KYLE HARDY TOPS STELLAR FIELD OF 48 PACE RUSH LATE MODELS IN OPENING ROUND OF “BATTLE OF THE BAY” SPEEDWEEK AT GEORGETOWN FOR 1ST CAREER FLYNN’S TIRE/BORN2RUN LUBRICANTS TOUR VICTORY

By Mike Leone

 

April 15, 2021               FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

(Georgetown, DE)...After a rainout of the “Raelyn Huffman Memorial” at Delaware International Speedway on Wednesday night, the Pace Performance RUSH Dirt Late Model Series together with Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC headed to Georgetown Speedway on Thursday night to kick-off the third annual “Battle of the Bay” Speedweek.  After 20 hours of steady rain, the skies clear by midday as a stellar field of 48 cars from six different states turned out for the 2021 Flynn’s Tire/Born2Run Lubricants Touring Series opener.  With the Canadian border remaining closed due to COVID-19 restrictions, at least a half-dozen Canadian racers that were planning on making the trip were unable to do so.

 

Last year, Kyle Hardy made some limited starts, albeit successful ones, dabbling in RUSH Late Model competition.  For 2021, Hardy, a former full-time standout Super Late Model racer, made the decision to focus his efforts on RUSH racing and so far the decision is paying dividends.  Hardy entered the weekend as the Pace Performance National Weekly Series point leader thanks to three victories and a pair of runner-up finishes. 

 

On Thursday night, Hardy out-dueled the all-time winningest RUSH Tour driver, Max Blair, to capture his first career Flynn’s Tire/Born2Run Lubricants Tour victory.  In addition to his $3,000 winnings, Hardy received a $150 spoiler kit from Ontime Body & Graphic, a 5-Gallon Race Jug from Precise Racing Products, and was the lucky recipient of a $100 Sunoco fuel card courtesy of Sunoco and Zarin Truck and Auto.

 

“I was feeling good and Max snuck by me,” revealed the 27-year-old Linden, Virginia racer.  “I was like well that’s the race, but he moved up and I passed him where he passed me so I figured I better not move from this spot.  I have a lot of respect for Max- he drove me clean.  This is so cool for my family and I picked up a Super Late Model ride tonight driving for Sommey Lacey; that’s extremely fun and costs a lot of money to do, and I can’t thank him enough.  To top it off with this, I don’t know what to say.  There’s a lot of good people behind me; we’ve been working our butts off to get us here and this is why we’re here because of them.  I saw the white flag then the yellow and I thought damn.  The outside is what got me here so that’s why I chose the outside.  I’d like to thank the fans for sticking this out in the cold, and hope we get them out at Potomac and Winchester the next two nights.”

 

After winning his heat race from fourth and the Sunoco Dash, feature pole-sitter John Waters suffered a flat tire on the opening lap, which was a heartbreaker for the 2016 Tour champion.  Waters was selected as the TBM “Tough Brake of the Night” recipient.  With the lineup shuffled, the new front row was Donald Lingo, Jr. and Hardy as Hardy charged into the lead with Lingo, fifth starting Blair, seventh starting Joe Martin, and Ross Robinson in ow. 

 

After a caution for Logan Zarin with two laps scored, the next 27 laps went caution-free.  Back under green flag conditions, Martin, Blair, and Ross Robinson were trading the third through fifth place positions back and forth.  By lap five, Hardy began to check out from the field, while Blair closed in on Lingo in the race for second.  Blair ducked under and went past Lingo on lap seven for runner-up, but found himself a straightaway behind Hardy on the half-mile track.

 

Blair began to chew into Hardy’s lead every lap and by the time Hardy caught traffic lapped on lap 13 his margin really began to shrink.  Robinson passed fellow First State racer, Lingo, for third with an inside move in turn two on lap 14.  At the halfway point, Blair was ready to make it a race for the lead in traffic.  Meanwhile, Robinson exited the event on lap 17 yielding third back to Lingo and moving Martin to fourth and 14th starting Amanda Robinson into the top five.

 

Back up front, Blair pulled alongside Hardy on lap 18 and one lap later made the pass stick to lead lap 19.  Hardy however didn’t go away as he returned the favor with a slider in turn three to regain the lead on lap 20.  A lap later, Hardy began to stretch out his lead as Blair’s right side nose suffered damage, while Amanda Robinson continued her forward momentum up 11 spots as she took fourth from Martin.     

