LOCAL RACER JOE WARREN SCORES UPSET CAREER 1ST FLYNN’S TIRE TOURING SERIES VICTORY AT DELAWARE IN NIGHT 1 OF THE “BATTLE OF THE BAY” SPEEDWEEK PRESENTED BY 3C GRAPHIX FOR HOVIS RUSH LATE MODELS

By Mike Leone

 

April 13, 2022               FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

(Delmar, DE)...The Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Dirt Late Model Series presented by Born2Run Lubricants kicked off the fourth annual “Battle of the Bay” Speedweek presented by 3C Graphix on Wednesday night.  It marked the first appearance by the Flynn’s Tire Touring Series at the half-mile Delaware International Speedway since 2019 after the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the 2020 event and rain washed out the 2021 event.  Sunshine and temps in the low 80s graced fans along with competitors from seven different states (Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia) plus Ontario, Canada.

 

After tracking down defending Touring and National Weekly Series Champion Kyle Hardy in his heat race then winning the Sunoco Dash to earn the feature pole, local racer Joe Warren pulled off a big upset victory in the opening round of the “Battle of the Bay” Speedweek presented by 3C Graphix.  Warren led wire-to-wire in the 30-lap feature fending off a late charge by 2018 “Battle of the Bay” Champion and Mid-Atlantic star Logan Roberson to capture his first career Flynn’s Tire Tour win worth $3,000.  Warren joined Super Late Model standout Ross Robinson as the only Delaware racers to ever capture a RUSH Late Model Touring Series victory.

 

“I got a sinus infection the other day and couldn’t even get out of bed yesterday,” revealed the 47-year-old Georgetown, Delaware winner.  “My wife was upset I was even coming tonight, but I drank all of my fluids and took my medicine.  It’s hard to miss this stuff when we’re addicted to this like we are.  We do whatever it takes to get here to race in front of these fans, and to smell this burning fuel- that’s what we live for!  When you come to one of these ‘Battle of the Bay’ races it’s tough; people come from all over then you have guys that run Super Lates too and have two or three cars in the shop.  In my heat race alone there were four people that could have won that easily.    I work on this thing by myself and do whatever it takes to get here so this is a big win for me and my team.”

 

An opening lap tangle in turn three between Austin Hubbard and opening night Winchester Speedway RUSH Weekly Series winner Tyler Hoy created another try at the initial start.  Once racing got underway, Warren continued his speed as he had shown throughout the night taking the early lead, while Trevor Collins passed Roberson for second.  Matt Hill and Amanda Robinson meanwhile filled out the top five after the first circuit.

 

By lap three, Warren and Collins began to distance themselves from the field, while in the ensuing laps Roberson was able to break free from any battles behind him.  As the laps ticked off caution-free, Warren had opened up a two second lead on Collins by the time he caught lapped traffic on lap 11.  Collins slowly chewed into Warren’s lead and by lap 18 Roberson had caught Collins and Warren making it a three-car battle for the lead.  Warren got a big break when last year’s Flynn’s Tire Tour runner-up point man Joe Martin spun between turns one and two bringing out the last stoppage of the event, which put Warren in clean air for the remainder of the event.

 

When racing resumed for the final time, Warren resumed his lead, while Roberson and Robinson passed Collins for second and third respectively.  Hill had a tough restart dropping from fourth to ninth, while Hardy moved into the top five for the first time of the event.  Warren had a pretty comfortable lead in the ensuing laps until lap 27 when Roberson began to close in.  With two laps to go, it appeared Roberson was going to have the opportunity to overtake Warren as he was right there; however, Warren hit his marks perfectly on the last two laps and took the checkered flag first by 0.891 seconds in his Iron Source/Atlantic Prime Mortgage/Hunter Creel Homes/MF Stonework/Meineke/WMF Watercraft Marine/Advance Auto Parts-sponsored #11.

 

Warren became the 40th different driver to win a RUSH Flynn’s Tire Touring Series event all-time with his victory in the 10th season opener.  In addition to the $3,000, Warren received a spoiler kit from Ontime Body & Graphic along with a five-gallon Race Jug from Precise Racing Products.  

 

Roberson earned $1,500 for second.  “We had a great CVR race car tonight,” acknowledged the 24-year-old Waynesboro, Virginia racer.  “We tuned on it and I feel like we did all the right things and adjustments tonight.  He (Warren) is where we need to be though.  He did an awesome job and drove a great race.  I couldn’t be happier for him; if I couldn’t win then I’d rather he win so congrats to him.  Also congrats to Amanda on third and I want to thank all of the fans for coming out and supporting this place.”

 

Robinson’s third place effort was her best since a third at the last Delaware International Speedway event in 2019.  “That was fun,” stated the 27-year-old Georgetown, Delaware driver.  “I wish we could have moved around a little bit, but it’s definitely a good run for us and it’s in one piece so we’ll try again tomorrow.  I have to thank Ross (Robinson) for letting me get back behind the seat and have some fun.  We’re going to be on the road a lot this season with him.”

