JEREMY WONDERLING FENDS OFF LOCAL BRETT MARLATT CLOSE TO HOME AT WOODHULL TO BECOME SEASON’S 1ST REPEAT HOVIS RUSH LATE MODEL FLYNN’S TIRE/GUNTER’S HONEY TOUR WINNER

By Mike Leone

 

July 11, 2026               FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

(Woodhull, NY)...The Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Dirt Late Model Flynn’s Tire/Gunter’s Honey Touring Series headed to Woodhull Raceway for the first time in nearly two years for race #7 of the weather-plagued season.  A rare beautiful Saturday evening in 2026 saw a strong crowd turn out to New York’s scenic Southern Tier high-banked 1/3-mile oval marking just the 2nd time out of 17 attempts where rain didn’t threaten or wash out the event.

 

Five-time Series Champion, Jeremy Wonderling, became the season’s first repeat winner doing it close to home at Woodhull Raceway.  Track standout, Brett Marlatt, certainly made Wonderling work hard for it as he was trying to become the season’s seventh different winner in as many races.  Wonderling however made the right move in lapped traffic on lap 17 to regain the lead and fended off Marlatt and fast-closing Jason Knowles for the $4,000 victory.

 

“I kind of thought Joe (Layfield) cost me that one,” stated the 46-year-old Wonderling of nearby Wellsville, NY from Landrum Performance Springs Victory Lane.  “I thought he was going low so I tried to go around him but he went straight up the hill, but then lapped cars got in Brett’s (Marlatt) way so I guess it faired it up.  Brett was trying everything he could do on restarts and was trying to jump me, but that’s kind of the nature of the beast.  I grew up and spent a lot of time here with my dad and uncle even before I started racing.  It’s definitely home and I’d like to be here even more often.  It was a good race track tonight and was definitely better than the last two times we were here.”

 

Wonderling and Marlatt led the field to green for the 30-lap feature with Wonderling racing into the early lead over Marlatt with Dusty Waters, Austin Allen, and Kurt Stebbins in tow.  A pair of cautions slowed action on laps one and two before the next 26 laps went caution-free.  Wonderling and Marlatt went at it racing side-by-side for the lead on lap four, but Wonderling was able to hold on.  After dropping from fifth to seventh on the opening lap, Jason Knowles was on the move.  After moving back into the top five on the restart on lap three, Knowles grabbed fourth from Stebbins on lap six then got under and past Waters for third two laps later.

 

By the times Knowles got to third, the lead duo of Wonderling and Marlatt had pulled away.  Wonderling got hung up by the lapped car of 67-year-old veteran racer Joe Layfield, which allowed Marlatt to sneak by both to lead lap nine.  Marlatt would catch heavy traffic on lap 11.  While Marlatt and Wonderling were dealing with traffic, this allowed Knowles to close in on lap 14 making it a three-car duel for the lead at the halfway point. 

 

Wonderling pulled alongside Marlatt on lap 17 and this time it was Marlatt getting hung up in traffic by local Rickie Loucks as Wonderling sped by to regain the lead for what would be the winning pass.  Marlatt and Knowles did everything they could to attack Wonderling, but Wonderling failed to make a miscue in lapped traffic as the laps wound down; however, a caution for Wyatt White and Loucks set up a two-lap shootout to the finish.

 

Wonderling was able to keep Marlatt at bay as Marlatt had his hands full with Knowles.  Wonderling took the checkered flag first by 0.523 seconds as his 32nd career Flynn's Tire/Gunter's Honey Tour victory came in the Close Racing Supply/Shuttleworth Auto Sales/955 Automotive/Southern Tier Ice/Young's Lawn Care/Penske Shocks by JDS/Swift Springs-sponsored #3J.

 

Marlatt out-dragged Knowles to the checkered flag by just 0.337 seconds for his career best Flynn’s Tire/Gunter’s Honey Tour finish in runner-up worth $2,000.  “I knew there was still a lot of racing left when I got the lead,” explained the 36-year-old Canisteo, NY racer, who has two Colussy Chevrolet Weekly Series wins in 2026 at Woodhull.  “I’ve raced here a long time, but I’ve watched Jeremy (Wonderling) race here more than I have.  When I was growing up, he was one of my favorite racers and I always kind of idolized him so it was fun to race with these guys here.  I have a lot stuff going on at home right now so I’m not able to follow the Tour, but I’m glad they had the race here this year.  There’s a good group of guys and they are strong.  It’s incredible to finish second in one of my biggest races.  We’ve had some good finishes, but have never been this close.”