 

A caution for Devin Brannon with 29 laps scored set up a one-lap shootout to the finish.  Blair was unable to challenge Hardy as he took the victory by 1.313 seconds in his American Paint Co./AGX/Anthony's Pizza/Ingram Engines/Cline Construction/Sommey Lacey Paint-sponsored #99.  Hardy became the 37th different Tour winner in 127 races all-time and third different winner in as many “Battle of the Bay” events at Georgetown.  Blair, who won the 2019 event at Georgetown, earned $1,500 for runner-up.

 

“I think that one got away and was ours,” stated the dejected 31-year-old Blair of Centerville, Pa.  “I ran him down and passed him for the lead then the very next corner I thought it folded the bumper down, but I guess I just ripped the nose piece off somehow.  I almost pulled in when it happened because I didn’t think I could get around here then just hoped I could hold on for second for ‘Battle of the Bay’ points.  That one sucks not to be able to race it out, it just wasn’t a good day.”

 

A wild last lap three-wide scramble down the backstretch into turn three for third saw eighth starting Kyle Lukon emerge on top to round out the podium with Lingo taking fourth in his first career RUSH Tour start, while Amanda Robinson’s bid from 14th to third wound up with her spinning.  After a poor qualifying effort, Trevor Collins passed a lot of cars all night going fifth to third in his heat then 16th to a solid fifth in the feature.

 

Ninth starting Logan Roberson was sixth.  Austin Hubbard went 17th to seventh, while Levi Crowl advanced from 18th to eighth.  Matt Glanden earned the Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down” Hard Charger with a run from 22nd to ninth.  Walker Arthur completed the top 10 in his first RUSH Tour start since winning at Winchester on May 9, 2015!

 

Cody Dawson brought down the curtain on the night by leading all eight laps of the Non-Qualifier dominating the affair by a winning margin of 4.834 seconds.  The 26-year-old Laurel, Delaware driver earned $200 in the John Dawson-owned, Dawson & Bedworth/Coastal/Aqua Electric/MJ Brittingham/FIPR-sponsored #36 as he became the amazing 44th different Non-Qualifier winner in 53 events run all-time.  Chuck Bowie, Robert Smith, and Timmy Booth were second through fourth respectively.

 

Ross Robinson set fast time in $100 FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Qualifying with a lap of 19.552 beating out Blair by just 0.004 of a second!  Robinson blistered the former track record of 19.820 set by Dillon Brown at the 2019 event.  Earning $25 FK Rod Ends heat race wins were Ross Robinson, Blair, Hardy, Waters, Lingo, and Brannon.  The last chance B mains were won by Darrell Bossard, Derek Magee, and Brandon Sturgis.  Waters’ victory in the Sunoco Dash not only earned him a $100 Sunoco fuel card courtesy of Sunoco and Zarin Truck & Auto, but also $200 cash put up by Bradford Speedway promoter Dennis Cummings! 

 

The RUSH Touring Series will be right back in action Friday night as the “Battle of the Bay” Speedweek continues on to Potomac Speedway in Mechanicville, MD before concluding the swing on Saturday night at Winchester (VA) Speedway with $3,000 on the line each night.  The Flynn’s Tire/Born2Run Lubricants Tour then heads to McKean County Raceway in East Smethport, Pa. on Sunday, April 25 for a $2,000 to-win event.

 

Pace Performance RUSH Late Model Flynn’s Tire/Born2Run Lubricants Touring Series “Battle of the Bay” Race #1 (30 laps, $3,000 to-win): 1. KYLE HARDY (99)  2. Max Blair (111)  3. Kyle Lukon (184)  4. Donald Lingo, Jr. (55L)  5. Trevor Collins (72)  6. Logan Roberson (17)  7. Austin Hubbard (Klink 49)  8. Levi Crowl (5)  9. Matt Glanden (01)  10. Walker Arthur (87)  11. Joe Martin (Snyder 10s)  12. Derek Magee (96)  13. Devin Brannon (Newcome 37)  14. Amada Robinson (4)  15. Nick Davis (92)  16. Michael Duritsky, Jr. (90J)  17. Joey Warren (11)  18. Darrell Bossard (Winans 213)  19. Brandon Sturgis (10B)  20. Jeremy Wonderling (3J)  21. Logan Zarin (1z)  22. Ben Scott (80)  23. Ross Robinson (7)  24. Cory Sines (25s)  25. John Waters (LeBarron 11).  (Note: Michael Duritsky, Jr. took a Tour provisional)

 

Non-Qualifier (8 laps, $200 to-win): 1. Cody Dawson (36)  2. Chuck Bowie (14c)  3. Robert Smith (01s)  4. Timmy Booth (95).  DNS: Sparky White (16), Jeremy Pilkerton (8), Andy Michael (17x), Jason Genco (Craig/Badgley 29J), J.J. Mazur (13), Jerry Barker (51), Dana Walker (33), Kyle Murray (21), Ryan Frazee (11F), Al Shawver, Jr. (215), Bud Watson (225), Ed Pope, Jr. (11), Joe Pete (8/7), Billy Henry, Jr. (21*), Matt Hill (84), Josh Ferry (33), Geoff Carey (X), David Smith (47), David Dill, Jr. (24).

