But for now we turn our attention to the local scene and highlight
some of the father-son combos that are part of the premier division of
the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Racing Series powered by Pace
Performance- the Late Models.
We would be remiss if we didn't mention the most well documented
father-son duo, Max and Rob Blair, whose success is like none other;
however, in this we highlight a large group of drivers who currently
compete in the RUSH Late Model division that maybe don't receive as much
notoriety, but have dads that have previously raced and are right by
their side. And for some, the dads are still racing even competing
against their sons.
In most cases, the sons, who follow their father's footsteps, have
racing careers which develop at an early age due mainly to the exposure
they get with their father's careers. And those that choose to follow
that same career path usually develop a bond that only a father and son
can experience. They have the help, support, and more importantly the
experience that these racing fathers can lend.
"Racing has brought my dad and I closer together because we both
love doing what we do," said 19-year-old Logan Roberson of Waynesboro,
Virginia, who captured the RUSH track championships at both Potomac and
Winchester Speedways. "He teaches me a lot as far as racing goes and to
have respect for others."
Roberson's father, Greg, continues to race driving for car owner
Mike Smiley. His two rides are a Super Late Model and a Steel Block.
Since the Robersons have four cars in their shop, which includes three
MastersBilts with two of the being Steel Blocks, Logan gets the
opportunity, at times, to race against his dad.
"I think it's a blast racing with him because he has way more
experience and I can learn from him and it helps me become a better
racer."
The driver of the #17 is now in his third season of RUSH Late Model
racing and really likes the class. "I think it's a phenomenal series
that is heading in the right direction and on target to take over the
entire East Coast. It's great with the car counts and the rules and
gives you something to look forward to. The Series makes you want to
come to the track and race because of all the support RUSH gives to its
racers."
Logan, however, can't thank his parents enough for getting him to
where he is in his racing career. "My dad and mom have supported every
move I've made," said Logan. "They give me everything they can for me
to be successful in life and I can't thank them enough."
Damian Bidwell's father, Keith was a racer in the Sportsman's/E-Mod
class at McKean County Raceway. He was quite successful with his
two-car operation that had Brent Rhebergen and Alan Dellinger driving
his second car. His last year of racing was his son's first year. "He
gave up racing so I could get started," said Damian.
"He doesn't get to spend time at the racetrack anymore because of
his work," said Damian, "but when he's home he's in the garage working
of the car to get it ready. "We have always wanted to put a Modified
together so I could run it because he said I would love driving them.
Now that the crate class is growing for the Modifieds, maybe we will put
one together to run in the future."
At one time, Damian was part of the Rob/Max Blair race team, but
left because he felt he wasn't going to get the necessary information
when he's racing against them every weekend. This past season, Bidwell
finished second in weekly points to none other than Max Blair.
Thirty-seven year-old, Brian Knowles, and his 35-year-old brother,
Jason, have a lot to be thankful for with regards to their racing
father, Larry. Both Brian and Jason grew up working in the racing shop
of their father which helped pique their racing interests. Brian was
15 when he started racing and Jason was 16.
"Dad has been a mentor to me," said Brian, who hails from Corning,
New York. "With his racing resume, you listen to what he says. His
work ethic is to go to the track and be 100% ready."
"We have a very strong bond between us," said Brian, the driver of
the #7. "We work together, go to dinner together, go to auctions
together, we're just best friends. And we work together everyday so we
better get along."
"Racing seems to keep us together and tight," said Jason, who hails
from Addison, New York. "He's (dad) been a huge help- if it wasn't for
him, I wouldn't be able to do what I do."
Larry, the patriarch, was a longtime racer who had a very
successful career. "Growing up, I really never had a driver hero," said
Brian, "because when I was crewing for dad, he was that guy. He was
the guy to beat at the track and it's hard to be that guy every week."
Larry, who is currently 65 years old, retired from full-time racing
in 2011, but occasionally, has got back into a racecar since then. The
elder Knowles won a number of track championships and performed his
skills not only on the dirt, but on the asphalt as well. For a
five-year period, all three Knowles raced against each other in the
Super Stock class.
Being a divorced dad, Larry had his boys on the weekend and that's
when he raced. "They loved being at the racetrack and around racecars,"
said Larry. "It was a natural for my boys to be around when I started
in the early '90s. I got addicted to racing because of my dad. They
were at the track and helped me in the shop. When they got older, they
just wanted to race."
