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Wonderling Scores $3,000 Payday; Norris Takes Fourth Win; Myers Bests RUSH Sprints; Cipriano Tops RUSH Mods

Jason Brown Photo

Sarver, PA (July 22, 2023) Sarver, PA (July 22, 2023) There was chamber of commerce type weather in the air, a heavy track on hand thanks to a hard night of rain the evening beforehand, and a pit area brimming with 100 cars Friday night at The Action Track as the fourth annual RUSH Summer Showcase took center stage, with a dose of Fab4 Friday racing courtesy of the Precise Racing Products Late Models. Wellsville, NY pilot Jeremy Wonderling used a late race restart with three laps left to take the lead en route to a $3,000 payday, claiming his first career RUSH Late Model feature win at Lernerville. Meanwhile, Michael Norris found himself in Terry Bowser Excavating Victory Lane for the fourth time in 2023, topping a 21 car field in Super Late Model action. Blaze Myers scored the feature win in RUSH Sprint car action, which included a record 30 cars in the pits, and Ayden Cipriano capped off the evening by scoring the feature win with the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds.

Norris Comes From Ninth To Claim Fourth Feature Win

The state of the Precise Racing Products Late Models underwent significant change in less than 25 laps on Friday night as Tyler Dietz entered the night with a fairly robust 18 point lead over 2022 champion John Garvin Jr. and a 23 point cushion over Michael Norris who suffered an early exit from the main event just seven days earlier. However, by the end of the 25 lap main event, Dietz found himself tied with Norris in the standings with Garvin still just 16 points off the pace, setting up what looks to be an intriguing end run to the season as Championship Night in August draws closer.

A pair of invaders started on the front row of the Precise Racing Products main event as Andy Boozel and Cory Lawler brought field to the green flag and when it waved, Boozel quickly assumed command of the field while behind him, a three way battle for the second spot was immediately underway between Lawler, Garvin and Eric Wilson. Garvin and Wilson sent Lawler behind them in quick fashion. Garvin then put Boozel behind him with two laps in the books while coming forward with authority from his ninth starting spot was Norris who put Dietz and two-time champion Ken Schaltenbrand behind him on lap six when the yellow came out for Dietz who brought his machine into the pits coming off of turn four. Dietz went directly to the hauler, and with Garvin in the lead, it looked as if a shakeup in the standings was in the making.

When action resumed, Garvin bolted out to the lead once again, with Alex Ferree also getting a good jump, making his way around Wilson for the second spot while Norris earned two more positions in his fight to the front. A slowing Gary Lyle brought out the second caution of the race with eight laps down as Dietz finished work in the pits and brought his machine back into the race albeit two laps behind. On the ensuing restart, Garvin elected to start on the high side and was able to put some distance between himself and Ferree while Norris climbed to third when yet another caution waved for a car over the back straightaway. Ferree then took his car to the pits for the night in a bizarre twist of events which allowed Norris to restart alongside Garvin on the front row with 15 laps remaining. On the restart, Garvin once again bolted to the lead, but coming onto the back stretch his car slowed as he used to extended pit lane to bring his machine into the pits, surrendering the lead to Norris with 14 laps to go with Wilson and Boozel behind him up front. Norris quickly put a sizable gap between himself and his would be podium finishers by using the momentum on the high side. Andrew Wylie had been a top 10 and then a top five car for much of the event used made his way around Boozel for the third spot, but out front, Norris was setting a blistering pace, creating a three and a half second advantage over the second running Wilson while Levi Yetter entered the top five with a late race burst of speed. Wilson was able to shave over a second off the gap between himself and Norris, who found himself staring at the lapped cars of RJ Dallape and Tyler Dietz ahead of him with less than five laps left. However, Norris kept his cool and his machine out front to collect his fourth feature win of the year as Wilson and Wylie rounded out the podium.

“I didn’t know he broke and I figured something happened because I had a really good run on him and I thought he would kind of pull even with me,” Norris said in victory lane regarding Garvin’s misfortune. “I would have liked to have gone the whole distance with him and Alex both. Everything’s been falling our way. We’ve been fighting hard and we’ve had a lot of misfortune but it hasn’t quite taken us out yet. I just have to thank my crew, they never give up on me. I tear this thing up all the time and they help me get it back together.”

Precise Racing Products Late Model Feature: (Finish-Name-[Start]) 1. 10-Michael Norris[9]; 2. 27W-Eric Wilson[3]; 3. 84-Andrew Wylie[6]; 4. 9-Levi Yetter[12]; 5. 12B-Andy Boozel[1]; 6. 93-Cory Lawler[2]; 7. 81-Mike Miller[19]; 8. 29-Ken Schaltenbrand[8]; 9. 11-Joshua Powell[14]; 10. 75-RJ Dallape[11]; 11. 9K-Clayton Kennedy[21]; 12. 10L-Gary Lyle[15]; 13. 44-Joe Petyak[13]; 14. 66-Todd Bachman[18]; 15. 27T-Tony White[17]; 16. 28D-Del Rougeux[16]; 17. 77-Tyler Dietz[10]; 18. (DNF) J4-John Garvin Jr[4]; 19. (DNF) 1C-Alex Ferree[5]; 20. (DNF) 1*-Chub Frank[7]; 21. (DNF) 48-Colton Flinner[20]

RUSH Summer Showcase

From Mike Leone- RUSH Racing Series

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 second 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 sixth 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: 29

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. Brad Blackshear (19) 8. Brian Cressley (Hull 41) 9. Brian Hartzell (69) 10. Charlie Utsinger (23) 11. Brandon Blackshear (10) 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*).

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