 

Car Count: 48

Feature Margin of Victory: 1.313 seconds
Feature Lap Leaders: Kyle Hardy (1-18, 20-30), Max Blair (19)

Ontime Body & Graphic “Spoiler Alert” Spoiler Kit: Kyle Hardy

TBM Brakes “Tough Brake of the Night”: John Waters

Performance Bodies "Nosed Out" $100 gift card: Sparky White

Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down” Hard Charger $100 gift card: Matt Glanden (+13)

Precise Racing Products 5-Gallon Race Jug: Kyle Hardy

Sunoco and Zarin Truck & Auto $100 Sunoco Fuel Cards: Kyle Hardy & John Waters

 

FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Qualifying Flight A ($100 for fast time) (Track record 19.820 by Dillon Brown on 4/18/19): 1. 7R-Ross Robinson, 00:19.552[3]; 2. 111-Max Blair, 00:19.556[1]; 3. 99-Kyle Hardy, 00:19.573[24]; 4. 10S-Joe Martin, 00:19.575[23]; 5. 17R-Logan Roberson, 00:19.696[13]; 6. 87-Walker Arthur, 00:19.721[11]; 7. 36-Cody Dawson, 00:19.752[9]; 8. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling, 00:19.822[8]; 9. 11F-Ryan Frazee, 00:19.839[14]; 10. 21-Kyle Murray, 00:19.911[16]; 11. 213-Darrell Bossard, 00:19.918[6]; 12. 49K-Austin Hubbard, 00:20.044[20]; 13. 29J-Jason Genco, 00:20.047[12]; 14. 01-Matt Glanden, 00:20.148[21]; 15. 13-JJ Mazur, 00:20.163[2]; 16. 5C-Levi Crowl, 00:20.203[22]; 17. 225-Bud Watson, 00:20.312[7]; 18. 80-Ben Scott, 00:20.460[19]; 19. 8/7-Joe Pete, 00:20.484[17]; 20. 21*-Billy Henry, 00:20.562[15]; 21. 8-Jeremy Pilkerton, 00:20.585[10]; 22. 95-Timmy Booth, 00:20.669[18]; 23. 16-Sparky White, 00:22.349[4]; 24. (DNS) 01S-Robert Smith, 00:22.349.

 

FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Qualifying Flight B: 1. 4R-Amanda Robinson, 00:19.654[9]; 2. 55L-Donald Lingo Jr, 00:19.693[11]; 3. 37-Devin Brannon, 00:19.820[14]; 4. 184-Kyle Lukon, 00:19.833[13]; 5. 1Z-Logan Zarin, 00:19.937[8]; 6. 10B-Brandon Sturgis, 00:19.951[5]; 7. 33-Josh Ferry, 00:20.017[20]; 8. 90J-Michael Duritsky Jr, 00:20.036[7]; 9. 11W-Joe Warren, 00:20.067[21]; 10. 11L-John Waters, 00:20.120[17]; 11. 25S-Cory Sines, 00:20.134[6]; 12. 92-Nick Davis, 00:20.139[15]; 13. 33W-Dana Walker, 00:20.351[1]; 14. 72-Trevor Collins, 00:20.362[19]; 15. 17X-Andy Michael, 00:20.434[18]; 16. 11P-Ed Pope, 00:20.436[10]; 17. 51-Jerry Barker, 00:20.487[16]; 18. 215-Al Shawver Jr, 00:20.779[2]; 19. 96-Derek Magee, 00:20.835[3]; 20. X-Geoff Carey, NT; 21. 14C-Chuck Bowie, NT; 22. 84-Matt Hill, NT; 23. 24-David Dill Jr, NT; 24. 47-David Smith, NT.

  

FK Rod Ends Heat 1 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win) 1. 1. 7R-Ross Robinson[1]; 2. 10S-Joe Martin[2]; 3. 5C-Levi Crowl[6]; 4. 29J-Jason Genco[5]; 5. 36-Cody Dawson[3]; 6. 95-Timmy Booth[8]; 7. 21-Kyle Murray[4]; 8. 8/7-Joe Pete[7]

 

FK Rod Ends Heat 2 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win) 1. 111-Max Blair[1]; 2. 17R-Logan Roberson[2]; 3. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling[3]; 4. 213-Darrell Bossard[4]; 5. 01-Matt Glanden[5]; 6. 16-Sparky White[8]; 7. 225-Bud Watson[6]; 8. 21*-Billy Henry[7].

