LOGAN ROBERSON WINS A WILD HOVIS RUSH LATE MODEL FLYNN’S TIRE TOUR EVENT AT WINCHESTER TO EARN HIS 2ND 3C GRAPHIX “BATTLE OF THE BAY” SPEEDWEEK CHAMPIONSHIP
By Mike Leone
April 16, 2022 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Winchester, VA)...The fourth annual “Battle of the Bay” Speedweek presented by 3C Graphix for the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Dirt Late Model Flynn’s Tire Touring Series wrapped up on Saturday night at Winchester Speedway. Sunshine and temps in the upper 70s graced a strong turnout of fans along with a season high 43 competitors. A total of 54 different drivers from seven different states (Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia) plus Ontario, Canada competed in at least one of the three completed events for the “Battle of the Bay” Speedweek.
Logan Roberson emerged victorious in a wild 30-lap feature to earn his third Winchester "Battle of the Bay" victory in four tries at the Waynesboro, Virginia racer's home track. Roberson led all but a chaotic lap 25 and kept last year's runner-up point man Joe Martin at bay over the final five laps. By virtue of his second $3,000 win in as many nights along with a runner-up on Wednesday night at Delaware International Speedway, Roberson earned his second 3C Graphix "Battle of the Bay" Speedweek title worth $1,000.
"No one wants to admit it (when something happens) but we're hardcore racers and both here to win and not run third- that's why he comes and that's why I come," expressed Roberson when asked about his battle with Kyle Hardy. "When two hardcore racers meet that's what happens. He takes pride in his equipment and I take pride in mine. It feels awesome to cap off Speedweek with two wins and a championship. We had a great car all week. I thought we should have won Delaware, but Joey (Warren) got by us and was real good. This says a lot about our CVR Race Car; it's really good right now and things are going our way. If luck is on your side you're doing a good thing; I've been lucky and it's been working out."
Roberson earned his season's first feature pole by virtue of his Sunoco Dash win and took off in the lead over Martin, Hardy, Jeremy Wonderling, and Daniel Brown, Jr. Roberson began to stretch out his lead by lap five, while Hardy closed in on Martin in the battle for runner-up. The two raced side-by-side on lap nine with Hardy nosing ahead to steal the spot at the start-finish line. Hardy faced a straightaway deficit at this juncture; however, as the laps ticked off caution-free, Roberson caught lapped traffic on lap 11 and two laps later his margin had shrunk in half.
Wonderling began to pressure Martin in the race for third on lap 14, while Hardy continued to chew into Roberson's lead. By lap 16, Hardy was right on Roberson and the Virginia duo would resume their battle from Friday night at Potomac. Roberson struggled to get past Ben Scott in lapped traffic on lap 17 allowing Hardy to pull alongside the leader; however, Roberson was able to fend him off and opened up some breathing room. Hardy though was able to close back in on lap 20 as the battle was again on for the lead. After 24 consecutive laps a spin by the #24 of Mason Diaz brought action to a halt.
When racing resumed on lap 25, Hardy and Roberson made contact in turn one and then again in turn four, which opened the door wide open for Jeremy Wonderling and Bud Watson. Wonderling appeared to out-drag Watson down Winchester's long frontstretch to lead the lap; however, contact was made that sent both race cars spinning in opposite directions entering turn one that collected numerous other cars.
When the accident scene was cleared, Roberson inherited the lead and led the final five caution-free laps to capture his fifth career RUSH Tour win in his Gunter's Honey/Clary's Used Cars/RBS Auto/All About Wraps-sponsored #17. After a disappointing 20th on opening night at Delaware, Martin salvaged a seventh place effort at Potomac, and ended Speedweek with a runner-up worth $1,500 on Saturday night for his best Tour finish since a runner-up on September 24 at Genesee Speedway.
Twelfth starting Brady Wonderling recorded a third place finish for the second straight night to set himself up nicely in the Flynn's Tire Tour points, and also received a spoiler kit from Ontime Body & Graphic. After sweeping last year's three "Battle of the Bay" events to win the title, Hardy failed to win a race this year; however, his fourth place gave him top five finishes all three nights to earn second place in "Battle of the Bay" points for an additional $500. Like Martin, Michael Duritsky, Jr. rebounded strong from a disappointing 21st at Delaware with a sixth at Potomac and fifth at Winchester.