The Knowles all work at Don Gross Construction, a company that does
residential and commercial construction. Larry, who started out as a
partner, is now the sole owner of the business. The company is broken
up into four divisions; site work, waste management, equipment sales and
rental, and heavy transport that also involves snow removal.
The Knowles also get the opportunity to race against each other on a
weekly basis. "Some nights it's awesome, other nights it's a
headache," said Brian of racing against his brother. RUSH is definitely
the reason we participate. It's the only series that frees up the
racer and allows us to concentrate our funding in other areas because of
the Manufacturers Nights and the giveaways."
"I enjoy doing it," said Jason, the driver of the #4. "I guess the
biggest thing is that some days you kind of wish he could be in a
different class or I could be in a different class. Both of us are
really competitive. It's very racer friend," said Jason Knowles. "What
they put out is very helpful to the drivers."
Incidentally the Knowles finished three and four in the Touring
Series points, with younger brother, Jason, coming out on top. Jason
also captured the inaugural Outlaw Speedway track championship,
ironically over his Brian by 16 points.
Late Model driver Daryl Charlier of Midway, Pa. has been racing for
14 years. "I'm not sure if I can tell the difference between our
relationship on and off the track," said Daryl of his dad Dale. "To me
it feels like the same place.
Like his son, Dale was an E-Mod racer and still competes at times.
The pair had a number of opportunities over a two-year period to race
against each other in a Modified at Pittsburgh's PA Motor Speedway.
"That was a blast," said Daryl. "There was always constant
discussion in the shop as to who would beat who the following week. I
feel it was even more entertaining for our friends and family. I would
say that 99% of my racing knowledge has come from him," said Daryl. "He
was able to setup a car just by watching me go around the track. I
feel that as a local driver, I was able to accomplish a lot. When I
wanted to race, I had to work for it."
Wyatt Scott has been climbing the racing ladder and according to
dad David, he's really into it. This past season, Wyatt finished sixth
in RUSH Late Model points at Stateline Speedway and also captured the
$1,000 "Futures Cup" title.
"I feel I have the best mentor in the sport that anyone could
have," said 18-year-old Wyatt of his dad. He's won everything that he's
raced and someone I really look up to. I think I learn something every
time I talk to him. He's a genius."
The 46-year-old "Slow Ride" continues to race an E-Mod and a Super
Late Model for two different car owners. He will occasionally compete
in a few races in the RUSH Late Model Division as well, where he will
race against his son. Jim and Jen Scott, Dave's parents, are the
co-owners of Stateline Speedway.
Twenty-year-old Late Model driver Eric Wilson became known as "The
Shark" because of his prowess racing Go-Karts in his younger days. His
dad, Chris, competed in Semi Late Models and occasionally Late Models
during his racing days and captured the Raceway 7 Semi-Late championship
in 1984.
Even though, he began his Go-Kart racing career when he was seven,
his dad encouraged him to pursue other interests besides racing. While
in high school, Eric excelled in baseball, basketball, and soccer.
"Once he (Eric) got better in racing, the more we committed to move him
in that direction."
Three generations of Wilsons have raced: Grandfather Dale, Father
Chris, his twin brother, Mike, and now son Eric. Dale provides the
team's motors, while Eric's dad, Chris, is responsible for everything
else that includes the fabricating and chassis set-up.
"Since he used to race, he understands the challenges I face as a
driver," said Eric of his dad. "He's also sacrificed a lot and has
worked overtime to help fund the team. He's put me in good equipment,
but he's taught me how to appreciate it. He's my biggest fan but also
my biggest critic."
The RUSH racing series is the perfect series for someone in my
position," said Eric Wilson. "It's an affordable way of racing but it's
also extremely competitive."
Seventeen-year-old Clinton Hersh of Somerset, Pa. competed for the
first time this past season in the RUSH Late Model Touring Series where
he finished 12th in points. Last season, Clinton won the Futures Cup
title and had a pair of wins at Roaring Knob. This season, he added a
victory at Dog Hollow. His dad, Tony, used to race Street Stocks at
Thunder Valley and asphalt cars at Jennerstown.
"Clinton and I have a good relationship," said Tony. "I try to
help him by showing him how to work on the cars and teach him how to set
them up for different tracks."