 

After failing to qualify for two of the first five Tour races and no top five finishes, Knowles has come to life with back-to-back third place efforts to reach the podium at both Stateline and Woodhull for the $1,000 paydays.  “I have to give it to Brett (Marlatt) and Jeremy (Wonderling)- they put on a heck of a show and I did everything I could to get there but unfortunately we were a little short,” explained the 44-year-old racer from nearby Adison, NY.  “It wasn’t for a lack of trying as I had a lot of help tonight.  We were good out of the gate so that helped.  I think I needed it to be another 10 laps.  I’m glad I ran good in front of this crowd and they got to see what we do- it was a really good show for them.”

 

Waters was fourth for his career best Tour finish.  Stebbins was fifth for the third time this season and moved into a tie for third in points with Christian Schneider as well as a tie for the lead in the 3C Graphix Rookie-of-the-Year standings.  Dawson followed up his sixth place finish at Lernerville’s “Bill Emig Memorial” presented by Sunoco with another sixth to match his season’s best effort.

 

After winning last Saturday at Stateline Speedway for his first career Flynn’s Tire Tour victory then finishing 12th on Wednesday at Stateline in his World of Outlaws debut, Demetrios Drellos was seventh for his seventh top 10 in seven starts to maintain runner-up in points.  Drellos also received a spoiler kit from Ontime Body & Graphic. 

 

Allen, whose car owner Kyle Mullen sponsored the event with his Hubertus Service Station, dropped from third to eighth at the finish.  Steve LeBarron, who has won three Colussy Chevrolet Weekly Series events in 2026 at Woodhull, was ninth in his Tour season debut.  Schneider completed the top 10.  Russ King Racing Futures Cup points leader, Marshall O’Brian, went 16th to 11th to earn the $100 Big Daddy’s Speed Center/Hoosier Tire Western PA “Pedal Down” Hard Charger gift card.   

 

Knowles started the night off strong earning $50 for being the fastest in Schneider Trucks Hot Laps with a 16.313 then turned around and set fast time overall against the 26-car field in FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Qualifying for $100 with a lap 16.587.  Marlatt, Stebbins and Waters won the $25 FK Rod Ends heat races.  Jeremy Wonderling won his first Sunoco Dash of the season and received a $100 Sunoco Fuel gift card.

 

Also winning $100 Sunoco Fuel cards were Tour drivers Dylan Cecce and Brodie Oravetz in the “Fill’er up with Sunoco Bucks” random drawings presented by Bazell Race Fuels, while the $50 Sunoco fuel cards were won Waters, Layfield, White, and Garrett Heffner.  John Waters was chosen as the Close Racing Supply “Tough Break of the Night” honors and received a $100 CRS gift card after mechanical woes in hot laps ended his night.

 

Landrum Performance Springs, which will award the $5,000 Loyalty Bonus to an eligible Flynn’s Tire/Gunter’s Honey Touring Series regular at the season ending event, distributed BOGO certificates to Daryl Charlier, Jacob Tubbs, Jared Costello, Mike Wonderling, and Ben Easler.

 

The Flynn’s Tire/Gunter's Honey Touring Series will return to action on Tuesday, July 21 to The Dirt Track at Genesee for a $4,000 to-win Platinum Event part of the Genesee County Fair in Batavia, NY followed up by the “Jook George Steel City Classic” on July 25 at Pittsburgh PA Motor Speedway in Imperial Pa. paying a minimum of $6,010 to-win.

 

Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Model Flynn’s Tire/Gunter's Honey Touring Series Race #7 (30 laps, $4,000 to-win): 1. JEREMY WONDERLING (3J)  2. Brett Marlatt (99)  3. Jason Knowles (4)  4. Dusty Waters (14)  5. Kurt Stebbins (26)  6. Cody Dawson (36)  7. Demetrios Drellos (111)  8. Austin Allen (Mullen 32)  9. Steve LeBarron 29)  10. Christian Schneider (Daugherty 56)  11. Marshall O’Brian (32M)  12. Jake Wilber (Suppa 4s)  13. Dylan Cecce (Clark 18*)  14. Ben Easler (02)  15. Ashton Briggs (11A)  16. Daryl Charlier (Dobnak 42)  17. Jacob Tubbs (89JR)  18. Brodie Oravetz (91B)  19. Garrett Heffner (0x)  20. Rickie Loucks (Krise 4R)  21. Wyatt White (5w)  22. Joe Layfield (121)  23. Jared Costello (6J)  24. Mike Wonderling (White 5w). DNS: Allan Hammond (97), John Waters (LeBarron 11).

