CHARLIE SANDERCOCK BECOMES 1ST CANADIAN TO EVER WIN AT WINCHESTER WITH HIS 1ST FLYNN’S TIRE TOUR VICTORY IN THE USA; KYLE HARDY CHARGES FROM 23RD TO 3RD TO WIN 3C GRAPHIX “BATTLE OF THE BAY” SPEEDWEEK TITLE FOR 2ND TIME IN 3 YEARS

By Mike Leone        

 

April 15, 2023               FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

(Winchester, VA)...The Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Dirt Late Model Series presented by Born2Run Lubricants headed to Winchester Speedway on Saturday as 42 cars were on hand for the final night of the fifth annual “Battle of the Bay” Speedweek presented by 3C Graphix.  Several rain showers throughout the afternoon and early evening tried to put a damper on the event, but track owner Greg Gunter pushed on and had the track ready to go about four hours after the scheduled start time.  Fifteen new cars on Saturday night brought the total count to 61 different cars from seven states plus Ontario, Canada that competed in Speedweek.  It was the first time since the inaugural Speedweek that all four nights were completed.  Winchester has completed their Speedweek event all five years with 41 or more cars.       

 

Charlie Sandercock has won Flynn’s Tire Touring Series events in two Canadian provinces, but had never won one across the border in the United States.  That changed on Saturday night as Sandercock passed Bryce Davis on lap four and survived several restarts throughout the 30-lap event to become the first Canadian to ever win a feature in the 88 years at the historic Winchester Speedway!  Sandercock’s fourth career Tour victory at four different speedways was worth $3,000; meanwhile, after mechanical gremlins in his heat race, Kyle Hardy charged from 23rd to third to earn his second $1,000 3C Graphix “Battle of the Bay” Speedweek title in three years!

 

“Hats off to the track crew for sticking it out as it didn’t look promising for a while,” acknowledged the 37-year-old Trenton, Ontario racer.  “Track conditions worked out for us and I can’t believe this happened.  There are a lot of racers that were behind me and I knew I couldn’t give up until the last lap was done and here we are.  I’m a high side kind of driver and always prefer it.  I feel more comfortable than rolling around the bottom.  The track kind of came to us tonight.  It’s huge for me to cross the border and come down here and win whether it’s Virginia, Pennsylvania, or New York.  I’ve raced with these guys for a long time and there’s a lot of stiff competition.  We qualified for all four features and made three dashes- I didn’t think we’d do that good this week but here we are (in victory lane) finishing it off.” 

 

For the second straight race, Davis took the early lead before third starting Sandercock used the outside to take the lead on a restart on lap four.  Seventh starting Joe Martin cracked the top five on lap five.  Sandercock meanwhile pulled away on lap seven, while Russell Erwin challenged Davis for second.  Sandercock opened up a half-straightaway lead when he caught lapped traffic on lap 10.  A caution for Charles Smith’s spin slowed action with 12 laps scored.  When racing resumed, Martin continued moving forward taking third from Erwin with Mike Wonderling following.  Martin ran down Davis and caught him on lap 18 then pulled alongside in a side-by-side battle on lap 19 before Dale Hollidge slowed to bring out the caution.

 

Back under green, Martin, Wonderling, and Erwin battled hard for runner-up with Martin going around in turn four as three others were collected.  For the second straight race, Davis lost power losing several positions as Wonderling, Erwin, and Hardy moved into positions two through four on lap 21.  Hardy continued his way to the front getting under and past Erwin for third on lap 27.  The following lap, Erwin found himself in a three-wide battle down the frontstretch when contact was made sending Erwin into a violent series of flips.  Erwin climbed out on his own power and was further evaluated by medical personnel.  Erwin was selected as the TBM Brakes “Tough Brake of the Night”. 

 

Sandercock would keep Wonderling and Hardy at bay over the final two laps to secure his first Tour win since July 13, 2019 at LeRPM Speedway in Quebec.  The Deerhaven Powersports/Belleville Fabricating-sponsored #57 crossed the finish line first by a margin of 0.338 seconds.

 

Wonderling earned $1,500 for his career best Tour finish in second.  “We finished ninth the first night then went off on the hook and didn’t make the feature the last two nights, but tonight we ended on a good note,” explained the 49-year-old Wellsville, NY racer.  “Charlie (Sandercock) was really good and I don’t think he lifted on those restarts.  On that last one I wished we had more laps to go because I could pull up alongside of him.  Congratulations to Charlie.  I’ve raced with him quite a bit; he’s a good guy.  Also to Kyle Hardy, who raced me clean.  When I heard he was third on that restart I thought I better get up on the wheel.  I know he has a lot more laps around here than I do.”

