Story By: MIKE LEONE / RUSH RACING SERIES – MIDDLEBOURNE, WV – After an ultra-successful “Manufacturers Night” presented by MSD Performance that saw 52 racers compete at Eriez Speedway last Sunday night, the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Dirt Late Model Flynn’s Tire Touring Series will head south this Sunday (September 3) to Tyler County Speedway.
Race #18 of the 2023 season is the “Cider Jug 40”, which will take place as part of the “Hillbilly 100” with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. The event will be streamed live on FloRacing.
Tyler County Speedway is in its second year under the RUSH banner for its Late Model class. Sunday will be the second and final appearance of 2023 by the Flynn’s Tire Tour at the Middlebourne, WV oval. Wellsville, New York standout Jeremy Wonderling is now two-for-two in Flynn’s Tire Touring Series events held at Tyler County as he won last year’s $4,000 “Cider Jug 40” and followed it up by winning $3,000 on July 22.
“The weather is looking great for Sunday,” stated RUSH Director Vicki Emig. “It’s an honor to be part of the ‘Hillbilly 100’ weekend at Tyler County and be on the card with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series in such a historic event. Having Tyler County part of our City Chevrolet Weekly Series program has been a great addition. The last two Flynn’s Tire Tour events we’ve had at Tyler County have been great. We can’t thank promoters John Watson and Dan Patterson enough for their unwavering support of RUSH.”
Brandon Weigle has been on a tear at Tyler County this season winning 5 of the 10 events run to lead the City Chevrolet RUSH “Track Pack” points. Michael Duritsky, Jr. won the first two events of the season at Tyler County, but has only made one visit since. Kyle Thomas and Brent Trimble are the only other winners this season in City Chevrolet Weekly Series competition. Trimble’s victory came in the most recent event on August 19, which was his first RUSH-sanctioned victory since 2017!
Three-time Series Champion Jeremy Wonderling enters Sunday night for the Flynn’s Tire Touring Series leader with eight wins this season all occurring in the last 13 events, which has propelled him to a commanding 90-point lead as he inches closer to the $15,000 title. Joe Martin, who has finished second in points each of the last three years, has moved into the runner-up position for the first time this season thanks to four top four finishes in the last six races.
After struggling the last three events, Mike Wonderling has dropped to third in points, but just four behind Martin. Wonderling is competing on the Tour for the first time this season and finished third at the July 22 Tyler County event. Delaware racer Cody Dawson has moved into fourth in points as Brock Pinkerous, Ashton Briggs, Jim Rasey, Austin Hauser, Craig Graham, and Brandt Graham complete the top 10. Brandt Graham currently leads the D&V Jewelers “Wheelman Bonus Event Challenges” Series points over his father Craig.
On Sunday, $100 “Shock the Clock” Qualifying and $25 to-win heat races will take place and be presented by FK Rod Ends. The Sunoco Dash will set the beginning rows of the feature lineup and will award the winner a $100 Sunoco fuel gift card. The “Fill’er up with Sunoco Bucks” program will include an additional $400 of Sunoco fuel card giveaways; two $100 random draws for drivers in the top 15 of Tour points and another four $50 random draws for all other competitors.
Precise Racing Products will award a $50 gift card for the “Pedal Down” Hard Charger that passes the most cars in the feature. The TBM Brakes “Tough Brake of the Night” will award three bottles of Xtreme6 Racing Brake Fluid. Ontime Body & Graphic’s “Spoiler Alert” will award a spoiler kit to the 18th place finisher (note: if a driver has already won a spoiler this season, spoiler will be awarded to the next position). Performance Bodies will award a $100 gift card to the first non-qualifier part of the “Nosed Out” program.
Feature Payoff: 1. $4,000 2. $2,000 3. $1,000 4. $800 5. $700 6. $600 7. $550 8. $500 9. $475 10. $450 11. $425 12. $400 13. $375 14. $360 15. $350 16. $340 17. $330 18. $320 19. $310 20-24. $300.
D&V Jewelers Non-Qualifier Payoff: 1. $200 2. $190 3. $185 4. $180 5. $175 6. $170 7. $165 8. $160 9. $155 10-24. $150. Tow $125
You do not have to be a member of RUSH to compete only to receive Weekly and/or Tour points. The entry fee is $100. AMB/MyLaps transponders will be used; Westhold transponders will NOT work. Units are available to rent for $25 and no cost to Tyler County regulars. Driver radio channel will be 454.000. Teams should come prepared with the mandated RUSH tires and fuel.
The following are tentative times. Pit passes will go on sale at 2 p.m. RUSH registration will open by 2:30 p.m. with the drivers meeting at 5:30. Warm-ups are slated for 6 p.m. followed by qualifying and racing.