Story By: MIKE LEONE / RUSH RACING SERIES – EAST SMETHPORT, PA – After five rainouts in the first eight scheduled events, Mother Nature tried once again to wreak havoc on Friday for the return of the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Dirt Late Model Flynn’s Tire/Gunter’s Honey Touring Series to McKean County Raceway after nearly six years.
With a 70% chance of rain in the forecast and several rounds of rain throughout the day and early evening, second year track promoter Kurt Stebbings persevered and got the track in excellent shape after nearly an hour and a half delay. Despite the weather, a strong field of 32 cars from four states plus Ontario, Canada turned out.
Over the years, Bryce Davis has taken a liking to McKean County Raceway. The 2017 Flynn’s Tire/Gunter’s Honey Touring Series Champion, who resides 70 miles from the McKean County Fairgrounds, couldn’t have asked for a better night in his just second race of 2024. Davis performed a rare clean sweep setting fast time in FK Rod Ends Qualifying, winning his FK Rod Ends Heat Race, the Sunoco Dash, and passed Jeremy Wonderling with six laps to go to win a thrilling 30-lap feature. Davis becomes the fourth different winner in four Tour events this season as he earned $3,125 in cash plus another $200 in contingencies. Four of Davis’ 11 career Tour victories have now come at McKean over the 12 years.
“That was a treacherous race,” expressed the 33-year-old Canisteo, NY driver. “Lapped traffic was just fast enough that you couldn’t get good runs on them. I knew there were fast cars behind me that when we got close to the end were going to shove their nose in there. I tried to hit my marks, but I missed it one time and I thought I gave it away. Jeremy (Wonderling) then missed his marks in the same spot I did so it worked out well. We had a great car and I can’t thank my crew enough; they put all the work in the car and I don’t get over there much. These cars are awesome and the engines are relatively inexpensive, and provide great racing. I have just as much fun doing this as the Super Late Model and that’s what made us come back- I thoroughly enjoy it! It means a lot to win a Tour race here. It’s just our second race of the year and we’re still dialing things in.”
After the Dave Poske’s Performance Parts “Feel the RUSH” Four-Wide Salute, Davis and Flynn’s Tire/Gunter’s Honey Touring Series points leader Brock Pinkerous led the 24-car field to green. It was Pinkerous using the outside to lead the opening lap over Davis, Wonderling, Joe Martin, and Jared Miley. Pinkerous and Davis continued their side-by-side battle on lap two with Davis nosing ahead. By lap three, the top three of Davis, Pinkerous, and Wonderling quickly began to distance themselves from the field. Wonderling pulled alongside Pinkerous on lap four, but was unable to complete the pass. A slowing Austin Hauser halted the event with five laps completed as the final 25 went green-to-checkered.
When racing resumed, Pinkerous and Wonderling continued their dogfight for second. Davis then began to pull away from the duo on lap 11. Davis caught lapped traffic for the first time of the event on lap 14, while Wonderling finally was able to clear Pinkerous for second. Wonderling then tracked down Davis in lapped traffic on lap 20. Davis got held up trying to lap Daryl Charlier, which allowed Wonderling to sneak under for the lead on lap 22. Two laps later, the roles were reversed as Wonderling struggled to pass Charlier allowing Davis to get under and past Wonderling for the winning move.
Davis kept Wonderling at bay over the final laps as he crossed the finish line first by 0.541 seconds in his Griswold’s ETR Services/Davis Electric/The Brick House-sponsored #94. Davis celebrated his 11th career Tour victory in the Landrum Performance Springs victory lane as he’s now tied for third on the all-time Tour win list with 2016 champion John Waters.
Wonderling, who won the May 24 “Gary Montgomery Memorial” at Outlaw Speedway, earned $1,500 for runner-up. “I screwed up just as bad as Bryce (Davis) did,” acknowledged the 44-year-old Wellsville, NY standout. “I was good on the bottom and knew if I could stay there, I’d be fine and had him covered. I was tucked up behind the lapped car (Charlier) down the backstretch and the air made me tight getting into the corner. I knew as soon as I washed up, he wasn’t far behind and was going to be there. We came down the frontstretch side-by-side and he had it. It was good racing; I’ve raced with him for a long time. It’s competitive every time we go out and these cars are a lot of fun to race. Most of the racers race us with a lot of respect. Bryce and I are going to rub, lean, and push, but we’re not going to be too dirty on each other.”
Pinkerous was third to maintain the Flynn’s Tire/Gunter’s Honey points lead for the $20,000 to-win title as he has now finished on the podium in all four events this season! All three of the podium teams received a three-pack of premium Heritage Wine Cellars products. Miley was fourth to maintain the lead in the $3,000 to-win 3C Graphix Rookie-of-the-Year points. Martin was fifth for his second straight top five finish.
