CARSON FERGUSON WINS NIGHT 1 OF “BILL HENDREN MEMORIAL” AT PITTSBURGH IN HIS HOVIS RUSH LATE MODEL DEBUT TO BECOME THE 10TH DIFFERENT FLYNN’S TIRE/GUNTER’S HONEY TOUR WINNER OF 2025

By Mike Leone

 

October 3, 2025               FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

(Imperial, PA)...The Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Dirt Late Model Flynn's Tire/Gunter's Honey Touring Series kicked off night 1 of the annual “Bill Hendren Memorial” on a beautiful Friday evening at Pittsburgh PA Motor Speedway.  Race #16 of the 2025 season attracted 46 cars from eight states plus Ontario, Canada.   The event was streamed live on FloRacing part of the “Pittsburgher 100” weekend with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series.

 

Making his first ever RUSH Late Model start, Carson Ferguson out-dueled 2025 Lernerville Speedway $20,000 “Bill Emig Memorial” winner, Mason Zeigler, and all-time leading Series winner, Max Blair, in the 30-lap feature to kick-off night 1 of the “Bill Hendren Memorial”.  Ferguson lost the lead early to Zeigler then regained it back on a late race restart as he led the final four laps to join fellow Tar Heel State resident, Steve Hendren, in Landrum Performance Victory Lane.  Ferguson earned $4,000 for his feature win as he became the season’s 10th different winner!

 

“This feels awesome,” expressed the 25-year-old Lincolnton, North Carolina driver.  “I’m glad this whole deal came together.  We shook this car down on Wednesday at Cherokee (Speedway), but hurt a motor then had truck problems coming up here, but Andrew and Ken stuck threw it.  Hopefully we can repeat this tomorrow night and maybe grab us a Super (Late Model) win.” 

 

“We’ve had a good relationship with Steve (Hendren) and his son Alex and used to run their stuff when we ran crates- they’re a good family and I’m just glad we could come out here,” added Ferguson.  “I just couldn’t get in a rhythm and then Max got by me.  We were chugging the leader down in traffic when I could roll the top again and felt like I was catching Mason (Zeigler) then the caution came out.  Luckily, he gave me the top and I could get a run off the hill; I have to thank him and Max (Blair) for racing me clean and the facility for putting this on.”

 

Following the Dave Poske’s Performance Parts “Feel the RUSH” 4-Wide Salute, Ferguson and Zeigler led the 26-car starting field to green for the feature with Zeigler using the outside to power into the lead on the opening lap.  Ferguson ran the bottom to grab the lead on lap two, but Zeigler took control back on lap three.  By lap four, the top three of Zeigler, Ferguson, and Blair distanced themselves from the field.

 

As Zeigler continued to lead, Blair and Ferguson raced side-by-side for runner-up on laps 8-12 with Blair getting by in lapped traffic on lap 12.  Zeigler had stretched out his lead to 1.377 seconds by the time Blair reached second.  Ferguson didn’t go away as he was able to get back by Blair for second on lap 19, which would prove critical as after 26 non-stop laps, five-time 2025 Pittsburgh City Chevrolet Weekly Series winner, Brandon Burgoon, slowed to bring out the event’s first caution.

 

Zeigler chose the inside for the double-file restart, which played into Ferguson’s hands as he powered by on the outside.  Zeigler stayed close and a pair of cautions with 28 laps scored gave him another shot.  Ferguson though was too strong on the outside as he blasted into the lead and pulled away in the final two laps.  Ferguson stretched out his lead and took the checkered flag first by a comfortable margin of 1.718 seconds in the Cameron Tribble-owned, Tribble Electric/Central Site Prep/Armour Metals-sponsored #1.  Ferguson became the milestone 50th different driver to win a RUSH Tour event all-time in the 13-year history of the Series.

 

Ninth starting Christian Schneider, who won the $6,010 “Jook George Steel City Classic” on July 26 at Pittsburgh and most recently finished runner-up at Tri-City Raceway Park on August 29, went fourth to second on the final restart to earn $2,000.  “It’s better to be lucky than good,” acknowledged the 28-year-old Pittsburgh, Pa. racer.  “I was closing in on them at the end, but it felt like on those last two restarts I was given a gift from God.  It felt like my tires were sealed over and figured I was going to go backwards, but I got them warmed up again.  I didn’t mean to get into Mason (Zeigler)- I really feel bad about that.  He must have had a monster run and thought I had him cleared when I rode up to the wall.  I don’t like racing like that and I apologize to him.  These guys are bad ass.  I’m tickled pink to be standing up here on the podium.”   

