JOHN WATERS WINS A THRILLER PASSING TOUR POINTS LEADER LOGAN ROBERSON WITH 2 TO GO IN FRONT OF A SRO CROWD IN THE HOVIS RUSH LATE MODEL FLYNN'S TIRE TOUR RETURN TO BRADFORD AFTER 5 YEARS
By Mike Leone
May 29, 2022 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Bradford, PA)...The Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Dirt Late Model Series presented by Born2Run Lubricants was able to get two of three scheduled Flynn's Tire Touring Series events completed over Memorial Day weekend. After rain washed out Friday night's show at Outlaw Speedway, the weather cleared allowing the events at Genesee and Bradford Speedways to go off as scheduled, which both had record car counts for their respective tracks. Race #7 of the 2022 Flynn's Tire Touring Series schedule on Sunday night attracted 31 cars from five states and Ontario, Canada to Dennis Cummings' Bradford Speedway, which was the highest RUSH-sanctioned car count in Bradford history! It was the first RUSH Tour event at Bradford since July 2, 2017.
Five years ago when the RUSH Late Model Touring Series made its only appearance at Bradford, John Waters lost a heartbreaker on the final lap to eventual champion Bryce Davis. On Sunday night, Waters got redemption. Waters charged from the seventh starting spot and powered by Flynn's Tire Tour points leader, Logan Roberson, with two laps to go to take a thrilling and popular $3,000 victory in front of the standing room only crowd! Waters became the season's fifth different winner in the first seven races.
"I didn't know if we were going to get it done," acknowledged the 40-year-old Whitesville, NY 2016 RUSH Tour Champion. "Logan (Roberson) was pretty good and I think we were pretty equal. I was getting good restarts there at the end and figured out how to get it done. Man that was exciting! After the dash I knew we had a good car. It was a quick turnaround and I couldn't have done it without my crew. I had some fender problems and those guys worked their butts off to get me out there. We were going on three hours of sleep after last night. Guys were up early going through this car, unbolted it, shined it up, and got it ready to go. It's amazing and it's all for those guys right there."
After becoming the first repeat Sunoco Dash winner of the season, Roberson, took off in the lead at the start of the 30-lap feature with Brady Wonderling, Dusty Waters, Jason Knowles, and Joe Martin in tow. Roberson stretched his lead out every lap and by the time he caught lapped traffic on lap seven, had a 2.079-second advantage on Wonderling. Roberson though struggled in traffic allowing Wonderling to close on lap nine and was right on the leader on lap 10.
Meanwhile, John Waters cracked the top five on lap 11 when he got past Martin then took over fourth from Knowles on the 13th circuit. Back up front, Wonderling was all over Roberson in heavy traffic on lap 14, but Roberson got the break he needed when the event's first caution was displayed for Jason Knowles, who stopped on the backstretch with damage after contact with the lapped car of Brandt Graham. Knowles, who had been running fifth, was awarded the TBM Brakes "Tough Brake of the Night".
When racing resumed on lap 15, John Waters passed his brother Dusty for the third position, while Martin followed in fourth. John Waters blew under and past Wonderling for second on lap 16; however, Roberson had stretched his lead to 2.112 seconds at this point. Three cautions on lap 17 and 18 slowed action and gave Waters a shot alongside Roberson. Roberson though was able to maintain his lead. In the ensuing laps, Waters was all over Roberson. On lap 23, Waters pulled alongside the leader, but was unable to make the pass.
Waters continued to hound Roberson as the two were going all out on the high-banked 1/4-mile. On lap 27, Roberson broke free of Waters and appeared to be headed to his first win in his first appearance the northern Pennsylvania bullring; however, a spin by David Parker would give Waters one more shot alongside Roberson.
When racing resumed on lap 28, Waters was able to make the pass in turns one and two sliding under Roberson, who had been running the cushion. Wonderling also snuck past Roberson for second. Waters now had clear sailing in the final two laps and took the checkered flag first by 1.131 seconds in the Dale LeBarron-owned Troups Creek Heating/Accu-Force/Close Racing Supply/Little Power Shop/Fox Shocks/Troups Creek Auto Parts/Atkins Appraisal/Stan's Transmission-sponsored #11. The victory was Waters' 11th in Tour competition moving him into sole possession of second place on the all-time win list.
Brady Wonderling was a season best second as his third Tour podium finish of 2022 earned him $1,500. "That was a barnburner," expressed the 46-year-old Wellsville, NY driver. "It was elbows up and that's all you could do. We had some bad luck (recent races), but I think we're back on track now to head down for the big one ("Bill Emig Memorial"). Battle Chassis does a fine job building a race car. That's about all I have along with my mom, dad, wife, and kids; they all support me to keep this thing going."
Roberson dropped to a disappointing third after leading the first 27 laps, but continues to lead the $15,000 to-win Flynn's Tire Touring Series points with all top 10 finishes. "The car kind of just went the wrong direction," explained the 24-year-old Waynesboro, VA driver. "We had that caution and my whole nose was folded under my tire. I just wish it would have stayed green, but sometimes it's your night and tonight wasn't mine; we'll just take it on the chin. I'm just glad I finished with the nose rolled under. It was a good points night, made a little money, and now it's time to get ready for Lernerville."