 

FK Rod Ends Heat 3 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 99-Kyle Hardy[1]; 2. 87-Walker Arthur[2]; 3. 49K-Austin Hubbard[4]; 4. 11F-Ryan Frazee[3]; 5. 80-Ben Scott[6]; 6. 8-Jeremy Pilkerton[7]; 7. 13-JJ Mazur[5]; 8. (DNS) 01S-Robert Smith.

 

FK Rod Ends Heat 4 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 11L-John Waters[4]; 2. 184-Kyle Lukon[2]; 3. 4R-Amanda Robinson[1]; 4. 96-Derek Magee[7]; 5. 33W-Dana Walker[5]; 6. 11P-Ed Pope[6]; 7. 33-Josh Ferry[3]; 8. (DNS) 84-Matt Hill.

FK Rod Ends Heat 5 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 55L-Donald Lingo Jr[1]; 2. 1Z-Logan Zarin[2]; 3. 72-Trevor Collins[5]; 4. 25S-Cory Sines[4]; 5. 51-Jerry Barker[6]; 6. 90J-Michael Duritsky Jr[3]; 7. (DQ) X-Geoff Carey[7]; 8. (DQ) 24-David Dill Jr[8].

 

FK Rod Ends Heat 6 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 37-Devin Brannon[1]; 2. 11W-Joe Warren[3]; 3. 92-Nick Davis[4]; 4. 215-Al Shawver Jr[6]; 5. 17X-Andy Michael[5]; 6. (DNS) 14C-Chuck Bowie; 7. (DQ) 10B-Brandon Sturgis[2]; 8. (DQ) 47-David Smith[8].

 

Last Chance B Main 1 (10 laps, Top 2 transfer to A): 1. 213-Darrell Bossard[2]; 2. 01-Matt Glanden[4]; 3. 16-Sparky White[6]; 4. 29J-Jason Genco[1]; 5. 36-Cody Dawson[3]; 6. 21-Kyle Murray[7]; 7. 95-Timmy Booth[5]; 8. (DNS) 225-Bud Watson; 9. (DNS) 8/7-Joe Pete; 10. (DNS) 21*-Billy Henry.

 

Last Chance B Main 2 (10 laps, Top 2 transfer to A): 1. 96-Derek Magee[2]; 2. 80-Ben Scott[3]; 3. 8-Jeremy Pilkerton[5]; 4. 13-JJ Mazur[7]; 5. 33W-Dana Walker[4]; 6. 01S-Robert Smith[9]; 7. 11F-Ryan Frazee[1]; 8. (DNS) 11P-Ed Pope; 9. (DNS) 33-Josh Ferry; 10. (DNS) 84-Matt Hill.

 

Last Chance B Main 3 (10 laps, Top 2 transfer to A): 1. 10B-Brandon Sturgis[7]; 2. 25S-Cory Sines[1]; 3. 17X-Andy Michael[4]; 4. 51-Jerry Barker[3]; 5. 14C-Chuck Bowie[6]; 6. (DNS) 215-Al Shawver Jr; 7. (DNS) 90J-Michael Duritsky Jr; 8. (DQ) X-Geoff Carey[8]; 9. (DQ) 24-David Dill Jr[9]; 10. (DQ) 47-David Smith[10].

 

Sunoco Dash (6 laps, $200 to-win + $100 Sunoco fuel card): 1. 11L-John Waters[1]; 2. 55L-Donald Lingo Jr[2]; 3. 99-Kyle Hardy[4]; 4. 7R-Ross Robinson[6]; 5. 111-Max Blair[3]; 6. 37-Devin Brannon[5].

 

RUSH Racing Series is brought to you by Pace Performance together with Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC along with the support of Hoosier Tire, Bilstein Shocks, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, Insinger Performance, MSD Performance, Holley Performance Products, Hovis Auto & Truck Supply, Born2Run Lubricants, Flynn's Tire & Auto Service, FK Rod Ends, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, TBM Brakes, Performance Bodies & Parts, Racing Electronics, Dirt Defender, Wrisco Industries, Frankland Racing Supply, Landrum Performance Spring, Ontime Body & Graphic, Zarin Truck & Automotive, Sherwood Wheels, Alternative Power Sources, Precise Racing Products, Stop-Fyre, Lincoln Electric, Velocita-USA, Waterstone Mortgage Hermitage, CrateInsider.com, and Wedge Motorsports.

 

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.

 

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