KYLE HARDY'S 4TH HOVIS RUSH LATE MODEL FLYNN'S TIRE/GUNTER'S HONEY TOUR VICTORY OF 2025 COMES IN SEASON ENDING "STEEL CITY STAMPEDE" AT LERNERVILLE; $5,000 LANDRUM PERFORMANCE SPRINGS "LOYALTY BONUS" TO JASON KNOWLES

Kole Holden (RUSH Sportsman Mods) & John Mollick (RUSH Sprints) are also victorious

By Mike Leone

October 9-11, 2025               FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Sarver, PA)...The Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Racing Series presented by Born2Run Lubricants closed out the 2025 season on Saturday evening in spectacular style at Lernerville Speedway in the running of the 17th annual "Steel City Stampede".  A total of 74 Chevrolet Performance RUSH cars were on hand in the three classes as the following drivers celebrated in the Landrum Performance Springs victory lane: Kyle Hardy (Hovis RUSH Late Model Flynn's Tire/Gunter's Honey Tour), Kole Holden (Hovis RUSH Sportsman Modified Weekly Series) and John Mollick (Hovis RUSH Sprint Car Billy's Garage Weekly Series).  Jason Knowles was the lucky recipient of the $5,000 Landrum Performance "Loyalty Bonus" for eligible Late Model Tour drivers!  Peluso Roofing added $170 to the purse for the top three finishers in each feature.    

Four years ago, Kyle Hardy capped off his first RUSH Late Model Flynn's Tire/Gunter's Honey Touring Series Championship with a victory in the "Steel City Stampede".  Hardy returned to the Tour full-time this season for the first time since the 2021 championship effort.  On Saturday, Hardy passed Kyle Zimmerman on lap four and fended off the challenges by Christian Schneider to earn his second SCS belt buckle- this time worth an event record $4,100.  Hardy's fourth win of the season locked up a runner-up finish in points worth $10,000! 

"It means a lot to come up here and collect that kind of money in crate racing," stated the 32-year-old Winchester, Virginia great.  "It's really unheard of and I'm just glad we can be part of the Series and run up front with these competitive cars.  I can't thank the RUSH Series and Lernerville enough- I always love coming here.  The year went by so fast.  Congrats to Jeremy (Wonderling) on the championship, and all of the competitors that raced with us this season  I knew Christian (Schneider) was going to be there at the end.  I had to turn it up a little after he showed me the line on the bottom of (turns) one and two.  I kind of got out of my rhythm so I had to get back down and get going again.  I have a lot of respect for him- he raced me super clean as I would do for him.  That's a good run for him in second." 

Following the Dave Poske's Performance Parts "Feel the RUSH" 4-Wide Salute, Kyle Zimmerman and Knowles led the 24-car starting field to green for the 30-lap feature with Zimmerman racing into the early lead, while Hardy and fifth starting Austin Hauser passed Knowles for second and third respectively.  On lap two, Hardy pulled alongside Zimmerman, but Zimmerman was able to hold on; meanwhile Schneider moved past Knowles for fourth.

The top two quickly pulled away from the field before the event's only caution for a spin by Knowles with three laps completed.  Hardy used to the outside to pass Zimmerman on the restart for what would be the winning move, while Schneider snuck past both Hauser and Zimmerman for second.  By lap eight, the top four of Hardy, Schneider, Zimmerman, and eighth starting Daryl Charlier distanced themselves from the field.

Hardy caught lapped traffic for the first time of the event on lap 12, which allowed Schneider to close the gap.  Schneider caught Hardy and the two raced side-by-side for the lead on lap 16, but Hardy made the right moves in lapped traffic to maintain the lead.  That would be the story for the remainder of the race as Hardy was flawless in lapped traffic and took the checkered flag first by 1.443 seconds 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.

After ending a two and half year winless drought by winning on August 29 at Tri-City Raceway Park, Hardy closed out the season winning four of the last six events.  Hardy's 14th career Flynn's Tire/Gunter's Honey Touring Series victory moved him past 2017 champion, Bryce Davis, for third on the all-time win list.

Schneider earned $2,050 for second.  It was Schneider's third runner-up finish in his last four starts and fourth top two finish in his last five races!   "Getting to him (Hardy) and getting past him is a different story," acknowledged the 28-year-old Pittsburgh, Pa. racer.  "I'm thrilled to be racing with him.  I followed him at Tri-City, Pittsburgh, and now here.  Hats off to him- he's a beautiful driver and does not screw up.  He puts the car in the right places at the right times.  It's awesome to finish second to someone like that and race against guys like Jeremy (Wonderling), Zimmerman, Tim Shaffer, and a bunch of people like that."

