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MASON ZEIGLER CHARGES FROM 12TH TO WIN NIGHT 1 OF THE “BILL HENDREN MEMOIRIAL”PRESENTED BY RD HOLDER OIL CO AT PITTSBURGH FOR HIS 1ST CAREER HOVIS RUS

MASON ZEIGLER CHARGES FROM 12TH TO WIN NIGHT 1 OF THE “BILL HENDREN MEMOIRIAL”PRESENTED BY RD HOLDER OIL CO AT PITTSBURGH FOR HIS 1ST CAREER HOVIS RUSH LATE MODEL FLYNN’S TIRE/GUNTER’S HONEY TOUR SERIES EVENT VICTORY WORTH $4000
By Mike Leone

October 4, 2024 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Imperial, PA)...After two rainouts, the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Dirt Late Model Flynn’s Tire/Gunter’s Honey Touring Series finally returned to action on Friday night at Pittsburgh PA Motor Speedway for the first time in eight weeks. Race #12 of the 2024 season, which was Night 1 of the “Bill Hendren Memorial” presented by RD Holder Oil Company along with support from Precise Racing Products, attracted 51 cars from eight states plus Ontario, Canada. It marked the highest car count for a Chevrolet Performance Pro Late Models in the history of PPMS and for a Hendren Memorial event! The event was streamed live on FloRacing part of the “Pittsburgher 100” weekend with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series.

In his third year of trying, Mason Zeigler was finally able to capture his first career Flynn’s Tire/Gunter’s Honey Touring Series victory. After finishing sixth in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series feature, the Super Late Model and Modified standout charged from the 12th starting spot and passed PPMS standout Brandon Burgoon on lap 14 for the lead. Zeigler then dominated the second half of the 30-lap feature for the $4,000 victory to become the season’s seventh different winner. Zeigler also earned the “Pedal Down” Hard Charger honors and received a $50 gift card from Precise Racing Products.

“This means everything,” acknowledged the 32-year-old Chalk Hill, Pa. racer. “These big RUSH races have been alluding me. At Lernerville I thought I had a good shot at the $20,000, but broke a transmission. Last time here I thought we had a shot and a flat tire. It’s been never ending bad luck so to get one here at home is awesome. These things are tricky. It’s taken me awhile to really get good with my foot on these crate cars. Everyone thinks these crates aren’t as superior to the supers, but when I first got in one, I realized they are hard to drive. You can’t just get out of a sticky situation with the motor. You really have to make sure the car is balanced and working well or it can be a miserable thing to drive. I have a big crew here tonight and they really got this thing dialed in. This is a 2016 XR1 that I got on trade with a trailer I bought.”

Following the Dave Poske’s Performance Parts “Feel the RUSH 4-Wide Salute”, Demetrios Drellos and South Carolina invader Dillon Brown led the 26-car starting field to green with Brown jumping into the lead. The two ran side-by-side on lap two with Brown maintaining the lead. Zeigler was halfway to the front in sixth before a pair of single car spins by Jim Rasey and Ben Policz with two laps completed; those were on the only stoppages of the race as the final 28 laps went green-to-checkered.

When racing resumed on lap three, Burgoon and Zeigler overtook Drellos for positions two and three respectively. Burgoon closed in on Brown on lap four and by lap six the lead trio began to distance themselves from the field. Burgoon was able to sneak past Brown off turn four to lead lap eight. Burgoon had a lead of 0.992 seconds when he caught lapped traffic on lap 12. One lap later, Zeigler charged around Brown for second. Burgoon then slipped high in turn four on lap 14 allowing Zeigler to race past for what would be the winning move.

Zeigler went unchallenged over the final 16 laps as he took the checkered flag first by a commanding 4.663 seconds in his Roy's Body Shop/RBS Trailer Sales/Green Lane-sponsored #25z. Zeigler became the 46th different winner in 195 Flynn’s Tire/Gunter’s Honey Touring Series events contested all-time.

