2021 FLYNN’S TIRE TOUR CHAMP KYLE HARDY RETURNS TO GLORY WINNING NIGHT 1 OF
“BATTLE OF THE BAY” SPEEDWEEK PRESENTED BY 3C GRAPHIX AT DELAWARE FOR HOVIS RUSH
LATE MODELS
By Mike Leone
April 12, 2023 FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
(Delmar, DE)...The Hovis Auto &
Truck Supply RUSH Dirt Late Model Series presented by Born2Run Lubricants kicked
off the fifth annual “Battle of the Bay” Speedweek presented by 3C Graphix on
Wednesday night at Delaware International Speedway.
The southern Delaware half-mile track oval was able to complete the
opening event for the Flynn’s Tire Touring Series for the fourth time in five
tries. For the second straight year,
sunshine and temps in the mid-80s graced fans along with competitors from seven
different states (Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia,
and West Virginia) plus Ontario, Canada.
The event was streamed live for the first time at DIS on FloRacing.
In 2021, Kyle Hardy swept the three completed “Battle of the Bay” Speedweek
events in route to the Flynn’s Tire Touring Series Championship.
After focusing primarily on Super Late Model racing in 2022, Hardy was
able to capture his first Series win since winning the finale at Lernerville
Speedway on October 15, 2021. Hardy
passed Canadian Charlie Sandercock for good on lap seven and pulled away during
the second half of the event for the $3,000 victory- his first ever at DIS.
“Two years ago we won the opener at Georgetown and last year we set fast time
here, but it just wasn’t our night,” explained the 29-year-old Winchester,
Virginia standout. “It’s been a lot
of work to get this car back in victory lane.
This is really cool- it’s our family-owned operation; it’s just me, my
mom and dad, and a lot of people that put a lot of effort into it.
This a tough field. You have
a World of Outlaw driver in Max Blair, who is a top 10 at least top 15 driver in
the country and Trevor Collins is a heck of a wheelman.
You know you have to pay attention because those guys will pounce if you
mess up. I want to thank those guys
for racing me clean tonight. I was
surprised to move forward in the dash and pass Max, because I really thought he
was going to be the car to beat.
They will be good tomorrow and the rest of the week.
I can’t thank Vicki (Emig) and Mike (Leone) enough- it’s an awesome
Series that’s a lot of fun to run.”
The 30-lap feature got off to a rough start when a six-car pileup ensued in turn
two on the opening lap that collected sixth starting Delaware standout Matt Hill
amongst others. Hill was chosen as
the TBM Brakes “Tough Brake of the Night” recipient.
When racing resumed, Sandercock powered into the lead, while Hardy passed
Nick Davis for second with Max Blair and Trevor Collins also getting by Davis
for second and third.
Hardy was able to pull alongside Sandercock on lap two and made the pass for the
lead off the bottom of turn four; however, Sandercock used the momentum off the
topside of the speedway to regain the lead on lap four.
The duo continued to race side-by-side for the lead, which allowed
Collins, who had passed Blair for third on lap two, to close in.
While Hardy challenged Sandercock for the lead, Collins nearly passed
Hardy for second on lap six, before Hardy shot underneath Sandercock entering
turn one on lap seven to make the winning pass.
Collins, who started fifth, charged under Sandercock in turn two for
second on lap eight.
By lap 12, Hardy and Collins separated themselves from the field, but the
event’s second caution bunched up the field one final time when Matt Glanden,
who was running sixth, lost power with 12 laps scored.
When green replaced yellow, Blair and Davis moved past Sandercock for
third and fourth respectively.
Hardy had opened up a lead of 2.058 seconds on Collins when he caught lapped
traffic on lap 26. Collins though
was never able to cut much into Hardy’s lead in the closing laps in lapped
traffic as Hardy took the checkered flag first for his ninth career Tour win by
2.054 seconds in his Auto Glass Experts/Xceptional Wildlife/American Paint
Company/Sommey Lace Racing/Anthony’s Pizza/Ingram Race Engines-sponsored #99.