Zimmerman's third was worth $1,020, which was his best Tour finish since ironically finishing third in the 2023 "Steel City Stampede" for car owner Jonathan Stockdale.  Zimmerman joined Hardy and Schneider by receiving a three-pack of premium product from Heritage Wine Cellars.  Daryl Charlier, the 2024 3C Graphix Rookie-of-the-Year, was fourth for his fourth top five in the last six races.  Demetrios Drellos was fifth to capture the $3,000 3C Graphix Rookie-of-the-Year honors and third in points worth another $7,500. 

Clinton Hersh was sixth over Davis from 11th.  After struggling for most of the weekend, Jeremy Wonderling drove from 16th to 8th in the feature to earn the $50 Precise Racing Products "Pedal Down" Hard Charger gift card.  Wonderling had already clinched the $20,000 Flynn's Tire/Gunter's Honey Touring Series and $5,000 City Chevrolet National Weekly Series Championships- both for the unprecedented fifth time of his career.  After running as high as third early on, Hauser faded to ninth for his fifth top 10 of the season.  After failing to qualify for the feature in his last three starts, Logan Zarin went 15th to 10th aboard Greg Beach's #33x.  National Sprint Car Hall of Famer, Tim Shaffer, was 18th and received a spoiler kit from Ontime Body & Graphic. 

Former Lernerville Pro Stock regular, Noah Brunell, topped the 17-car starting field in the Non-Qualifier event by leading all 10 laps for the $200 victory.  The 26-year-old New Alexandria, Pa. driver became the amazing 88th different winner in 111 races run all-time aboard his Hutira Motorsports/Peachy Clean Cleaning/Townsend Oil/Wholesale Transmissions/Moyer Insurance-sponsored #31!  Jake Wilber, the 2025 Bradford Speedway City Chevrolet Track Pack Champion, was second and also received a $50 Holley Performance gift card for being the first feature non-qualifier.  Veterans Chad Homan and Dusty Waters were third and fourth.  William Pinckney went eighth to fifth.  Rob Coffaro of Slippery Rock. Pa. finished 13th in his Coffaro's Pizza #24c to capture the D&V Jewelers "Wheelman" Bonus Event Challenge Series title as he became the 15th different champion in 16 years! 

Hersh earned his first career FK Rod Ends "Shock the Clock" honors thanks to setting fast time overall against the 42-car field in qualifying with a lap of 17.153 on Friday night.  Hersh received $100 as he became the 13th different driver in 18 races this season to set fast time.  Winning the $25 FK Rod Ends heat races on Friday night were Knowles, Hauser, Schneider, Zimmerman, Drellos, and Hardy.  Zimmerman also added his first Sunoco Dash victory of the season worth a $100 Sunoco fuel card to become the 13th different winner in 18 races. 

Also receiving $100 Sunoco fuels cards in the random drawings part of the "Fill'er up with Sunoco Bucks" promotion presented by Bazell Race Fuels were Tour drivers Davis and Ben Easler, while the $50 fuel cards went to Wyatt White, Hunter Proctor, Anthony Monteparte, and Chuck Medved.  Landrum Performance Springs also distributed BOGO certificates to Austin Hauser, Jacob Billyk, Jr., Ryan Hare, Jeremy Wonderling, and Mike Wonderling.

Kole Holden garnered his first career "Steel City Stampede" victory to become the 11th different Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Sportsman Modified winner in 12 years!  Holden passed Leo McGurrin on lap five and went unchallenged to just his second win of 2025.  The $900 victory was Holden's first at Lernerville since June 20, 2023.  Holden finished second in both the $3,500 Weekly and $1,000 Route 7 Rumble Series points to Chas Wolbert.

"I could tell right off the rip we had a fast car tonight," revealed the 26-year-old Tiona, Pa. resident.  "I can't thank my crew enough for giving me a fast car all season.  I stuck it around the bottom, which was the only place that had any sort of traction left.  The car worked perfect around there and we were able to pull off the win.  I've had some wins at Lernerville, but I'm glad I could finally get one of these (belt buckle)- it feels amazing to get a Stampede win."

McGurrin used the outside to pass Logen Lockhart to take the early lead, while Holden followed in second.  The event's only stoppage occurred when Jacob Rutana spun and was collected by Nolan Burns and Cole Edwards as Burns flipped over and briefly caught fire; he was ok.  When green replaced yellow on lap five, Holden made the outside work for what would be the winning pass.  Todd English and Lockhart traded the third spot back and forth until English got by for good on lap seven. 