Trevor Collins closed out a solid "Battle of the Bay" Speedweek in sixth to back up a fourth at Delaware and a fifth after starting 25th at Potomac to earn third in points. Garret Paugh went 21st to seventh for his best finish of Speedweek, which earned him the $50 Precise Racing Products "Pedal Down" Hard Charger gift card. Breyton Santee was eighth after starting 17th for his best finish of Speedweek. Nick Davis charged from 22nd to ninth for his best finish of Speedweek as well. Matt Latta was 10th for his second straight top 10.
After not even starting his heat race due to mechanical issues then going seventh to fourth in his last chance B main, track regular Mike Franklin salvaged a tough night winning the $200 Non-Qualifier from the fourth starting spot. Franklin passed both Jim Rasey and Brandt Graham to take over second on lap three then made the winning move on Austin Hubbard on lap four. The 51-year-old Winchester, Virginia driver of the Gunter's Honey/C&R Repair/ARC Race Cars-sponsored #74 then pulled away over the final six laps to take the win by 1.905 seconds. It was Franklin's second career Non-Qualifier win, but first since August 20, 2017 at Tri-City Speedway.
Hubbard was second and also received a $100 Performance Bodies gift card for being the first feature non-qualifier. Canadian Brandt Graham's third was his best Non-Qualifier finish of Speedweek. Ninth starting David Dill, Jr., who won Wednesday's Non-Qualifier at Delaware, was fourth and leads the "Wheelman" Bonus Event Challenge Series points. Timmy Booth completed the top five.
Amanda Robinson became the first female driver in Winchester track history to set fast time in qualifying. Robinson's 16.491 was fastest overall against the 43-car field, which earned her $100 from FK Rod Ends. Winning $25 FK Rod Ends heat races were Martin, Brown, Watson, Roberson, Hardy, and Wonderling. The trio of last chance B mains were won by Latta, Andy Anderson, and Paugh. Roberson collected a $100 Sunoco fuel card for winning the Sunoco Dash, while Touring regulars Martin and Santee also won $100 Sunoco fuel cards in drawings. The $50 Sunoco fuel cards were won by Anderson, Trae Armel, Jim Rasey, and Dill in random drawings.
The Flynn’s Tire Touring Series will be off until returning to action on May 14 and 15 with a stop at Stateline Speedway in Busti, New York on Saturday night for the “Bill Law Memorial” followed by 40 miles west for the first of two appearances at Eriez Speedway on Sunday night. Both races will pay $3,000 to-win.
Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Model Flynn’s Tire Touring Series “Battle of the Bay” Speedweek presented by 3C Graphix Race #3 (30 laps, $3,000 to-win): 1. LOGAN ROBERSON (17) 2. Joe Martin (Snyder 10s) 3. Brady Wonderling (z1) 4. Kyle Hardy (99) 5. Michael Duritsky, Jr. (90J) 6. Trevor Collins (72) 7. Garret Paugh (03) 8. Breyton Santee (9) 9. Nick Davis (92) 10. Matt Latta (21) 11. Ben Scott (80) 12. Mason Diaz (24) 13. Amanda Robinson (4) 14. Jonathan Stockdale (31) 15. Scott Sweeney, Jr. (40s) 16. Jeremy Wonderling (3J) 17. Bud Watson (225) 18. Daniel Brown, Jr. (11) 19. Jeremy Pilkerton (8) 20. Ashton Briggs (11A) 21. Levi Crowl (5) 22. Andy Anderson (25) 23. Travis Campbell (12c) 24. Jacob Burdette (08B) 25. Megan Mann (55). (Note: Ben Scott took a Tour provisional.)
Non-Qualifier (10 laps, $200 to-win): 1. Mike Franklin (74) 2. Austin Hubbard (Klink 49) 3. Brandt Graham (14) 4. David Dill, Jr. (24) 5. Timmy Booth (95) 6. Craig Graham (98) 7. Jim Rasey (Wrightsman 21J) 8. Trae Armel (15) 9. Branson Woodward (3) 10. James Loar (62) 11. Brett Hope (49) 12. Cody Dawson (36) 13. Steve Payne (Tharp 11P) 14. Kyle Sopaz (12). DNS: Joe Warren (11), Donald Lingo, Jr. (15), Andy Michael (17x), Tyler Hoy (71T).