 

After leading laps 3-26, Zeigler struggled on the late race restarts and dropped to a disappointing third, worth $1,000.  Zeigler also joined Ferguson and Schneider by receiving a three-pack of Heritage Wine Cellars premium product.  Daryl Charlier, who won at Tri-City Raceway Park back on May 25, went 12th to 4th for his third top five finish in the last four Tour races.  Blair, who ran in the second position from laps 12-19, faded to fifth at the finish.  Blair though has finished in the top five in all five of his 2025 Tour starts including wins at Stateline and Eriez Speedways. 

 

Jeremy Wonderling was a quiet sixth for just his fourth finish outside the top five in 16 starts this season, but it was good enough to clinch his unprecedented fifth Flynn’s Tire/Gunter’s Honey Tour Championships worth a personal best $20,000!  3C Graphix Rookie-of-the-Year points leader, Demetrios Drellos, was seventh to also maintain third in Tour points.

 

Kyle Hardy, who had won his last three Tour starts, was eighth for his 13th top 10 finish in 14 starts.  South Carolina invader, Dillon Brown, made his 2025 RUSH debut and went 20th to 9th to earn the $50 Precise Racing Products Hard Charger gift card.  National Sprint Car Hall of Famer, Tim Shaffer, completed the top 10 in just his second Late Model start of 2025 and first in a Tour event.  Shaffer was the 2023 “Bill Hendren Memorial” Night 1 winner.  Kassidy Kamicker, who is second in points at Pittsburgh, finished 16th and received a spoiler kit from Ontime Body & Graphic.   

 

3C Graphix rookie racer, Bill Holmes III, ended the night in Landrum Performance Springs Victory Lane by capturing his first career D&V Jewelers Non-Qualifier win.  In just his second ever appearance at “Dirt’s Monster Half-Mile”, Holmes led all 10 laps to capture the $300 victory aboard his Bill Holmes Excavating/Geiter Done Demolition/BDK Construction/Outlaw Heavy/Hurtubise-sponsored #8.  The 45-year-old East Concord, NY driver became the amazing 87th different winner in 109 races run all-time!  Logan Zarin, who won the July 26 Non-Qualifier at PPMS, made a three-wide move on a restart on lap two and went on to finish second.  Jake Gunn was third.  Jackson Billyk was fourth in his first ever Tour start.  Canadian Steve Baldwin rounded out the first five.

 

Blair set fast time overall against the 46-car field in $100 FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Qualifying for the third time in five tries this season with a lap of 18.839.  Winning the $25 FK Rod Ends heat races were Blair, Drellos, Shaffer, Ferguson, Burgoon, and Zeigler.  The three last chance B mains were captured by Zach Gunn, Ben Easler, and Brown.  Ferguson became the 12th different Sunoco Dash winner in 16 races this season.  The win was worth $200 from Stan’s Transmission in memory of Bob Bentz along with a $100 Sunoco fuel card. 

 

Also winning $100 Sunoco fuel cards in the random drawings were Tour drivers Hardy and Mike Wonderling, while the $50 fuel cards went to Ferguson, Jacob Billyk, Baldwin, and Payton Dalton.  In total, Ferguson took home $4,225 plus $150 in Sunoco fuel cards!  Mike Wonderling also added a $50 Holley Performance gift card for being the first feature non-qualifier.

 

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 Friday night, which were captured by Zach Gunn, Marino Angelicchio, Brodie Oravetz, Jeremy Wonderling, and Tommy Schnirnhofer, Jr.

 

The Flynn’s Tire/Gunter's Honey Touring Series will return to Pittsburgh PA Motor Speedway on Saturday night (October 4) for night 2 of the “Bill Hendren Memorial” in a complete program for $10,000 to-win along with a $400 to-win D&V Jewelers Non-Qualifier.  The event is presented by FK Rod Ends and City Chevrolet along with support from Pro Fab Headers, West Mifflin Collision, Hendren Racing Engines, CrateInisder.com, and Branden Lockwich. 

 

Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Model Flynn’s Tire/Gunter's Honey Touring Series Race #16 (30 laps, $4,000 to-win): 1. CARSON FERGUSON (Tribble 1)  2. Christian Schneider (56)  3. Mason Zeigler (25z)  4. Daryl Charlier (Dobnak 42)  5. Max Blair (Centerline 114)  6. Jeremy Wonderling (3J)  7. Demetrios Drellos (111)  8. Kyle Hardy (99)  9. Dillon Brown (6)  10. Tim Shaffer (45)  11. Brodie Oravetz (91B)  12. Ryan Hare (29)  13. Devin Brannon (137)  14. Tommy Schirnhofer, Jr. (8s)  15. Austin Hauser (51)  16. Kassidy Kamicker (72B)  17. Tom Klein (77)  18. Ben Easler (02)  19. Kyle Zimmerman (Stockdale 31)  20. Matt Benard (15)  21. Jason Knowles (4)  22. Brandon Burgoon (Chernik/Bentz 5x)  23. Nico Dabecco (F1)  24. Cole Petrelle (84)  25. Zack Carley (2)  26. Zach Gunn (17G).  (Note: Jason Knowles took a Tour provisional & Tom Klein took a Track provisional)

