KYLE HARDY CONTINUES HOT STREAK WITH HIS 3RD STRAIGHT HOVIS RUSH LATE MODEL FLYNN’S TIRE/GUNTER’S HONEY TOUR VICTORY TAKING $5,000 AT HIS HOME TRACK WINCHESTER SPEEDWAY

By Mike Leone

 

September 6, 2025               FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

(Winchester, VA)...After a rain-plagued 2024 season, the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Dirt Late Model Series presented by Born2Run Lubricants has once again fought Mother Nature at the majority of the 2025 Flynn’s Tire/Gunter’s Honey Touring Series events.  After losing the spring of 2024 and 2025 events at Winchester Speedway, track owner Greg Gunter, who has co-sponsored the Tour the last two seasons, decided to roll the dice on Saturday despite forecasts of 70% or higher probability of rain.  The storms missed the Speedway during the mid-afternoon and the majority of the night was completed despite light showers and drizzle setting in later in the evening.  Despite the weather, 34 teams from throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Mid-Ohio Valley turned out for race #14 of the 2025 season.

 

Just two weeks ago, Kyle Hardy finally won his first RUSH-sanctioned event of 2025 in a City Chevrolet Weekly Series race at his home track Winchester Speedway.  Last weekend, Hardy swept the Flynn’s Tire/Gunter’s Honey Touring Series events on the big half-mile at Tri-City Raceway Park and the quarter-mile bullring at Tyler County Speedway for more than $8,000 ending a winless drought of more than two years on the Tour.  On Saturday night, Hardy continued his hot streak leading all 33 laps of the rain-shortened feature on the high-banked 3/8-mile fending off four-time Tour Champion and current points leader, Jeremy Wonderling, for the $5,000 payday.

 

“That was getting to be a little nervous with the moisture we had on the race track,” acknowledged the 32-year-old Winchester, VA resident from Landrum Performance Springs Victory Lane.  “I’m glad they made a smart call there and kept us from tearing some cars up.  The track was good tonight.  We started off not good being 30th (fastest) in hot laps, but made some gains throughout the night.  We had a decent run in the dash after starting fifth and getting to third.  It would have been hard to win if Devin (Brannon) didn’t break a timing cover.  Jeremy (Wonderling) has a good car and is always hard to beat on the Tour and races me super clean and the respect is mutual- just a lot of fun racing those guys.  I see Greg (Carrico) made his way to third which is nothing to hang your head about with this competition.  I’m just glad to get out of here without any damage.  We run really well at Lernerville and Pittsburgh.  We have a good package running there the last couple years and are really excited to get back to those places.”

 

Following the Dave Poske’s Performance Parts “Feel the RUSH” 4-Wide Salute, Devin Brannon, who had won all four of his City Chevrolet Weekly Series starts at Winchester this year, had to exit the event due to mechanical issues, which moved Hardy to the outside front row alongside Wonderling.  Hardy used the outside to overtake Wonderling for the lead on the opening lap with teammate Greg Carrico going fifth to third.  Zack Carley started seventh and cracked the top five on lap two getting by Mike Franklin,

 

Hardy and Wonderling pulled away from the pack by lap four, while Carley and Franklin went at it for fourth.  The two ran side-by-side lap after lap with Carley on the bottom and Franklin on the top.  Franklin regained the position on lap 10.  Back up front, Hardy had a lead of 1.671 seconds over Wonderling when he caught lapped traffic on lap 12.  A pair of cautions slowed action with 14 and 17 laps completed.

 

Light sprinkles began to fall under caution, when green replaced yellow, Carley passed both Franklin and Carrico for third with ninth starting Jacob Whitt moving into fourth.  Carley and Whitt battled over the next several laps with Whitt making the outside lane work to ascend to third on lap 21.  Hardy caught lapped traffic again on lap 27 and this time had a lead of 2.059 seconds.  On lap 29, contact between Carrico and Carley sent Carley spinning to bring out the caution.  The event’s final caution was displayed when Isaiah Gouchenour spun in turn three with 33 laps completed.  Under caution, the intensity of the rain picked up to the point where racers weren’t comfortable to continue and the race was checkered with 33 of the scheduled 40 laps completed.

