LOGAN ROBERSON ENDS 3-YEAR WINLESS DROUGHT ON FLYNN’S TIRE TOUR BY OUT-DUELING DEFENDING CHAMP KYLE HARDY AT POTOMAC’S HOVIS RUSH LATE MODEL 3C GRAPHIX “BATTLE OF THE BAY” SPEEDWEEK EVENT

By Mike Leone

 

April 15, 2022               FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

(Mechanicsville, MD)...After a rain out on Thursday night at Georgetown Speedway, the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Dirt Late Model Series presented by Born2Run Lubricants resumed the fourth annual “Battle of the Bay” Speedweek presented by 3C Graphix on Friday night at Potomac Speedway.  Sunshine and temps in the low 70s graced a large turnout of fans along with 42 competitors from seven different states (Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia) plus Ontario, Canada.

 

In a role reversal from one year ago when Kyle Hardy won a thriller over Logan Roberson, Roberson turned the tables on Friday night by out-dueling his fellow Virginia nemesis to end a three-year winless drought on the Flynn’s Tire Touring Series.  The 2018 “Battle of the Bay” Speedweek Champion passed Hardy on lap five then fended him off over the final 25 laps to capture the $3,000 victory.  Roberson also takes over the 2022 3C Graphix “Battle of the Bay” Speedweek points lead heading into Saturday night’s finale at Winchester Speedway.

 

“Man he made me earn that one and there was nothing easy about it,” stated the 24-year-old Waynesboro, Virginia racer.  “I feel like every opportunity was there.  Every time there was a caution they doubled us up and I had to race my butt off.  He didn’t let me have it easy.  I’d race him just as hard as he raced me; that’s what we’re both here for- to win.  Finally; I let this one slip away last year and I said ‘I’m not going to let that happen again this year’.  I did everything in my power to keep him behind me.  He’s a good race car driver and is tough.  Vicki (Emig) and Mike (Leone) run a great Series and I couldn’t ask for anything better.  They have some tough competition and tonight proved it with 42 cars here and many of them could have won.”

 

Following his Sunoco Dash victory, Hardy took off in the lead over Roberson, Jeremy Wonderling, Michael Duritsky, Jr., and Brady Wonderling.  Hardy began to distance himself from Roberson on lap five before a caution for Mason Diaz.  When racing resumed, Roberson made the outside work on the restart for what would turn out to be the winning pass.  Three cautions with five laps scored slowed action before the next 19 ran off caution-free.

 

Back under green, Roberson reassumed the lead.  By lap nine, Roberson and Hardy broke away from the rest of the field.  Roberson caught lapped traffic on lap 16 and one lap later Hardy was right on Roberson’s bumper, while Brady Wonderling drove under Duritsky for fourth.  Three cautions in the final six laps gave Hardy three shots alongside Roberson, but Roberson was able to keep Hardy at bay by 0.642 seconds for his first RUSH Tour victory since April 20, 2019 at Winchester.  Roberson’s fourth career Flynn’s Tire Tour victory came in the Gunter's Honey/Clary's Used Cars/RBS Auto/All About Wraps-sponsored #17.

 

After a disappointing fifth on Wednesday night, Hardy came home second to earn $1,500 to keep him in Roberson’s tracks for the “Battle of the Bay” title.  Hardy also received a spoiler kit from Ontime Body & Graphic.  After a four-year absence from RUSH racing, Brady Wonderling is back on the Flynn’s Tire Tour and was able to get by his brother Jeremy, a three-time RUSH Tour Champion, on the final lap for a strong third place finish.  Jeremy was just 0.04 seconds back in fourth.  After taking a provisional, Trevor Collins charged from the 25th starting spot to an impressive fifth place to earn the $50 Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down” Hard Charger gift card.

 

Duritsky dropped to sixth at the finish.  After getting in a lap five crash, Joe Martin worked his way back forward to a seventh place effort.  Matt Latta went 20th to eighth.  Chuck Bowie was ninth after starting 17th.  Austin Hubbard completed the top 10. 

 

Brent Bordeaux led wire-to-wire in the 10-lap Non-Qualifier as he held off a late charge by Wednesday night’s Delaware International Speedway winner David Dill, Jr.  The Fredericksburg, Virginia driver of the #40 earned $200 in addition to a $100 Performance Bodies gift card for being the first non-qualifier after the last chance B mains.  Bordeaux became the amazing 53rd different winner in 64 Non-Qualifier races run all-time.  Dill, who started sixth, and passed Tyler Hoy for second on lap six was just 0.529 seconds behind Bordeaux at the finish.  Canadian Kyle Sopaz was third over Ohio’s Jim Rasey.  Craig Graham, another Canadian, was fifth.

