Story By: MIKE LEONE / RUSH RACING SERIES – IMPERIAL, PA – The Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Dirt Late Model Flynn’s Tire/Gunter’s Honey Touring Series returned to Pittsburgh PA Motor Speedway on Saturday for the second straight night and fourth and final time of the 2024 season. Race #13 of the 2024 season, which was Night 2 of the “Bill Hendren Memorial” presented by FK Rod Ends and City Chevrolet, was part of the “Pittsburgher 100” weekend with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and was run contested in front of a packed grandstand and live on FloRacing. Forty-six cars were on hand as a total of 52 different ones competed over the two nights from eight different states and Ontario, Canada. The average car count for the four PPMS races was 47.5! Also special thanks to sponsors Pro Fabrication, Hendren Racing Engines, All Interior Painting, Goble Motorsports, West Mifflin Collision, Stan’s Transmission, and Branden Lockwich.
Brandon Burgoon couldn’t have picked a better time to capture his first career Flynn’s Tire/Gunter’s Honey Touring Series victory. The 2023 and 2024 PPMS City Chevrolet Track Pack Champion passed South Carolina invader Chris Steele on lap seven for the lead in the “Bill Hendren Memorial” feature. And even though Burgoon was never seriously challenged over the course of the 40-lap event, he had to navigate lapped traffic and several late race cautions that created double-file restarts to capture his biggest career win worth $10,000! Burgoon became the second driver to win their first career Tour race in as many nights and fourth of the season (Brock Pinkerous, Dave Hess, Jr. & Mason Zeigler). Burgoon also became the eighth different driver to celebrate in the Landrum Performance Springs victory lane of the season.
“I can’t believe this,” expressed the 39-year-old McDonald, Pa. victor. “It’s the biggest win of my career and to do it with Bob (Bentz), Ken and Kayla (Chernik), my dad, and everyone that helps out is awesome. The way the night was going it was almost the same as last night; I set quick time, won my heat, and finished fourth in the dash. I was wondering what was going to happen next. The car was so good the entire race. It did get tight a couple times, but I was able to adjust the way I was driving and it took off every time. I was trying to be more aggressive in lapped traffic because that’s how I was passed last night. I was just waiting for someone to pass me because it felt like a couple times I was just stopping in the corners. I keep looking to see who was next to me every restart. The most nerve-wracking part when you’re leading are restarts.”
Following the Dave Poske’s Performance Parts “Feel the RUSH 4-Wide Salute”, Steel and Lukon led the 25-car starting field to green with Steele taking control, while Burgoon went fourth to second on the opening lap with Lukon, Garret Paugh, and Dillon Brown in tow. Burgoon reeled in Steele on lap four as the lead duo quickly distanced themselves from the field, while 8th starting Brown and 12th starting Jeremy Wonderling moved into fourth and fifth respectively past Paugh in the ensuing laps.
After pressuring Steele, Burgoon’s winning pass came on lap seven driving around Steele off turn four to nose ahead at the start-finish line. Burgoon caught lapped traffic on lap 10; meanwhile, Lukon closed in on Steele and caught him on lap 12 in the battle for second. Lukon finally was able to make the pass on lap 16 driving under Steele for runner-up. After a runner-up finish on Friday night, Brown caught Lukon and Steele making it a three-car battle for second. Steele slowed and exited the event on lap 21, which moved Brown, Wonderling, and 10th starting Michael Norris into positions three through five. Wonderling made the pass of Brown on lap 27 before the event’s first caution for a spin by Zach Gunn.
When green replaced yellow on lap 28, Wonderling and Norris continued their forward progression taking over second and third from Lukon. Zeigler, who won on Friday night, got into the frontstretch fence on lap 36 and Blair into the turn two fence on the ensuing restart, which would be the last cautions of the event. Zeigler had went 24th to 5th in 34 laps before his misfortune.