 

Hardy’s 13th career Flynn’s Tire/Gunter’s Honey Touring Series victory moved him into a tie with Bryce Davis for third place on the Tour’s all-time win list.  Hardy’s official margin of victory was 0.951 seconds on lap 33 aboard his AGX Auto Glass/KHR/HT Roofing/Cline Construction/Dehaven Trailer Sales/MB Collectibles/Mike Hurley Motorsports/Xceptional Wildlife/Red Rock Tale Brickhouse-sponsored #99.  Hardy has now finished in the top four for five straight races as he tries to keep pace with Wonderling in the battle for the $20,000 championship.

 

Wonderling was second for the fourth time this season and earned $2,500 to maintain his points lead.  It was Wonderling’s 9th podium finish and 11th top 5 in 14 races.  “I knew it was going to be really, really hard to beat Kyle (Hardy) down here let alone run with him so we’re happy to be able to do that,” acknowledged the 45-year-old Wellsville, NY driver.  “I don’t feel like I had anything for him unless maybe on a restart, but we both race so hard into the corners.  Even him starting third I knew it was going to be hard to keep him behind me then with what happened to (Devin) Brannon it put him alongside of me.  He’s definitely really good at this place, but it’s not just here.  Kyle races me with a ton of respect all the time and I feel like I do with him and we put a pretty good show on.”

 

Carrico beat out his prior best Tour finish of sixth from opening night at Stateline with a third and received $1,250.  Carrico joined Hardy and Wonderling by receiving a three-pack of premium Heritage Wine Cellars product for finishing on the podium.  Whitt was fourth for his career best Tour finish and received $1,000.  Franklin drove Greg Gunter’s #74 to a fifth-place finish in his first Tour start since the April 15, 2023 event at Winchester. 

 

Tyler Hoy was sixth over Branson Woodward.  3C Graphix Rookie-of-the-Year points leader, Demetrios Drellos, went 12th to 7th in his first ever Winchester start.  Travis Campbell advanced from 18th to 9th.  Tour regular, Ben Easler, went 15th to 10th in his first Winchester visit.  For the second straight race, Jason Knowles earned the $50 Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down” Hard Charger gift card.  Knowles took a provisional and went 25th to 13th.  Steven Powell finished 15th and received a spoiler kit from Ontime Body & Graphic. 

 

Richard Hawkins was credited with the $200 victory in the D&V Jewelers Non-Qualifier.  The 45-year-old Front Royal, VA driver of the #17H became the amazing 86th different winner in 108 races run all-time!  Hawkins also received a $50 Holley Performance gift card for being the first feature non-qualifier.  Marty Pownall was credited with second over Wesley Tippett, Brayden Armel, and Scott Sweeney, Jr.

 

Whitt earned his first career FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” fast time award.  Whitt set fast time overall against the 34-car field in qualifying with a lap of 16.723 and became the 12th different driver in 15 shows this year to do so.  Branson Woodward, Brannon, Hardy, and Carley won the $25 FK Rod Ends heat races.  Billy Beachler and Zach Gunn won the twin last chance B mains. 

 

Landrum Performance Springs, which will award the $5,000 Loyalty Bonus to an eligible Flynn’s Tire/Gunter’s Honey Touring Series regular at the season ending event, distributed BOGO certificates on Saturday night, which were captured by Easler, Davin Kaiser, Carrico, Knowles, and Gochenour.

 

Wonderling won his Series best fourth Sunoco Dash of the season and received a $100 Sunoco fuel card.  Also winning $100 Sunoco fuel cards in the random drawings were Tour drivers Charlier and Ryan Hare.  Winning the $50 fuel cards part of the “Fill’er Up with Sunoco Buck” program presented by Bazell Race Fuels were Kris Hutton, Kolbe Kimbrew, Brian Coe, Jr., and Marty Pownall.

 

The next events for Flynn’s Tire/Gunter's Honey Touring Series will be the “Bill Hendren Memorial” events at Pittsburgh PA Motor Speedway on October 3-4.  Friday’s event will pay $4,000 to-win with $10,000 on the line on Saturday night.  The July 13 rained out feature from Bradford Speedway in scheduled for September 28. 

