7/21/2023
RUSH Late Model Series
JEREMY WONDERLING’S 1ST CAREER LERNERVILLE WIN EXTENDS HIS HOVIS RUSH LATE MODEL FLYNN’S TIRE TOUR POINTS LEAD; BLAZE MYERS (SPRINTS) & AYDEN CIPRIANO
JEREMY WONDERLING’S 1ST CAREER LERNERVILLE WIN EXTENDS HIS HOVIS RUSH LATE MODEL FLYNN’S TIRE TOUR POINTS LEAD; BLAZE MYERS (SPRINTS) & AYDEN CIPRIANO ALSO VICTORIOUS (MODS) IN “RUSH SUMMER SHOWCASE”
By Mike Leone
July 21, 2023 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Sarver, PA)...After heavy rain and thunderstorms on Thursday night, skies cleared on Friday as Lernerville Speedway hosted the fourth annual “RUSH Summer Showcase” featuring the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Models, RUSH Sportsman Modifieds, and RUSH Sprint Cars as a total of 79 Chevrolet Performance crate engine cars filled the pit area. Race #13 for the Flynn’s Tire Late Model Tour went to Jeremy Wonderling, while race #10 for the Sunbelt Rentals RUSH Sprint Car Weekly Series was captured by Blaze Myers, and Ayden Cipriano garnered RUSH Sportsman Modified Weekly Series race #15 presented by Flynn’s Tire.
Three-time RUSH Late Model Flynn’s Tire Touring Series Champion and current point leader, Jeremy Wonderling, has won a lot of races at numerous tracks throughout the Northeast; however, had never won at Lernerville Speedway. That changed on Friday night as Wonderling passed Kyle Lukon on a restart with three laps to go and went on for his sixth win of the year worth $3,000, which have all come within the last nine races!
“Lukon was pretty good on top but I felt like on the green flag runs I could chase him down a bit,” explained the 43-year-old Wellsville, NY standout. “On the restarts he chooses to run the outside. The one time coming into the corner he about ran me over. I get he’s trying to do his job on the restarts, but he was shoving me down the track and the last one I just didn’t let him shove me down the track. I don’t know if he’s a little bent, but I know damn well he’d have done the same thing to me. This place has given me such ups and down. We were fastest in hot laps then I sucked in time trials. I ran decent in the dash and everything played to us in the feature.”
Lukon used the outside to race past Tommy Schirnhofer, Jr. at the start of the 30-lap feature for the early lead. Lukon quickly bolted away from the field, while it was four-wide for second as Michael Duritsky, Jr. and Chub Frank also passed Schirnhofer for second and third respectively.
Eighth starting Michael Norris passed both Wonderling and Schirnhofer for fourth on lap three. Norris and Wonderling traded third numerous times before Norris seemingly got by for good on lap nine. Norris then went after Frank and slid past the National Late Model Hall of Famer to take second on lap 12. Lukon had nearly a two-second advantage on Norris by the time Norris reached second; however, a caution for a spin by Garret Paugh bunched up the field.
When racing resumed, Lukon maintained his lead as the top three pulled away by lap 16. After winning the $2,000 to-win Super Late Model feature, Norris’ bid for a $5,000 sweep of the night ended on lap 17 when he clipped Brock Pinkerous, who had drifted down the top side of the track and came to rest in turn four. Norris was chosen as the TBM Brakes “Tough Brake of the Night” recipient.
The event’s final caution was displayed for a spin by Frank Magill with 26 laps completed. When racing resumed, fifth starting Wonderling made the inside work, while Frank and Kurt Stebbins also got by Lukon. Wonderling pulled away in the final laps taking his milestone 20th career Flynn’s Tire Tour win by 1.411 seconds in his Terry Prince Contracting/Close Racing Supply/Cummings Trucking/Shuttleworth Sales/Penske Shocks by JDS/Swift Springs-sponsored #3J.
Frank’s runner-up was worth $1,500 for his best Tour finish since his only Series win on August 28, 2021 at Sharon Speedway. “That got a little wild there,” stated the 61-year-old Bear Lake, Pa. driver. “These guys definitely run wild. I actually thought when Wonderling got chopped down there it was going to be bad. I thought if he does that again I’m going to turn left because there was going to be a big wreck.”