Brown was able to get back by Burgoon on the final lap to earn the runner-up position. It was Brown’s first RUSH start since a third place on June 26, 2022 at Lernerville Speedway for the “Bill Emig Memorial”. “Brandon (Burgoon) got high a few laps before, but I wasn’t close enough to take advantage until the last lap, but dang that 25 (Zeigler) was good,” explained the 31-year-old Gaffney, SC driver. “I thought we were close and we are. My guys have worked their butt’s off. We tested at Cherokee Speedway last night, drove 10 hours and got here at 9 a.m. this morning; we’re tired, but I can’t complain. I really like racing with you guys and like the bigger race tracks. What a race track and facility this is. Steve (Hendren) builds my motors and has done a lot for me. This race has always been the last weekend of September, which is my little boy’s birthday so with it being moved to October I said I was going to be here and here we are!”

Burgoon was third for his best Tour finish since a second place on August 5, 2023 at PPMS for the “Jook George Steel City Classic”. Ryan Montgomery went eighth to fourth and was also fastest in warmups to receive a $100 SRI Performance gift card. Jeremy Steele, one of the three South Carolina drivers to make the trip up, passed Drellos on lap 23 to finish fifth after starting ninth.

Pole-sitter Drellos dropped to sixth over 11th starting Max Blair. Kyle Lukon charged from the 18th starting spot to finish 8th. Michael Norris was ninth. Joe Martin had a solid ending to his night in 10th after starting 20th. Garret Paugh received a spoiler kit from Ontime Body & Graphic for finishing 12th.

Making his first Tour start since April 16, 2021 at Potomac Speedway, 2017 3C Graphix Futures Cup Champion, Devin Brannon, ended the night leading all 10 caution-free laps of the D&V Jewelers Non-Qualifier worth $200. Brannon’s #137 crossed the fine line first by 2.148 to become the season’s ninth different winner in nine races and amazing 81st different winner in 99 races run all-time. Zach Gunn passed Tommy Schirnhofer, Jr. on lap nine to finish second. Schirnhofer, who was the first feature non-qualifier and received a $50 Holley Performance gift card, dropped to third over fellow PPMS regular, Tom Klein. Austin Allen was fifth.

Burgoon set fast time overall against the 51-car field in FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Qualifying with a lap of 18.738 to earn $100. Winning the $25 FK Rod Ends heat races were Norris, Brown, Policz, Burgoon, Drellos, and Ryan Hare. The three last chance B mains were captured by Canadian Steve Baldwin, Martin, and Dave Goble. Drellos won his first career Sunoco Dash to not only earn a $100 Sunoco fuel card, but also $200 cash from Stan’s Transmission in memory of Bob Bentz.

Winning the $100 Sunoco Fuel cards through the random drawings were Tour racers Allen and Jim Rasey, while the $50 fuel cards went to Dan Angelicchio, Damian Bidwell, Montgomery & Tony Paynter. The Landrum Performance Springs BOGO certificates were captured by Braeson Fulton, Davin Kaiser, Christian Schneider, Luke Cooper, and Dave Goble.

The Flynn’s Tire/Gunter's Honey Touring Series will be right back in action on Saturday night at PPMS for night two of the “Bill Hendren Memorial” for $10,000 to-win part of the "Pittsburgher 100" with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series on FloRacing. Warmups are at 6 p.m. followed by qualifying and racing.

Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Model Flynn’s Tire/Gunter’s Honey Touring Series Race #12 for the “Bill Hendren Memorial” Night 1 (30 laps, $4,000 to-win): 1. MASON ZEIGLER (25Z) 2. Dillon Brown (6) 3. Brandon Burgoon (Bentz/Chernik 60) 4. Ryan Montgomery (4s) 5. Jeremy Steele (22) 6. Demetrios Drellos (111) 7. Max Blair (Centerline 111) 8. Kyle Lukon (184) 9. Michael Norris (Dabeeco N1) 10. Joe Martin (Snyder 10s) 11. Jeremy Wonderling (3J) 12. Garret Paugh (03) 13. Brock Pinkerous (555) 14. Ryan Hare (29) 15. Damian Bidwell (1/2-Pint) 16. Daryl Charlier (Dobnak 42) 17. Dan Angelicchio (14) 18. Jacob Gunn (14G) 19. Steve Baldwin (5) 20. Logan Zarin (Beach 33x) 21. Jim Rasey (Wrightsman 21J) 22. Dave Goble (20G) 23. Kassidy Kamicker (72B) 24. Logan Roberson (17) 25. Luke Cooper (57) 26. Ben Policz (14B). (Note: Jim Rasey took a Tour provisional & Kassidy Kamicker a Track provisional)