 

Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Model Flynn’s Tire/Gunter's Honey Touring Series Race #14 (33 laps, $5,000 to-win): 1. KYLE HARDY (99)  2. Jeremy Wonderling (3J)  3. Greg Carrico (Hurley 67)  4. Jacob Whitt (33)  5. Mike Franklin (Gunter 74)  6. Tyler Hoy (71T)  7. Branson Woodward (3)  8. Demetrios Drellos (111)  9. Travis Campbell (12C)  10. Ben Easler (02)  11. Bubby Tharp, Jr. (44)  12. Davin Kaiser (Beverlin 11)  13. Jason Knowles (4)  14. Kris Hutton (Lambert 6)  15. Steven Powell (51)  16. Zack Carley (2)  17. Billy Beachler (21)  18. Josh Williams (29)  19. Zach Gunn (17G)  20. Isaiah Gochenour (7)  21. Daryl Charlier (Dobnak 42)  22. Kolbe Kimbrew (151)  23. Mike Corbin (44)  24. Devin Brannon (137)  25. Jake Gunn (14G).  (Note: Jason Knowles took a Tour provisional)

 

D&V Jewelers Non-Qualifier ($200 to-win): 1. Richard Hawkins (17H)  2. Marty Pownall (26)  3. Wesley Tippett (37)  4. Brayden Armel (Hollidge 15)  5. Scott Sweeney, Jr. (40s)  6. Ryan Hare (29)  7. Brian Coe, Jr. (92J). DNS: Chase Hardy (18) & Kevin Powell (73).

 

Car Count: 34
Feature Margin of Victory: 0.951 seconds
Feature Lap Leaders: Kyle Hardy (1-33)

Heritage Wine Cellars 3-Pack of Premium Products: Kyle Hardy, Jeremy Wonderling & Greg Carrico

Holley Performance Group “Nosed Out”: Richard Hawkins, Jr.

Landrum Performance Springs BOGO Certificates: Ben Easler, Davin Kaiser, Greg Carrico, Jason Knowles & Isaiah Gochenour

Ontime Body & Graphic “Spoiler Alert” Spoiler Kit: Steven Powell

Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down” Hard Charger: Jason Knowles (+12)

Sunoco Fuel Card Winners: Ryan Hare ($100), Daryl Charlier ($100), Kris Hutton ($50), Kolbe Kimbrew ($50), Brian Coe, Jr. ($50), and Marty Pownall ($50).

 

FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Qualifying Flight A ($100 for fast time) (Track record 15.119 by Kyle Hardy on 4/17/21) : 1. 33W-Jacob Whitt, 00:16.723[9]; 2. 137-Devin Brannon, 00:16.935[6]; 3. 3W-Branson Woodward, 00:16.981[16]; 4. 71T-Tyler Hoy, 00:16.992[12]; 5. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling, 00:17.101[8]; 6. 151-Kolbe Kimbrew, 00:17.231[13]; 7. 21B-Billy Beachler, 00:17.304[5]; 8. 29-Ryan Hare, 00:17.340[4]; 9. 44T-Bubby Tharp Jr, 00:17.389[3]; 10. 26-Marty Pownall, 00:17.496[14]; 11. 17H-Richard Hawkins, 00:17.544[10]; 12. 51P-Steven Powell, 00:17.567[7]; 13. 42-Daryl Charlier, 00:17.588[17]; 14. 02-Ben Easler, 00:17.698[1]; 15. 92J-Brian Coe Jr, 00:17.828[15]; 16. 14G-Jake Gunn, 00:17.990[2]; 17. 18H-Chase Hardy, NT.