Stebbins’ third place effort was an impressive one for the Genesee Speedway and new McKean County Raceway promoter as Stebbins came from 20th to record his first career Tour podium finish! “The car was just awesome on the restarts,” acknowledged the 42-year-old Wellsville, NY resident. “I think I was getting one or two every time and wanted all the restarts I could get. The car went better as the night went. To end up in the top three is awesome! We tried the same thing we did last year when we were here and it just worked this time- maybe it was just me!”
Lukon dropped to fourth at the finish for his best Tour finish of the season. New York’s David Pangrazio charged from 14th to 5th. Austin Hauser went 19th to 6th in just his second ever Lernerville start. Second place Tour driver, Mike Wonderling, raced from 25th to 7th to earn the $50 Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down” Hard Charger gift card. Duritsky dropped to eighth over Josh Ferry. Two races after his first career top five with the Tour, Colby Beighey went 17th to 10th.
Brandt Graham led all eight caution-free laps of the D&V Jewelers Non-Qualifier. The 25-year-old driver of the Full Circle Automation/Arcade Pools/Goat Transport-sponsored #14 earned $200 for his third career Non-Qualifier win in convincing fashion. Zach Herring, who made his Tour debut, was a distant second. Chuck Recker went sixth to third. Mason Jaquay was fourth. Second year teenage Futures Cup racer, Konar Loney, was fifth in his first ever Tour start.
Cody Dawson set fast time overall against the 35-car field in FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Qualifying with a lap of 17.122 to earn $100. Winning $25 FK Rod Ends heat races were Ben Policz, Schirnhofer, Norris, and John Mollick. Mike Laughard and Paugh won the twin last chance B mains. Schirnhofer won his first Sunoco Dash for a $100 Sunoco fuel card and his 13th place feature finish earned him a spoiler kit from Ontime Body & Graphic.
Tour racers Joe Martin and Jim Rasey also won $100 Sunoco fuel cards through the random drawings, while the $50 Sunoco fuel cards were won by Mason Jaquay, Schirnhofer, Andrew Koenig, and Jacob Peterson.
The Flynn’s Tire Touring Series will be right back in action Saturday night (July 22) with the second appearance in Series history at Tyler County Speedway in Middlebourne, West Virginia for another $3,000 to-win Marquee Event. Pits open at 4 p.m. with warm-ups at 6:45 followed by qualifying and racing.
After ending the 2022 season victorious at Lernerville, Blaze Myers picked up his first Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Sprint Car win of the 2023 season. Myers led all 20 laps of the feature and was never challenged for his sixth career Sunbelt Rentals Weekly Series victory worth $600. An all-time record high 30 cars turned out for the sixth year division topping the previous high of 28 cars set last year at Lernerville for “Manufacturers Night” presented by MSD Performance!
“I’ll tell you what I’ve been fighting this car all year and it just hasn’t been the same since last year,” explained the 18-year-old Franklin, Pa. driver. “We finally figured something out I believe. The top was so treacherous off turn four. I even smacked the wall myself and just glad it didn’t end my night. The lapped traffic was awful, but that’s just part of racing and you have to learn how to deal with it. It doesn’t help the old man was racing (Billy Myers) and I had to beat him fair and square. I saw John (Mollick) was second on the restart; I have the utmost respect for him- he’s a good driver and fast here. I’m just finally I was able to beat him.”
After a caution for Phil Young, who got hung up in the mud on the inside of the backstretch with 13 laps completed, Myers pulled away from John Mollick in the final seven laps taking the checkered flag first by a margin of 2.147 seconds in his J.I. McCall Construction/John Pleger Roofing/Billy's Garage/Linda Lou's Restaurant/Lowry Auto Body/DiFrischia Recycling/McDaniel & Assoc. Tax Prep/J.I.'s Place/Jolley Roofing & Construction/Endodontics/Bodien's Hot Dog Stand-sponsored #43Jr.