Car Count: 43
Feature Margin of Victory:
1.226 seconds
Feature Lap Leaders: Logan Roberson (1-24, 26-30), Jeremy Wonderling (25)
Ontime Body & Graphic “Spoiler Alert” Spoiler Kit: Brady Wonderling
Performance Bodies “Nosed Out”: Austin Hubbard
Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down” Hard Charger: Garret Paugh (+14)
Precise Racing Products 5-Gallon Race Jug: Logan Roberson
Sunoco Fuel Card Winners: Joe Martin ($100), Breyton Santee ($100), Andy Anderson ($50), Trae Armel ($50), Jim Rasey ($50), David Dill, Jr. ($50)
TBM Brakes “Tough Brake of the Night”: Jeremy Wonderling
FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Qualifying A ($100 for fast time) (Track record 15.119 by Kyle Hardy on 4/17/21): 1. 4R-Amanda Robinson, 00:16.941[2]; 2. 11B-Daniel Brown Jr, 00:17.085[6]; 3. 55-Megan Mann, 00:17.223[8]; 4. 10S-Joe Martin, 00:17.268[13]; 5. 72-Trevor Collins, 00:17.307[3]; 6. 225-Bud Watson, 00:17.453[7]; 7. 11W-Joe Warren, 00:17.491[14]; 8. 24M-Mason Diaz, 00:17.581[10]; 9. 9S-Breyton Santee, 00:17.642[19]; 10. 40S-Scott Sweeney Jr, 00:17.682[1]; 11. 49K-Austin Hubbard, 00:17.752[21]; 12. 3-Branson Woodward, 00:17.810[5]; 13. 11PT-Steve Payne, 00:17.842[11]; 14. 92-Nick Davis, 00:17.864[17]; 15. 25A-Andy Anderson, 00:17.878[9]; 16. 21L-Matt Latta, 00:17.986[16]; 17. 80-Ben Scott, 00:17.988[20]; 18. 98-Craig Graham, 00:18.012[15]; 19. 49H-Brett Hope, 00:18.181[18]; 20. 36-Cody Dawson, 00:18.256[22]; 21. 17X-Andy Michael, 00:18.341[12]; 22. 12S-Kyle Sopaz, 00:18.437[4].
FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Qualifying B (Track record 15.119 by Kyle Hardy on 4/17/21): 1. 17R-Logan Roberson, 00:17.414[2]; 2. 99-Kyle Hardy, 00:17.425[14]; 3. Z1-Brady Wonderling, 00:17.612[13]; 4. 8-Jeremy Pilkerton, 00:17.714[17]; 5. 5C-Levi Crowl, 00:17.747[11]; 6. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling, 00:17.866[3]; 7. 31-Johnathan Stockdale, 00:17.872[15]; 8. 15A-Trae Armel, 00:17.901[4]; 9. 90J-Michael Duritsky Jr, 00:17.905[7]; 10. 74-Mike Franklin, 00:17.950[21]; 11. 12C-Travis Campbell, 00:18.018[9]; 12. 03-Garret Paugh, 00:18.034[16]; 13. 14-Brandt Graham, 00:18.038[6]; 14. 08B-Jacob Burdette, 00:18.061[18]; 15. 15R-Donald Lingo Jr, 00:18.170[20]; 16. 11A-Ashton Briggs, 00:18.200[12]; 17. 71T-Tyler Hoy, 00:18.382[8]; 18. 95-Timmy Booth, 00:18.386[1]; 19. 24D-David Dill Jr, 00:18.399[10]; 20. 21J-Jim Rasey, 00:18.530[5]; 21. 62-James Loar, 00:18.811[19].
FK Rod Ends Heat 1 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 10S-Joe Martin[2]; 2. 4R-Amanda Robinson[1]; 3. 40S-Scott Sweeney Jr[4]; 4. 21L-Matt Latta[6]; 5. 11W-Joe Warren[3]; 6. 11PT-Steve Payne[5]; 7. 12S-Kyle Sopaz[8]; 8. (DNS) 49H-Brett Hope.