 

D&V Jewelers Non-Qualifier (10 laps, $300 to-win): 1. Bill Holmes III (8)  2. Logan Zarin (Beach 33x)  3. Jake Gunn (14G)  4. Jackson Billyk (71)  5. Steve Baldwin (5)  6. Jacob Billyk, Jr. (4JR)  7. Jacob Whitt (33)  8. Chuck Medved (2M)  9. Rob Coffaro (24c)  10. A.J. Campbell (9)  11. Mike Wonderling (18). DNS: Ashton Briggs (11A), Marino Angelicchio (55), Jamie Wrightsman (21J), Chuck Recker (6), Austin Allen (Mullen 32), Clinton Hersh (16), Payton Dalton (5L), Kyle Lukon (184), Forrest Trent (101).

 

Car Count: 46
Feature Margin of Victory: 1.718 seconds
Feature Lap Leaders: Mason Zeigler (1, 3-26), Carson Ferguson (2, 27-30)

Heritage Wine Cellars 3-Pack of Premium Products: Carson Ferguson, Christian Schneider & Mason Zeigler

Holley Performance Group “Nosed Out”: Mike Wonderling

Landrum Performance Springs BOGO Certificates: Zach Gunn, Marino Angelicchio, Brodie Oravetz, Jeremy Wonderling & Tommy Schnirnhofer, Jr.

Ontime Body & Graphic “Spoiler Alert” Spoiler Kit: Kassidy Kamicker

Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down” Hard Charger: Dillon Brown (+11)

Sunoco Fuel Card Winners: Mike Wonderling ($100), Kyle Hardy ($100), Jacob Billyk ($50), Steve Baldwin ($50), Carson Ferguson ($50), Payton Dalton ($50)

 

FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Flight A Qualifying (Track record 18.332 by Michael Norris on 9/29/23)  ($100 for fast time) ($100 for fast time): 1. 114-Max Blair, 00:18.839[22]; 2. 72B-Kassidy Kamicker, 00:18.861[8]; 3. 45-Tim Shaffer, 00:18.972[12]; 4. 29-Ryan Hare, 00:18.973[9]; 5. 111D-Demetrios Drellos, 00:19.017[21]; 6. F1-Nico Dabecco, 00:19.051[3]; 7. 17G-Zach Gunn, 00:19.115[1]; 8. 56-Christian Schneider, 00:19.308[15]; 9. 31-Kyle Zimmerman, 00:19.341[5]; 10. 18-Mike Wonderling, 00:19.352[7]; 11. 137-Devin Brannon, 00:19.382[4]; 12. 02-Ben Easler, 00:19.481[17]; 13. 42-Daryl Charlier, 00:19.594[2]; 14. 55A-Marino Angelicchio, 00:19.604[16]; 15. 8-Bill Holmes, 00:19.619[20]; 16. 2M-Chuck Medved, 00:19.624[14]; 17. 11A-Ashton Briggs, 00:19.937[18]; 18. 33X-Logan Zarin, 00:19.945[10]; 19. 6R-Chuck Recker, 00:20.690[19]; 20. 33W-Jacob Whitt, 00:20.692[13]; 21. 5L-Payton Dalton, 00:21.634[6]; 22. 16-Clinton Hersh, NT [23]; 23. 101-Forrest Trent, NT.

 

FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Flight B Qualifying (Track record 18.332 by Michael Norris on 9/29/23): 1. 1F-Carson Ferguson, 00:18.985[20]; 2. 5X-Brandon Burgoon, 00:19.061[5]; 3. 25Z-Mason Zeigler, 00:19.069[9]; 4. 91B-Brodie Oravetz, 00:19.125[8]; 5. 99-Kyle Hardy, 00:19.144[2]; 6. 184-Kyle Lukon, 00:19.261[17]; 7. 51-Austin Hauser, 00:19.297[12]; 8. 14G-Jake Gunn, 00:19.307[14]; 9. 4-Jason Knowles, 00:19.396[1]; 10. 4JR-Jacob Billyk Jr, 00:19.399[4]; 11. 8S-Tommy Schirnhofer Jr, 00:19.405[19]; 12. 2C-Zack Carley, 00:19.426[7]; 13. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling, 00:19.462[18]; 14. 6-Dillon Brown, 00:19.504[16]; 15. 15B-Matthew Benard, 00:19.593[11]; 16. 5B-Steve Baldwin, 00:19.610[10]; 17. 77-Tom Klein, 00:19.820[21]; 18. 21J-Jamie Wrightsman, 00:19.857[3]; 19. 32A-Austin Allen, 00:19.866[23]; 20. 84-Cole Petrelle, 00:20.045[22]; 21. 24C-Rob Coffaro, 00:20.655[13]; 22. 9-AJ Campbell, 00:20.730[15]; 23. 71-Jackson Billyk, 00:20.730[6].