Holden led the final 16 caution-free laps as he garnered his 31st career checkered flag by a winning margin of 2.488 seconds in the Dana Holden-owned, Holden Resources/Logistics Plus/Car-Go Auto Parts/Troyer Dirt Cars/Paul Campbell's Garage/Falconer & Manross Garbage Service/Baker Motorsports-sponsored #2. 

McGurrin was second, which matched his career best RUSH finish in his Lernerville debut.  English held off sixth starting Darin Gallagher for third.  Lockhart, who was doing double duty, dropped to fifth.  Karston King, who was the Russ King Racing Futures Cup Champion, went eighth to sixth.  Veteran Rob Kristyak was 7th after starting 13th.  Doug Rutana, JC Boyer, and 15th starting Dalton Gabriel completed the top 10.  Friday's heat race winners were Gallagher and Lockhart over the 19-car field.

John Mollick put an exclamation mark on a career best season by dominating the 20-lap Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Sprint Car feature.  Mollick passed Zach Morrow on lap three and was never challenged throughout the duration.  In fact, Mollick won the non-stop affair that was timed in 7:13.296 minutes by 6.186 seconds for his third straight "Steel City Stampede" victory!  Mollick's 11th win of 2025 was worth $900 and tied him in points with Blaze Myers; however, Myers won the tiebreaker with the most second place finishes (3 to 2) to secure his first career Billy's Garage Weekly Series Championship worth $5,000 for car owner Ted Hull. 

"That's the hardest I've ever worked for a feature," acknowledged the 55-year-old Toronto, Ohio standout.  "To be so smooth and easy on the gas isn't easy for me; I like to get up on it and rip it, but you can't do that with these cars on this track.  Scott (Clever) sets up the car and we blend it to what I like here.  These cars are fun to race and you don't have to be an engineer to figure out how to make them go.  This is a good class to get into and will teach you how to drive anything else.  They are so hard to drive and don't do anything because they aren't down on the right front and have no aero- it's just bars, tires, and driver.  When you can learn what these cars want, keep working them, and be fast, it'll carry you the rest of your career."    

Morrow took off in the early lead over Wyatt Long, while fourth starting Mollick disposed of Devon Deeter for third.  Mollick wasted little time moving forward taking second from Long on lap two and nearly the lead from Morrow.  Morrow's lead was short-lived as Mollick drove around the leader in turns one and two.  Mollick immediately pulled away and drove off to his 29th career win aboard the Scott Clever-owned, Rae Lynn Enterprise; Willy's Car Wash/JET Racing Engines-sponsored #4J. 

Morrow was second for the ninth time of the season with seven of them coming in the last eight events for car owner Tim Engles!  Long, who captured the Russ King Racing Futures Cup in his rookie season, was third in just his second career Lernerville start.  Trent Marshall went eighth to fourth over 14-year-old Cooper Macormac.  Completing the top 10 were Ricky Tucker III, 11th starting Brandon Shughart, Samantha Priest, Kevin Kaserman, and Deeter.  Friday's heat race winners were Morrow and Mollick.   

Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Model Flynn’s Tire/Gunter's Honey Touring Series Race #18 (30 laps, $4,100 to-win): 1. KYLE HARDY (99)  2. Christian Schneider (56)  3. Kyle Zimmerman (Stockdale 31)  4. Daryl Charlier (Dobnak 42)  5. Demetrios Drellos (111)  6. Clinton Hersh (16)  7. Bryce Davis (94)  8. Jeremy Wonderling (3J)  9. Austin Hauser (51)  10. Logan Zarin (Beach 33x)  11. Davin Kaiser (Beverlin 11)  12. Mike Wonderling (18)  13. Ben Easler (02)  14. Austin Allen (Mullen 32)  15. Jason Knowles (4)  16. Bill Holmes III (8)  17. Ryan Hare (29)  18. Tim Shaffer (45)  19. Tom Snyder, Jr. (10s)  20. Logan Stockdale (31L)  21. Sean Boskovich (33)  22. Matt Benard (15)  23. Jackson Billyk (71)  24. Zack Carley (2). 

D&V Jewelers Non-Qualifier (10 laps, $200 to-win): 1. Noah Brunell (31)  2. Jake Wilber (Suppa 4s)  3. Chad Homan (91)  4. Dusty Waters (14)  5. William Pinckney (Cole 11JR)  6. Anthony Monteparte (66)  7. Jacob Whitt (33)  8. Joe Zulisky (58z)  9. Jamie Wrightsman (21J)  10. Chase Hardy (18)  11. Wyatt White (5w)  12. Jacob Billyk, Jr. (4JR)  13. Rob Coffaro (24c)  14. Jimmy Diabo (Houser 27)  15. Hunter Proctor (432)  16. Chuck Medved (2M)  17. Logen Lockhart (58). DNS: Jacob Peterson (112). 