Burgoon though wasn’t to be deterred as he pulled away over the final five-lap shootout to the finish and took the checkered flag first by a commanding 3.578 seconds. Burgoon’s last lap of the feature was a 19.724 compared to Jonathan Davenport, who turned a 20.962 in the final lap of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series feature; in fact, the top 11 finishers in the RUSH feature all ran a faster last lap time than the top 11 in comparable finishes in the LOLMDS feature. Burgoon became the 47th different driver to win a Tour race all-time and did it aboard the Bob Bentz/Ken Chernik-owned, Stan’s Transmission Service/Close Racing Supply/Ingram Engines/NAPA/Frankland Racing/Daugherty Motorsports-sponsored #60.
(Note: Following the conclusion of the feature, Burgoon’s engine passed the post-race engine inspection, and the win will be official once the results of the fuel and tire samples that were taken are verified to be in compliance.)
Wonderling’s fifth podium finish in the last six events has allowed the four-time Flynn’s Tire/Gunter’s Honey Tour Champion to take a one-point lead over Brock Pinkerous in the race for the $20,000 to-win championship heading into next weekend’s finale at Lernerville. Wonderling earned a season best $5,000 in addition to a three-pack of Heritage Wine Cellars premium product, as did all three of the podium finishers.
“I think I had a good enough car but (Brandon) Burgoon was definitely the class of the field,” acknowledged the 44-year-old Wellsville, NY racer. “I think I had a better car than I showed, but I’m just not used to this place and I can’t put it up next to the fence and roll around this place. The thing was really good. The restarts were absolutely nuts, but that’s the nature of this beast and it’s a lot of fun. I definitely recovered from last night with a really good run. Congrats to Burgoon and Bobby Bentz- they’re good friends and they deserve it.”
After struggling on Friday with just a ninth place finish, Norris, who won the July 27 $7,010 “Jook George Steel City Classic” at PPMS, was a solid third for $2,500. “That outside is always good to me,” stated the 32-year-old Sarver, Pa. standout, who also received a $100 SRI Performance gift card for turning the fastest lap in warmups. “I have to say congratulations to Brandon (Burgoon). I’m happy for him. I had nothing for him. We were kind of all racing second; Jeremy (Wonderling) and I had a good race. Those restarts are always crazy here. I love getting on the outside, but when I’m on the inside I get a little nervous. The car was really good, but I was just a little off. The track was a little drier than what we’re used to down here this year, but we have to go to work a little harder. I think we’re close. We’ll take it starting 10th and being able to pass. There are a lot of good cars here. I’ve come out of here a lot more torn up than this so I can’t really complain. Thank you to all the fans for coming out and supporting local racing.”
For the second straight night, Pinkerous had to come out of the B mains to transfer to the feature. Pinkerous battled from 20th to 4th for $2,000 and earned the $50 Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down” Hard Charger gift card. After a runner-up finish on Friday night, Brown completed a solid weekend in fifth for $1,500 for the South Carolina invader.
Lukon dropped to sixth at the finish worth $1,200 after challenging for the lead early. Logan Roberson, the 2022 Tour champion, was seventh for $1,000. Eastern New York Modified standout, Demetrios Drellos, was eighth after finishing sixth on Friday night. After failing to qualify for Friday’s feature and winning the non-qualifier, 2017 3C Graphix Futures Cup Champion, Devin Brannon, went 21st to 9th. Daryl Charlier maintained his 3C Graphix Rookie-of-the-Year points lead by finishing 10th. Jacob Gunn received a spoiler kit from Ontime Body & Graphic for finishing 14th.
After missing Friday night due to being the starting quarterback for Conneaut Valley High School, Ben Easler led all 10 laps of the D&V Jewelers Non-Qualifier to become the 10th different winner in 10 races this year. Easler earned $350 thanks to additional money put up by David Parks and Brodie Oravetz Motorsports along with a $50 Holley Performance certificate for being the first feature non-qualifier. The 18-year-old Linesville, Pa. driver of the Jason Easler-owned, Crawford Custom Consulting/3C Graphix/Pore’s Body Worx/Lakeside Lanes/Titusville Ford/Happy Hill Farms/Russ King Racing/Espyville Heating & Air/Latta Bros. Racing-sponsored #02 became the amazing 82nd different winner in 100 races run all-time! Christian Schneider was second. Tommy Schirnhofer, Jr. passed Mike Wonderling on lap nine to finish third. Wonderling dropped to fourth over 2024 Winchester (VA) Speedway City Chevrolet Track Pack Champion, Davin Kaiser.
