5/16/2025
The Dirt Track at Genesee
From the Shadows to the Spotlight: Austin Allen Eyes RUSH Tour Glory
BATAVIA, NY — The stage is set for one of the most anticipated nights of racing this season as the RUSH Late Model Touring Series returns to The Dirt Track at Genesee on Saturday, May 24. With $4,000 up for grabs and a strong roster of regional talent expected to compete, fans can count on a night packed with high-stakes action. Among those aiming to steal the spotlight is Canisteo, NY’s Austin Allen, a rising driver with a hunger to leave his mark on the tour.
Allen, who wheels an XR1 Rocket chassis by Ed Carley, has become a name to watch on the RUSH Tour despite only racing at Genesee once or twice per year. He’s already posted two impressive finishes this season on tour— 5th at Stateline and 4th at Eriez — against some of the stiffest competition in the Northeast.
“It’s a huge confidence builder,” Allen said. “Stateline was only my second time there, and Eriez was completely new to me. To be running well at tracks I’ve barely seen before, against that kind of competition, tells me we’re heading in the right direction. Now we’re going back to places I know better, like Outlaw and Genesee, and I really feel like we’ve got a shot at winning.”
While he may not have a long history at Genesee, Allen certainly has unfinished business. In his second season racing a Late Model, he led the first 16 laps of a feature at the Batavia oval before a caution bunched up the field and allowed Jon Rivers to steal the win. “If that yellow doesn’t come out, I’ve got that race won,” Allen reflected. “I’ve always felt like that one got away.”
His other memory at the track — though from the pits, not the driver’s seat — dates back to the 2017 Topless Nationals, when Allen was crewing for former RUSH champion Bryce Davis during the now-infamous showdown with Jason Genco. “That was a wild night, for sure,” he laughed.
This year, Allen is focused on turning those memories into victory lane moments. Despite some past struggles at Genesee, he’s embracing the challenge. “Batavia’s just unique — I don’t know if I can really compare it to anywhere else,” he said. “I’ve always enjoyed racing there, even if I haven’t had the best luck. Every time I go there, we go in with a solid baseline and tune from there.”
One of the biggest technical challenges at Genesee is mastering the high line — a necessity for those hoping to contend. “I’ve never been a guy who could run the top well for a long stretch,” Allen admitted. “But that’s what you have to do to be good at Genesee. I’ve watched guys like Bryce and Jeremy Wonderling — they make it look easy. I’m working on it and starting to feel a lot more confident up there.”
While some teams ramp up their prep for big-paying tour races, Allen approaches every event with the same high standards. “We go through the car completely — every nut, every bolt,” he said. “I grew up crewing for Bryce Davis, and his rule was: if the car’s not perfect, we’re not going racing. That stuck with me. It’s all about the fine details.”
The stakes on May 23rd & 24th are high, with two key RUSH Tour events on the calendar: Friday night at Outlaw Speedway and Saturday at Genesee, where the winner will pocket $4,000. But Allen’s focus isn’t on the paycheck or points — it’s on victory. “I never go somewhere hoping for second,” he said firmly. “I know I’ve got the car, and I know I’ve got the ability. Now it’s about putting it all together. With the way we’ve started this season, we’re coming in with confidence and momentum.”
For Allen, a win at Genesee wouldn’t just be another trophy — it would be a dream realized. “Winning a RUSH Tour race has been one of my biggest goals since I started racing,” he said. “Getting my name in the lights, being mentioned alongside guys like Max Blair, Bryce Davis, Jeremy Wonderling — that would mean everything to me.”
Don't miss your chance to see Austin Allen and the stars of the RUSH Late Model Tour battle it out on Saturday, May 24 in Batavia, NY. Pit gates open at 3:30 PM, grandstands open at 4:30 PM, and racing starts at 7:00 PM. With $4,000 on the line, the action is sure to be intense — and you might just witness a career-defining win for one of the region’s rising stars.
Submitted By: Jeremy Perry
