5/26/2024
RUSH Late Model Series
14-YEAR-OLD BROCK PINKEROUS THRILLS THE LARGE CROWD WITH HIS 1ST CAREER FLYNN'S TIRE/GUNTER'S HONEY TOUR VICTORY IN THE RETURN OF THE HOVIS RUSH LATE
14-YEAR-OLD BROCK PINKEROUS THRILLS THE LARGE CROWD WITH HIS 1ST CAREER FLYNN'S TIRE/GUNTER'S HONEY TOUR VICTORY IN THE RETURN OF THE HOVIS RUSH LATE MODELS TO TRI-CITY AFTER NEARLY 6 YEARS
By Mike Leone
May 26, 2024 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Franklin, PA)...After five rainouts in the first seven scheduled events of 2024, Mother Nature nearly rained on the parade of the return of the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Dirt Late Model Flynn's Tire/Gunter's Honey Touring Series to Tri-City Raceway Park after a near six-year absence. Moments after the Landrum Performance victory lane ceremonies, rain overspread the Venango County oval washing out the remainder of the track's program. Despite the threatening weather, a great crowd turned out to the Franklin, Pa. half-mile oval. Special thanks to new Tri-City owners Josh and Kyrsten Shiffer for the late addition of the show after the cancellation by Bradford Speedway on Tuesday.
Fourteen-year-old Brock Pinkerous became the second youngest driver in RUSH history to capture a Flynn's Tire/Gunter's Honey Touring Series feature event. Last year in his rookie Late Model season, Pinkerous became the youngest winner in the long and stories Stateline Speedway history by winning a City Chevrolet Weekly Series event at the age of 13 and earlier this season, Pinkerous added a second career Weekly Series victory in the first ever RUSH race at Albany-Saratoga. After going third to first in the Sunoco Dash to earn the feature pole on Sunday in his first ever start at Tri-City, Pinkerous led all 25 laps of the feature for the very popular $3,000 victory to become the third different winner in three races this season!
"The whole ride here I knew we had the car and team to win," stated the Ellenville, NY teenager. "As soon I looked at the track I knew we had something. I'm not really used to big tracks, but something about this place seemed to fit me. It was a really good track tonight. I have to thank all of my sponsors for making this possible and everyone that helps out- I can't thank you all enough. Also thanks to all my fans that came here to support me along with my family and crew chief Russ (King)- I wouldn't be in this victory lane without him."
Pinkerous raced into the early lead, while Jeremy Wonderling passed Joe Martin for second. Wonderling lost the handle in turn one and collected Ben Easler to bring out the caution with one lap scored. When racing resumed, Kurt Stebbins found himself in third, while Daryl Charlier passed Mike Wonderling for fourth. Wonderling returned the favor taking back fourth on lap six.
Pinkerous began to stretch out his lead on Martin on lap eight, while Mike Wonderling challenged Stebbins for third. The duo raced side-by-side on lap 10 with Stebbins holding on. Lapped traffic came into play on lap 14, but a caution for Brodie Oravetz would restack the field. After his spin on lap two, Jeremy Wonderling had charged back up to seventh, but would exit the event after overheating and dropping fluids under the caution period.
When green replaced yellow on lap 15, Mike Wonderling overtook Stebbins for third. Wonderling ran down Martin and was on him on lap 16 before Cody Dawson slowed to bring out the caution with 16 laps scored. Wonderling continued to pressure Martin when racing resumed until the event's final stoppage with 20 laps scored when Rob Coffaro was unable to avoid a spinning car and got upside down. He was okay.
The race resumed on lap 21 with sprinkles in the air and it was three-wide for second between Martin, Mike Wonderling, and Charlier as Wonderling grabbed the runner-up spot. Wonderling was unable to challenge Pinkerous in the closing laps as Pinkerous became the 44th different winner in Flynn's Tire/Gunter's Honey Touring Series history in the J&H Pinkz-owned, Northeast Paving/SRI Performance/Pinks Links/NAPA Auto Parts/Off Axis Paint/Accelo Racewear/The Joie of Seating/WABAM/Trick Shot/3C Graphix-sponsored #555. Pinkerous has finished on the podium in all three events this season as he leads the $20,000 to-win championship!
After six podium finishes last year in his first season on the Flynn's Tire/Gunter's Honey Tour, seventh starting Mike Wonderling was a season best runner-up worth $1,500 as he continues to chase after his first career Tour victory. Martin was third for his first top five of the season and also received a spoiler kit from Ontime Body & Graphic. All three podium teams also received a three-pack of Heritage Wine Cellars premium products.
