9/29/2022
RUSH Late Model Series
JEREMY WONDERLING MAKES HISTORY WINNING THE 1ST EVER HOVIS RUSH LATE MODEL FLYNN’S TIRE TOUR RACE IN WEST VIRGINIA; THE NEW YORKER’S 3RD STRAIGHT WIN
JEREMY WONDERLING MAKES HISTORY WINNING THE 1ST EVER HOVIS RUSH LATE MODEL FLYNN’S TIRE TOUR RACE IN WEST VIRGINIA; THE NEW YORKER’S 3RD STRAIGHT WIN COMES IN HIS 1ST EVER TYLER COUNTY APPEARANCE
By Mike Leone
September 29, 2022 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Middlebourne, WV)...The Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Dirt Late Model Series presented by Born2Run Lubricants participated in the rescheduled “Hillbilly 100” for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series for the first time ever at Tyler County Speedway and live on Flo Racing. After two prior rainouts this season at Tyler County, the Flynn’s Tire Touring Series finally completed its first ever event in the state of West Virginia. Twenty-seven teams from five different states made their way to the ¼-mile bullring on Thursday night.
Just one week ago, three-time Flynn’s Tire Touring Series Champion Jeremy Wonderling hadn’t won a Series event in well over 14 months. After sweeping last weekend’s two-night “Topless Nationals” for $6,000 at Genesee Speedway, Wonderling made his first ever appearance at Tyler County a successful one scoring a thrilling win over home track favorite Kyle Thomas in the “Cider Jug 40” worth $4,000. Wonderling has pocketed more than $10,000 in the last seven days with his third straight victory!
“The track is kind of similar to some tracks we have back home,” explained the 42-year-old Wellsville, NY standout. “The race car has been really good ever since I got it so my confidence has been high in the car as long as I can do my job and hit the setup right. The top was dominant in (turns) three and four, but more in the middle in one and two. I could get through both corners real good. I was in the wall in (turn) three a couple times trying to miss the bump getting in. As long as I could hit my marks, I could keep it pretty smooth and knew I had pretty good control of the race. I feel bad for Joe (Martin). He obviously had a good car and went scooting by me, but I saw him clip the cars. I told him he had a flat while we were sitting there so he could get in and get it changed and back out there.”
“It was really the lapped cars that were going to be the death of me but that’s all part of racing,” acknowledged Wonderling. “I was good. I never heard or seen anyone, while I was in lapped traffic then that one lapped car just stopped. I knew as long as I kept going I would be alright. Some of the guys play games on the restarts and I don’t know if they think they’re going to shake me and get out in front of me, but that’s not going to bother me.”
Wonderling took off in the lead at the start of the 40-lap featuring following just his second Sunoco Dash victory of the season with West Virginia standout Brent Trimble, points leader Logan Roberson, Braeden Dillinger, and Joe Martin in tow. Martin got past Dillinger for fourth on lap two and caught Roberson on lap four. Following a caution for Tyler County Champion, Donnie Dotson, it was three-wide on the restart on lap six for second with Martin and eighth starting Thomas moving by Roberson.
By lap 11, Wonderling and Martin began to distance themselves from the field. Wonderling had a 0.537-second lead when he caught lapped traffic on lap 14. Martin pulled alongside Wonderling in the battle for the lead on lap 17. The duo was in heavy lapped traffic when a five-car accident ensued in front of them. Even though Wonderling and Martin were able to avoid the accident, Martin clipped one of the cars and suffered a flat tire. Later on in the event, Martin worked his way back up to battle for fifth when he suffered another setback and called it night. Martin was selected as the TBM Brakes “Tough Brake of the Night”.
Back under green on lap 18, Wonderling continued to lead with Thomas and Roberson now in second and third. Wonderling stretched out his lead to 1.544 seconds when he caught lapped traffic again on lap 25. Thomas and Roberson closed in quickly and it was a three-car race for the lead in traffic. Thomas nosed ahead to lead lap 28 ending a run of 87 consecutive laps led by Wonderling over the past three events; however, Marc Berzowski, who was making his third straight Tour start since purchasing a RUSH Late Model, slowed to bring out the caution.
When racing resumed on lap 29, Wonderling used the outside to regain the lead on the restart, while his brother Brady overtook Roberson for third. Jeremy Wonderling once again pulled away on lap 31 as Thomas now had his hands full with Brady Wonderling and Roberson. Jeremy Wonderling had a big scare when Jared Keeney slowed directly in front of him coming off turn four on lap 37. Wonderling was totally sideways and the yellow was out before another lap was scored, which allowed him to maintain the lead.
