Hartford, OH January 23, 2019 As previously announced by the RUSH Sportsman Modified Series, in 2019 Sharon Speedway will host a separate race for drivers that have never won a feature event in a full-size race car (excluding Mini Stocks) nightly for the HTMA/Precise Racing Products-sponsored division. This new program called the "Wheelman" Bonus Event will be presented by C&R Tire and Ohio Intra Express. RUSH will provide the separate points fund for RUSH members that will pay five positions with the "Wheelman" Champion receiving $300.
The event will pay $75 to win nightly (see complete payoff below) and will be a limited number of laps based on car count per night. The event lineup will be determined based on an invert four of eligible drivers from the night's regular heat race results. The winning driver can start no better than sixth the following event, 12th for two straight wins, and the tail for three or more consecutive wins. If a driver wins a regular feature event, he or she will no longer be eligible to race in the events. The new program will get underway when the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds open their season on Friday, April 12 with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series.
In the inaugural 2014 season for the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds at Sharon, the average car count was 10.6 per night. That average grew to 14.3 in 2015 and really jumped in 2016 to 22.5 per night. The 2017 season saw more growth with 23.9 per night and even more this past season at 26.8 per night. An all-time division record 38 cars turned out for "Manufacturers Night" on August 25. Only two times in the past three years has the car count dropped below 20 and not since August 12, 2017.