Mollick, who was doing double duty also running a RUSH Late Model, went ninth to second three weeks after winning the last RUSH Sprint Car race at Lernerville. Four-time Series Champion and the division’s all-time winner, Chad Ruhlman, was third. Pole-sitter Zack Wilson dropped to fourth at the finish over Arnie Kent. Completing the top 10 were Kevin Ruhlman, Brad Blackshear from 18th, Brian Cressley, Brian Hartzell, and Charlie Utsinger. Mollick, Chad Ruhlman, and Kent won the heat races, while Blackshear won just the second last chance B main run in Series history.
Ayden Cipriano charged from the 13th starting spot to pull out a dramatic late race win in the 20-lap Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Sportsman Modified feature presented by Flynn’s Tire. Cipriano’s first Lernerville win of the season and fifth overall of 2023 was worth $600.
“I don’t think I should have won as I raced dirty that last restart,” revealed the 17-year-old Hermitage, Pa. driver. “I kind of set it in there and hit him (Ben Easler). I shouldn’t have done that and been content where I was. Other than that the car felt great. I wouldn’t have been able to drive up there if it wasn’t for everyone that helps out on the car and I can’t help them enough. I knew the only chance I had was up top and carrying enough speed as possible. I tried my hardest and it paid off for us.”
Easler used the outside to pass Kole Holden on the opening lap. After heat race issues, Cipriano was charging forward on the cushion. Cipriano cracked the top five on lap seven by passing Doug Rutana then drove around his brother Jacob Rutana three laps later for fourth. Cipriano made up a lot of ground tracking down Jacob Wolfe with a big run off turn four and got by for third with contact down the fronstretch on lap 16.
Cipriano then got the break he needed when the event’s only caution was displayed for Jordan Ehrenberg with 18 laps scored. When racing resumed, Cipriano shot low in turn one past Holden for second then came up the track and made contact with Easler for what would be the winning move. Cipriano took his 10th career Series win by a margin of 0.554 seconds in the William Cipriano-owned, Wheatland Steel Processing/Novus Mortgage of Hermitage/Rudy's Tavern/RKR/Fin & Bear It/Stainless Steel Engineering/Grossman's Garage-sponsored #5c.
Wolfe, who started fifth, was a season best second. Holden, who entered the night winning six of the last nine Series events, was third. The contact with Cipriano resulted in Easler dropping to fourth at the finish. Jacob Rutana beat his brother Doug out for fifth as Dalton Gabriel, Chelsie Kriegisch, Cole Edwards, and Lucas Canon completed the top 10. Wolfe and Holden won the heat races.
Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Model Flynn’s Tire Touring Series Race #13 (30 laps, $3,000 to-win): 1. JEREMY WONDERLING (3J) 2. CHUB FRANK (1*) 3. Kurt Stebbins (26) 4. Kyle Lukon (184) 5. David Pangrazio (136) 6. Austin Hauser (51) 7. Mike Wonderling (18) 8. Michael Duritsky, Jr. (90J) 9. Josh Ferry (33) 10. Colby Beighey (36B) 11. Jim Rasey (Wrightsman 21J) 12. Matt Latta (21) 13. Tommy Schirnhofer, Jr. (8s) 14. Craig Graham (98) 15. Garret Paugh (03) 16. Ashton Briggs (11A) 17. Frank Magill (05) 18. Mike Laughard (38L) 19. Cody Dawson (36) 20. Kyle Zimmerman (Stockdale 31) 21. Joe Martin (Snyder 10s) 22. Michael Norris (Dabecco N1) 23. Brock Pinkerous (555) 24. John Mollick (4J) 25. Ben Policz (14B). (Note: Mike Wonderling took a Tour provisional).
D&V Jewelers Non-Qualifier: 1. Brandt Graham (14) 2. Zach Herring (15) 3. Chuck Recker (6) 4. Mason Jaquay (Briggs 17) 5. Konar Loney (14L) 6. Rob Coffaro (24C) 7. Jacob Peterson (112). DNS: T.J. Downs (03), Andrew Koenig (33K), Joe Squatriglia (15X).
Car Count: 35
Feature Margin of Victory: 1.411 seconds
Feature Lap Leaders: Kyle Lukon (1-27), Jeremy Wonderling (28-30)
Ontime Body & Graphic “Spoiler Alert” Spoiler Kit: Tommy Schirnhofer, Jr.