 

Collins set fast time overall against the 42-car field in FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Qualifying to earn $100 with a lap of 16.038, while Bud Watson was fastest in flight B with a 16.234.  Earning the $25 FK Rod Ends heat race victories were Duritsky, Hardy, Cody Dawson, Roberson, Brady Wonderling, and Jeremy Wonderling.  The trio of last chance B mains went to Garret Paugh, Latta, and Ben Scott.

 

Hardy won the Sunoco Dash to earn a $100 Sunoco fuel card, while Tour regulars Watson and Rasey won the $100 Sunoco fuel card drawings.  The $50 Sunoco fuel card drawings were won by Paugh, Hubbard, Sopaz, and Dill.

 

The Flynn’s Tire Touring Series will cross into Virginia for the “Battle of the Bay” Speedweek presented by 3C Graphix finale at Winchester Speedway on Saturday evening for another $3,000 to-win event.  Pit passes go on sale at 2 p.m., drivers meeting at 4:30 with warmups at 5.

 

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. LOGAN ROBERSON (17)  2. Kyle Hardy (99)  3. Brady Wonderling (z1)  4. Jeremy Wonderling (3J)  5. Trevor Collins (72)  6. Michael Duritsky, Jr. (90J)  7. Joe Martin (Snyder 10s)  8. Matt Latta (21)  9. Chuck Bowie (14c)  10. Austin Hubbard (Klink 49)  11. Jeremy Pilkerton (8)  12. Amanda Robinson (4)  13. Garret Paugh (03)  14. Mike Raleigh (12)  15. Donald Lingo, Jr. (Ritter 15)  16. Nick Davis (92)  17. Joey Love (08)  18. Megan Mann (55)  19. Timmy Booth (95)  20. Breyton Santee (9)  21. Ed Pope, Jr. (11)  22. Andy Michael (17x)  23. Ben Scott (80)  24. Bud Watson (225)  25. Mason Diaz (24).  DNS: Cody Dawson (36).  (Note: Trevor Collins took a Tour provisional & Megan Mann took a Track provisional).

 

Non-Qualifier (10 laps, $200 to-win): 1. Brent Bordeaux (40)  2. David Dill, Jr. (24)  3. Kyle Sopaz (12)  4. Jim Rasey (Wrightsman 21J)  5. Craig Graham (98)  6. Matt Ashworth (10A)  7. Brandt Graham (14)  8. Jonathan Stockdale (31)  9. Wesley Tippett (37)  10. Brett Hope (49)  11. James Loar (62)  12. Tyler Hoy (71T).  DNS: Justin Fulton (6), Nick Love (38), Matt Hill (84), Ashton Briggs (11A).

 

Car Count: 42

Feature Margin of Victory: 0.642 seconds
Feature Lap Leaders:
Kyle Hardy (1-4), Logan Roberson (5-30)

Ontime Body & Graphic “Spoiler Alert” Spoiler Kit: Kyle Hardy

Performance Bodies “Nosed Out”: Brent Bordeaux

Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down” Hard Charger: Trevor Collins (+20)

Precise Racing Products 5-Gallon Race Jug: Logan Roberson

Sunoco Fuel Card Winners: Bud Watson ($100), Jim Rasey ($100), Garret Paugh ($50), Austin Hubbard ($50), Kyle Sopaz ($50), David Dill, Jr. ($50)

TBM Brakes “Tough Brake of the Night”: Bud Watson

 

FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Qualifying A ($100 for fast time) (Track record 16.123 by Walker Arthur on 4/16/21): 1. 72-Trevor Collins, 00:16.038[15]; 2. 99-Kyle Hardy, 00:16.152[19]; 3. 08-Joey Love, 00:16.160[13]; 4. 90J-Michael Duritsky Jr, 00:16.284[12]; 5. 17X-Andy Michael, 00:16.305[7]; 6. 21L-Matt Latta, 00:16.345[10]; 7. 92-Nick Davis, 00:16.383[16]; 8. 8-Jeremy Pilkerton, 00:16.428[3]; 9. 36-Cody Dawson, 00:16.475[1]; 10. 49K-Austin Hubbard, 00:16.497[20]; 11. 12R-Mike Raleigh, 00:16.578[8]; 12. 14C-Chuck Bowie, 00:16.583[11]; 13. 03-Garret Paugh, 00:16.673[14]; 14. 40-Brent Bordeaux, 00:16.707[21]; 15. 24M-Mason Diaz, 00:16.727[17]; 16. 10A-Matt Ashworth, 00:16.821[2]; 17. 38-Nick Love, 00:16.857[4]; 18. 14-Brandt Graham, 00:17.073[9]; 19. 98-Craig Graham, 00:17.387[5]; 20. 49H-Brett Hope, 00:17.634[18]; 21. 37T-Wesley Tippett, 00:17.681[6].

