JEREMY WONDERLING WINS HIS 3RD ERIEZ HOVIS RUSH LATE MODEL FLYNN'S TIRE/GUNTER'S HONEY TOUR EVENT IN THE LAST 6 TRIES ON SUNDAY

By Mike Leone

May 17, 2026               FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Erie, PA)...The Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Dirt Late Model Flynn's Tire/Gunter's Honey Touring Series was finally able to complete its second show of the season on Sunday night at Eriez Speedway after raining out five of the first six events.  Thirty-nine racers from six different states throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Mid-Ohio Valley turned out on a beautiful, sunny and 80-degree day.  Saturated grounds pushed back Sunday's event one-week and despite a rainy week, track owner Dave Alexander gave racers a fast and racey opening day surface in the first of two appearances in 2026 by the Tour.

It took until May 14, 2023 for five-time Series Champion, Jeremy Wonderling, to win his first Flynn's Tire/Gunter's Honey Touring Series event at Eriez.  On Sunday night, Wonderling passed Dave Hess, Jr. for good on lap 12 and held off a late charge from sixth starting Jason Genco to win his third in the last six Tour events at Eriez.  Wonderling celebrated his first Tour win of 2026 in Landrum Performance Springs Victory Lane, which was worth $4,000, and propelled him into the points lead in the chase for the $20,000 championship. 

"Any time you come to Eriez you are going to have your hands full to beat (Dave) Hess or (Max) Blair as they are two of the best to ever run here," acknowledged the 46-year-old Wellsville, NY victor.  "I thought I gave it away because I shoved the nose really bad down there and Hess got me- I figured I was done.  I couldn't believe he chose the bottom for the restart and thought 'well you are going to let me try again' and I got a really good run on him and it stuck.  It's a ton of fun racing with Hess- he's not going to give you any mercy.  Any time the Tour comes to the local tracks it's tough to beat the locals and I'm probably pretty lucky Hess doesn't do the Tour". 

For the second straight event, Kurt Stebbins took off in the lead at the start of the 30-lap feature following his Sunoco Dash victory, but it was short-lived.  Wonderling, who started fourth, made a great move on the opening lap to get to second then drove around Stebbins to lead lap two.  Stebbins backpedaled losing second to fifth starting Hess and third to Demetrios Drellos on lap four.  Three laps later, sixth starting Genco dropped Stebbins back to fifth. 

Kyle Zimmerman and Zack Carley tangled battling for eighth with seven laps scored.  When racing resumed on lap eight, Genco was halfway to the front taking third from Drellos.  Hess challenged Wonderling for the lead as they raced side-by-side on lap nine with Hess taking the lead following a turn four slider.  Wonderling made what would be the winning pass on a restart on lap 12.  Hess continued to challenge for the lead until a broken tie-rod ended his run with 14 laps completed.  Hess was chosen as the "Tough Brake of the Night" recipient and received a $100 Close Racing Supply gift card. 

The next 14 laps went caution-free.  Wonderling extended his lead, while Genco was trying to fend off Drellos and 13th starting Daryl Charlier with five laps to go.  A caution for Bill Holmes III slowed the event for the final time with 28 laps scored and set up a two-lap shootout to the finish.  Genco got a good restart in the IllusionCoats Powder Coating Firing Zone, but Wonderling was able to hold him off and took the checkered flag first by 1.057 seconds as his 31st career Flynn's Tire/Gunter's Honey Tour victory came in the Close Racing Supply/Shuttleworth Auto Sales/955 Automotive/Southern Tier Ice/Young's Lawn Care/Penske Shocks by JDS/Swift Springs-sponsored #3J.

"I didn't know how close Jason (Genco) was when we were racing," added Wonderling.  "I wasn't afraid of him racing me dirty, doing anything stupid or jumping me on that last restart, but I just didn't know how good he was; I felt good as long as I didn't screw up."

Genco earned $2,000 for second in his debut in the John Lack-owned #29J and also received a spoiler kit from Ontime Body & Graphic.  "The restart before I thought I was pretty good and it didn't seem like he (Wonderling) could circle the bottom as good as I could but had a lot of momentum through the center," described the 42-year-old Frewsburg, NY standout.  "With 10 to go, I tried too hard and was spinning my tires so I backed off a little with the lapped cars.  The caution came out and I knew I had one chance, but didn't want to wipe us both out trying to do it.  We're really happy with second place as it's the first time out on this brand new car."

