By Mike Leone

(Middlebourne, WV)…After a successful fourth annual “RUSH Summer Showcase” at Lernerville Speedway on Friday night, the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Dirt Late Models Series presented by Born2Run Lubricants headed south to West Virginia for the first of two appearances by the Flynn’s Tire Touring Series in 2023 at Tyler County Speedway. Drivers from five different states plus Ontario, Canada were on hand at “America’s Baddest Bullring” for race #14 of the 2023 season as a total of 44 different drivers competed in the two-night swing.

Jeremy Wonderling ended the 2022 season winning four of the last five Flynn’s Tire Series events including a victory in the first ever race at Tyler County Speedway to make a late season push at his fourth championship. After getting shutout during the four-race 3C Graphix “Battle of the Bay” Speedweek top open the 2023 season, Wonderling has been red hot since the Series resumed in mid-May. One night after making a late race pass to win at Lernerville, Wonderling led all 30 laps on Saturday night with an impressive drive through lapped traffic for a $6,000+ weekend sweep as he’s now two-for-two at Tyler County. Wonderling has now won 7 of the last 10 Tour events to take a commanding lead in the $15,000 championship chase!

“I had some problems before I pulled onto the race track,” revealed the 43-year-old Wellsville, NY racer. “The right rear shock bolt broke off and all we could do was peen it over with a hammer. I had pretty good control of the race, but all I could keep thinking was it was going to fall off and I was going to wreck. I cannot believe it lasted as long as it did. Lapped traffic was getting heinous, but he (Mike Wonderling) had to get through it as good as I did. It’s the nature of the beast and it’s always a lot of fun. It’s always easier when you’re running second and you know where they’re at. A couple guys at the back were my buddies so I knew if I showed myself they wouldn’t do many any wrong. The car was really, really good.”

Jeremy Wonderling took off in the lead, while his brother Mike Wonderling passed fellow New York racer Austin Hauser for second. Sixth starting David Pangrazio, another Empire State racer, was halfway to the front from his sixth starting spot on lap two when he dropped Hauser back to fourth. Pangrazio challenged Mike Wonderling for second on lap six and the duo raced side-by-side for the next several laps, while Jeremy Wonderling caught lapped traffic on lap nine.

Mike Wonderling continued to fend off Pangrazio for second and then closed back in on his brother in the battle for the lead on lap 12. Track standout, Kyle Thomas, started seventh and had just worked his way into fourth when he made contact with another car sending him spinning, while Brock Pinkerous had nowhere to go and made heavy contact. Thomas was able to resume from the tail, while Pinkerous was done for the event and was chosen as the TBM Brakes “Tough Brake of the Night” recipient.

When racing resumed at the halfway point, Jeremy Wonderling continued to lead Mike Wonderling and Pangrazio. Lapped traffic came back into play on lap 23; meanwhile, ninth starting Joe Martin passed Brandon Weigle on lap 24 for fourth. Five laps later, Weigle, who has five City Chevrolet Weekly Series wins at Tyler County this season, spun running fifth. That would setup a one-lap mad dash to the finish on the 1/4-mile track.

Jeremy Wonderling got a good restart, while Pangrazio snuck past Mike Wonderling for second. It was too late though for Pangrazio to make a bid at Jeremy Wonderling, who crossed the finish line first by 0.652 seconds. Wonderling’s 21st career Flynn’s Tire Tour win came in his Terry Prince Contracting/Close Racing Supply/Cummings Trucking/Shuttleworth Sales/Penske Shocks by JDS/Swift Springs-sponsored #3J. Wonderling has now won 11 of the last 19 Tour races run dating back to last season! Read more….