 

Despite losing two positions on the final restart, Collins held on to fourth for his best career Flynn’s Tire Tour finish.  Hardy, who won the RUSH Weekly Series season opener at Potomac, was fifth.  Local Late Model standout Donald Lingo, Jr. was sixth as Delaware racers captured four of the top six spots.  Ohio’s Bud Watson had a good run in seventh after starting 12th.  Potomac Speedway star Jeremy Pilkerton was eighth.  Hill faded to ninth.  West Virginia’s Garret Paugh charged from 23rd to complete the top 10 and earned a $50 Precise Racing Products gift card for being the “Pedal Down” Hard Charger.

 

David Dill, Jr. joined Warren in victory lane giving First State racers a sweep of the night.  The 19-year-old Camden Wyoming, Delaware resident out-dueled Ohio Big-Block Modified standout Jim Rasey on the opening lap and drove away to win the $200 Non-Qualifier.  Dill’s margin of victory was 2.587 seconds in the David Dill, Sr. owned, Eastern Shore Pole Building/Bill’s Concrete Masonry/AAP-sponsored #24.  Dill became the amazing 52nd different Non-Qualifier winner in 63 races run all-time.  Megan Mann had went fifth to third in two laps, but faded in the closing laps as Rasey regained second at the finish.  Rasey also received a $100 gift card from Performance Bodies for being the “Nosed Out” recipient.  New York’s Andy Michael had dropped out of the top five early on, but raced back up to third at the finish with Mann holding off Ashton Briggs for fourth.

 

Hardy set fast time over the 36-car field in FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Qualifying to earn $100 with a lap of 20.481.  Picking up $25 FK Rod Ends heat race wins were Hardy, Lingo, Roberson, and Hill.  Brady Wonderling and Justin Fulton copped the twin last chance B mains.  Warren received a $100 Sunoco fuel card for winning the dash, while Tour regulars Hardy and Jeremy Wonderling won the $100 Sunoco fuel card random draws.  Receiving $50 Sunoco fuel cards through random draws were Craig Graham, Brandt Graham, Pilkerton, and Hill.

 

The Flynn’s Tire Touring Series will head 20 miles to Georgetown (DE) Speedway on Thursday night for round two of the fourth annual “Battle of the Bay” Speedweek presented by 3C Graphix for another $3,000 to-win event.  Pit passes go on sale at 4 p.m., drivers meeting at 6 with warmups at 6:20.

 

Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Model Flynn’s Tire Touring Series “Battle of the Bay” Speedweek presented by 3C Graphix Race #1 (30 laps, $3,000 to-win): 1. JOE WARREN (11)  2. Logan Roberson (17)  3. Amanda Robinson (4)  4. Trevor Collins (72)  5. Kyle Hardy (99)  6. Donald Lingo, Jr. (Ritter 15)  7. Bud Watson (225)  8. Jeremy Pilkerton (8)  9. Matt Hill (84)  10. Garret Paugh (03)  11. Nick Davis (92)  12. Breyton Santee (9)  13. Austin Hubbard (Klink 49)  14. Derek Magee (96)  15. Ben Scott (80)  16. Brady Wonderling (z1)  17. Jeremy Wonderling (3J)  18. Justin Fulton (6)  19. Mason Diaz (24)  20. Joe Martin (Snyder 10s)  21. Michael Duritsky, Jr. (90J)  22. Matt Latta (21)  23. Jonathan Stockdale (31)  24. Tyler Hoy (71T)  25. Cody Dawson (36).  (Note: Joe Martin took a Tour provisional)

 

Non-Qualifier (10 laps, $200 to-win): 1. David Dill, Jr. (24)  2. Jim Rasey (Wrightsman 21J)  3. Andy Michael (17x)  4. Megan Mann (55)  5. Ashton Briggs (11A)  6. Brandt Graham (14)  7. Craig Graham (98)  8. James Loar (62)  9. Brett Hope (49)  10. Timmy Booth (95)  11. Kyle Sopaz (12).

 

Car Count: 36

Feature Margin of Victory: 0.891 seconds
Feature Lap Leaders:
Joe Warren (1-30)

Ontime Body & Graphic “Spoiler Alert” Spoiler Kit: Joe Warren

Performance Bodies “Nosed Out”: Jim Rasey

Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down” Hard Charger: Garret Paugh (+13)

Precise Racing Products 5-Gallon Race Jug: Joe Warren

Sunoco Fuel Card Winners: Kyle Hardy ($100), Jeremy Wonderling ($100), Craig Graham ($50), Brandt Graham ($50), Jeremy Pilkerton ($50), Matt Hill ($50)

TBM Brakes “Tough Brake of the Night”: Cody Dawson

 

FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Qualifying ($100 for fast time) (Track record 19.624 by Max Blair on 4/17/19): 1. 99-Kyle Hardy, 00:20.481[7]; 2. 15R-Donald Lingo Jr, 00:20.494[19]; 3. 17R-Logan Roberson, 00:20.586[1]; 4. 84-Matt Hill, 00:20.710[26]; 5. 36-Cody Dawson, 00:20.725[15]; 6. 21L-Matt Latta, 00:20.732[17]; 7. 90J-Michael Duritsky Jr, 00:20.818[32]; 8. 225-Bud Watson, 00:20.829[3]; 9. 11W-Joe Warren, 00:20.864[21]; 10. 8-Jeremy Pilkerton, 00:20.866[29]; 11. 6F-Justin Fulton, 00:20.877[6]; 12. 4R-Amanda Robinson, 00:20.877[31]; 13. Z1-Brady Wonderling, 00:20.892[20]; 14. 55-Megan Mann, 00:20.904[28]; 15. 72-Trevor Collins, 00:20.931[10]; 16. 10S-Joe Martin, 00:20.962[23]; 17. 9S-Breyton Santee, 00:20.968[30]; 18. 80-Ben Scott, 00:20.995[5]; 19. 96-Derek Magee, 00:21.074[13]; 20. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling, 00:21.133[22]; 21. 49K-Austin Hubbard, 00:21.145[25]; 22. 03-Garret Paugh, 00:21.149[34]; 23. 24M-Mason Diaz, 00:21.164[35]; 24. 71T-Tyler Hoy, 00:21.216[2]; 25. 14-Brandt Graham, 00:21.240[9]; 26. 92-Nick Davis, 00:21.278[4]; 27. 24D-David Dill Jr, 00:21.307[18]; 28. 31-Johnathan Stockdale, 00:21.339[33]; 29. 21J-Jim Rasey, 00:21.500[11]; 30. 98-Craig Graham, 00:21.512[27]; 31. 95-Timmy Booth, 00:21.643[12]; 32. 11A-Ashton Briggs, 00:21.676[14]; 33. 17X-Andy Michael, 00:21.772[24]; 34. 62-James Loar, 00:22.191[16]; 35. 49H-Brett Hope, 00:22.232[8]; 36. 12S-Kyle Sopaz, NT.

  

FK Rod Ends Heat 1 (8 laps, Top 5 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 99-Kyle Hardy[1]; 2. 11W-Joe Warren[3]; 3. 36-Cody Dawson[2]; 4. 49K-Austin Hubbard[6]; 5. 9S-Breyton Santee[5]; 6. Z1-Brady Wonderling[4]; 7. 21J-Jim Rasey[8]; 8. 17X-Andy Michael[9]; 9. (DNS) 14-Brandt Graham.

 

FK Rod Ends Heat 2 (8 laps, Top 5 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 15R-Donald Lingo Jr[1]; 2. 21L-Matt Latta[2]; 3. 8-Jeremy Pilkerton[3]; 4. 92-Nick Davis[7]; 5. 80-Ben Scott[5]; 6. 03-Garret Paugh[6]; 7. 98-Craig Graham[8]; 8. 62-James Loar[9]; 9. 55-Megan Mann[4].

 

FK Rod Ends Heat 3 (8 laps, Top 5 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 17R-Logan Roberson[1]; 2. 72-Trevor Collins[4]; 3. 90J-Michael Duritsky Jr[2]; 4. 96-Derek Magee[5]; 5. 24M-Mason Diaz[6]; 6. 6F-Justin Fulton[3]; 7. 24D-David Dill Jr[7]; 8. 49H-Brett Hope[9]; 9. 95-Timmy Booth[8].

 

FK Rod Ends Heat 4 (8 laps, Top 5 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 84-Matt Hill[1]; 2. 4R-Amanda Robinson[3]; 3. 225-Bud Watson[2]; 4. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling[5]; 5. 31-Johnathan Stockdale[7]; 6. 10S-Joe Martin[4]; 7. 71T-Tyler Hoy[6]; 8. 11A-Ashton Briggs[8]; 9. 12S-Kyle Sopaz[9].

 

Last Chance B Main 1 (8 laps, Top 2 transfer to A): 1. Z1-Brady Wonderling[1]; 2. 03-Garret Paugh[2]; 3. 21J-Jim Rasey[3]; 4. 17X-Andy Michael[5]; 5. 55-Megan Mann[8]; 6. 62-James Loar[6]; 7. 14-Brandt Graham[7]; 8. 98-Craig Graham[4].

 

Last Chance B Main 2 (8 laps, Top 2 transfer to A): 1. 6F-Justin Fulton[1]; 2. 71T-Tyler Hoy[4]; 3. 24D-David Dill Jr[3]; 4. 95-Timmy Booth[7]; 5. 11A-Ashton Briggs[6]; 6. 10S-Joe Martin[2]; 7. 49H-Brett Hope[5]; 8. 12S-Kyle Sopaz[8].

 

Sunoco Dash (6 laps, $100 Sunoco fuel card to-win): 1. 11W-Joe Warren[1]; 2. 17R-Logan Roberson[6]; 3. 72-Trevor Collins[5]; 4. 4R-Amanda Robinson[4]; 5. 84-Matt Hill[7]; 6. 99-Kyle Hardy[3]; 7. 21L-Matt Latta[8]; 8. 15R-Donald Lingo Jr[2].

 

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, Drum Preserve, CrateInsider.com, and Stop-Fyre.

 

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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