Martin closed out a solid weekend in fourth as he extended his top five streak to five straight races to maintain second place in points. After qualifying just 16th fastest out of 31 cars at his home track, Jeremy Wonderling bounced back with a fifth place finish advancing seven positions in the feature. It was Wonderling's third top five and fifth top seven finish in seven Tour races as him and his brother Brady have been in a hotly contested battle for third in points.
Matt Latta turned in his best Tour finish of the season in sixth one night after charging from 25th to 12th at Genesee. Andy Michael was a Tour season best seventh at his home track. Michael's first Tour top 10 of the season also earned him a spoiler kit from Ontime Body & Graphic. Mike Wonderling was eighth giving all three Wonderling brothers top eight finishes. Breyton Santee earned his second $50 Precise Racing Products "Pedal Down" Hard Charger gift card in the last three events after advancing from 17th to ninth. Ward Schell completed the top 10 after starting 15th.
Clayton Tarabori led all 10 laps of the Non-Qualifier race for the $300 victory in addition to receiving a $100 Performance Bodies gift card for being the first feature non-qualifier. The 24-year-old Coudersport, Pa. driver passed Chuck LaFleur on lap two and led the rest of the way to become the amazing 56th different winner in 68 Non-Qualifier races run all-time! Tarabori's victory came in his Bedrock Environmental/Fox Hill Lawns/Freeman Synthetic/10 Valley Farms/Watson's Autobody-sponsored #16T by a margin of 1.945 seconds over fifth starting Jason Dobson. LaFleur dropped to third. Kurt Stebbins went ninth to fourth, while Tour regular Jonathan Stockdale completed the top five. Canadian Craig Graham finished seventh to take over the D&V Jewelers "Wheelman" Bonus Event Challenge Series points lead.
Roberson shattered the previous track record of 15.814 set by John Waters at the 2017 Tour event with a lap of 15.080 to earn the $100 FK Rod Ends "Shock the Clock" honors; in fact, the top 20 cars in qualifying all eclipsed the old standard! Picking up $25 FK Rod Ends heat race wins were John Waters, Dusty Waters, Parker, and Latta. Santee and Brian Knowles copped the last chance B mains. Roberson received a $100 Sunoco gift card for winning the Sunoco Dash. Also receiving $100 Sunoco gift cards were Tour regulars Brady Wonderling and Craig Graham, while the $50 Sunoco gift cards were won by Steve LeBarron, Scott Gurdak, Mike Wonderling, and Brian Knowles.
Note: Sunday's Flynn's Tire Touring Series event at Bradford was a Platinum Event allowing Tour members to use the event to replace their worst Marquee Event finish or replace a missed Marquee Event.
The Flynn’s Tire Touring Series will now take nearly a one-month break to prepare for the biggest race in RUSH Racing Series history- the $20,000 to-win "Bill Emig Memorial" presented by Sunoco Race Fuels at Lernerville Speedway June 23-25 in conjunction with the "Firecracker 100" paying $50,000 for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series!
Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Model Flynn’s Tire Touring Series Race #7 (30 laps, $3,000 to-win Platinum Event): 1. JOHN WATERS (LeBarron 11) 2. Brady Wonderling (z1) 3. Logan Roberson (17) 4. Joe Martin (10s) 5. Jeremy Wonderling (3J) 6. Matt Latta (21) 7. Andy Michael (17x) 8. Mike Wonderling (18) 9. Breyton Santee (9) 10. Ward Schell (61s) 11. Austin Allen (32) 12. Brian Knowles (7) 13. Brandt Graham (14) 14. Dusty Waters (14) 15. David Parker (2) 16. Cody Dawson (36) 17. Jeff Hoffman (32) 18. Steve LeBarron (29) 19. Jason Knowles (4) 20. Scott Gurdak (5G) 21. Ashton Briggs (11A). (Note: Ashton Briggs took a Tour provisional.)
D&V Jewelers Non-Qualifier (10 laps, $300 to-win): 1. Clayton Tarabori (16T) 2. Jason Dobson (75) 3. Chuck LaFleur (61) 4. Kurt Stebbins (26) 5. Jonathan Stockdale (31) 6. Draven Kuzminski (Schell 22D) 7. Craig Graham (98) 8. Jarrod Lyon (90) 9. Todd Chapman (T54) 10. Hunter Proctor (432).