FK Rod Ends Heat 2 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 11B-Daniel Brown Jr[1]; 2. 72-Trevor Collins[2]; 3. 24M-Mason Diaz[3]; 4. 49K-Austin Hubbard[4]; 5. 92-Nick Davis[5]; 6. 80-Ben Scott[6]; 7. 36-Cody Dawson[7].
FK Rod Ends Heat 3 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 225-Bud Watson[2]; 2. 55-Megan Mann[1]; 3. 9S-Breyton Santee[3]; 4. 25A-Andy Anderson[5]; 5. 17X-Andy Michael[7]; 6. 98-Craig Graham[6]; 7. 3-Branson Woodward[4].
FK Rod Ends Heat 4 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 17R-Logan Roberson[1]; 2. 8-Jeremy Pilkerton[2]; 3. 31-Johnathan Stockdale[3]; 4. 11A-Ashton Briggs[6]; 5. 24D-David Dill Jr[7]; 6. 14-Brandt Graham[5]; 7. (DNS) 74-Mike Franklin.
FK Rod Ends Heat 5 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 99-Kyle Hardy[1]; 2. 5C-Levi Crowl[2]; 3. 12C-Travis Campbell[4]; 4. 08B-Jacob Burdette[5]; 5. 21J-Jim Rasey[7]; 6. 71T-Tyler Hoy[6]; 7. 15A-Trae Armel[3].
FK Rod Ends Heat 6 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling[2]; 2. Z1-Brady Wonderling[1]; 3. 90J-Michael Duritsky Jr[3]; 4. 03-Garret Paugh[4]; 5. 15R-Donald Lingo Jr[5]; 6. 95-Timmy Booth[6]; 7. 62-James Loar[7].
Last Chance B Main 1 (8 laps, Top 2 transfer to A): 1. 21L-Matt Latta[1]; 2. 92-Nick Davis[4]; 3. 49K-Austin Hubbard[2]; 4. 11W-Joe Warren[3]; 5. 80-Ben Scott[6]; 6. 11PT-Steve Payne[5]; 7. 36-Cody Dawson[8]; 8. 12S-Kyle Sopaz[7]; 9. 49H-Brett Hope[9].
Last Chance B Main 2 (8 laps, Top 2 transfer to A): 1. 25A-Andy Anderson[1]; 2. 11A-Ashton Briggs[2]; 3. 14-Brandt Graham[6]; 4. 74-Mike Franklin[8]; 5. 17X-Andy Michael[3]; 6. 98-Craig Graham[5]; 7. 24D-David Dill Jr[4]; 8. (DNS) 3-Branson Woodward.
Last Chance B Main 3 (8 laps, Top 2 transfer to A): 1. 03-Garret Paugh[2]; 2. 08B-Jacob Burdette[1]; 3. 21J-Jim Rasey[3]; 4. 15R-Donald Lingo Jr[4]; 5. 71T-Tyler Hoy[5]; 6. 95-Timmy Booth[6]; 7. 15A-Trae Armel[7]; 8. (DNS) 62-James Loar.
Sunoco Dash (6 laps, $100 Sunoco fuel card to-win): 1. 17R-Logan Roberson[1]; 2. 10S-Joe Martin[4]; 3. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling[2]; 4. 99-Kyle Hardy[5]; 5. 11B-Daniel Brown Jr[6]; 6. 225-Bud Watson[3].
The RUSH Racing Series is brought to you by Hovis Auto & Truck Supply together with Born2Run Lubricants along with the support of Hoosier Tire, Bilstein Shocks, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, Insinger Performance, MSD Performance, Holley Performance Products, FK Rod Ends, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, TBM Brakes, Performance Bodies & Parts, Racing Electronics, Wrisco Industries, Frankland Racing Supply, Landrum Performance Spring, Ontime Body & Graphic, Sherwood Wheels, Alternative Power Sources, Precise Racing Products, Lincoln Electric, Velocita-USA, Waterstone Mortgage Hermitage, Wedge Motorsports, 3C Graphix, D&V Jewelers, Drum Preserve, CrateInsider.com, and Stop-Fyre.
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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