                      

FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Qualifying B (Track record 16.123 by Walker Arthur on 4/16/21): 1. 225-Bud Watson, 00:16.234[1]; 2. Z1-Brady Wonderling, 00:16.299[6]; 3. 11P-Ed Pope Jr, 00:16.322[4]; 4. 17R-Logan Roberson, 00:16.337[8]; 5. 10S-Joe Martin, 00:16.409[12]; 6. 84-Matt Hill, 00:16.440[7]; 7. 71T-Tyler Hoy, 00:16.453[3]; 8. 21J-Jim Rasey, 00:16.454[2]; 9. 6F-Justin Fulton, 00:16.473[10]; 10. 4R-Amanda Robinson, 00:16.520[18]; 11. 15R-Donald Lingo Jr, 00:16.527[5]; 12. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling, 00:16.585[9]; 13. 11A-Ashton Briggs, 00:16.642[14]; 14. 80-Ben Scott, 00:16.660[21]; 15. 9S-Breyton Santee, 00:16.674[17]; 16. 55-Megan Mann, 00:16.720[11]; 17. 31-Johnathan Stockdale, 00:16.756[20]; 18. 95-Timmy Booth, 00:16.882[19]; 19. 11-Kyle Sopaz, 00:16.905[13]; 20. 24D-David Dill Jr, 00:17.073[15]; 21. 62-James Loar, 00:17.378[16].

 

FK Rod Ends Heat 1 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 90J-Michael Duritsky Jr[2]; 2. 49K-Austin Hubbard[4]; 3. 92-Nick Davis[3]; 4. 03-Garret Paugh[5]; 5. 10A-Matt Ashworth[6]; 6. 98-Craig Graham[7]; 7. 72-Trevor Collins[1].

 

FK Rod Ends Heat 2 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 99-Kyle Hardy[1]; 2. 8-Jeremy Pilkerton[3]; 3. 17X-Andy Michael[2]; 4. 12R-Mike Raleigh[4]; 5. 40-Brent Bordeaux[5]; 6. 38-Nick Love[6]; 7. 49H-Brett Hope[7].

 

FK Rod Ends Heat 3 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 36-Cody Dawson[3]; 2. 08-Joey Love[1]; 3. 14C-Chuck Bowie[4]; 4. 21L-Matt Latta[2]; 5. 24M-Mason Diaz[5]; 6. 14-Brandt Graham[6]; 7. 37T-Wesley Tippett[7].

 

FK Rod Ends Heat 4 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 17R-Logan Roberson[2]; 2. 4R-Amanda Robinson[4]; 3. 225-Bud Watson[1]; 4. 71T-Tyler Hoy[3]; 5. 11-Kyle Sopaz[7]; 6. 55-Megan Mann[6]; 7. 11A-Ashton Briggs[5].

 

FK Rod Ends Heat 5 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. Z1-Brady Wonderling[1]; 2. 10S-Joe Martin[2]; 3. 15R-Donald Lingo Jr[4]; 4. 80-Ben Scott[5]; 5. 24D-David Dill Jr[7]; 6. 21J-Jim Rasey[3]; 7. 31-Johnathan Stockdale[6].

 

FK Rod Ends Heat 6 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling[4]; 2. 9S-Breyton Santee[5]; 3. 11P-Ed Pope Jr[1]; 4. 95-Timmy Booth[6]; 5. 84-Matt Hill[2]; 6. 6F-Justin Fulton[3]; 7. 62-James Loar[7].

 

Last Chance B Main 1 (8 laps, Top 2 transfer to A): 1. 03-Garret Paugh[1]; 2. 12R-Mike Raleigh[2]; 3. 40-Brent Bordeaux[4]; 4. 10A-Matt Ashworth[3]; 5. 38-Nick Love[6]; 6. 98-Craig Graham[5]; 7. 49H-Brett Hope[8]; 8. 72-Trevor Collins[7].

 

Last Chance B Main 2 (8 laps, Top 2 transfer to A): 1. 21L-Matt Latta[1]; 2. 24M-Mason Diaz[3]; 3. 55-Megan Mann[6]; 4. 71T-Tyler Hoy[2]; 5. 11-Kyle Sopaz[4]; 6. 14-Brandt Graham[5]; 7. 37T-Wesley Tippett[7]; 8. (DNS) 11A-Ashton Briggs.

 

Last Chance B Main 3 (8 laps, Top 2 transfer to A): 1. 80-Ben Scott[1]; 2. 95-Timmy Booth[2]; 3. 6F-Justin Fulton[6]; 4. 21J-Jim Rasey[5]; 5. 24D-David Dill Jr[3]; 6. (DNS) 84-Matt Hill; 7. (DNS) 62-James Loar; 8. (DNS) 31-Johnathan Stockdale.

 

Sunoco Dash (6 laps, $100 Sunoco fuel card to-win): 1. 99-Kyle Hardy[3]; 2. 17R-Logan Roberson[4]; 3. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling[1]; 4. 90J-Michael Duritsky Jr[5]; 5. Z1-Brady Wonderling[6]; 6. 36-Cody Dawson[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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