Drellos was third for his best effort of the season as the 2025 3C Graphix Rookie-of-the-Year moves into runner-up in points.  Charlier, the 2024 3C Graphix Rookie-of-the-Year, advanced nine spots to finish a season best fourth in the John Dobnak-owned #42.  Hometown racer, Ashton Briggs, had a solid run going 11th to 5th. 

Local standout, Billy Henry, Jr., went 18th to 6th to earn the $100 "Pedal Down" Hard Charger gift card from Hoosier Tire Western PA/Big Daddy's Speed Center.  Stebbins dropped to seventh, but will sit third in points and is atop the 3C Graphix Rookie-of-the-Year points.  Austin Allen went 16th to 8th.  Local racer, Breyton Santee, had a strong run charging from 21st to 9th.  West Virginia standout, Kolbe Kimbrew, made his Eriez debut after competing two nights at Ohio's Muskingum County Speedway in Colussy Chevrolet Weekly Series action and had a solid outing in 10th after starting 15th. 

Scott Dellahoy, Jr. passed Hunter Proctor on a restart on lap four and went on for the $200 victory in the Real Merchant Services DMV Non-Qualifier aboard the Eric Houser-owned, Music For Your Mouth/Sensible Sales & Leasing/Xtreme Auto Towing-sponsored #27.  The 41-year-old Falconer, NY driver became the 90th different winner in 113 Non-Qualifier events run all-time.  Proctor, who led the first three laps, was second over Austin Fitzgerald and Gary Youngs.

Hess was fastest in Schneider Trucks hot laps with a lap of 16.081 and earned $50 then turned around and set fast time overall against the 39-car field in FK Rod Ends "Shock the Clock" Qualifying with a lap 16.207 and earned an additional $100. 

Winning the $25 FK Rod Ends heat races were Austin Hauser, Stebbins, Wonderling, and Genco, while Santee and Jake Wilber won the twin last chance B mains.  Stebbins received a $100 Sunoco fuel card for winning his second dash.  Also winning $100 Sunoco fuel cards in the random drawings were Allan Hammond and Kyle Zimmerman, while the $50 fuel cars went to Stebbins, Henry, Stephen Blodgett, and Steve Houser.      

Landrum Performance Springs, which will award a $5,000 Loyalty Bonus at the season ending event, distributed BOGO certificates, which were won by Breyton Santee, Andy Michael, Zack Carley, Gary Youngs and Ed Carley.

The Flynn’s Tire/Gunter's Honey Touring Series will now return to action May 23-24 for a doubleheader weekend of $4,000 to-win events.  Saturday at Stateline Speedway in Busti, NY is the twice rained out "Bill Law Memorial", while Sunday will be the first of two events at Tri-City Raceway Park in Franklin, PA.

Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Model Flynn’s Tire/Gunter's Honey Touring Series Race #2 (30 laps, $4,000 to-win): 1. JEREMY WONDERLING (3J)  2. Jason Genco (Lacki 29J)  3. Demetrios Drellos (111)  4. Daryl Charlier (Dobnak 42)  5. Ashton Briggs (11A)  6. Billy Henry, Jr. (21*)  7. Kurt Stebbins (26)  8. Austin Allen (Mullen 32)  9. Breyton Santee (9)  10. Kolbe Kimbrew (151)  11. Steve Hollabaugh (3)  12. Stephen Blodgett (23GP)  13. Bill Holmes III (8)  14. Brodie Oravetz (91B)  15. Dave Hess, Jr. (Alexander 44)  16. Dusty Waters (14)  17. Austin Hauser (51)  18. Khole Wanzer (01W)  19. Ben Easler (02)  20. Kyle Zimmerman (Stockdale 101)  21. Zack Carley (2)  22. Christian Schneider (Daugherty 56)  23. John Waters (LeBarron 11)  24. Jake Wilber (Suppa 4s).  DNS: Cody Dawson (36). (Note: Brodie Oravetz took a Tour provisional)

Real Merchant Services DMV Non-Qualifier (6 laps, $200 to-win): 1. Scott Dellahoy, Jr. (Houser 27)  2. Hunter Proctor (432)  3. Austin Fitzgerald (2A)  4. Gary Youngs (y26). DNS: Andy Michael (17x), Tyler Shaffer (2T), Allan Hammond (97), Kassandra Norman (6), Bill Taylor (1), Ian Travis (36), Jason Knowles (4), Steve Houser (33z), Ed Carley (28), Andrew Chess (8c).