Performance Bodies “Nosed Out”: T.J. Downs
Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down” Hard Charger: Mike Wonderling (+18)
Sunoco Fuel Card Winners: Joe Martin ($100), Jim Rasey ($100), Tommy Schirnhofer, Jr. ($50), Andrew Koenig ($50), Jacob Peterson ($50), Mason Jaquay ($50)
TBM Brakes “Tough Brake of the Night”: Michael Norris
FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Qualifying ($100 for fast time) (Track record 16.750 by Bryce Davis on 10/15/21): 1. 36-Cody Dawson, 00:17.122[7]; 2. 184-Kyle Lukon, 00:17.191[8]; 3. 10S-Joe Martin, 00:17.200[16]; 4. 4J-John Mollick, 00:17.226[3]; 5. 14B-Ben Policz, 00:17.348[10]; 6. 8S-Tommy Schirnhofer Jr, 00:17.356[17]; 7. 18-Mike Wonderling, 00:17.376[21]; 8. 1*-Chub Frank, 00:17.401[29]; 9. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling, 00:17.413[9]; 10. 05-Frank Magill, 00:17.419[6]; 11. N1-Michael Norris, 00:17.424[24]; 12. 03-Garret Paugh, 00:17.435[18]; 13. 36B-Colby Beighey, 00:17.443[27]; 14. 33-Josh Ferry, 00:17.448[23]; 15. 555-Brock Pinkerous, 00:17.463[31]; 16. 21L-Matt Latta, 00:17.474[30]; 17. 38L-Mike Laughard, 00:17.599[2]; 18. 11A-Ashton Briggs, 00:17.601[15]; 19. 90J-Michael Duritsky Jr, 00:17.614[25]; 20. 31-Kyle Zimmerman, 00:17.629[22]; 21. 21J-Jim Rasey, 00:17.646[14]; 22. 136-David Pangrazio, 00:17.653[12]; 23. 51-Austin Hauser, 00:17.723[28]; 24. 33KA-Andrew Koenig, 00:17.809[26]; 25. 03D-TJ Downs, 00:17.975[5]; 26. 112-Jacob Peterson, 00:18.128[33]; 27. 14-Brandt Graham, 00:18.141[1]; 28. 26-Kurt Stebbins, 00:18.242[32]; 29. 15Z-Zachary Herring, 00:18.343[34]; 30. 17J-Mason Jaquay, 00:18.368[13]; 31. 98-Craig Graham, 00:18.374[11]; 32. 24C-Rob Coffaro, 00:18.508[4]; 33. 14L-Konar Loney, 00:18.592[35]; 34. 6R-Chuck Recker, 00:18.644[19]; 35. 15X-Joe Squatriglia, 00:18.795[20].
FK Rod Ends Heat 1 (8 laps, Top 5 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 14B-Ben Policz[2]; 2. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling[3]; 3. 21J-Jim Rasey[6]; 4. 36-Cody Dawson[1]; 5. 36B-Colby Beighey[4]; 6. 38L-Mike Laughard[5]; 7. 03D-TJ Downs[7]; 8. 15Z-Zachary Herring[8]; 9. 14L-Konar Loney[9].
FK Rod Ends Heat 2 (8 laps, Top 5 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 8S-Tommy Schirnhofer Jr[2]; 2. 184-Kyle Lukon[1]; 3. 33-Josh Ferry[4]; 4. 136-David Pangrazio[6]; 5. 05-Frank Magill[3]; 6. 11A-Ashton Briggs[5]; 7. 112-Jacob Peterson[7]; 8. 17J-Mason Jaquay[8]; 9. 6R-Chuck Recker[9].
FK Rod Ends Heat 3 (8 laps, Top 5 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. N1-Michael Norris[3]; 2. 90J-Michael Duritsky Jr[5]; 3. 10S-Joe Martin[1]; 4. 555-Brock Pinkerous[4]; 5. 51-Austin Hauser[6]; 6. 98-Craig Graham[8]; 7. 14-Brandt Graham[7]; 8. 15X-Joe Squatriglia[9]; 9. 18-Mike Wonderling[2].
