JEREMY WONDERLING WINS $4350 “DARWIN DAVIS MEMORIAL” IN HOVIS RUSH LATE MODEL FLYNN’S TIRE TOUR RETURN TO WOODHULL AFTER 9 YEARS

By Mike Leone

 

August 8, 2023               FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

(Woodhull, NY)...After unseasonably cool and damp conditions blanketed New York’s Southern Tier for much of Tuesday, skies cleared late afternoon for the return of the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Model Flynn’s Tire Touring Series to Woodhull Raceway after 9 years.  Despite the weather conditions and midweek event, an excellent field of 34 cars turned out for race #16 of the 2023 season.  Thank you to Davis Electric & Lightning and Empire Crushing for making the “Darwin Davis Memorial” possible.

 

Jeremy Wonderling grew up 30 miles from Woodhull Raceway and cut his teeth on the high-banked bullring.  On Tuesday night, Wonderling led all 30 laps of the feature winning in the return of the Series to Woodhull for the first time since the Series’ only appearance on September 27, 2014.  Wonderling held off the staunch challenges by 2017 champion Bryce Davis for his eighth Flynn’s Tire Touring Series victory of the season, which was worth $4,000 plus a $250 bonus from Mike Kerr’s Recycling and $100 from Lane Porter.  Wonderling’s eight Tour victories have come in the last 12 events!

 

“Winning this race is a big deal,” expressed the 43-year-old Wellsville, NY racer.  “I’m sure it would have been cooler if Bryce (Davis) won.  I did race with Darwin (Davis) back in the ‘360’ (Late Model) days and talked to him a little bit, but I really didn’t know him that well before he passed.  Starting position meant a lot tonight but my car was pretty good.  I just wanted to make sure I didn’t overdrive the corners and let someone get underneath me especially in traffic when the dust made it hard to even see the corners.  I felt some bumps a few times and I wanted to be sure to slow down to hit the bottom.  This race car is something really special and works well.  I’m glad all these fans came out on a Tuesday night.”    

 

Wonderling earned the feature pole following his fourth Sunoco Dash victory of the season and took off the lead, while Davis moved past Austin Hauser for second.  Three cautions slowed action.  Throughout the 30-lap event, Davis pressured Wonderling, especially in lapped traffic over the final nine laps, but Wonderling was able to hold on by 0.461 seconds.  Wonderling's 22nd career Flynn’s Tire Tour win came in his Terry Prince Contracting/Close Racing Supply/Cummings Trucking/Shuttleworth Sales/Penske Shocks by JDS/Swift Springs-sponsored #3J.  

 

Davis, who won on May 27 at Genesee Speedway, earned $2,000 in his uncle Darwin’s memorial event.  “It was tough pass and I didn’t want to go a lane or two up or Joe (Martin) would have passed me,” explained the 32-year-old Canisteo, NY driver.  “I was just trying to be conservative and take what was given to me.  My entire family is here and it was nice as it’s been 10-12 years since we’ve had a memorial for him.  It was a nice night with a great turnout of cars and I’m happy with it.  I means a lot to have it at Woodhull.  I grew up racing here when I was 13 years old and live 10 minutes down the road.”

 

Martin earned $1,000 for his fourth podium finish of the season.  “We’ve been struggling a lot lately,” acknowledged the 38-year-old Punxsutawney, Pa. driver.  “Any time you end up on the frontstretch though it’s a good night and we’ll take them anyway we’ll get them.  It was a long night and a new track for us that I’ve never even seen before so we’re happy with third.”

 

Sixth starting Austin Allen, who has two City Chevrolet Weekly Series victories at Woodhull this season, finished fourth as the third year RUSH Late Model driver recorded his first career Series top five.  Hauser, who is in his first year on the Tour, was fifth for his seventh top seven finish in 12 starts.  Kurt Stebbins was sixth.  Chad Homan went 10th to 7th.  Track regular Brian Knowles was 8th after starting 12th.  Mike Wonderling, who is third in Tour points, rebounded from a 16th place starting spot with a 9th place finish.  Logan Jaquay was 10th.

 

Craig Graham earned the $50 Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down” Hard Charger gift card after going 25th to 15th, while his son Brandt finished 16th and received a spoiler kit from Ontime Body & Graphic.  Chuck LaFleur was chosen as the TBM Brakes “Tough Brake of the Night” recipient after getting involved in an opening lap accident, which ended his night.  Woodhull regular Noah Talada made his first career Tour start and was the first feature non-qualifier and received a $100 Performance Bodies gift card for the “Nosed Out” contingency.