For the second straight night, Burgoon set fast time overall in FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Qualifying with a lap of 18.939 to earn $100. Winning $25 FK Rod Ends heat races were Paugh, Zach Gunn, Charlier, Burgoon, Steele, and Lukon. The last chance B mains were won by Ben Policz, Pinkerous, and Brannon. Steele won the “Bob Bentz Memorial” Sunoco Dash presented by Stan’s Transmission for $400 plus a $100 Sunoco fuel card. The dash had a $1,000 purse and $1,500 over the two nights thanks to Bob C. Bentz. Burgoon also picked up $125 for his fourth place dash finish bringing his night’s total to $10,250!
Also winning $100 Sunoco fuel cards were Tour racers Austin Allen and Charlier, while $50 Sunoco fuel cards were won by Jacob Gunn, Justin Chance, Brannon & Michael Stephans. The Landrum Performance Springs BOGO certificates were captured by Drellos, Easler, Zeigler, Brown & Matt Benard.
The Flynn’s Tire/Gunter’s Honey Touring Series will be right back in action this week for the season finale at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa. for the annual “Steel City Stampede”. Practice will take place on Thursday (October 10) with FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Qualifying, heat races, and the Sunoco Dash on Friday followed by the feature and non-qualifier on Saturday. The rain date is Sunday.
Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Model Flynn’s Tire/Gunter’s Honey Touring Series Race #13 for night 2 of the “Bill Hendren Memorial” (40 laps, $10,000 to-win): 1. BRANDON BURGOON (Bentz/Chernik 60) 2. Jeremy Wonderling (3J) 3. Michael Norris (Dabecco N1) 4. Brock Pinkerous (555) 5. Dillon Brown (6) 6. Kyle Lukon (184) 7. Logan Roberson (17) 8. Demetrios Drellos (111) 9. Devin Brannon (137) 10. Daryl Charlier (Dobnak 42) 11. Ben Policz (14B) 12. Damian Bidwell (1/2-Pint) 13. Garret Paugh (02) 14. Jacob Gunn (14G) 15. Kassidy Kamicker (72B) 16. Jim Rasey (Wrightsman 21J) 17. Austin Allen (32) 18. Ashton Briggs (11A) 19. Mason Zeigler (25z) 20. Max Blair (Centerline 111) 21. Joe Martin (Snyder 10s) 22. Steve Baldwin (5) 23. Zach Gunn (17G) 24. Jeremy Steele (22) 25. Ryan Montgomery (4s). (Note: Jim Rasey took a Tour provisional).
D&V Jewelers Non-Qualifier (10 laps, $350 to-win): 1. Ben Easler (02) 2. Christian Schneider (Deller 75) 3. Tommy Schirnhofer, Jr. (8s) 4. Mike Wonderling (18) 5. Davin Kaiser (Beverlin 11) 6. Brian Huchko (60H) 7. Logan Zarin (Beach 33x) 8. Matt Benard (15) 9. Tom Klein (77) 10. Michael Stephans (38) 11. Chuck Medved (2M) 12. Justin Chance (Lukon 184C). DNS: Dan Angelicchio (14), Luke Cooper (57), Cole Petrelle (84), Ryan Hare (29), Tim Shaffer (45), Braeson Fulton (B6), Jacob Billyk, Jr. (4JR), Colby Beighey (36), Mike Laughard (38L).