 

Car Count: 26
Feature Margin of Victory: 0.523 seconds
Feature Lap Leaders: Jeremy Wonderling (1-8,17-30) Brett Marlatt (9-16)

Close Racing Supply “Tough Brake of the Night": John Waters

Hoosier Tire Western PA/Big Daddy’s Speed Center Hard Charger: Marshall O’Brian (+5)

Landrum Performance Springs BOGO Certificates: Daryl Charlier, Jacob Tubbs, Jared Costello, Mike Wonderling, Ben Easler

Ontime Body & Graphic “Spoiler Alert” Spoiler Kit: Demetrios Drellos

Schneider Trucks “Hottest of the Hot” Fastest in Hot Laps: Jason Knowles (16.313)

Sunoco Fuel Card Winners presented by Bazell Race Fuels: Dylan Cecce ($100), Brodie Oravetz ($100), Dusty Waters ($50), Joe Layfield ($50), Wyatt White ($50), Garrett Heffner ($50)

 

FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Qualifying ($100 for fast time) (Track record Bryce Davis 16.134 on 8/7/24): 1. 4-Jason Knowles, 16.587[5]; 2. 29L-Steve LeBarron, 16.592[3]; 3. 14W-Dusty Waters, 16.639[6]; 4. 99M-Brett Marlatt, 16.646[17]; 5. 26-Kurt Stebbins, 16.780[14]; 6. 4S-Jake Wilber, 16.846[25]; 7. 36-Cody Dawson, 16.898[7]; 8. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling, 16.966[13]; 9. 32A-Austin Allen, 17.038[24]; 10. 32M-Marshall O'Brian, 17.053[11]; 11. 18*-Dylan Cecce, 17.053[23]; 12. 4R-Rickie Loucks, 17.264[10]; 13. 111D-Demetrios Drellos, 17.283[2]; 14. 97-Allan Hammond, 17.412[20]; 15. 5W-Wyatt White, 17.443[16]; 16. 91B-Brodie Oravetz, 17.469[4]; 17. 6J-Jared Costello, 17.511[15]; 18. 56-Christian Schneider, 17.511[19]; 19. 11A-Ashton Briggs, 17.601[1]; 20. 02-Ben Easler, 17.604[21]; 21. 18-Mike Wonderling, 17.651[18]; 22. 0X-Garrett Heffner, 17.683[26]; 23. 89JR-Jacob Tubbs, 17.966[12]; 24. 42-Daryl Charlier, 18.104[9]; 25. 121-Joe Layfield, 19.101[8]; 26. 11L-John Waters, NT.

 

FK Rod Ends Heat 1 (8 laps, $25 to-win): 1. 99M-Brett Marlatt[2]; 2. 4-Jason Knowles[1]; 3. 111D-Demetrios Drellos[5]; 4. 36-Cody Dawson[3]; 5. 91B-Brodie Oravetz[6]; 6. 32M-Marshall O'Brian[4]; 7. 11A-Ashton Briggs[7]; 8. 121-Joe Layfield[9]; 9. 0X-Garrett Heffner[8]

 

FK Rod Ends Heat 2 (8 laps, $25 to-win): 1. 26-Kurt Stebbins[2]; 2. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling[3]; 3. 29L-Steve LeBarron[1]; 4. 18*-Dylan Cecce[4]; 5. 02-Ben Easler[7]; 6. 97-Allan Hammond[5]; 7. 89JR-Jacob Tubbs[8]; 8. 6J-Jared Costello[6]; 9. (DNS) 11L-John Waters

 

FK Rod Ends Heat 3 (8 laps, $25 to-win): 1. 14W-Dusty Waters[1]; 2. 32A-Austin Allen[3]; 3. 4S-Jake Wilber[2]; 4. 56-Christian Schneider[6]; 5. 4R-Rickie Loucks[4]; 6. 42-Daryl Charlier[8]; 7. 18-Mike Wonderling[7]; 8. 5W-Wyatt White[5]

 

Sunoco Dash (6 laps, $100 Sunoco fuel card to win): 1. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling[1]; 2. 99M-Brett Marlatt[2]; 3. 32A-Austin Allen[4]; 4. 14W-Dusty Waters[3]; 5. 4-Jason Knowles[6]; 6. 26-Kurt Stebbins[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, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, Insinger Performance, Colussy Chevrolet Flynn's Tire, Gunter's Honey, Rustler Sales & Service, MSD Performance, Holley Performance Products, FK Rod Ends, Capital Contracting Service, Joseph J. Oliva Attorney at Law, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, Landrum Performance Springs, Russ King Racing, 3C Graphix, Velocita-USA, Wieland Metal Services, Real Merchant Services DMV, IllusionCoats Powder Coating, Hoosier Tire Western Pennsylvania/Big Daddy's Speed Center, Close Racing Supply, Keyser Manufacturing/Integra Racing Shocks, Seal-Tite Paving & Excavating, MotoRad, Schneider Trucks, Ontime Body & Graphic, Henry's Headers & Exhaust Systems, D&V Jewelers, AERO Race Wheels, Racing Electronics, Design Creations, and Competition Crate Parts.

 

E-mail can be sent to the RUSH Racing Series at [email protected] and 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 X (formerly known as Twitter) @RUSHLM.

 

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