4/14/2023
RUSH Late Model Series
MAX BLAIR’S 1ST FLYNN’S TIRE TOURING SERIES VICTORY IN 2.5 YEARS IS MILESTONE WIN #30 & COMES AT GEORGETOWN IN NIGHT 2 OF THE 3C GRAPHIX “BATTLE OF TH
MAX BLAIR’S 1ST FLYNN’S TIRE TOURING SERIES VICTORY IN 2.5 YEARS IS MILESTONE WIN #30 & COMES AT GEORGETOWN IN NIGHT 2 OF THE 3C GRAPHIX “BATTLE OF THE BAY” SPEEDWEEK FOR HOVIS RUSH LATE MODELS
By Mike Leone
April 13, 2023 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Georgetown, DE)...The Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Dirt Late Model Series presented by Born2Run Lubricants headed 20 miles northeast to Georgetown Speedway for round two of the fifth annual “Battle of the Bay” Speedweek presented by 3C Graphix on Thursday night. It was the first time for RUSH racers to compete on the newly shortened 4/10-mile oval. For the second straight day, sunshine and temps in the mid-80s graced fans along with competitors from seven different states (Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia) plus Ontario, Canada. Three new drivers brought the number to 42 different competitors in the first two nights of Speedweek. The event was again streamed live on FloRacing.
Max Blair, the 2019 “Battle of the Bay” Speedweek Champion, led wire-to-wire in the 30-lap feature fending off a race-long challenge by Trevor Collins and a late charge by 21st starting Austin Hubbard to earn his all-time leading and milestone 30th career Flynn’s Tire Touring Series victory, but first since October 17, 2020 at Lernerville Speedway. Blair’s fourth “Battle of the Bay” victory was worth $3,000 and tied him with Wednesday night winner Kyle Hardy for second on that win list.
“This is a really cool deal Mike (Leone) and Vicki (Emig) put together for crate guys,” expressed the 33-year-old Centerville, Pa. star. “I love coming down here and we always have a lot of fun. We couldn’t come down last year, but this deal came together so we could do it. I was absolutely concerned about Trevor Collins because I know how good he is here. I thank him for racing me clean. We were okay, but I would come and go. I could hit three corners good and miss the next three, but it’s probably me. I haven’t drove one of these (crate) in so long. My entry points are just so off from where I think they should be because I’m not getting there as fast as I expect to be. I’m getting the hang of it again so hopefully we can grab one or two more wins before the weekend is over. It’s awesome to get 30 wins in the Series. I’m still a crate racer trying to race Super Late Models. We’re out there on the road learning and trying to get better every week. We’ve learned some things this week that will hopefully translate to the Super Late Model that will maybe help us down the road.”
Following his victory in the Sunoco Dash, Blair charged into the lead at the start of the feature with Collins in second, while Joe Martin passed Cody Dawson and Bryce Davis for third. By lap two, the top two of Blair and Collins quickly distanced themselves from the field, while the battle was on for fourth as sixth starting Garret Paugh advanced two spots, while eighth starting Charlie Sandercock moved to fifth past Davis. Sandercock continued to move forward passing Paugh for fourth on lap three and Martin for third following a restart on lap six. Martin didn’t go away as he battled side-by-side with Sandercock regaining the third position on lap seven.
All eyes shifted to Hubbard, who was quickly charging through the field. Hubbard made a three-wide move on lap nine to advance into fifth past Jeremy Wonderling and Davis before a caution for Hardy. When racing resumed, Hubbard disposed of Sandercock then passed Martin for third on lap 11. Davis would exit the event and received the TBM Brakes “Tough Brake of the Night” award.
Lapped traffic came into play for the first time of the event on lap 19 allowing Collins to quickly close on Blair. Collins was right on the leader on lap 20; however, a caution for a spinning Brock Pinkerous right in front of Blair brought out the event’s final caution with 21 laps scored, and wasn’t what Collins wanted to see.
When green replaced yellow, Hubbard snuck under Collins for second, but Collins charged back by at the conclusion of lap 22. Collins stayed with Blair over the final eight laps, but was never close enough to seriously challenge for the victory as Blair took the checkered flag first by 1.102 seconds in the Briggs Transport-owned, Murphy’s Logging/C&J Dairy/Excess Storage/Previty’s Auto Wrecking/Northwest Bus Service/Cornerstone Builders-sponsored, Rocket Chassis #1.
Collins was second for the second straight night and earned $1,500 once again as he is tied with Blair for the “Battle of the Bay” Speedweek points lead. Collins also received a spoiler kit from Ontime Body & Graphic. “I rolled him (Blair) a little bit on that restart but had to check up and it’s another night I didn’t need another caution,” explained the 24-year-old from nearby Seaford, Delaware. “He was getting bottled up in traffic and was starting to come back to me. I thought we were going to have a good race, but the caution came out again. It is what it is and to finish second is always nice. These guys out here are all good and you can’t hang your head with a second. That was a heck of a run for Austin (Hubbard) from the back. This place is fast tonight. I can’t thank everyone enough for coming out and everyone that helps out to make this possible.”