Thomas had one more shot alongside Wonderling, but Wonderling was too strong and pulled away over the final four laps to take the checkered flag first by 1.438 seconds. Wonderling’s 16th RUSH-sanctioned victory of 2022 clinched the Hovis National Weekly Series Championship aboard his Terry Prince Contracting/Close Racing Supply/Cummings Trucking/Shuttleworth Auto Sales/Cummings Trucking/Dynamic Drivelines/Swift Springs-sponsored #3J. It was Wonderling’s 13th career Flynn’s Tire Tour victory.
Thomas, who had two Hovis Weekly Series victories this year at Tyler County, earned $2,000 in his first ever RUSH Tour start. Roberson’s third place was worth $1,000 as his eighth podium extended his points lead over Martin. After five 10th place finishes in the last six events, Brady Wonderling’s fourth place was his first top five since May 29 at Bradford Speedway. Trimble was fifth in his first ever RUSH race.
Paugh came home in sixth. Dotson battled back from his spin to finish seventh. Matt Latta was eighth for his eighth top eight finish in the last 11 races and his 10th top 10 of the season. Ryan Frazee, who started 15th, was a season best ninth. Breyton Santee went 19th to 10th for his third straight top 10 and seventh of the season.
Dustin Luzier made his first ever RUSH start and went 24th to 14th to earn the $50 Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down” Hard Charger gift card. Keeney, who won seven RUSH Weekly Series events this year, made his first Tour start of the season and finished 17th to earn a spoiler kit from Ontime Body & Graphic. Jacob Rucker also made his first ever RUSH start and received a $100 Performance Bodies gift card for being the first non-qualifier.
Trimble set fast time in FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Qualifying with a lap of 13.719 to earn $100. Dillinger, Roberson, and Wonderling added $25 for winning FK Rod Ends heat races. Santee won the last chance B main. Wonderling earned a $100 Sunoco gift card for winning the Sunoco Dash. Also receiving $100 Sunoco gift cards in the random drawings were Andy Michael and Kyle Lukon, while the $50 Sunoco gift cards were won by West Virginia racers Ryan Hare, A.J. Spagnuolo, Logan Reed, and Troy Frazier.
The Flynn’s Tire Tour now sets it sights on Pittsburgh’s PA Motor Speedway for two nights at “Dirt’s Monster Half-Mile” for the annual “Bill Hendren Memorial” September 30-October 1. Friday night will pay $4,000 to-win presented by Keyser Manufacturing and Precise Racing Products. Saturday night will pay $10,000 to-win presented by FK Rod Ends in conjunction with City Chevrolet and Pro Fab.
Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Model Flynn’s Tire Touring Series Race #17 (40 laps, $4,000 to-win): 1. JEREMY WONDERLING (3J) 2. Kyle Thomas (KH2O) 3. Logan Roberson (17) 4. Brady Wonderling (z1) 5. Brent Trimble (Groves 32) 6. Garret Paugh (03) 7. Donnie Dotson (15) 8. Matt Latta (21) 9. Ryan Frazee (17) 10. Breyton Santee (9) 11. Kurt Stebbins (26) 12. A.J. Spagnuolo (5A) 13. Jim Rasey (Wrightsman 21J) 14. Dustin Luzier (14L) 15. Joe Martin (Snyder 10s) 16. Kyle Lukon (184) 17. Jared Keeney (33) 18. Logan Reed (37) 19. Marc Berzowski (25M) 20. Andy Michael (17x) 21. Braeden Dillinger (14) 22. George Casto III (19c) 23. Ryan Hare (29) 24. Hayden Jacobs (27J).
DNQ for the feature: Jacob Rucker (75), Troy Frazier (Starkey 54), Brandon Weigle (11).