Charlier was a season best fourth for his third top 10 in as many races to continue to lead the 3C Graphix Rookie-of-the-Year standings. After a career best seventh last year in the season finale at Lernerville, Jim Rasey, who has a lot of laps around Tri-City in a Big-Block Modified, charged from 12th to 5th to record the best career Tour finish in his third year driving for car owner Jim Wrightsman. It was also Wrightsman's first career top five finish as a car owner in his 12th year fielding a car in Touring Series action! Wrightsman is a two-time D&V Jewelers Wheelman "Bonus Event Challenge" Series Car Owner Champion in the RUSH Tour.
After getting as high as third, Genesee Speedway and McKean County Raceway promoter Kurt Stebbins came home sixth. Jared Miley drove John Deller's #75 from the tail to seventh. Damian Bidwell went 17th to 8th. After failing to qualify for the season opening event at Pittsburgh, 3C Graphix Rookie-of-the-Year candidate, Austin Allen, was ninth for the second straight race. Ashton Briggs recorded his first top 10 of the season despite starting 24th to earn the $50 Precise Racing Products "Pedal Down" Hard Charger gift card.
Miley shattered the near seven-year-old track record of 19.663 set by Logan Roberson with a blistering lap of 19.232 to earn $100 in FK Rod Ends "Shock the Clock" Qualifying. Winning $25 FK Rod Ends heat races were Miley, Jeremy Wonderling, and Josh Ferry. Pinkerous received a $100 Sunoco fuel card for his first Sunoco Dash win of the season. Tour drivers Bidwell and Rasey also received $100 Sunoco fuel cards in random drawings, while the $50 Sunoco fuel cards were won by Leo Iarrapino, Tim Shaffer, Tommy Schirnhofer, Jr. and Colby Beighey.
Winning the Landrum Performance Springs BOGO certificates were Kyle Zimmerman, Scott Stein, Ashton Briggs, Brad Mesler, and Ben Easler
The Flynn’s Tire/Gunter's Honey Touring Series will return to action June 7-8 with a western Pennsylvania doubleheader; Friday night will be at McKean County Raceway in East Smethport, Pa. followed up by Saturday at Marion Center (PA) Raceway. Both events will pay $3,000 to-win.
Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Model Flynn’s Tire/Gunter's Honey Touring Series Race #3 (25 laps, $3,000 to-win): 1. BROCK PINKEROUS (555) 2. Mike Wonderling (18) 3. Joe Martin (Snyder 10s) 4. Daryl Charlier (Dobnak 42) 5. Jim Rasey (Wrightsman 21J) 6. Kurt Stebbins (26) 7. Jared Miley (Deller 75) 8. Damian Bidwell (1/2-Pint) 9. Austin Allen (32) 10. Ashton Briggs (11A) 11. Ben Easler (02) 12. Tommy Schirnhofer, Jr. (8s) 13. Scott Stein (09) 14. Tim Shaffer (45) 15. Brad Mesler (Sturdevant 87S) 16. Josh Ferry (33) 17. Colby Beighey (36) 18. Rob Coffaro (24) 19. Leo Iarrapino (45L) 20. Brodie Oravetz (91B) 21. Austin Hauser (51) 22. Cody Dawson (36) 23. Jeremy Wonderling (3J) 24. Kyle Zimmerman (Stockdale 31) 25. Jason Knowles (4).