Car Count: 31
Feature Margin of Victory:
1.131 seconds
Feature Lap Leaders: Logan Roberson (1-27), John Waters (28-30)
Ontime Body & Graphic “Spoiler Alert” Spoiler Kit: Andy Michael
Performance Bodies “Nosed Out”: Clayton Tarabori
Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down” Hard Charger: Breyton Santee (+8)
Precise Racing Products 5-Gallon Race Jug: John Waters
Sunoco Fuel Card Winners: Brady Wonderling ($100), Craig Graham ($100), Steve LeBarron ($50), Scott Gurdak ($50), Mike Wonderling ($50), Brian Knowles ($50)
TBM Brakes “Tough Brake of the Night”: Jason Knowles
FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Qualifying ($100 for fast time) (Former track record 15.814 by Jeremy Wonderling on 7/2/17): 1. 17R-Logan Roberson, 00:15.080[23] (NEW TRACK RECORD); 2. 10S-Joe Martin, 00:15.099[16]; 3. 2-David Parker, 00:15.104[19]; 4. 21L-Matt Latta, 00:15.157[2]; 5. 11L-John Waters, 00:15.219[6]; 6. 26-Kurt Stebbins, 00:15.292[17]; 7. 36-Cody Dawson, 00:15.294[18]; 8. 4-Jason Knowles, 00:15.309[3]; 9. 32-Jeff Hoffman, 00:15.385[10]; 10. 14W-Dusty Waters, 00:15.433[28]; 11. Z1-Brady Wonderling, 00:15.499[12]; 12. 32A-Austin Allen, 00:15.516[1]; 13. 17X-Andy Michael, 00:15.541[30]; 14. 61-Chuck LaFleur, 00:15.567[26]; 15. 61S-Ward Schell, 00:15.572[11]; 16. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling, 00:15.656[7]; 17. 18-Mike Wonderling, 00:15.657[20]; 18. 5G-Scott Gurdak, 00:15.709[15]; 19. 7-Brian Knowles, 00:15.737[29]; 20. 98-Craig Graham, 00:15.791[31]; 21. 9S-Breyton Santee, 00:15.845[27]; 22. 14-Brandt Graham, 00:15.941[9]; 23. 11A-Ashton Briggs, 00:15.960[22]; 24. 29-Steve LeBarron, 00:16.047[8]; 25. 16T-Clayton Tarabori, 00:16.062[21]; 26. 22D-Draven Kuzminski, 00:16.075[24]; 27. 31-Jonathan Stockdale, 00:16.172[13]; 28. 75-Jason Dobson, 00:16.481[5]; 29. T54-Todd Chapman, 00:16.670[4]; 30. 432-Hunter Proctor, 00:18.528[14]; 31. 90-Jarrod Lyon, 00:18.893[25].
FK Rod Ends Heat 1 (8 laps, Top 4 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 11L-John Waters[2]; 2. 17R-Logan Roberson[1]; 3. 17X-Andy Michael[4]; 4. 18-Mike Wonderling[5]; 5. 9S-Breyton Santee[6]; 6. 32-Jeff Hoffman[3]; 7. 16T-Clayton Tarabori[7]; 8. T54-Todd Chapman[8].
FK Rod Ends Heat 2 (8 laps, Top 4 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 14W-Dusty Waters[3]; 2. 10S-Joe Martin[1]; 3. 5G-Scott Gurdak[5]; 4. 14-Brandt Graham[6]; 5. 22D-Draven Kuzminski[7]; 6. 432-Hunter Proctor[8]; 7. 26-Kurt Stebbins[2]; 8. 61-Chuck LaFleur[4].
FK Rod Ends Heat 3 (8 laps, Top 4 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 2-David Parker[1]; 2. Z1-Brady Wonderling[3]; 3. 36-Cody Dawson[2]; 4. 61S-Ward Schell[4]; 5. 7-Brian Knowles[5]; 6. 11A-Ashton Briggs[6]; 7. 31-Jonathan Stockdale[7]; 8. 90-Jarrod Lyon[8].
FK Rod Ends Heat 4 (8 laps, Top 4 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 21L-Matt Latta[1]; 2. 4-Jason Knowles[2]; 3. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling[4]; 4. 32A-Austin Allen[3]; 5. 29-Steve LeBarron[6]; 6. 98-Craig Graham[5]; 7. 75-Jason Dobson[7].
Last Chance B Main 1 (8 laps, Top 2 transfer to A): 1. 9S-Breyton Santee[1]; 2. 32-Jeff Hoffman[3]; 3. 16T-Clayton Tarabori[5]; 4. 61-Chuck LaFleur[8]; 5. 432-Hunter Proctor[4]; 6. T54-Todd Chapman[7]; 7. 22D-Draven Kuzminski[2]; 8. 26-Kurt Stebbins[6].
Last Chance B Main 2 (8 laps, Top 2 transfer to A): 1. 7-Brian Knowles[1]; 2. 29-Steve LeBarron[2]; 3. 11A-Ashton Briggs[3]; 4. 31-Jonathan Stockdale[5]; 5. 75-Jason Dobson[6]; 6. 98-Craig Graham[4]; 7. 90-Jarrod Lyon[7].
Sunoco Dash (6 laps, $100 Sunoco fuel card to-win): 1. 17R-Logan Roberson[2]; 2. Z1-Brady Wonderling[1]; 3. 14W-Dusty Waters[4]; 4. 4-Jason Knowles[3]; 5. 2-David Parker[6]; 6. 10S-Joe Martin[7]; 7. 11L-John Waters[8]; 8. 21L-Matt Latta[5].
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, DrumPreserve, CrateInsider.com, Terry Bowser Excavating, 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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