August 10
Pittsburgh's Pa. Motor Speedway,
Imperial, PA
Sanction: RUSH Crate Late Model Series (Jook George Steel City Classic) - $10,010
Information provided by: Dustin Jarrett (last updated August 11, 1:16 pm)
Lukon captures rich Jook George Classic at PPMS
Jook George Steel City Classic
- Kyle Lukon
- Logan Roberson
- Ross Robinson
- Eddie Carrier Jr.
- Garret Paugh
- Logan Zarin
- Braeden Dillinger
- Matt Latta
- Christian Schneider
- Nico Dabecco
- Ben Policz
- Scott Gunn
- Mike Reft
- Daryl Charlier
- Jeremy Wonderling
- Ryan Frazee
- John Mollick
- Josh Stoica
- Bill Kessler
- Tommy Schirnhofer Jr.
- Colton Flinner
- Alex Ferree
- Michael Duritsky
- Grant Garrison
- Dan Angelicchio
- Justin Lamb
Kyle Lukon whoops it up in victory lane at Pittsburgh.
What won the race: Taking the lead for good from Logan Roberson with four laps to go, Kyle Lukon of Burgettstown, Pa., scored a career-high $11,010 victory in Saturday night’s 50-lap RUSH Dirt Late Model Series-sanctioned Jook George Steel City Classic at Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Motor Speedway. Logan settled for runner-up honors after leading late.
Quotable: "At the beginning of the race I got the jump on John (Mollick) and was trying to get out there and set an early pace, but the next thing I knew he came flying in there and wanted the lead," said Lukon. "The cautions weren't really working to my favor as I'd get going then get stuck on the bottom. I thought I threw it all away when I got into the wall in (turns) one and two. I was surprised on the last restart to see Logan (Roberson) take the bottom, but I threw it away anyways with a bad restart. Then I got a big run down the front stretch with five to go and I knew that was my only shot at it so I was just hoping I'd clear him. Logan probably could have moved me if he wanted to.”
Key notes: Roberson made a stirring advance from the 18th starting spot to grab the lead from Lukon with 10 laps remaining, but Lukon regained his footing to shoot back in front with five circuits to go and beat the Virginia driver by 1.399 seconds. ... Lukon used a cross-over move coming off turn four with the five-to-go signal being displayed and slid under Roberson entering turn one for the winning move. ... Lukon earned $11,610 total after adding a $1,000 bonus from Miley Motor Sports and Lockwich; $500 for setting fast time in memory of Tanya Flinner, and $100 for his runner-up finish in the dash. ... Lukon's victory in RUSH's richest race ever was his second of 2019 in tour action at PPMS. He won the Crate series's previous stop on July 20. ... John Mollick earned the pole position for the 50-lapper by capturing the John Beatty Memorial Dash, worth a $400 bonus. ... The 30th annual race honored late Pennsylvania-area car owner William Thomas "Jook" George, who was selected as the PPMS Sportsman of the Year, inducted into the Pittsburgh Circle Track Hall of Fame, won the 1990 track championship at PPMS with driver John Beatty and captured the 1993 Fall Classic at PPMS with Bill Yakin.
On the move: Waynesboro, Va.'s Roberson started 18th and finished second.
Winner's sponsors: Lukon's Rocket Chassis is sponsored by Lukon's Reb-Fab, Frankland Rear Ends, Race1 and TruForm.
Points chase: Jeremy Wondering (978 points) of Wellsville, N.Y., entered the event leading Michael Duritsky, Jr. (950), Kyle Lukon (946), Braeden Dillinger (917) and Ryan Frazee (879).
Current weather: Mostly Clear, 66°F
Car count: 42
Fast qualifier: Kyle Lukon
Time: 20.197 seconds
Polesitter: John Mollick
Dash winner: John Mollick
Heat race winners: Mike Reft, Colton Flinner, Alex Ferree, John Mollick
Consolation race winners: Justin Lamb, Michael Duritsky
Next series race: October 4, Pittsburgh Pa. Motor Speedway (Imperial, PA) $4,000
Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.