July 27
Pittsburgh's Pa. Motor Speedway,
Imperial, PA
Sanction: RUSH Crate Late Model Series (Jook George Steel City Classic) - $6,010
Information provided by: Series and track reports (last updated July 31, 7:24 am)
Norris notches fourth Steel City Classic at PPMS
Jook George Steel City Classic
- Michael Norris
- Kyle Lukon
- Jeremy Wonderling
- Bryce Davis
- Brock Pinkerous
- Demetrios Drellos
- Daryl Charlier
- Brandon Burgoon
- Mike Reft
- Justin Chance
- Dan Angelicchio
- Mike Wonderling Jr.
- Ben Policz
- Damian Bidwell
- Joe Martin
- Jake Gunn
- Ashton Briggs
- Kassidy Kamicker
- Zach Kane
- Cody Koteles
- Tim Shaffer
- Marino Angelicchio
- Mason Zeigler
- Dave Hess Jr.
- Austin Allen
- Garret Paugh
What won the race: Overtaking Kyle Lukon on a lap-29 restart, third-starting Michael Norris of Sarver, Pa., led the rest of Saturday's 40-lap 35th annual Jook George Steel City Classic at Pittsburgh's Pa. Motor Speedway. Norris notched his sixth career RUSH Crate Late Model Series victory at PPMS, including his second straight Steel City Classic and his fourth overall (2020-21).
Quotable: “I gotta say kudos to (track owner) Blair (Cress Jr.) and the track crew, it was still pretty rough, but man at the end there it got pretty good and we started carving some of the lumps off,” Norris said. “I gotta say thanks to (car owner) Nico (Dabecco). Man, this car has been phenomenal down here, he and Vinny work really hard and make me look good. I love this racetrack, this is by far my favorite track, I wish I could run here more. When it gets (wide) like this, you can really search around and the fastest car can truly get to the front and that’s what I love about it.”
Key notes: Norris notched his 10th overall feature victory at PPMS dating back to 2016, boosting his total race winnings to more than $43,000 over that span — more than $30,000 in RUSH competition. ... Fifth-starting Lukon, of Burgettstown, Pa., led laps 8-28 before giving way to Norris and settling for second, 1.604 seconds back at the checkers. ... Jeremy Wonderling ran as high as second on the lap-eight restart before battling with Bryce Davis and prevailing for third. ... Davis, of Canisteo, N.Y., led the opening seven laps from the pole before being overtaken by Lukon and settling for fourth. ... Points leader Brock Pinkerous slipped as low as 14th in the early going before rebounding to fifth. ... Mason Zeigler slowed from eighth with a flat right-rear to draw the race's fourth and final caution on lap 29; he did not continue. ... Dave Hess Jr. slowed from 12th to bring out the third yellow flag on lap 24. ... Garret Paugh appeared to lose an engine on lap eight. ... The main event lasted 27 minutes, with 18 competitors completing the distance. ... Christian Schneider won the 10-lap non-qualifiers' race.
On the move: Demetrios Drellos of Queensbury, N.Y., started 21st and finished sixth.
Winner's sponsors: Norris drove a winning Nico Dabecco-owned ND Motorsports Rocket Chassis powered by an Ingram Racing Engine and sponsored by Millerstown Pic-A-Part, Lojaks Cycle Sales, D&D Auto Salvage, Woods Rod & Custom, Franklin Rear Ends, Fuel Factory, Jay’s Auto Wrecking, Daugherty Motorsports, Dobs Automotive, Integra Racing Shocks and MWD Designs.
Points chase: After PPMS: 1. Brock Pinkerous (671); 2. Jeremy Wonderling (662); 3. Joe Martin (635); 4. Daryl Charlier (606); 5. Jim Rasey (593).
Current weather: Clear, 73°F
Car count: 46
Fast qualifier: Kyle Lukon
Time: 19.509 seconds
Polesitter: Bryce Davis
Dash winner: Bryce Davis
Heat race winners: Bryce Davis, Brandon Burgoon, Mike Reft, Kyle Lukon, Jeremy Wonderling, Michael Norris
Consolation race winners: Marino Angelicchio, Joe Martin, Demetrios Drellos
Provisional starters: Jim Rasey, Kassidy Kamicker
Next series race: August 6, Woodhull Raceway (Woodhull, NY) $4,000
Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.