One race removed from his first career Tour top five finish at Tri-City, Jim Rasey turned in another solid effort with a sixth-place finish for car owner Jim Wrightsman and also received a spoiler kit from Ontime Body & Graphic. After back-to-back ninth place finishes, Austin Allen, another 3C Graphix Rookie-of-the-Year candidate, went 10th to 7th for his season’s best finish. Ashton Briggs was a season best eighth for his second straight top 10 finish. Veteran Ed Carley was ninth subbing for his son Zack. RUSH Sportsman Modified graduate, Ben Easler, was 10th for his first career top 10 Tour finish.
It’s been a tough start to the season for 3C Graphix Rookie-of-the-Year candidate Brad Mesler. Mesler flipped in the opening event at Pittsburgh during his heat race and then managed 15th place finishes at the last two events with a new car; however, suffered engine issues at Tri-City. On Friday, Mesler and crew picked up the engine and installed it at the track. After issues in qualifying that forced Mesler to miss his heat race, the Wellsville, NY driver then raced from 11th to 3rd in the B main to transfer to the feature. Mesler then salvaged the night with his third straight 15th place finish and earned the $50 Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down” Hard Charger gift card.
Brandt Graham ended the night leading all six laps of the D&V Jewelers Non-Qualifier. Graham, who was the 2023 D&V Jewelers “Wheelman” Bonus Event Challenge Series Champion, earned $200 for his fourth career win tying him with Jamie Wrightsman for most all-time as he takes over the 2024 points lead. The 26-year-old Orono, Ontario, Canada racer took the checkered flag first by a commanding 2.297 seconds aboard his GAP Professional Products/Full Circle Automation/Goat Transport/Dig Tech Infrastructure/White Equipment Service & Training/P.J. Larkin Salvage/Bean’s Excavating/Hot Rod Swag-sponsored #14. Graham also earned a $50 gift certificate from Holley Performance Group for being the first feature non-qualifier. Rickie Loucks was second. Veteran racer John Haggerty, who turns 70 later this month, was third over Justin Yohe, who made his first ever Tour start.
Davis earned $100 for setting fast time overall in FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Qualifying with a lap of 16.637. Pinkerous, Carley, Davis, and Wonderling won $25 FK Rod Ends heat races, while Hauser captured the last chance B main. Davis also won his first Sunoco Dash of the season and earned a $100 Sunoco gift card. Also winning $100 Sunoco gift cards through the random drawings were Tour racers Allen and Rasey, while the $50 gift cards went to Haggerty, Davis, Stolzenburg, and Randy Hall.
Winning the Landrum Performance Springs BOGO certificates were Ed Carley, Ashton Briggs, Kassandra Norman, Mike Wonderling, and Damian Bidwell.
The Flynn’s Tire/Gunter’s Honey Touring Series will return to action for night two of the western Pa. doubleheader weekend swing on Saturday (June 8) at Marion Center (PA) Raceway for the first of two appearances of the season paying $3,000 to-win. Warmups will begin at 6:15 with qualifying and racing to follow.
Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Model “Gary Montgomery Memorial” Flynn’s Tire/Gunter’s Honey Touring Series Race #4 (30 laps, $3,000 to-win): 1. BRYCE DAVIS (94) 2. Jeremy Wonderling (3J) 3. Brock Pinkerous (555) 4. Jared Miley (Deller 75) 5. Joe Martin (Snyder 10s) 6. Jim Rasey (Wrightsman 21J) 7. Austin Allen (32) 8. Ashton Briggs (11A) 9. Ed Carley (2) 10. Ben Easler (02) 11. Cody Dawson (36) 12. Chuck LaFleur (61) 13. Damian Bidwell (1/2-Pint) 14. Jacob Wilber (50) 15. Brad Mesler (Sturdevant 87s) 16. Daryl Charlier (Dobnak 42) 17. Mike Wonderling (18) 18. Craig Graham (98) 19. Brett Marlatt (99) 20. Kyle Zimmerman (Stockdale 31) 21. Kurt Stebbins (26) 22. Randy Hall (Krug 83) 23. Austin Hauser (51) 24. Jacob Tubbs (89JR).
D&V Jewelers Non-Qualifier (6 laps, $200 to-win): 1. Brandt Graham (14) 2. Rickie Loucks (Krise 4R) 3. John Haggerty (49) 4. Justin Yohe (626). DNS: Kassandra Norman (6), David Stolzenberg (1s), D.J. Krug (83), Scott Stein (09).
Car Count: 32
Feature Margin of Victory: 0.541 seconds
Feature Lap Leaders: Brock Pinkerous (1), Bryce Davis (2-21, 24-30), Jeremy Wonderling (22-23)
Ontime Body & Graphic “Spoiler Alert” Spoiler Kit: Jim Rasey
Heritage Wine Cellars 3-Pack of Premium Products: Bryce Davis, Jeremy Wonderling, Brock Pinkerous.
Holley Performance Group “Nosed Out”: Brandt Graham
Landrum Performance Springs BOGO Certificates: Ed Carley, Ashton Briggs, Kassandra Norman, Mike Wonderling, Damian Bidwell
Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down” Hard Charger: Brad Mesler (+8)
Precise Racing Products 5-Gallon Race Jug: Bryce Davis
Sunoco Fuel Card Winners: Jim Rasey ($100), Austin Allen ($100), Bryce Davis ($50), Randy Hall ($50), David Stolzenberg ($50), John Haggerty ($50).
FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Flight A Qualifying ($100 for fast time) (Track record 15.550 by Chad Ruhlman on 9/20/13): 1. 555-Brock Pinkerous, 00:16.960[4]; 2. 2C-Ed Carley, 00:17.171[9]; 3. 42-Daryl Charlier, 00:17.174[13]; 4. 10S-Joe Martin, 00:17.175[8]; 5. 11A-Ashton Briggs, 00:17.244[14]; 6. 02-Benjamin Easler, 00:17.268[11]; 7. 21J-Jim Rasey, 00:17.295[12]; 8. 50-Jacob Wilber, 00:17.514[15]; 9. 99M-Brett Marlatt, 00:17.575[10]; 10. 61-Chuck LaFleur, 00:17.778[5]; 11. 4R-Rickie Loucks, 00:17.992[6]; 12. 83-DJ Krug, 00:18.133[3]; 13. 14-Brandt Graham, 00:18.392[2]; 14. 87S-Brad Mesler, 00:18.894[1]. DNSQ: 626-Justin Yohe & 49-John Haggerty.
FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Flight B Qualifying ($100 for fast time) (Track record 15.550 by Chad Ruhlman on 9/20/13): 1. 94-Bryce Davis, 00:16.637[2]; 2. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling, 00:17.050[10]; 3. 36-Cody Dawson, 00:17.156[5]; 4. 75-Jared Miley, 00:17.173[14]; 5. 32A-Austin Allen, 00:17.204[8]; 6. 1/2PT-Damian Bidwell, 00:17.221[16]; 7. 09-Scott Stein, 00:17.250[9]; 8. 31-Kyle Zimmerman, 00:17.337[1]; 9. 98-Craig Graham, 00:17.410[12]; 10. 89JR-Jacob Tubbs, 00:17.470[15]; 11. 18-Mike Wonderling, 00:17.474[13]; 12. 26-Kurt Stebbins, 00:17.565[11]; 13. 87K-Randy Hall, 00:17.745[3]; 14. 1S-David Stolzenberg, 00:17.930[4]; 15. 51-Austin Hauser, 00:18.125[7]; 16. 6N-Kassandra Norman, 00:18.495[6].
FK Rod Ends Heat 1 (8 laps, Top 5 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 555-Brock Pinkerous[1]; 2. 21J-Jim Rasey[4]; 3. 11A-Ashton Briggs[3]; 4. 42-Daryl Charlier[2]; 5. 99M-Brett Marlatt[5]; 6. 14-Brandt Graham[7]; 7. 4R-Rickie Loucks[6]. DNS: 626-Justin Yohe.
FK Rod Ends Heat 2 (8 laps, Top 5 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 2C-Ed Carley[1]; 2. 10S-Joe Martin[2]; 3. 02-Benjamin Easler[3]; 4. 61-Chuck LaFleur[5]; 5. 50-Jacob Wilber[4]; 6. 83-DJ Krug[6]; 7. 49-John Haggerty[8]. DNS: 87S-Brad Mesler.
FK Rod Ends Heat 3 (8 laps, Top 5 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 94-Bryce Davis[1]; 2. 36-Cody Dawson[2]; 3. 32A-Austin Allen[3]; 4. 98-Craig Graham[5]; 5. 87K-Randy Hall[7]; 6. 51-Austin Hauser[8]; 7. 18-Mike Wonderling[6]; 8. 09-Scott Stein[4].
FK Rod Ends Heat 4 (8 laps, Top 5 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling[1]; 2. 75-Jared Miley[2]; 3. 1/2PT-Damian Bidwell[3]; 4. 26-Kurt Stebbins[6]; 5. 31-Kyle Zimmerman[4]; 6. 89JR-Jacob Tubbs[5]; 7. 6N-Kassandra Norman[8]; 8. 1S-David Stolzenberg[7].
Last Chance B Main (10 laps, Top 4 transfer to A): 1. 51-Austin Hauser[2]; 2. 18-Mike Wonderling[6]; 3. 87S-Brad Mesler[11]; 4. 89JR-Jacob Tubbs[4]; 5. 14-Brandt Graham[1]; 6. 4R-Rickie Loucks[5]; 7. 49-John Haggerty[7]; 8. 6N-Kassandra Norman[8]; 9. 1S-David Stolzenberg[10]; 10. 83-DJ Krug[3]; 11. 09-Scott Stein[9]. DNS: 626-Justin Yohe.
Sunoco Dash (6 laps, $100 Sunoco fuel card to win): 1. 94-Bryce Davis[1]; 2. 555-Brock Pinkerous[2]; 3. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling[5]; 4. 10S-Joe Martin[3]; 5. 75-Jared Miley[4]; 6. 21J-Jim Rasey[6]; 7. 2C-Ed Carley[7]; 8. 36-Cody Dawson[8].