Car Count: 27
Feature Margin of Victory: 1.438 seconds
Feature Lap Leaders: Jeremy Wonderling (1-27, 29-40), Kyle Thomas (28)
Ontime Body & Graphic “Spoiler Alert” Spoiler Kit: Jared Keeney
Performance Bodies “Nosed Out”: Jacob Rucker
Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down” Hard Charger: Dustin Luzier (+10)
Precise Racing Products 5-Gallon Race Jug: Jeremy Wonderling
Sunoco Fuel Card Winners: Andy Michael ($100), Kyle Lukon ($100), Ryan Hare ($50), A.J. Spagnuolo ($50), Logan Reed ($50), Troy Frazier ($50)
TBM Brakes “Tough Brake of the Night”: Joe Martin
FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Qualifying ($100 for fast time): 1. 32T-Brent Trimble, 00:13.719[3]; 2. 10S-Joe Martin, 00:13.736[27]; 3. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling, 00:13.830[11]; 4. 5A-AJ Spagnuolo, 00:13.860[16]; 5. 17R-Logan Roberson, 00:13.909[23]; 6. 17-Ryan Frazee, 00:13.954[6]; 7. 14D-Braeden Dillinger, 00:13.981[15]; 8. KH2O-Kyle Thomas, 00:14.004[2]; 9. Z1-Brady Wonderling, 00:14.065[12]; 10. 15D-Donnie Dotson, 00:14.069[14]; 11. 33K-Jared Keeney, 00:14.086[10]; 12. 03-Garret Paugh, 00:14.087[17]; 13. 29H-Ryan Hare, 00:14.099[1]; 14. 26-Kurt Stebbins, 00:14.182[22]; 15. 21L-Matt Latta, 00:14.265[7]; 16. 27J-Hayden Jacobs, 00:14.269[20]; 17. 11X-Brandon Weigle, 00:14.294[13]; 18. 37-Logan Reed, 00:14.326[21]; 19. 184-Kyle Lukon, 00:14.371[5]; 20. 19C-George Casto III, 00:14.379[26]; 21. 14L-Dustin Luzier, 00:14.513[8]; 22. 17X-Andy Michael, 00:14.567[9]; 23. 21J-Jim Rasey, 00:14.628[4]; 24. 9S-Breyton Santee, 00:14.685[19]; 25. 54-Troy Frazier, 00:15.007[24]; 26. 75R-Jacob Rucker, 00:15.173[25]; 27. (DQ) 25M-Marc Berzowski[18] (did not scale).
FK Rod Ends Heat 1 (8 laps, Top 6 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 14D-Braeden Dillinger[3]; 2. 32T-Brent Trimble[1]; 3. 184-Kyle Lukon[7]; 4. 5A-AJ Spagnuolo[2]; 5. 15D-Donnie Dotson[4]; 6. 17X-Andy Michael[8]; 7. 27J-Hayden Jacobs[6]; 8. 29H-Ryan Hare[5]; 9. 54-Troy Frazier[9].
FK Rod Ends Heat 2 (8 laps, Top 6 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 17R-Logan Roberson[2]; 2. 10S-Joe Martin[1]; 3. KH2O-Kyle Thomas[3]; 4. 26-Kurt Stebbins[5]; 5. 19C-George Casto III[7]; 6. 33K-Jared Keeney[4]; 7. 11X-Brandon Weigle[6]; 8. 21J-Jim Rasey[8]; 9. 75R-Jacob Rucker[9].
FK Rod Ends Heat 3 (8 laps, Top 6 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling[1]; 2. 03-Garret Paugh[4]; 3. Z1-Brady Wonderling[3]; 4. 21L-Matt Latta[5]; 5. 17-Ryan Frazee[2]; 6. 37-Logan Reed[6]; 7. 9S-Breyton Santee[8]; 8. 25M-Marc Berzowski[9]; 9. 14L-Dustin Luzier[7].
Last Chance B Main (8 laps, Top 6 transfer to A): 1. 9S-Breyton Santee[3]; 2. 27J-Hayden Jacobs[1]; 3. 29H-Ryan Hare[4]; 4. 21J-Jim Rasey[5]; 5. 25M-Marc Berzowski[6]; 6. 14L-Dustin Luzier[9]; 7. 75R-Jacob Rucker[8]; 8. 54-Troy Frazier[7]; 9. 11X-Brandon Weigle[2].
Sunoco Dash (6 laps, $100 Sunoco fuel card to-win): 1. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling[1]; 2. 32T-Brent Trimble[2]; 3. 17R-Logan Roberson[4]; 4. 14D-Braeden Dillinger[6]; 5. 10S-Joe Martin[5]; 6. 03-Garret Paugh[3].
The RUSH Racing Series is brought to you by Hovis Auto & Truck Supply together with Born2Run Lubricants along with the support of Hoosier Tire, Bilstein Shocks, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, Insinger Performance, MSD Performance, Holley Performance Products, FK Rod Ends, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, TBM Brakes, Performance Bodies & Parts, Racing Electronics, Wrisco Industries, Frankland Racing Supply, Landrum Performance Spring, Ontime Body & Graphic, Sherwood Wheels, Alternative Power Sources, Precise Racing Products, Lincoln Electric, Velocita-USA, Waterstone Mortgage Hermitage, Wedge Motorsports, 3C Graphix, D&V Jewelers, DrumPreserve, CrateInsider.com, Terry Bowser Excavating, and Stop-Fyre.
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 Twitter @RUSHLM.
Article Credit: Mike Leone