As mentioned earlier, Jim Johnson, Sr. promotes Genesee Speedway
which prompted him to cut back on his racing schedule for 2017. Both
his son, Jimmy, Jr. and his daughter, Sarah, competed at Genesee this
past season. Jimmy finished fourth in Late Model points while Sarah
took home fifth place in the Sportsman Modified class. Besides racing,
Jimmy also helps out at the track and works on both Late Models and his
sister's Modified. Incidentally, Jim, Sr. finished 21st in points with a
victory to his credit.
"I try to teach both my kids when they started racing that control
meant more than speed," said Jim, Sr. "The smoother they were, the
faster they would be. Off the track, I have told him (Jimmy, Jr.) that
he needs four hours of maintenance for every 10 minutes of fun." He
also says that the goal of both of his kids is to win the track
championship.
Humberstone Speedway regular Tim Gillespie is carrying on his
father, Brian's footsteps. Brian began racing a '40 flathead Mercury at
Humberstone in 1960 and even towed from Canada to Woodhull, NY once in
1974 with a towbar! Tim began in Go-Karts and eventually moved up to
Street Stocks and even built an IMCA Modified together with his father
racing at tracks such as Freedom, Eriez, and Woodhull. After breaking
his leg badly in 2010 and suffering from prostate cancer, Brian gave up
racing.
"I'm lucky to have him crew chief for me and still help build my
RUSH Late Model bodies," explained Tim. "Sometimes there's a quiet ride
home from the track, but mostly all good times which I wouldn't trade
for the world. He loved the father-son picture Vicki (Emig) took of us
at Merrittville and has starred at it for a long time. It is those
moments that make racing most enjoyable."
"Eighteen-year-old Colton Ledingham of Port Colborne, Ontario,
Canada grew up in a shop with race cars," said his dad Rob Ledingham.
Rob was a racer himself, having competed for 35 years in a number of
divisions. For a period of time, Rob drove the Late Model, while
Colton drove in the Truck division. After Colton spent some time in the
Late Model in practice, Rob knew that he was going to be out and his
son would be in.
The Ledingham are a three generation low budget racing operation
which makes it so special and fun when they can compete. Colton has
only raced at Humberstone, Merrittville, and Ohsweken, but that could
change this year as the team plans on travelling. Currently, Colton is
attending college and majoring in Automotive Engineering.
"He's not only my son, but my best friend as well," said Rob of
Colton. Rob's racing philosophy is simple: If you can't fix it, don't
understand it, or don't work on it, then you're not driving it.
Another Humberstone father-son tandem is Ridgeway, Ontario's Merv
and Ken Winfield. Ken has been a regular in the RUSH Late Model
division at Humberstone since 2012. Merv was a former Six-Cylinder
Modified racer at Humberstone competing against Tim Gillespie's father,
and now helps his son in the pits every Sunday night.
With his home track being Eriez Speedway, 29-year-old Bruce
Hordusky, Jr. went on the road for the first time ever and finished
seventh in points in the Sweeney RUSH Late Model Touring Series this
past season. Because of racing, Bruce has had the luxury of having both
his dad, Bruce, Sr., and his grandfather, George, being with him on
nights and weekends.
Bruce, Sr. has won multiple track championships at Raceway 7 and
also has a Stateline-Eriez Circuit championship. He is fourth in all
time Late Model wins at Raceway 7 and is in the top five in wins at
Eriez as well.
"My dad has been a great influence on my racing career," said
Bruce, Jr. "It's such an advantage for me to have his knowledge and his
experience as a mentor and a crew chief. I owe everything I have in my
career to him. He was so fun to watch in a 50 or 100 lap event when
the racetrack was slick and tire management was critical."
As for the RUSH Series, Bruce Hordusky, Jr. said, "Competing
against guys like Max Blair, John Waters, Bryce Davis, and Will Thomas
has made my racing program better. It's great to race under a
consistent and fair rules package. It's been a pleasure for our team to
compete with RUSH weekly and I'm proud to support it."
Thirty-four year-old Kyle Zimmerman of Albion, Pa. had the
advantage of having a father who spent 35 years in racing. Keith raced
Sportsman, Thunder Cars, and Late Models at various tracks with
Lernerville Speedway being his home track.