Hardy also received a spoiler kit courtesy of Ontime Body & Graphic.
Collins earned $1,500 for his best career Tour finish in second.
“The 99 (Hardy) was fast in clean air,” explained the 24-year-old racer
from nearby Seaford, Delaware. “I
was wishing him and the 57 (Sandercock) would keep racing.
I was catching them on the bottom and didn’t want to see that caution.
We had a fast car all night, but got a little behind in the dash.
That’s everything here because once you get behind it’s hard to catch up.
Kyle did a hell of a job and I thank Max (Blair) for racing me clean.
I’m looking forward to Georgetown- we’re always good there and hopefully
we can pull one off.”
Blair’s third place came in his first Tour start since July 2, 2021.
Davis was fourth. The closing
laps saw an excellent four-car battle for the fifth place spot with Garret Paugh
coming out on top after starting 14th, while Sandercock dropped to
sixth over Ben Scott and 22nd starting Demetrios Drellos as the New
York Big-Block Modified standout earned the $50 Precise Racing Products “Pedal
Down” Hard Charger gift card in his first RUSH start.
Mike Wonderling went 20th to ninth as Jeremy Pilkerton
completed the top 10.
Thirteen-year-old “Futures Cup” racer Brock Pinkerous led wire-to-wire to win
the 10-lap D&V Jewelers Non-Qualifier in just his second Flynn’s Tire Tour
start. The Ellenville, NY driver
earned $200 in the NPS/Valor Ins/Decklerax Trucking/Foam Boys/SHR/Pasculas Auto
Body-sponsored #555. Pinkerous
became the 65th different winner in 77 non-qualifier races run
all-time, and also picked up the $100 Performance Bodies gift card for being the
“Nosed Out” recipient. West
Virginia’s Ryan Hare held off Canadian Kyle Sopaz for second. Kerry King was
fourth over Canadian Joe Brosseau, who made his first ever RUSH start.
Collins set fast time overall against the 39-car field in FK Rod Ends “Shock the
Clock” Qualifying with a lap of 20.145 to earn $100.
Capturing $25 FK Rod Ends heat races were Sandercock, Blair, Collins, and
Hill. Chad Sines and Drellos split
the last chance B main victories.
Sandercock also won the Sunoco Dash to earn a $100 Sunoco fuel card.
Jim Rasey and Brandt Graham were the lucky recipients of the $100 Sunoco
fuel cards, while the $50 Sunoco fuel cards went to Amanda Robinson, Joe Warren,
Sopaz, and Pilkerton.
The Flynn’s Tire Touring Series will head 20 miles to Georgetown (DE) Speedway
on Thursday night for round two of the fifth annual “Battle of the Bay”
Speedweek presented by 3C Graphix for another $3,000 to-win event.
Pit passes go on sale at 4 p.m., drivers meeting at 6 with warmups at
6:20.
Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Model Flynn’s Tire Touring Series “Battle of
the Bay” Speedweek presented by 3C Graphix Race #1
(30 laps, $3,000
to-win): 1. KYLE HARDY (99) 2.
Trevor Collins (72) 3. Max Blair
(Briggs 1) 4. Nick Davis (92)
5. Garret Paugh (03) 6.
Charlie Sandercock (57) 7. Ben Scott
(80) 8. Demetrios Drellos (111)
9. Mike Wonderling (18) 10.
Jeremy Pilkerton (8) 11. Jeremy
Wonderling (3J) 12. Ashton Briggs
(11A) 13. Michael Duritsky, Jr.
(90J) 14. Jim Rasey (Wrightsman 21J)
15. Joe Martin (Snyder 10s)
16. Andy Michael (17x) 17. Cody
Dawson (36) 18. Joe Warren (11)
19. Chad Sines (15) 20. Matt
Glanden (01) 21. Matt Hill (84)
22. Tyler Hoy (71T) 23.
Amanda Robinson (Dutchstar Motorsports 4)
24. Matt Latta (21) 25. Jason
Knowles (4).
