Fw: Jennerstown Preview

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Tim Southers 
To: Tim Southers 


 

Jennerstown Prepares for ProCup Northerners
 

            Fayetteville, GA (April 8, 2002) -            While the 2002 USAR Hooters ProCup Series season is three races into the Southern Division schedule, the month of April marks the beginning of the Northern Division schedule for the ProCup competitors. After a very successful first season last year 2002 promises to be another banner year for the two-division format of the Series.
            Over 60 drivers have already registered for competition in the Northern Division with several familiar names returning to the Series and many new faces will once again begin their Hooters ProCup driving career at Jennerstown Speedway.

          The fast, one-half mile track east of Pittsburgh is the "home track" for the USAR Hooters ProCup Series Northern Division and will host the first of four scheduled races on Saturday, April 13th. The track hosted three ProCup races last season with Stacy Puryear, Jeff Agnew and Shane Huffman all collecting wins.

          While Mardy Lindley will once again commute north to defend his Northern Division first-place finish in the regular season many Northern-based teams will challenge for the top seed going into the "Four Champions Championship Series" that will determine the $250,000 2002 USAR Hooters ProCup Series National Champion.

          One of the Northern drivers expected to challenge for the top spot is veteran Lonnie Rush, Sr. Although he didn't have much luck during the four-race champion-ship series, Rush collected four top-10 finishes during the regular season highlighted with fifth-place finishes at Illiana Speedway and Chemung Speedrome.

          After one season of competition, Rush feels he is better prepared for this season than when he entered ProCup races for the first time last year.

          "I know mentally I am better prepared this year," said Rush. "Equipment wise remains to be seen until we get on the track at Jennerstown Speedway. We are like a lot of other teams out there, we can't afford to race full-time so we work on the car when we get a chance at night or on weekends. We should be ready by Jennerstown."

          Rush competed full-time in the Hooters ProCup Series last year and is known as a driver who can illustrate his point very well to competitors and officials. Rush feels he has earned respect among his fellow competitors by his actions and his dialogue.

          "I was informed a couple of weeks ago that I was nominated to serve on the USAR Advisory Board and I have had several drivers calling me and giving their take on things and wanting me to be a voice for them," added Rush. "It is encouraging when your fellow drivers contact you and talk to you. It's encouraging to see."

          Rush plans on running the full Northern Division schedule despite no major sponsorship at this time.

          "We are going to run the races as long I can afford it," Rush said. "I have made a major commitment to our team with purchases of new equipment and a new trailer. Hopefully we can have some luck and now that I know what to expect a little better it will reflect in our finishes as well."  

 

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