Car Count: 39
Feature Margin of Victory: 1.057 seconds
Feature Lap Leaders: Kurt Stebbins (1), Jeremy Wonderling (2-8, 12-30), Dave Hess, Jr. (9-11)

Close Racing Supply “Tough Brake of the Night: Dave Hess, Jr.

Hoosier Tire Western PA/Big Daddy’s Speed Center Hard Charger: Billy Henry, Jr. (+12)

Landrum Performance Springs BOGO Certificates: Breyton Santee, Andy Michael, Zack Carley, Gary Youngs & Ed Carley

Ontime Body & Graphic “Spoiler Alert” Spoiler Kit: Jason Genco

Schneider Trucks “Hottest of the Hot” Fastest in Hot Laps: Dave Hess, Jr. (16.081)

Sunoco Fuel Card Winners: Allan Hammond ($100), Kyle Zimmerman ($100), Billy Henry, Jr. ($50), Steve Houser ($50), Stephen Blodgett ($50), Kurt Stebbins ($50)

FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Flight A Qualifying (Track record 15.655 by Max Blair on 6/11/23)  ($100 for fast time): 1. 111D-Demetrios Drellos, 16.286[20]; 2. 4-Jason Knowles, 16.345[11]; 3. 51-Austin Hauser, 16.442[9]; 4. 26-Kurt Stebbins, 16.525[16]; 5. 42-Daryl Charlier, 16.629[3]; 6. 11A-Ashton Briggs, 16.667[1]; 7. 1-Bill Taylor, 16.679[14]; 8. 11L-John Waters, 16.704[6]; 9. 36T-Ian Travis, 16.727[15]; 10. 151-Kolbe Kimbrew, 16.806[5]; 11. 8-Bill Holmes, 16.812[19]; 12. 9S-Breyton Santee, 17.067[12]; 13. 2T-Tyler Shaffer, 17.378[4]; 14. 01W-Khole Wanzer, 17.404[2]; 15. 432-Hunter Proctor, 17.467[17]; 16. 3-Steve Hollabaugh, 17.642[18]; 17. 23GB-Stephen Blodgett, 17.840[13]; 18. 27-Scott Dellahoy Jr,, NT; 19. 33Z-Steve Houser, NT; 20. 8C-Andrew Chess, NT.

FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Flight B Qualifying (Track record 15.655 by Max Blair on 6/11/23): 1. 44-Dave Hess Jr, 16.207[1]; 2. 36-Cody Dawson, 16.443[17]; 3. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling, 16.465[10]; 4. 2C-Zack Carley, 16.469[4]; 5. 02-Ben Easler, 16.529[19]; 6. 29J-Jason Genco, 16.530[15]; 7. 101-Kyle Zimmerman, 16.542[13]; 8. 14W-Dusty Waters, 16.560[14]; 9. 4S-Jake Wilber, 16.573[8]; 10. 56-Christian Schneider, 16.601[18]; 11. 21*-Billy Henry, 16.678[7]; 12. 32A-Austin Allen, 16.791[12]; 13. 17X-Andy Michael, 16.815[2]; 14. 97-Allan Hammond, 16.853[3]; 15. 28C-Ed Carley, 16.944[9]; 16. 91B-Brodie Oravetz, 17.151[5]; 17. 6N-Kassandra Norman, 17.448[11]; 18. 2A-Austin Fitzgerald, 17.542[16]; 19. Y26-Gary Youngs, 17.803[6].