(Note: Andy Michael took a Tour
provisional)
Non-Qualifier
(10 laps, $200
to-win): 1. Brock Pinkerous (555)
2. Ryan Hare (29) 3. Kyle
Sopaz (11) 4. Kerry King (KB)
5. Joe Brosseau (47B) 6.
Brandt Graham (14) 7. Megan Mann
(55) 8. Craig Graham (98)
9 Marc Berzowski (25) 10.
Travis Justice (23) 11. Braeson
Fulton (6). DNS: Matt Tepper (90), Russell Erwin (22), Derek Magee (96).
Car Count: 39
Feature Margin of Victory:
2.054 seconds.
Feature Lap Leaders: Charlie
Sandercock (1, 4-6), Kyle Hardy (2, 7-30)
Ontime Body & Graphic “Spoiler Alert” Spoiler Kit:
Kyle Hardy
Performance Bodies “Nosed Out”:
Brock Pinkerous
Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down” Hard Charger:
Demetrios Drellos (+14)
Sunoco Fuel Card Winners:
Brandt Graham ($100), Jim Rasey ($100),
Amanda Robinson ($50), Jeremy Pilkerton ($50), Joe Warren ($50), Kyle Sopaz
($50).
TBM Brakes “Tough Brake of the Night”:
Matt Hill
FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Flight A Qualifying
(Track record 19.624 by Max Blair on
4/17/19): 1. 57-Charlie Sandercock, 00:20.196[17]; 2. 111-Max Blair,
00:20.260[8]; 3. 555-Brock Pinkerous, 00:20.320[12]; 4. 71T-Tyler Hoy,
00:20.413[18]; 5. 92-Nick Davis, 00:20.415[4]; 6. 80-Ben Scott, 00:20.446[11];
7. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling, 00:20.450[19]; 8. 15-Chad Sines, 00:20.452[6]; 9.
11W-Joe Warren, 00:20.495[5]; 10. 90J-Michael Duritsky Jr, 00:20.496[13]; 11.
22-Russell Erwin, 00:20.596[9]; 12. 6F-Braeson Fulton, 00:20.822[7]; 13.
21L-Matt Latta, 00:20.900[15]; 14. 4-Jason Knowles, 00:20.906[10]; 15. 21J-Jim
Rasey, 00:20.937[2]; 16. 23J-Travis Justice, 00:21.130[14]; 17. 47B-Joe
Brosseau, 00:21.242[3]; 18. KB-Kerry King, 00:21.287[1]; 19. 90T-Matt Tepper,
00:21.776[16]; 20. 25M-Marc Berzowski, 00:21.879[20].
FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Flight B Qualifying
($100 for fast time): 1. 72-Trevor
Collins, 00:20.145[11]; 2. 84-Matt Hill, 00:20.229[3]; 3. 8-Jeremy Pilkerton,
00:20.255[5]; 4. 4R-Amanda Robinson, 00:20.401[10]; 5. 55-Megan Mann,
00:20.490[19]; 6. 99-Kyle Hardy, 00:20.610[7]; 7. 01-Matt Glanden,
00:20.697[15]; 8. 36-Cody Dawson, 00:20.713[8]; 9. 03-Garret Paugh,
00:20.824[17]; 10. 10S-Joe Martin, 00:20.846[4]; 11. 111D-Demetrios Drellos,
00:20.908[1]; 12. 29-Ryan Hare, 00:20.961[2]; 13. 14-Brandt Graham,
00:20.970[16]; 14. 11S-Kyle Sopaz, 00:21.006[6]; 15. 11A-Ashton Briggs,
00:21.024[9]; 16. 18-Mike Wonderling, 00:21.032[12]; 17. 98-Craig Graham,
00:21.901[18]; 18. 17X-Andy Michael, 00:21.972[14]; 19. 96-Derek Magee, NT.