 

Alan Chapman ended the night winning the D&V Jewelers Non-Qualifier.  The eight-lap race had three different leaders with Chapman getting by RUSH Futures Cup rookie Marshall O’Brian on lap three.  The 40-year-old Syracuse, NY driver earned $200 in his Chapman Racing/IDM Innovations/Absolute Powerwashing Pros/Brian & Sue Chapman-sponsored #64c.  The five-time 2023 Skyline Raceway Motorsports City Chevrolet Weekly Series winner and current Track Pack leader became the amazing 69th different winner in 85 races run all-time!  Tubbs, who started fifth, was second over Hunter Proctor, seventh starting Patrick Parker, and O’Brian.

 

Allen earned his first career $100 FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Qualifying honor setting fast time over the 34-car field with a lap of 16.669.  The FK Rod Ends heat races paid $100 thanks to $75 from Pittsburgh’s PA Motor Speedway “Jook George Steel City Classic” promoter Branden Lockwich and $25 from FK Rod Ends, and were won by Allen, Stebbins, Jaquay, and Davis. 

 

Jeremy Wonderling’s Sunoco Dash victory earned him a $100 Sunoco fuel card, while Mike Wonderling and Davis also received $100 Sunoco fuel cards in random drawings.  The $50 Sunoco fuel card random drawing winners were Rickie Loucks, O’Brian, Tubbs, and Todd Chapman.

 

The Flynn’s Tire Tour will now be off until Sunday, August 27 for the rescheduled “Manufacturers Night” presented by MSD Performance at Eriez Speedway in a $3,000 to-win Marquee Event.

 

Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Model Flynn’s Tire Touring Series Race #16 (30 laps, $4,350 to-win) (Platinum): 1. JEREMY WONDERLING (3J)  2. Bryce Davis (94)  3. Joe Martin (Snyder 10s)  4. Austin Allen (32)  5. Austin Hauser (51)  6. Kurt Stebbins (26)  7. Chad Homan (91)  8. Brian Knowles (7)  9. Mike Wonderling (18)  10. Logan Jaquay (Briggs 99*)  11. Aaron Miller (20)  12. Dusty Waters (14)  13. Jason Knowles (4)  14. Brad Mesler (Sturdevant 87S)  15. Craig Graham (98)  16. Brandt Graham (14)  17. Jim Rasey (Wrightsman 21J)  18. Zack Carley (2)  19. Brett Marlatt (99)  20. Steve LeBarron (29)  21. John Waters (LeBarron 11)  22. Rickie Loucks (4R)  23. Cody Dawson (36)  24. Joe Layfield (121)  25. Chuck LaFleur (61)  26. Brock Pinkerous (555)-DSQ (unsportsmanlike conduct).

 

D&V Jewelers Non-Qualifier (8 laps, $200 to-win): 1. Alan Chapman (64c)  2. Jacob Tubbs (89JR)  3. Hunter Proctor (432)  4. Patrick Parker (99)  5. Marshall O’Brian (32)  6. Todd Chapman (T54)  7. Noah Talada (5W).  DNS: Jason Dobson (75).

 

Car Count: 34

Feature Margin of Victory: 0.461 seconds
Feature Lap Leaders: Jeremy Wonderling (1-30)

Ontime Body & Graphic “Spoiler Alert” Spoiler Kit: Brandt Graham

Performance Bodies “Nosed Out”: Noah Talada

Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down” Hard Charger: Craig Graham (+10)

Sunoco Fuel Card Winners: Jeremy Wonderling ($100), Bryce Davis ($100), Rickie Loucks ($50), Marshall O’Brian ($50), Jacob Tubbs ($50), Todd Chapman ($50)

TBM Brakes “Tough Brake of the Night”: Chuck LaFleur

 

FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Qualifying ($100 for fast time):  1. 32A-Austin Allen, 00:16.669[16]; 2. 26-Kurt Stebbins, 00:16.673[19]; 3. 99*-Logan Jaquay, 00:16.706[27]; 4. 4-Jason Knowles, 00:16.726[7]; 5. 36-Cody Dawson, 00:16.740[2]; 6. 10S-Joe Martin, 00:16.741[31]; 7. 51-Austin Hauser, 00:16.746[6]; 8. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling, 00:16.815[34]; 9. 61-Chuck LaFleur, 00:16.824[22]; 10. 91-Chad Homan, 00:16.848[12]; 11. 20-Aaron Miller, 00:16.923[17]; 12. 94-Bryce Davis, 00:16.934[10]; 13. 99M-Brett Marlatt, 00:16.975[33]; 14. 555-Brock Pinkerous, 00:17.051[21]; 15. 14-Brandt Graham, 00:17.054[28]; 16. 89JR-Jacob Tubbs, 00:17.104[26]; 17. 14W-Dusty Waters, 00:17.109[11]; 18. 32M-Marshall O'Brian, 00:17.109[13]; 19. 4R-Rickie Loucks, 00:17.123[3]; 20. 7-Brian Knowles, 00:17.130[8]; 21. 21J-Jim Rasey, 00:17.184[4]; 22. 11L-John Waters, 00:17.274[18]; 23. 5W-Noah Talada, 00:17.288[1]; 24. 29L-Steve LeBarron, 00:17.325[30]; 25. 121-Joe Layfield, 00:17.380[32]; 26. 87S-Brad Mesler, 00:17.386[15]; 27. 2C-Zack Carley, 00:17.447[14]; 28. 18-Mike Wonderling, 00:17.585[9]; 29. 75-Jason Dobson, 00:17.886[24]; 30. 98-Craig Graham, 00:17.904[20]; 31. T54-Todd Chapman, 00:18.125[29]; 32. 64C-Alan Chapman, 00:18.242[23]; 33. 432-Hunter Proctor, 00:18.397[5]; 34. 99P-Patrick Parker, 00:18.460[25].

 

FK Rod Ends Heat 1 (8 laps, Top 5 transfer to A, $100 to-win): 1. 32A-Austin Allen[1]; 2. 36-Cody Dawson[2]; 3. 14W-Dusty Waters[5]; 4. 61-Chuck LaFleur[3]; 5. 99M-Brett Marlatt[4]; 6. 21J-Jim Rasey[6]; 7. 121-Joe Layfield[7]; 8. 75-Jason Dobson[8]; 9. 432-Hunter Proctor[9].

 

FK Rod Ends Heat 2 (8 laps, Top 5 transfer to A, $100 to-win): 1. 26-Kurt Stebbins[1]; 2. 10S-Joe Martin[2]; 3. 91-Chad Homan[3]; 4. 11L-John Waters[6]; 5. 87S-Brad Mesler[7]; 6. 555-Brock Pinkerous[4]; 7. 98-Craig Graham[8]; 8. 32M-Marshall O'Brian[5]; 9. 99P-Patrick Parker[9].

 

FK Rod Ends Heat 3 (8 laps, Top 5 transfer to A, $100 to-win): 1. 99*-Logan Jaquay[1]; 2. 51-Austin Hauser[2]; 3. 20-Aaron Miller[3]; 4. 4R-Rickie Loucks[5]; 5. 14-Brandt Graham[4]; 6. 2C-Zack Carley[7]; 7. 5W-Noah Talada[6]; 8. T54-Todd Chapman[8].

 

FK Rod Ends Heat 4 (8 laps, Top 5 transfer to A, $100 to-win): 1. 94-Bryce Davis[3]; 2. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling[2]; 3. 7-Brian Knowles[5]; 4. 18-Mike Wonderling[7]; 5. 29L-Steve LeBarron[6]; 6. 4-Jason Knowles[1]; 7. 89JR-Jacob Tubbs[4]; 8. 64C-Alan Chapman[8].

 

Last Chance B Main 1 (8 laps, Top 2 transfer to A): 1. 555-Brock Pinkerous[2]; 2. 21J-Jim Rasey[1]; 3. 98-Craig Graham[4]; 4. 75-Jason Dobson[5]; 5. 121-Joe Layfield[3]; 6. 432-Hunter Proctor[7]; 7. 32M-Marshall O'Brian[6]; 8. 99P-Patrick Parker[8].

 

Last Chance B Main 2 (8 laps, Top 2 transfer to A): 1. 4-Jason Knowles[2]; 2. 2C-Zack Carley[1]; 3. 5W-Noah Talada[3]; 4. T54-Todd Chapman[5]; 5. 64C-Alan Chapman[6]; 6. 89JR-Jacob Tubbs[4].

 

Sunoco Dash (6 laps, $100 Sunoco fuel card to-win): 1. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling[1]; 2. 51-Austin Hauser[2]; 3. 94-Bryce Davis[4]; 4. 26-Kurt Stebbins[3]; 5. 10S-Joe Martin[5]; 6. 32A-Austin Allen[7]; 7. 99*-Logan Jaquay[6]; 8. 36-Cody Dawson[8].

 

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 [email protected] 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.

 

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