FK Rod Ends Heat 4 (8 laps, Top 5 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 4J-John Mollick[1]; 2. 1*-Chub Frank[2]; 3. 31-Kyle Zimmerman[5]; 4. 21L-Matt Latta[4]; 5. 26-Kurt Stebbins[7]; 6. 03-Garret Paugh[3]; 7. 33KA-Andrew Koenig[6]; 8. 24C-Rob Coffaro[8].
Last Chance B Main 1 (8 laps, Top 2 transfer to A): 1. 38L-Mike Laughard[1]; 2. 11A-Ashton Briggs[2]; 3. 03D-TJ Downs[3]; 4. 15Z-Zachary Herring[5]; 5. 112-Jacob Peterson[4]; 6. 17J-Mason Jaquay[6]; 7. 6R-Chuck Recker[8]; 8. 14L-Konar Loney[7].
Last Chance B Main 2 (8 laps, Top 2 transfer to A): 1. 03-Garret Paugh[2]; 2. 98-Craig Graham[1]; 3. 14-Brandt Graham[3]; 4. 24C-Rob Coffaro[6]; 5. 33KA-Andrew Koenig[4]; 6. 15X-Joe Squatriglia[5]; 7. (DNF) 18-Mike Wonderling[7].
Sunoco Dash (6 laps, $100 Sunoco fuel card to-win): 1. 8S-Tommy Schirnhofer Jr[1]; 2. 184-Kyle Lukon[2]; 3. 90J-Michael Duritsky Jr[4]; 4. 1*-Chub Frank[5]; 5. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling[6]; 6. 14B-Ben Policz[3]; 7. 4J-John Mollick[8]; 8. N1-Michael Norris[7]
Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Sprint Car Sunbelt Rentals Weekly Series Race #10 (20 laps, $600 to-win): 1. BLAZE MYERS (43Jr) 2. John Mollick (Clever 4J) 3. Chad Ruhlman (Engles 68) 4. Zack Wilson (1) 5. Arnie Kent (Mahoney/Eckart 9) 6. Kevin Ruhlman (Engles 68K) 7. Brandon Blackshear (10) 8. Brian Cressley (Hull 41) 9. Brian Hartzell (69) 10. Charlie Utsinger (23) 11. Brad Blackshear (19) 12. Devon Deeter (54) 13. Ricky Tucker, Jr. (1T) 14. A.J. MacQuarrie (Hartzell 69X) 15. Rod George (Graham 6) 16. Joe Buccola (Church 5B) 17. Amelia Clay (16c) 18. Mark Bell (122) 19. Adam Siegel (91) 20. Billy Myers (43Sr) 21. Trent Marshall (17) 22. Phil Young (4y) 23. Kevin Kaserman (13) 24. Gale Ruth, Jr. (McConnell 24). DNS: Tyler Graves (25G). DNQ: Tyler Clark (56), Lacey Shuttleworth (15), Brandon Shughart (29), Rick Regalski, Jr (Boyle 5B), Jeff Metsger (20).
Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Sportsman Modified Weekly Series Race #15 presented by Flynn’s Tire (20 laps, $600 to-win): 1. AYDEN CIPRIANO (5c) 2. Jacob Wolfe (7) 3. Kole Holden (2) 4. Ben Easler (02) 5. Jacob Rutana (57R) 6. Doug Rutana (46R) 7. Dalton Gabriel (333G) 8. Chelsie Kriegisch (10) 9. Cole Edwards (29) 10. Lucas Canon (2LC) 11. Jacob Jordan (28J) 12. Jolene Smith (25) 13. Jordan Ehrenbberg (JD57). DNS: Jeff Watson (1*).
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, Sunbelt Rentals, MSD Performance, Holley Performance Products, FK Rod Ends, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, TBM Brakes, Bilstein Shocks, Performance Bodies & Parts, Racing Electronics, Wieland Metal Services, Frankland Racing Supply, Landrum Performance Spring, Ontime Body & Graphic, Sherwood Wheels, Precise Racing Products, Velocita-USA, Wedge Motorsports, 3C Graphix, D&V Jewelers, CrateInsider.com, and Terry Bowser Excavating.
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