After missing the first night, Hubbard’s team got their engine installed at 1:30 p.m. then fought gremlins throughout the night before his charge through the field to earn third and the $50 Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down” Hard Charger gift card. After struggling on Wednesday at Delaware, Martin was fourth over 11th starting Wonderling. Nick Davis went 12th to sixth as Jeremy Pilkerton, 17th starting Matt Glanden, 15th starting Chad Sines, and Michael Duritsky, Jr. completed the top 10.
Brandt Graham closed out the night winning the D&V Jewelers Non-Qualifier. Graham was the final leader in a race that had three different leaders in six laps. Matt Tepper led lap one before Travis Justice charged into the lead on lap two with Graham trailing. Graham closed in on Justice on lap four and the duo raced side-by-side on lap five with Graham slipping under for the lead off turn two. Graham earned $200 as the Orono, Ontario, Canada racer captured his second career Non-Qualifier win, which came in his Full Circle Automation/Arcade Pools/Goat Transport-sponsored #14. Justice was second. Tepper dropped to third and also received a $100 Performance Bodies gift card for being the “Nosed Out” contingency winner. Craig Graham was fourth.
Martin set fast time in FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Qualifying with a lap of 19.629 to earn $100. Winning $25 FK Rod End heat races were Martin, Cody Dawson, Collins, and Blair. Canadian Joe Brosseau and Hubbard won the twin last chance B mains. Blair won the Sunoco Dash to earn a $100 Sunoco fuel card. Tour racers Ashton Briggs and Brosseau won $100 Sunoco fuel cards, while Ryan Hare, Tepper, Joe Warren, and Glanden won $50 cards.
The Flynn’s Tire Touring Series will move on to the Potomac Speedway in Budds Creek, MD for round three of the fifth annual “Battle of the Bay” Speedweek presented by 3C Graphix for another $3,000 to-win event. Pit passes go on sale at 3 p.m., drivers meeting at 6:30 with warmups at 7.
Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Model Flynn’s Tire Touring Series “Battle of the Bay” Speedweek presented by 3C Graphix Race #2 (30 laps, $3,000 to-win): 1. MAX BLAIR (Briggs 1) 2. Trevor Collins (72) 3. Austin Hubbard (Klink 49) 4. Joe Martin (Snyder 10s) 5. Jeremy Wonderling (3J) 6. Nick Davis (92) 7. Jeremy Pilkerton (8) 8. Matt Glanden (01) 9. Chad Sines (15) 10. Michael Duritsky, Jr. (90J) 11. Kyle Hardy (99) 12. Garret Paugh (03) 13. Cody Dawson (36) 14. Charlie Sandercock (57) 15. Matt Latta (21) 16. Joe Brosseau (47B) 17. Brock Pinkerous (555) 18. Kyle Sopaz (11) 19. Bryce Davis (94) 20. Russell Erwin (22) 21. Ashton Briggs (11A) 22. Ben Scott (80) 23. Jim Rasey (Wrightsman 21J) 24. Andy Michael (17x) 25. Tyler Hoy (71T). (Note: Ben Scott took a Tour provisional.)
Non-Qualifier (6 laps, $200 to-win): 1. Brandt Graham (14) 2. Travis Justice (23) 3. Matt Tepper (90) 4,. Craig Graham (98). DNS: Ryan Hare (29), Greg Carrico (McBee 11), Mike Wonderling (18), Jason Knowles (4), Marc Berzowski (25M), Kerry King (KB), Megan Mann (55), Joe Warren (11), Demetrios Drellos (111), Matt Hill (84).
Car Count: 39
Feature Margin of Victory: 1.102 seconds
Feature Lap Leaders: Max Blair (1-30)
Ontime Body & Graphic “Spoiler Alert” Spoiler Kit: Trevor Collins
Performance Bodies “Nosed Out”: Matt Tepper
Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down” Hard Charger: Austin Hubbard (+18)
Sunoco Fuel Card Winners: Ashton Briggs ($100), Joe Brosseau ($100), Ryan Hare ($50), Matt Tepper ($50), Joe Warren ($50), Matt Glanden ($50).
TBM Brakes “Tough Brake of the Night”: Bryce Davis
FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Flight A Qualifying ($100 for fast time): 1. 10S-Joe Martin, 00:19.629[19] (*NTR); 2. 36-Cody Dawson, 00:20.112[13]; 3. 57-Charlie Sandercock, 00:20.206[9]; 4. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling, 00:20.219[17]; 5. 99-Kyle Hardy, 00:20.252[15]; 6. 03-Garret Paugh, 00:20.382[5]; 7. 80-Ben Scott, 00:20.390[11]; 8. 23J-Travis Justice, 00:20.621[2]; 9. 555-Brock Pinkerous, 00:20.691[7]; 10. 15-Chad Sines, 00:20.782[20]; 11. 47B-Joe Brosseau, 00:20.792[14]; 12. 71T-Tyler Hoy, 00:20.795[1]; 13. 01-Matt Glanden, 00:20.887[18]; 14. KB-Kerry King, 00:21.072[4]; 15. 18-Mike Wonderling, 00:21.180[6]; 16. 21L-Matt Latta, 00:21.236[12]; 17. 90T-Matt Tepper, 00:21.419[8]; 18. 111D-Demetrios Drellos, 00:21.700[3]; 19. 11M-Gregory Carrico, 00:22.451[10]; 20. (DNS) 84-Matt Hill, 00:22.452.
FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Flight B Qualifying ($100 for fast time): 1. 72-Trevor Collins, 00:19.847[18]; 2. 49K-Austin Hubbard, 00:19.873[12]; 3. 94-Bryce Davis, 00:19.989[16]; 4. 111-Max Blair, 00:20.007[4]; 5. 90J-Michael Duritsky Jr, 00:20.108[15]; 6. 17X-Andy Michael, 00:20.243[17]; 7. 8-Jeremy Pilkerton, 00:20.320[3]; 8. 22-Russell Erwin, 00:20.381[9]; 9. 11A-Ashton Briggs, 00:20.420[2]; 10. 4-Jason Knowles, 00:20.453[13]; 11. 21J-Jim Rasey, 00:20.462[1]; 12. 11S-Kyle Sopaz, 00:20.511[11]; 13. 11W-Joe Warren, 00:20.649[6]; 14. 92-Nick Davis, 00:20.761[7]; 15. 14-Brandt Graham, 00:21.081[14]; 16. 29-Ryan Hare, 00:21.287[19]; 17. 55-Megan Mann, 00:21.507[5]; 18. 98-Craig Graham, 00:21.552[10]; 19. 25M-Marc Berzowski, 00:21.824[8].
FK Rod Ends Heat 1 (8 laps, Top 5 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 10S-Joe Martin[1]; 2. 57-Charlie Sandercock[2]; 3. 99-Kyle Hardy[3]; 4. 555-Brock Pinkerous[5]; 5. 01-Matt Glanden[7]; 6. 47B-Joe Brosseau[6]; 7. 18-Mike Wonderling[8]; 8. 90T-Matt Tepper[9]; 9. 11M-Gregory Carrico[10]; 10. 80-Ben Scott[4].
FK Rod Ends Heat 2 (8 laps, Top 5 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 36-Cody Dawson[1]; 2. 03-Garret Paugh[3]; 3. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling[2]; 4. 15-Chad Sines[5]; 5. 71T-Tyler Hoy[6]; 6. 21L-Matt Latta[8]; 7. 23J-Travis Justice[4]; 8. KB-Kerry King[7]; 9. (DNS) 111D-Demetrios Drellos. DNS: 84-Matt Hill.
FK Rod Ends Heat 3 (8 laps, Top 5 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 72-Trevor Collins[1]; 2. 94-Bryce Davis[2]; 3. 8-Jeremy Pilkerton[4]; 4. 90J-Michael Duritsky Jr[3]; 5. 11A-Ashton Briggs[5]; 6. 21J-Jim Rasey[6]; 7. 14-Brandt Graham[8]; 8. 25M-Marc Berzowski[10]; 9. 55-Megan Mann[9]; 10. 11W-Joe Warren[7].
FK Rod Ends Heat 4 (8 laps, Top 5 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 111-Max Blair[2]; 2. 22-Russell Erwin[4]; 3. 92-Nick Davis[7]; 4. 17X-Andy Michael[3]; 5. 11S-Kyle Sopaz[6]; 6. 4-Jason Knowles[5]; 7. 29-Ryan Hare[8]; 8. 98-Craig Graham[9]; 9. 49K-Austin Hubbard[1].
Last Chance B Main 1 (8 laps, Top 2 transfer to A): 1. 47B-Joe Brosseau[1]; 2. 21L-Matt Latta[2]; 3. 90T-Matt Tepper[5]; 4. 23J-Travis Justice[4]; 5. 11M-Gregory Carrico[7]; 6. 18-Mike Wonderling[3]; 7. 80-Ben Scott[8]. DNS: KB-Kerry King, 111D-Demetrios Drellos, 84-Matt Hill.
Last Chance B Main 2 (10 laps, Top 2 transfer to A): 1. 49K-Austin Hubbard[8]; 2. 21J-Jim Rasey[1]; 3. 14-Brandt Graham[3]; 4. 29-Ryan Hare[4]; 5. 98-Craig Graham[6]. DNS: 4-Jason Knowles, 25M-Marc Berzowski, 55-Megan Mann, 11W-Joe Warren.
Sunoco Dash (6 laps, $100 Sunoco fuel card to-win): 1. 111-Max Blair[1]; 2. 72-Trevor Collins[3]; 3. 94-Bryce Davis[4]; 4. 36-Cody Dawson[2]; 5. 10S-Joe Martin[7]; 6. 03-Garret Paugh[6]; 7. 22-Russell Erwin[8]; 8. 57-Charlie Sandercock[5].
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, 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, Novus Home Mortgage Hermitage, 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