 

For the second straight night, the Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down” Hard Charger passed 20+ cars as Hardy received the $50 gift card on Saturday night for his improbable run forward on a fast track.  “When you get rain like this the track is going to be wet like this and have moisture in it,” acknowledged the 29-year-old Winchester, Virginia driver.  “What can you say thought Greg (Gunter), Vicki (Emig), and everyone came together to get this in.  I hate to see a couple guys get tore up. I was just trying to keep my nose clean, not get tore up, and watch out ahead of me.  I feel like I really didn’t race much as I was dodging and weaving- I hate to race like that.  We had a problem in the heat race, fuel pressure issues, but once we diagnosed that it was time to run the feature and see where we end up.  We finished every race in Speedweek; finishing races wins you the points as we ran the Touring Series two years ago and didn’t have any DNFs.  We had a terrible night Thursday.  I almost pulled in, but decided to stay out and collect the points.  To be able to win the points is pretty cool and the $1,000 will help.” 

 

Davis was fourth and also received a spoiler kit from Ontime Body & Graphic.  Jeremy Wonderling went 15th to fifth for his second top five of Speedweek.  Cody Dawson was a Speedweek best sixth.  Garret Paugh went 12th to seventh.  Martin, who has finished runner-up in Tour points each of the past three years, fought back to eighth to end a challenging Speedweek.  Bailey Tolson was ninth in his first career Tour start.  Erwin was credited with 10th as six other racers also exited with 28 laps completed including Trevor Collins, who led the Speedweek points entering Winchester after three runner-up finishes.  Collins came up just two points shy of the “Battle of the Bay” crown and leads the Flynn’s Tire Tour points.     

 

Erwin earned his first ever FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” fast qualifier honors with a lap of 16.540 for $100.  Erwin, Davis, and Mike Wonderling won the $25 FK Rod Ends heat races.  Davis also won his first Sunoco Dash of the season and received a $100 Sunoco fuel card.  Also receiving $100 Sunoco fuel cards in the random drawings were Tour racers Ashton Briggs and Brock Pinkerous, while the $50 Sunoco fuel cards were won by Mike Franklin, Davin Kaiser, Tristin Neiderer, and Austin Hubbard.      

 

The Flynn’s Tire Touring Series will be off until resuming May 13-14 with a pair of $3,000 to-win Marquee events at Stateline Speedway in Busti, New York on Saturday night and Eriez Speedway near Erie, Pa. on Saturday night.

 

3C Graphix “Battle of the Bay” Speedweek Top 10 Points: 1. Kyle Hardy 381 ($1000)  2. Trevor Collins 379 ($500)  3. Nick Davis 358 ($350)  4. Charlie Sandercock 357 ($225)  5. Jeremy Wonderling 353 ($200)  6. Max Blair 349 ($180)  7. Garret Paugh 347 ($150)  8. Joe Martin 333 ($140)  9. Cody Dawson 329 ($130)  10. Mike Wonderling 325 ($125).

 

Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Model Flynn’s Tire Touring Series 3C Graphix “Battle of the Bay” Speedweek Race #4 (30 laps, $3,000 to-win) (Platinum Event): 1. CHARLIE SANDERCOCK (57)  2. Mike Wonderling (18)  3. Kyle Hardy (99)  4. Bryce Davis (94)  5. Jeremy Wonderling (3J)  6. Cody Dawson (36)  7. Garret Paugh (03)  8. Joe Martin (Snyder 10s)  9. Bailey Tolson (18)  10. Russell Erwin (22)  11. Trevor Collins (72)  12. Mike Franklin (74)  13. Jason Knowles (4)  14. Kyle Sopaz (11)  15. Keith Walls (462)  16. Tristin Neiderer (121)  17. Andy Michael (17x)  18. Nick Davis (92)  19. Davin Kaiser (WRAMB 11)  20. Jim Rasey (Wrightsman 21J)  21. Dale Hollidge (Armel 15)  22. Charles Smith (23C)  23. Tyler Hoy (71T) 24. Jeremiah Marshall (56W)  25. Marc Berzowski (25M).

 

DNS: Jacob Burdette (08B), Brandt Graham (14), Ashton Briggs (11A), Max Blair (Briggs 1), Scott Sweeney, Jr. (40S), Austin Hubbard (Klink 49), Isaiah Gochenour (7), Jared Powell (2*), Travis Campbell (12C), Brock Pinkerous (555), Megan Mann (55), Chad Sines (15), Craig Graham (98), Matt Latta (21), Steve Payne (11), Branson Woodward (3), Mason Diaz (24).

