963 Budds Creek Road, Mechanicsville, MD 20659. The track first opened in 1973, and is located about an hour south of Washington D.C and Baltimore. For information, check out their website at www.potomacspeedway.com or call 301-481-8855. You can like their Facebook at www.facebook.com/PotomacSpdwy and follow them on Twitter @PotomacSpdwy.
Winchester Speedway is also a high-banked 3/8-mile dirt track located just off Route 50 at 950 Airport Road Winchester, VA 22604. The track first opened in 1936 under the name of Airport Speedway. The track has been home to the Winchester 200, a major Super Late Model event, since 1963! For more information, check out their website at www.winchestervaspeedway.com or call 301-481-8855. You can like their Facebook at www.facebook.com/wincvaspeedway and follow them on Twitter @Wincvaspeedway.
RUSH Racing Series is brought to you by Pace Performance together with Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC 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, Born2Run Lubricants, Flynn's Tire & Auto Service, 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, Zarin Truck & Automotive, Sherwood Wheels, Alternative Power Sources, Precise Racing Products, Stop-Fyre, Lincoln Electric, Velocita-USA, Waterstone Mortgage Hermitage, CrateInsider.com, Vahlco Wheels, and Wedge Motorsports.
E-mail can be sent to the RUSH Racing Series at info@rushracingseries.com and snail mail to 4368 Route 422, Pulaski, PA 16143. Office phone is 724-964-9300. The RUSH Late Model website is www.rushlatemodels.com. Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/rushlatemodels and follow us on Twitter @RUSHLM.
Article Credit: Mike Leone