Car Count: 46
Feature Margin of Victory: 3.578 seconds
Feature Lap Leaders: Jeremy Steels (1-6), Brandon Burgoon (7-40)
Ontime Body & Graphic “Spoiler Alert” Spoiler Kit: Jacob Gunn
Heritage Wine Cellars 3-Pack of Premium Products: Brandon Burgoon, Jeremy Wonderling & Michael Norris
Holley Performance Group “Nosed Out”: Ben Easler
Landrum Performance Springs BOGO Certificates: Demetrios Drellos, Ben Easler, Mason Zeigler, Dillon Brown & Matt Benard
Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down” Hard Charger: Brock Pinkerous (+16)
Precise Racing Products 5-Gallon Race Jug: Brandon Burgoon
SRI Performance “Hot Lap Hero”: Michael Norris 19.392
Sunoco Fuel Card Winners: Austin Allen ($100), Daryl Charlier ($100), Jacob Gunn ($50), Justin Chance ($50), Devin Brannon ($50) & Michael Stephans ($50).
FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Qualifying Flight A (Track record 18.332 by Michael Norris on 9/29/23): 1. 03-Garret Paugh, 00:19.341[14]; 2. 32A-Austin Allen, 00:19.469[1]; 3. 5B-Steve Baldwin, 00:19.596[19]; 4. 111D-Demetrios Drellos, 00:19.630[16]; 5. 17G-Zach Gunn, 00:19.648[15]; 6. 42-Daryl Charlier, 00:19.685[13]; 7. 84-Cole Petrelle, 00:19.692[23]; 8. 57C-Luke Cooper, 00:19.710[10]; 9. 4S-Ryan Montgomery, 00:19.757[2]; 10. 14G-Jake Gunn, 00:19.790[9]; 11. 17R-Logan Roberson, 00:19.816[3]; 12. 111-Max Blair, 00:19.922[21]; 13. 11A-Ashton Briggs, 00:19.941[6]; 14. 14B-Ben Policz, 00:20.120[4]; 15. 18-Mike Wonderling, 00:20.140[22]; 16. B6-Braeson Fulton, 00:20.267[7]; 17. 02-Benjamin Easler, 00:20.271[11]; 18. 21J-Jim Rasey, 00:20.287[17]; 19. 4JR-Jacob Billyk Jr, 00:20.517[12]; 20. 11K-Davin Kaiser, 00:20.561[5]; 21. 36B-Colby Beighey, 00:20.716[20]; 22. 2M-Chuck Medved, 00:21.239[8]; 23. 38L-Mike Laughard, 00:21.811[18].
FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Qualifying Flight B (Track record 18.332 by Michael Norris on 9/29/23): 1. 60-Brandon Burgoon, 00:18.939[18]; 2. 22S-Jeremy Steele, 00:19.249[22]; 3. 1/2PT-Damian Bidwell, 00:19.253[20]; 4. 29-Ryan Hare, 00:19.353[4]; 5. N1-Michael Norris, 00:19.364[16]; 6. 184-Kyle Lukon, 00:19.373[23]; 7. 72B-Kassidy Kamicker, 00:19.382[12]; 8. 10S-Joe Martin, 00:19.426[7]; 9. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling, 00:19.669[15]; 10. 6-Dillon Brown, 00:19.691[11]; 11. 14A-Dan Angelicchio, 00:19.723[14]; 12. 137-Devin Brannon, 00:19.793[10]; 13. 60H-Brian Huchko, 00:19.847[19]; 14. 8S-Tommy Schirnhofer Jr, 00:19.892[13]; 15. 77-Tom Klein, 00:19.917[9]; 16. 555-Brock Pinkerous, 00:19.920[2]; 17. 33X-Logan Zarin, 00:20.019[8]; 18. 25Z-Mason Zeigler, 00:20.150[1]; 19. 75-Christian Schneider, 00:20.201[3]; 20. 184C-Justin Chance, 00:20.256[5]; 21. 45-Tim Shaffer, 00:20.408[6]; 22. 15B-Matthew Benard, NT [21]; 23. 38-Michael Stephans, NT [17].
FK Rod Ends Heat 1 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 03-Garret Paugh[1]; 2. 111D-Demetrios Drellos[2]; 3. 14G-Jake Gunn[4]; 4. 11A-Ashton Briggs[5]; 5. 84-Cole Petrelle[3]; 6. B6-Braeson Fulton[6]; 7. 2M-Chuck Medved[8]; 8. 4JR-Jacob Billyk Jr[7].