Car Count: 42

Feature Margin of Victory: 1.443 seconds
Feature Lap Leaders: Kyle Zimmerman (1-3), Kyle Hardy (4-30)

Ontime Body & Graphic “Spoiler Alert” Spoiler Kit: Tim Shaffer

Heritage Wine Cellars 3-Pack of Premium Products: Kyle Hardy, Christian Schneider & Kyle Zimmerman

Holley Performance Group “Nosed Out”: Jake Wilber

Landrum Performance Springs $5,000 "Loyalty Bonus": Jason Knowles

Landrum Performance Springs BOGO Certificates: Austin Hauser, Jacob Billyk, Jr., Ryan Hare, Jeremy Wonderling & Mike Wonderling

Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down” Hard Charger: Jeremy Wonderling (+8)

Sunoco Fuel Card Winners presented by Bazell Race Fuels: Ben Easler ($100), Bryce Davis ($100), Wyatt White ($50), Hunter Proctor ($50), Anthony Monteparte ($50), Chuck Medved ($50).

FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Flight A Qualifying ($100 for fast time) (Track record 16.750 by Bryce Davis on 10/15/21): 1. 16-Clinton Hersh, 00:17.153[13]; 2. 51-Austin Hauser, 00:17.362[6]; 3. 56-Christian Schneider, 00:17.399[15]; 4. 4-Jason Knowles, 00:17.512[16]; 5. 33X-Logan Zarin, 00:17.513[12]; 6. 94-Bryce Davis, 00:17.540[19]; 7. 33-Sean Boskovich, 00:17.575[8]; 8. 11K-Davin Kaiser, 00:17.604[5]; 9. 8-Bill Holmes, 00:17.755[14]; 10. 02-Ben Easler, 00:17.771[2]; 11. 15B-Matthew Benard, 00:17.782[18]; 12. 91-Chad Homan, 00:17.868[20]; 13. 4S-Jake Wilber, 00:18.012[21]; 14. 21J-Jamie Wrightsman, 00:18.057[3]; 15. 2C-Zack Carley, 00:18.090[4]; 16. 58Z-Joe Zulisky, 00:18.184[1]; 17. 24C-Rob Coffaro, 00:18.240[7]; 18. 4JR-Jacob Billyk Jr, 00:18.326[10]; 19. 58-Logen Lockhart, 00:18.758[17]; 20. 33W-Jacob Whitt, NT[9]; 21. 5W-Wyatt White, NT[11].

FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Flight B Qualifying (Track record 16.750 by Bryce Davis on 10/15/21): 1. 31-Kyle Zimmerman, 00:17.265[17]; 2. 45-Tim Shaffer, 00:17.339[6]; 3. 99-Kyle Hardy, 00:17.355[14]; 4. 42-Daryl Charlier, 00:17.425[21]; 5. 111D-Demetrios Drellos, 00:17.529[1]; 6. 31L-Logan Stockdale, 00:17.629[11]; 7. 18-Mike Wonderling, 00:17.715[19]; 8. 29-Ryan Hare, 00:17.754[7]; 9. 10S-Tom Snyder Jr, 00:17.784[9]; 10. 32A-Austin Allen, 00:17.805[15]; 11. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling, 00:17.832[12]; 12. 71-Jackson Billyk, 00:17.868[4]; 13. 31B-Noah Brunell, 00:17.870[18]; 14. 14W-Dusty Waters, 00:17.915[2]; 15. 66-Anthony Monteparte, 00:18.052[10]; 16. 11JR-William Pinckney, 00:18.231[13]; 17. 18H-Chase Hardy, 00:18.244[16]; 18. 27-Jimmy Diabo, 00:18.283[3]; 19. 112-Jacob Peterson, 00:18.529[8]; 20. 2M-Chuck Medved, 00:18.726[20]; 21. 432-Hunter Proctor, 00:19.086[5]

FK Rod Ends Heat 1 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 4-Jason Knowles[2]; 2. 16-Clinton Hersh[1]; 3. 02-Ben Easler[4]; 4. 33-Sean Boskovich[3]; 5. 58Z-Joe Zulisky[6]; 6. 4S-Jake Wilber[5]; 7. 58-Logen Lockhart[7].

FK Rod Ends Heat 2 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 51-Austin Hauser[1]; 2. 11K-Davin Kaiser[3]; 3. 33X-Logan Zarin[2]; 4. 15B-Matthew Benard[4]; 5. 33W-Jacob Whitt[7]; 6. 21J-Jamie Wrightsman[5]; 7. 24C-Rob Coffaro[6].