 

FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Qualifying Flight B (Track record 15.119 by Kyle Hardy on 4/17/21) : 1. 99-Kyle Hardy, 00:16.963[7]; 2. 2C-Zack Carley, 00:17.073[14]; 3. 11K-Davin Kaiser, 00:17.309[3]; 4. 74-Mike Franklin, 00:17.364[2]; 5. 7G-Isaiah Gochenour, 00:17.367[16]; 6. 44-Mike Corbin, 00:17.446[12]; 7. 12C-Travis Campbell, 00:17.483[9]; 8. 6H-Kris Hutton, 00:17.492[13]; 9. 17G-Zach Gunn, 00:17.500[10]; 10. 111D-Demetrios Drellos, 00:17.600[5]; 11. 67-Gregory Carrico, 00:17.645[8]; 12. 29W-Josh Williams, 00:17.756[11]; 13. 4-Jason Knowles, 00:17.801[15]; 14. 40S-Scott Sweeney Jr, 00:18.321[4]; 15. 73-Kevin Powell, 00:18.561[6]; 16.15A-Brayden Armel, DSQ (tire); 17. 37T-Wesley Tippett, DSQ (light).

 

FK Rod Ends Heat 1 (8 laps, Top 5 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 3W-Branson Woodward[2]; 2. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling[3]; 3. 33W-Jacob Whitt[1]; 4. 42-Daryl Charlier[7]; 5. 44T-Bubby Tharp Jr[5]; 6. 21B-Billy Beachler[4]; 7. 17H-Richard Hawkins[6]; 8. 92J-Brian Coe Jr[8]. DNS: 18H-Chase Hardy.

 

FK Rod Ends Heat 2 (8 laps, Top 5 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 137-Devin Brannon[1]; 2. 71T-Tyler Hoy[2]; 3. 151-Kolbe Kimbrew[3]; 4. 02-Ben Easler[7]; 5. 14G-Jake Gunn[8]; 6. 51P-Steven Powell[6]; 7. 26-Marty Pownall[5]; 8. 29-Ryan Hare[4].

 

FK Rod Ends Heat 3 (8 laps, Top 5 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 99-Kyle Hardy[1]; 2. 67-Gregory Carrico[6]; 3. 7G-Isaiah Gochenour[3]; 4. 11K-Davin Kaiser[2]; 5. 12C-Travis Campbell[4]; 6. 17G-Zach Gunn[5]; 7. 29W-Josh Williams[7]; 8. 15A-Brayden Armel[9]; 9. 40S-Scott Sweeney Jr[8].

 

FK Rod Ends Heat 4 (8 laps, Top 5 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 2C-Zack Carley[1]; 2. 74-Mike Franklin[2]; 3. 111D-Demetrios Drellos[5]; 4. 44-Mike Corbin[3]; 5. 6H-Kris Hutton[4]; 6. 4-Jason Knowles[6]; 7. 37T-Wesley Tippett[8]; 8. 73-Kevin Powell[7]

 

Last Chance B Main 1 (8 laps, Top 2 transfer to A): 1. 21B-Billy Beachler[1]; 2. 51P-Steven Powell[2]; 3. 17H-Richard Hawkins[3]; 4. 26-Marty Pownall[4]. DNS: 29-Ryan Hare, 92J-Brian Coe Jr & 18H-Chase Hardy.

 

Last Chance B Main 2 (8 laps, Top 2 transfer to A): 1. 17G-Zach Gunn[1]; 2. 29W-Josh Williams[3]; 3. 4-Jason Knowles[2]; 4. 37T-Wesley Tippett[4]; 5. 15A-Brayden Armel[5]; 6. 40S-Scott Sweeney Jr[7]. DNS: 73-Kevin Powell.

 

Sunoco Dash (6 laps, $100 Sunoco fuel card to win): 1. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling[2]; 2. 137-Devin Brannon[3]; 3. 99-Kyle Hardy[5]; 4. 74-Mike Franklin[1]; 5. 67-Gregory Carrico[4]; 6. 71T-Tyler Hoy[7]; 7. 2C-Zack Carley[6]; 8. 3W-Branson Woodward[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, Gunter's Honey, MSD Performance, Holley Performance Products, FK Rod Ends, Billy's Garage, Joseph J. Oliva Attorney at Law, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, Landrum Performance Springs, Russ King Racing, 3C Graphix, Dave Poske's Performance Parts, Velocita-USA, Wieland Metal Services, Frankland Racing Supply, Seal-Tite Paving & Excavating, Dusted Steak Seasoning, Ontime Body & Graphic, D&V Jewelers, AERO Race Wheels, Heritage Wine Cellars, Precise Racing Products, 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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