FK Rod Ends Heat 1 (8 laps, Top 5 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 51-Austin Hauser[2]; 2. 111D-Demetrios Drellos[1]; 3. 8-Bill Holmes[6]; 4. 42-Daryl Charlier[3]; 5. 23GB-Stephen Blodgett[9]; 6. 2T-Tyler Shaffer[7]; 7. 432-Hunter Proctor[8]; 8. 1-Bill Taylor[4]; 9. 36T-Ian Travis[5]. DNS: 33Z-Steve Houser.

FK Rod Ends Heat 2 (8 laps, Top 5 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 26-Kurt Stebbins[2]; 2. 11L-John Waters[4]; 3. 11A-Ashton Briggs[3]; 4. 151-Kolbe Kimbrew[5]; 5. 01W-Khole Wanzer[7]; 6. 3-Steve Hollabaugh[8]; 7. 9S-Breyton Santee[6]; 8. 27-Scott Dellahoy Jr[9]; 9. 4-Jason Knowles[1]. DNS: 8C-Andrew Chess

FK Rod Ends Heat 3 (8 laps, Top 5 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling[2]; 2. 44-Dave Hess Jr[1]; 3. 101-Kyle Zimmerman[4]; 4. 02-Ben Easler[3]; 5. 21*-Billy Henry[6]; 6. 4S-Jake Wilber[5]; 7. 17X-Andy Michael[7]; 8. Y26-Gary Youngs[10]; 9. 6N-Kassandra Norman[9]; 10. 28C-Ed Carley[8]

FK Rod Ends Heat 4 (8 laps, Top 5 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 29J-Jason Genco[3]; 2. 14W-Dusty Waters[4]; 3. 2C-Zack Carley[2]; 4. 32A-Austin Allen[6]; 5. 56-Christian Schneider[5]; 6. 36-Cody Dawson[1]; 7. 91B-Brodie Oravetz[8]; 8. 97-Allan Hammond[7]; 9. 2A-Austin Fitzgerald[9].

Last Chance B Main 1 (8 laps, Top 2 transfer to A): 1. 9S-Breyton Santee[4]; 2. 3-Steve Hollabaugh[2]; 3. 432-Hunter Proctor[3]; 4. 2T-Tyler Shaffer[1]; 5. 27-Scott Dellahoy Jr[6]. DNS: 1-Bill Taylor, 36T-Ian Travis, 4-Jason Knowles, 33Z-Steve Houser, 8C-Andrew Chess.

Last Chance B Main 2 (8 laps, Top 2 transfer to A): 1. 4S-Jake Wilber[1]; 2. 36-Cody Dawson[2]; 3. 17X-Andy Michael[3]; 4. 91B-Brodie Oravetz[4]; 5. 97-Allan Hammond[6]; 6. Y26-Gary Youngs[5]; 7. 6N-Kassandra Norman[7]; 8. 2A-Austin Fitzgerald[8]. DNS: 28C-Ed Carley

Sunoco Dash (6 laps, $100 Sunoco fuel card to-win): 1. 26-Kurt Stebbins[2]; 2. 111D-Demetrios Drellos[1]; 3. 14W-Dusty Waters[3]; 4. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling[5]; 5. 44-Dave Hess Jr[6]; 6. 29J-Jason Genco[4]; 7. 11L-John Waters[7]; 8. 51-Austin Hauser[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, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, Insinger Performance, Colussy Chevrolet Flynn's Tire, Gunter's Honey, Rustler Sales & Service, MSD Performance, Holley Performance Products, FK Rod Ends, Capital Contracting Service, Joseph J. Oliva Attorney at Law, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, Landrum Performance Springs, Russ King Racing, 3C Graphix, Velocita-USA, Wieland Metal Services, Real Merchant Services DMV, IllusionCoats Powder Coating, Hoosier Tire Western Pennsylvania/Big Daddy's Speed Center, Close Racing Supply, Keyser Manufacturing/Integra Racing Shocks, Seal-Tite Paving & Excavating, Schneider Trucks, Ontime Body & Graphic, Henry's Headers & Exhaust Systems, D&V Jewelers, AERO Race Wheels, Racing Electronics, Design Creations, and Competition Crate Parts.

E-mail can be sent to the RUSH Racing Series at [email protected] and 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 X (formerly known as Twitter) @RUSHLM.

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