FK Rod Ends Heat 1 (8
laps, Top 5 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 57-Charlie Sandercock[1]; 2. 92-Nick
Davis[3]; 3. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling[4]; 4. 21L-Matt Latta[7]; 5. 11W-Joe
Warren[5]; 6. 21J-Jim Rasey[8]; 7. 555-Brock Pinkerous[2]; 8. 90T-Matt
Tepper[10]; 9. 47B-Joe Brosseau[9]; 10. 22-Russell Erwin[6].
FK Rod Ends Heat 2 (8
laps, Top 5 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 111-Max Blair[1]; 2. 80-Ben Scott[3];
3. 71T-Tyler Hoy[2]; 4. 4-Jason Knowles[7]; 5. 90J-Michael Duritsky Jr[5]; 6.
15-Chad Sines[4]; 7. KB-Kerry King[9]; 8. 6F-Braeson Fulton[6]; 9. 23J-Travis
Justice[8]; 10. 25M-Marc Berzowski[10].
FK Rod Ends Heat 3 (8
laps, Top 5 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 72-Trevor Collins[1]; 2. 8-Jeremy
Pilkerton[2]; 3. 01-Matt Glanden[4]; 4. 03-Garret Paugh[5]; 5. 11A-Ashton
Briggs[8]; 6. 111D-Demetrios Drellos[6]; 7. 14-Brandt Graham[7]; 8. 55-Megan
Mann[3]; 9. 98-Craig Graham[9]. DNS: 96-Derek Magee.
FK Rod Ends Heat 4 (8
laps, Top 5 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 84-Matt Hill[1]; 2. 99-Kyle Hardy[3];
3. 4R-Amanda Robinson[2]; 4. 36-Cody Dawson[4]; 5. 18-Mike Wonderling[8]; 6.
10S-Joe Martin[5]; 7. 11S-Kyle Sopaz[7]; 8. 29-Ryan Hare[6]; 9. 17X-Andy
Michael[9].
Last Chance B Main 1 (10
laps, Top 2 transfer to A): 1. 15-Chad Sines[2]; 2. 21J-Jim Rasey[1]; 3.
555-Brock Pinkerous[3]; 4. 23J-Travis Justice[8]; 5. KB-Kerry King[4]; 6.
47B-Joe Brosseau[7]; 7. 6F-Braeson Fulton[6]; 8. 25M-Marc Berzowski[10]; 9.
90T-Matt Tepper[5]. DNS: 22-Russell Erwin.
Last Chance B Main 2 (10
laps, Top 2 transfer to A): 1. 111D-Demetrios Drellos[1]; 2. 10S-Joe Martin[2];
3. 29-Ryan Hare[6]; 4. 11S-Kyle Sopaz[4]; 5. 17X-Andy Michael[8]; 6. 14-Brandt
Graham[3]; 7. 98-Craig Graham[7]; 8. 55-Megan Mann[5]. DNS: 96-Derek Magee.
Sunoco Dash
(6 laps, $100
Sunoco fuel card to-win): 1. 57-Charlie Sandercock[1]; 2. 92-Nick Davis[3]; 3.
99-Kyle Hardy[6]; 4. 111-Max Blair[5]; 5. 72-Trevor Collins[7]; 6. 84-Matt
Hill[8]; 7. 8-Jeremy Pilkerton[4]; 8. 80-Ben Scott[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, MSD Performance, Holley Performance Products, FK Rod Ends, Schoenfeld
Headers, Jones Racing Products, TBM Brakes, Bilstein Shocks, Performance Bodies
& Parts, Racing Electronics, Wieland Metal Services, Frankland Racing Supply,
Landrum Performance Spring, Ontime Body & Graphic, Sherwood Wheels, Precise
Racing Products, Velocita-USA, Novus Home Mortgage Hermitage, Wedge Motorsports,
3C Graphix, D&V Jewelers, CrateInsider.com, and Terry Bowser Excavating.
E-mail can be sent to the RUSH Racing Series at [email protected] and
snail 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 Twitter @RUSHLM.
###