FK Rod Ends Heat 2 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 17G-Zach Gunn[2]; 2. 17R-Logan Roberson[4]; 3. 32A-Austin Allen[1]; 4. 14B-Ben Policz[5]; 5. 57C-Luke Cooper[3]; 6. 02-Benjamin Easler[6]; 7. 11K-Davin Kaiser[7]; 8. 38L-Mike Laughard[8].
FK Rod Ends Heat 3 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 42-Daryl Charlier[2]; 2. 111-Max Blair[4]; 3. 5B-Steve Baldwin[1]; 4. 4S-Ryan Montgomery[3]; 5. 18-Mike Wonderling[5]; 6. 21J-Jim Rasey[6]; 7. 36B-Colby Beighey[7],
FK Rod Ends Heat 4 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 60-Brandon Burgoon[1]; 2. 6-Dillon Brown[4]; 3. 72B-Kassidy Kamicker[3]; 4. 555-Brock Pinkerous[6]; 5. 29-Ryan Hare[2]; 6. 75-Christian Schneider[7]; 7. 60H-Brian Huchko[5]; 8. 15B-Matthew Benard[8].
FK Rod Ends Heat 5 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 22S-Jeremy Steele[1]; 2. N1-Michael Norris[2]; 3. 10S-Joe Martin[3]; 4. 14A-Dan Angelicchio[4]; 5. 184C-Justin Chance[7]; 6. 8S-Tommy Schirnhofer Jr[5]; 7. 33X-Logan Zarin[6]; 8. 38-Michael Stephans[8].
FK Rod Ends Heat 6 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 184-Kyle Lukon[2]; 2. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling[3]; 3. 1/2PT-Damian Bidwell[1]; 4. 137-Devin Brannon[4]; 5. 25Z-Mason Zeigler[6]; 6. 45-Tim Shaffer[7]; 7. 77-Tom Klein[5].
Last Chance B Main 1 (10 laps, Top 2 transfer to A): 1. 14B-Ben Policz[2]; 2. 11A-Ashton Briggs[1]; 3. 02-Benjamin Easler[6]; 4. 57C-Luke Cooper[4]; 5. 84-Cole Petrelle[3]; 6. 11K-Davin Kaiser[8]; 7. B6-Braeson Fulton[5]; 8. 2M-Chuck Medved[7]; 9. 4JR-Jacob Billyk Jr[9]; 10. 38L-Mike Laughard[10].
Last Chance B Main 2 (10 laps, Top 2 transfer to A): 1. 555-Brock Pinkerous[2]; 2. 4S-Ryan Montgomery[1]; 3. 18-Mike Wonderling[3]; 4. 75-Christian Schneider[6]; 5. 21J-Jim Rasey[5]; 6. 29-Ryan Hare[4]; 7. 60H-Brian Huchko[8]; 8. 15B-Matthew Benard[9]; 9. 36B-Colby Beighey[7].
Last Chance B Main 3 (10 laps, Top 2 transfer to A): 1. 137-Devin Brannon[2]; 2. 25Z-Mason Zeigler[4]; 3. 14A-Dan Angelicchio[1]; 4. 8S-Tommy Schirnhofer Jr[5]; 5. 184C-Justin Chance[3]; 6. 45-Tim Shaffer[6]; 7. 33X-Logan Zarin[7]; 8. 77-Tom Klein[8]; 9. 38-Michael Stephans[9].
“Bob’s Bentz Memorial” Sunoco Dash presented by Stan’s Transmission (6 laps, $400 to-win plus a $100 Sunoco fuel card): 1. 22S-Jeremy Steele[2]; 2. 184-Kyle Lukon[4]; 3. 03-Garret Paugh[1]; 4. 60-Brandon Burgoon[5]; 5. 42-Daryl Charlier[3]. DNS: 17G-Zach Gunn.