 

FK Rod Ends Heat 1 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 114-Max Blair[1]; 2. 29-Ryan Hare[2]; 3. 42-Daryl Charlier[5]; 4. 17G-Zach Gunn[3]; 5. 18-Mike Wonderling[4]; 6. 2M-Chuck Medved[6]; 7. 6R-Chuck Recker[7]. DNS: 16-Clinton Hersh

 

FK Rod Ends Heat 2 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 111D-Demetrios Drellos[2]; 2. 56-Christian Schneider[3]; 3. 72B-Kassidy Kamicker[1]; 4. 137-Devin Brannon[4]; 5. 11A-Ashton Briggs[6]; 6. 55A-Marino Angelicchio[5]; 7. 33W-Jacob Whitt[7]. DNS: 101-Forrest Trent.

 

FK Rod Ends Heat 3 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 45-Tim Shaffer[1]; 2. 31-Kyle Zimmerman[3]; 3. F1-Nico Dabecco[2]; 4. 02-Ben Easler[4]; 5. 8-Bill Holmes[5]; 6. 33X-Logan Zarin[6]; 7. 5L-Payton Dalton[7]

 

FK Rod Ends Heat 4 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 1F-Carson Ferguson[1]; 2. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling[5]; 3. 91B-Brodie Oravetz[2]; 4. 51-Austin Hauser[3]; 5. 5B-Steve Baldwin[6]; 6. 4JR-Jacob Billyk Jr[4]; 7. 32A-Austin Allen[7]; 8. 9-AJ Campbell[8].

 

FK Rod Ends Heat 5 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 5X-Brandon Burgoon[1]; 2. 99-Kyle Hardy[2]; 3. 8S-Tommy Schirnhofer Jr[4]; 4. 84-Cole Petrelle[7]; 5. 6-Dillon Brown[5]; 6. 14G-Jake Gunn[3]; 7. 71-Jackson Billyk[8]; 8. 77-Tom Klein[6].

 

FK Rod Ends Heat 6 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 25Z-Mason Zeigler[1]; 2. 2C-Zack Carley[4]; 3. 15B-Matthew Benard[5]; 4. 21J-Jamie Wrightsman[6]; 5. 24C-Rob Coffaro[7]; 6. 4-Jason Knowles[3]. DNS: 184-Kyle Lukon.

 

Last Chance B Main 1 (8 laps, Top 2 transfer to A): 1. 17G-Zach Gunn[1]; 2. 137-Devin Brannon[2]; 3. 18-Mike Wonderling[3]; 4. 11A-Ashton Briggs[4]; 5. 55A-Marino Angelicchio[6]; 6. 33W-Jacob Whitt[8]; 7. 2M-Chuck Medved[5]; 8. 6R-Chuck Recker[7]. DNS: 16-Clinton Hersh & 101-Forrest Trent

 

Last Chance B Main 2 (8 laps, Top 2 transfer to A): 1. 02-Ben Easler[1]; 2. 51-Austin Hauser[2]; 3. 8-Bill Holmes[3]; 4. 33X-Logan Zarin[5]; 5. 5B-Steve Baldwin[4]; 6. 4JR-Jacob Billyk Jr[6]; 7. 9-AJ Campbell[9]; 8. 32A-Austin Allen[8]; 9. 5L-Payton Dalton[7].

 

Last Chance B Main 3 (8 laps, Top 2 transfer to A): 1. 6-Dillon Brown[3]; 2. 84-Cole Petrelle[1]; 3. 14G-Jake Gunn[5]; 4. 71-Jackson Billyk[7]; 5. 24C-Rob Coffaro[4]; 6. 21J-Jamie Wrightsman[2]. DNS: 77-Tom Klein, 4-Jason Knowles & 184-Kyle Lukon

 

“Bob Bentz Memorial” Sunoco Dash presented by Stan’s Transmission (6 laps, $200 to-win plus a $100 Sunoco fuel card): 1. 1F-Carson Ferguson[1]; 2. 25Z-Mason Zeigler[3]; 3. 114-Max Blair[5]; 4. 5X-Brandon Burgoon[4]; 5. 111D-Demetrios Drellos[6]; 6. 45-Tim Shaffer[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, 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.

 

###