Car Count: 25
Feature Lap Leaders: Brock Pinkerous (1-25)
Ontime Body & Graphic “Spoiler Alert” Spoiler Kit: Joe Martin
Heritage Wine Cellars 3-Pack of Premium Products: Brock Pinkerous, Mike Wonderling, Joe Martin
Landrum Performance Springs BOGO Certificates: Kyle Zimmerman, Scott Stein, Ashton Briggs, Brad Mesler, Ben Easler
Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down” Hard Charger: Ashton Briggs (+14)
Precise Racing Products 5-Gallon Race Jug: Brock Pinkerous
Sunoco Fuel Card Winners: Damian Bidwell ($100), Jim Rasey ($100), Leo Iarrapino ($50), Tim Shaffer ($50), Tommy Schirnhofer, Jr. ($50), Colby Beighey ($50)
FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Qualifying (Track record 19.663 by Logan Roberson on 8/20/17) ($100 for fast time): 1. 75-Jared Miley, 00:19.232*[8] (*NTR); 2. 555-Brock Pinkerous, 00:19.360[6]; 3. 33-Josh Ferry, 00:19.445[22]; 4. 36B-Colby Beighey, 00:19.453[20]; 5. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling, 00:19.537[13]; 6. 4-Jason Knowles, 00:19.542[11]; 7. 8S-Tommy Schirnhofer Jr, 00:19.642[18]; 8. 42-Daryl Charlier, 00:19.724[7]; 9. 10S-Joe Martin, 00:19.748[4]; 10. 26-Kurt Stebbins, 00:19.748[24]; 11. 51-Austin Hauser, 00:19.757[21]; 12. 36-Cody Dawson, 00:19.776[14]; 13. 18-Mike Wonderling, 00:19.787[10]; 14. 31-Kyle Zimmerman, 00:19.809[1]; 15. 11A-Ashton Briggs, 00:19.813[12]; 16. 02-Benjamin Easler, 00:19.813[19]; 17. 1/2PT-Damian Bidwell, 00:19.943[2]; 18. 21J-Jim Rasey, 00:19.990[25]; 19. 87S-Brad Mesler, 00:20.018[15]; 20. 45-Tim Shaffer, 00:20.154[17]; 21. 32A-Austin Allen, 00:20.189[3]; 22. 24C-Rob Coffaro, 00:20.547[5]; 23. 09-Scott Stein, 00:21.002[9]; 24. 45L-Leo Iarrapino, 00:21.110[16]; 25. 91B-Brodie Oravetz, 00:21.151[23]
FK Rod Ends Heat 1 (8 laps, $25 to-win): 1. 75-Jared Miley[1]; 2. 26-Kurt Stebbins[4]; 3. 18-Mike Wonderling[5]; 4. 02-Benjamin Easler[6]; 5. 8S-Tommy Schirnhofer Jr[3]; 6. 36B-Colby Beighey[2]; 7. 87S-Brad Mesler[7]; 8. 91B-Brodie Oravetz[9]; 9. 24C-Rob Coffaro[8].
FK Rod Ends Heat 2 (8 laps, $25 to-win): 1. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling[2]; 2. 555-Brock Pinkerous[1]; 3. 42-Daryl Charlier[3]; 4. 31-Kyle Zimmerman[5]; 5. 51-Austin Hauser[4]; 6. 1/2PT-Damian Bidwell[6]; 7. 45-Tim Shaffer[7]; 8. 09-Scott Stein[8].
FK Rod Ends Heat 3 (8 laps, $25 to-win): 1. 33-Josh Ferry[1]; 2. 10S-Joe Martin[3]; 3. 4-Jason Knowles[2]; 4. 21J-Jim Rasey[6]; 5. 32A-Austin Allen[7]; 6. 36-Cody Dawson[4]; 7. 45L-Leo Iarrapino[8]; 8. 11A-Ashton Briggs[5].
Sunoco Dash (6 laps, $100 Sunoco fuel card to win): 1. 555-Brock Pinkerous[3]; 2. 10S-Joe Martin[1]; 3. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling[5]; 4. 26-Kurt Stebbins[2]; 5. 33-Josh Ferry[4]; 6. 75-Jared Miley[6].
The RUSH Racing Series is brought to you by Hovis Auto & Truck Supply together with Born2Run Lubricants along with the support of Hoosier Tire, Rick Hendrick City Chevrolet, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, Insinger Performance, Flynn's Tire, Gunter's Honey, Sunbelt Rentals, MSD Performance, Holley Performance Products, FK Rod Ends, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, Landrum Performance Springs, 3C Graphix, Dave Poske's Performance Parts, Velocita-USA, Wieland Metal Services, Frankland Racing Supply, Dusted Steak Seasoning, Ontime Body & Graphic, Sherwood Wheels, D&V Jewelers, Dusted, Heritage Wine Cellars, Precise Racing Products, Wedge Motorsports, Racing Electronics, and Billy’s Garage.
E-mail can be sent to the RUSH Racing Series at info@rushracingseries.com and snail mail to 4368 Route 422, Pulaski, PA 16143. Office phone is 724-964-9300. The RUSH Late Model website is www.rushlatemodels.com. Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/rushlatemodels and follow us on X (formerly known as Twitter) @RUSHLM.
Article Credit: Mike Leone