FK Rod Ends Heat 3 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 56-Christian Schneider[1]; 2. 94-Bryce Davis[2]; 3. 8-Bill Holmes[3]; 4. 2C-Zack Carley[5]; 5. 91-Chad Homan[4]; 6. 4JR-Jacob Billyk Jr[6]; 7. 5W-Wyatt White[7].

FK Rod Ends Heat 4 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 31-Kyle Zimmerman[1]; 2. 42-Daryl Charlier[2]; 3. 18-Mike Wonderling[3]; 4. 32A-Austin Allen[4]; 5. 31B-Noah Brunell[5]; 6. 11JR-William Pinckney[6]; 7. 112-Jacob Peterson[7].

FK Rod Ends Heat 5 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 111D-Demetrios Drellos[2]; 2. 45-Tim Shaffer[1]; 3. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling[4]; 4. 29-Ryan Hare[3]; 5. 14W-Dusty Waters[5]; 6. 18H-Chase Hardy[6]; 7. 2M-Chuck Medved[7].

FK Rod Ends Heat 6 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 99-Kyle Hardy[1]; 2. 10S-Tom Snyder Jr[3]; 3. 31L-Logan Stockdale[2]; 4. 71-Jackson Billyk[4]; 5. 66-Anthony Monteparte[5]; 6. 27-Jimmy Diabo[6]; 7. 432-Hunter Proctor[7].

Last Chance B Main 1 (8 laps, Top 2 transfer to A): 1. 33-Sean Boskovich[1]; 2. 15B-Matthew Benard[2]; 3. 4S-Jake Wilber[5]; 4. 33W-Jacob Whitt[4]; 5. 58Z-Joe Zulisky[3]; 6. 24C-Rob Coffaro[8]; 7. 21J-Jamie Wrightsman[6]; 8. 58-Logen Lockhart[7].

Last Chance B Main 2 (8 laps, Top 2 transfer to A): 1. 2C-Zack Carley[1]; 2. 32A-Austin Allen[2]; 3. 31B-Noah Brunell[4]; 4. 91-Chad Homan[3]; 5. 11JR-William Pinckney[6]; 6. 5W-Wyatt White[7]; 7. 4JR-Jacob Billyk Jr[5]; 8. 112-Jacob Peterson[8].

Last Chance B Main 3 (8 laps, Top 2 transfer to A): 1. 29-Ryan Hare[1]; 2. 71-Jackson Billyk[2]; 3. 14W-Dusty Waters[3]; 4. 66-Anthony Monteparte[4]; 5. 18H-Chase Hardy[5]; 6. 432-Hunter Proctor[8]; 7. 2M-Chuck Medved[7]; 8. 27-Jimmy Diabo[6].

Sunoco Dash (6 laps, $100 Sunoco fuel card to-win): 1. 31-Kyle Zimmerman[1]; 2. 4-Jason Knowles[3]; 3. 99-Kyle Hardy[6]; 4. 56-Christian Schneider[4]; 5. 51-Austin Hauser[2]; 6. 111D-Demetrios Drellos[5].

Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Sportsman Modified Weekly Series Race #20 (20 laps, $900 to-win): 1. KOLE HOLDEN (2)  2. Leo McGurrin (22L)  3. Todd English (711)  4. Darin Gallagher (Schaffer 23)  5. Logen Lockhart (58)  6. Karston King (165K)  7. Rob Kristyak (00)  8. Doug Rutana (46R)  9. JC Boyer (12)  10. Dalton Gabriel (333G)  11. Lucas Canon (2LC)  12. Jackson Kristyak (00K)  13. Jacob Rutana (57R)  14. Preston Cope (Hinkle 77)  15. Karlin Miller (Schaffer 14)  16. Jerry Schaffer (4)  17. Joe Gibson (119)  18. Nolan Burns (70B)  19. Cole Edwards (29).

Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Sprint Car Billy's Garage Weekly Series Race #31 (20 laps, $900 to-win): 1. JOHN MOLLICK (Clever 4J)  2. Zach Morrow (Engles 68)  3. Wyatt Long (63L)  4. Trent Marshall (17)  5. Cooper Macormac (7)  6. Ricky Tucker III (1T)  7. Brandon Shughart (29)  8. Samantha Priest (21N)  9. Kevin Kaserman (13K)  10. Devon Deeter (54)  11. Jayden Shiffer (16)  12. Lucas Roessner (213)  13. T.J. Rosario (48T).

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 Racing Series website is www.rushracingseries.com. Like our various Facebook page and X (formerly Twitter) pages by searching each individual Series.

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