At 12 years of age, Kyle put his first racecar together, and at 16
became his dad's crew chief. However, with the rising costs associated
with racing, Keith was forced to sell his Late Model motor and retire
from racing in 2006.
Kyle's own racing program didn't begin until he was 21, but by 2010
he won the Mercer Raceway championship and the Eriez title a year
later. In 2014, he won championships at both Eriez and Raceway 7.
As for his father Keith, "He's the mastermind of my racing
program," said Kyle, who is very technically oriented. "He is just a
wealth of knowledge. If I can have it my way, I'll be racing and I'm
sure my dad won't be far away. It's something we both love and enjoy
doing it together. Besides, I've been doing this so long I have no idea
what normal people do all summer. The RUSH Series has really been the
key to growing the sport in this region and the reason I'm able to race
today."
Twenty-six year-old Jamie Wrightsman of Cortland, Ohio didn't start
racing until he was 20. His career started racing school buses at Expo
Speedway before racing full-time in 2010 at Sharon Speedway in the Mini
Stock division. His dad, Jim, started racing in 1979 in a Stock before
moving to a Modified and a Limited Late Model. He raced three nights a
week, pulling double duty on many nights, at Raceway 7, Tri-City, and
Sharon.
As for his dad and the help he gives, Jamie said, "Without his
help, there would be no way I could be able to race. He spends
countless hours in the garage fixing something or just getting the car
ready to go for next week. We butt heads on certain things...in the
end, it all works out, sometimes with me saying I told you so. I see
myself racing with RUSH for years to come...it's an excellent program."
Twenty-seven year-old Brad Mesler of Wellsville, NY began racing
Go-Karts against his dad, Bill, when he was 11 years old. Bill got into
a Late Model after his son had, but one thing he always wanted was to
beat his son. Brad remembers back to a night at Bradford when the two
of them were coming to the checkered flag and racing for second and
ended up in the infield with both cars tore up.
"He was my dad and a friend for life and racing brought a way for me to compete against him," said Brad.
Forty-five year-old Matt Aber of Wooster, Ohio competes at Wayne
County Speedway. His dad, Blaine, has been racing for 51 years. Blaine
has eight track championships to his credit. He is actually Matt's
step dad, but he's raised Matt since he was six years old after the
death of his real father.
"He taught me a lot about life and racing," said Matt of his dad.
"He is my go to guy for everything. We're more like best friends these
days. At the track, he gives me suggestions, sometimes good, sometimes
bad and are each other's biggest fans."
Another driver who has the luxury of having their dad race as well
is Mike Duritsky, Jr. of Masontown, Pa., whose dad, Mike, raced Street
Stocks. The younger Duritsky competed against his father in the Stocks
before moving up to the Late Models in 2015 where he finished third in
the "Futures Cup" points.
2016 RUSH Late Model marketing partners include Sweeney Chevrolet
Buick GMC, Pace Performance, Hoosier Tire, Bilstein Shocks, Sunoco Race
Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, Insinger Performance, MSD Performance, Maxima
Racing Oil, Jones Racing Products, Alternative Power Sources, Precise
Racing Products, ARbodies, TBM Brakes, K&N Filters, Lincoln
Electric, Beyea Headers, FK Rod Ends, Bobby Lake Motorsports,
Velocita-USA, High Gear Speed Shop, CrateInsider.com, B.R.A.K.E.S.,
RockAuto.com, and Valley Fashions.
(Winchester, VA)...The Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Dirt Late Model
Touring Series powered by Pace Performance will kick-off the 2017
season this Saturday (April 22) at Virginia's Winchester Speedway. Warm-ups are slated for 5:45 p.m. It will be Touring Series race #1 of 17 and will be a Marquee Event designation. Saturday's event will be the only Sweeney Tour event for the season in the Mid-Atlantic. 
During
the 2016 season, the three brothers won a total of 12 RUSH-sanctioned
races. The breakdown of those wins were Jeremy with nine (3 at
Bradford, 3 at Freedom, 2 at McKean, and 1 at Genesee), Brady with two
wins at Genesee and Mikey with a win at Bradford. Jeremy also won two
non sanctioned races at Little Valley Speedway giving him a total of 11
for the 2016 season! 
Brady's racing career began with a Modified. From there he spent two
seasons in the BRP Super Stock Series before moving into a Super Late
Model. He, like Mikey, got into a RUSH Crate Late Model in 2015. 