 

Car Count: 42

Feature Margin of Victory: 0.338 seconds
Feature Lap Leaders: Bryce Davis (1-3), Charlie Sandercock (4-30)

Ontime Body & Graphic “Spoiler Alert” Spoiler Kit: Bryce Davis

Performance Bodies “Nosed Out”: None

Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down” Hard Charger: Kyle Hardy (+20)

Sunoco Fuel Card Winners: Brock Pinkerous ($100), Ashton Briggs ($100), Davin Kaiser ($50), Austin Hubbard ($50), Tristan Neiderer ($50), Mike Franklin ($50)

TBM Brakes “Tough Brake of the Night”: Russell Erwin

 

FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Qualifying (Track record 15.119 by Kyle Hardy on 4/17/21) ($100 for fast time): 1. 22-Russell Erwin, 00:16.540[40]; 2. 99-Kyle Hardy, 00:16.716[39]; 3. 94-Bryce Davis, 00:16.842[26]; 4. 57-Charlie Sandercock, 00:16.998[6]; 5. 18-Mike Wonderling, 00:17.105[33]; 6. 92-Nick Davis, 00:17.109[34]; 7. 21J-Jim Rasey, 00:17.283[41]; 8. 74-Mike Franklin, 00:17.341[35]; 9. 17X-Andy Michael, 00:17.473[28]; 10. 10S-Joe Martin, 00:17.488[32]; 11. 71T-Tyler Hoy, 00:17.540[7]; 12. 03-Garret Paugh, 00:17.575[20]; 13. 25M-Marc Berzowski, 00:17.581[8]; 14. 15A-Dale Hollidge, 00:17.583[9]; 15. 36-Cody Dawson, 00:17.657[14]; 16. 11S-Kyle Sopaz, 00:17.670[22]; 17. 4-Jason Knowles, 00:17.683[19]; 18. 462-Keith Walls, 00:17.822[1]; 19. 72-Trevor Collins, 00:17.826[10]; 20. 56W-Jeremiah Marshall, 00:17.913[15]; 21. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling, 00:18.078[5]; 22. 18T-Bailey Tolson, 00:18.282[37]; 23. 11K-Davin Kaiser, 00:18.881[3]; 24. 121N-Tristin Neiderer, 00:18.947[27]; 25. 23C-Charles Smith, 00:19.308[24]; 26. (DNS) 08B-Jacob Burdette; 27. (DNS) 14-Brandt Graham; 28. (DNS) 11X-Steve Payne; 29. (DNS) 11A-Ashton Briggs; 30. (DNS) 111-Max Blair; 31. (DNS) 40S-Scott Sweeney Jr; 32. (DNS) 3W-Branson Woodward; 33. (DNS) 49K-Austin Hubbard; 34. (DNS) 7G-Isaiah Gochenour; 35. (DNS) 2*-Jared Powell; 36. (DNS) 12C-Travis Campbell; 37. (DNS) 555-Brock Pinkerous; 38. (DNS) 55-Megan Mann; 39. (DNS) 15-Chad Sines; 40. (DNS) 98-Craig Graham; 41. (DNS) 21L-Matt Latta; 42. (DNS) 24M-Mason Diaz

 

FK Rod Ends Heat 1 (8 laps, $25 to-win): 1. 22-Russell Erwin[1]; 2. 57-Charlie Sandercock[2]; 3. 10S-Joe Martin[4]; 4. 21J-Jim Rasey[3]; 5. 25M-Marc Berzowski[5]; 6. 72-Trevor Collins[7]; 7. 18T-Bailey Tolson[8]; 8. 23C-Charles Smith[9]; 9. 11S-Kyle Sopaz[6]; 10. (DNS) 11X-Steve Payne; 11. (DNS) 40S-Scott Sweeney Jr; 12. (DNS) 7G-Isaiah Gochenour; 13. (DNS) 555-Brock Pinkerous; 14. (DNS) 98-Craig Graham.

 

FK Rod Ends Heat 2 (8 laps, $25 to-win): 1. 18-Mike Wonderling[2]; 2. 74-Mike Franklin[3]; 3. 15A-Dale Hollidge[5]; 4. 71T-Tyler Hoy[4]; 5. 11K-Davin Kaiser[8]; 6. 56W-Jeremiah Marshall[7]; 7. 4-Jason Knowles[6]; 8. 99-Kyle Hardy[1]; 9. (DNS) 08B-Jacob Burdette; 10. (DNS) 11A-Ashton Briggs; 11. (DNS) 3W-Branson Woodward; 12. (DNS) 2*-Jared Powell; 13. (DNS) 55-Megan Mann; 14. (DNS) 21L-Matt Latta.

 

FK Rod Ends Heat 3 (8 laps, $25 to-win): 1. 94-Bryce Davis[1]; 2. 36-Cody Dawson[5]; 3. 92-Nick Davis[2]; 4. 03-Garret Paugh[4]; 5. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling[7]; 6. 462-Keith Walls[6]; 7. 17X-Andy Michael[3]; 8. 121N-Tristin Neiderer[8]; 9. (DNS) 14-Brandt Graham; 10. (DNS) 111-Max Blair; 11. (DNS) 49K-Austin Hubbard; 12. (DNS) 12C-Travis Campbell; 13. (DNS) 15-Chad Sines; 14. (DNS) 24M-Mason Diaz.

 

Sunoco Dash (6 laps, $100 Sunoco fuel card to-win): 1. 94-Bryce Davis[1]; 2. 22-Russell Erwin[2]; 3. 57-Charlie Sandercock[3]; 4. 18-Mike Wonderling[4]; 5. 36-Cody Dawson[5]; 6. 74-Mike Franklin[6].

 

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 [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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