D&V Jewelers Non-Qualifier (10 laps, $200 to-win): 1. Devin Brannon (137) 2. Zach Gunn (17G) 3. Tommy Schirnhofer, Jr. (8s) 4. Tom Klein (77) 5. Austin Allen (32) 6. Mike Wonderling (18) 7. Davin Kaiser (11) 8. Colby Beighey (36) 9. Brian Huchko (60) 10. Matt Benard (15) 11. Michael Stephans (38) 12. Bobby Springer (42S) 13. Chuck Medved (2M) 14. Tony Paynter (81) 15. Mike Laughard (38L) 16. Christian Schneider (Deller 75) 17. Justin Chance (Lukon 184C). DNS: Ashton Briggs (11A), Tim Shaffer (45), Braeson Fulton (B6), Brodie Oravetz (91B), Marino Angelicchio (55), Jacob Billyk, Jr. (4JR), Cole Petrelle (84), Cale Schwartzmiller (28s).

Car Count: 51
Feature Margin of Victory: 4.663 seconds
Feature Lap Leaders: Dillon Brown (1-7), Brandon Burgoon (8-13), Mason Zeigler (14-30)
Ontime Body & Graphic “Spoiler Alert” Spoiler Kit: Garret Paugh
Heritage Wine Cellars 3-Pack of Premium Products: Mason Zeigler, Dillon Brown & Brandon Burgoon
Holley Performance Group “Nosed Out”: Tommy Schirnhofer, Jr.
Landrum Performance Springs BOGO Certificates: Braeson Fulton, Davin Kaiser, Christian Schneider, Luke Cooper & Dave Goble
Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down” Hard Charger: Mason Zeigler (+11)
Precise Racing Products 5-Gallon Race Jug: Mason Zeigler
SRI Performance “Hot Lap Hero”: Ryan Montgomery
Sunoco Fuel Card Winners: Austin Allen ($100), Jim Rasey ($100), Damian Bidwell ($50), Tony Paynter ($50), Ryan Montgomery ($50), Dan Angelicchio ($50),

FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Qualifying Flight A (Track record 18.332 by Michael Norris on 9/29/23): 1. N1-Michael Norris, 00:18.923[24]; 2. 22S-Jeremy Steele, 00:18.942[20]; 3. 14B-Ben Policz, 00:19.030[9]; 4. 03-Garret Paugh, 00:19.061[14]; 5. 6-Dillon Brown, 00:19.097[4]; 6. 1/2PT-Damian Bidwell, 00:19.162[25]; 7. 17R-Logan Roberson, 00:19.168[3]; 8. 32A-Austin Allen, 00:19.172[13]; 9. 111-Max Blair, 00:19.186[16]; 10. 75-Christian Schneider, 00:19.224[22]; 11. 14A-Dan Angelicchio, 00:19.264[1]; 12. 60H-Brian Huchko, 00:19.275[7]; 13. 8S-Tommy Schirnhofer Jr, 00:19.432[6]; 14. 11K-Davin Kaiser, 00:19.489[17]; 15. 10S-Joe Martin, 00:19.519[12]; 16. B6-Braeson Fulton, 00:19.539[8]; 17. 36B-Colby Beighey, 00:19.563[5]; 18. 4JR-Jacob Billyk Jr, 00:19.754[15]; 19. 184C-Justin Chance, 00:19.763[19]; 20. 33X-Logan Zarin, 00:19.819[18]; 21. 45-Tim Shaffer, 00:19.962[10]; 22. 55A-Marino Angelicchio, 00:20.167[23]; 23. 5B-Steve Baldwin, 00:20.214[2]; 24. 42S-Bobby Springer, 00:20.427[11]; 25. 38L-Mike Laughard, 00:21.299[21].

FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Qualifying Flight B (Track record 18.332 by Michael Norris on 9/29/23): 1. 60-Brandon Burgoon, 00:18.738[10]; 2. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling, 00:18.830[15]; 3. 184-Kyle Lukon, 00:18.914[23]; 4. 77-Tom Klein, 00:18.943[19]; 5. 72B-Kassidy Kamicker, 00:18.989[24]; 6. 29-Ryan Hare, 00:19.019[1]; 7. 4S-Ryan Montgomery, 00:19.122[3]; 8. 57C-Luke Cooper, 00:19.158[5]; 9. 20G-Dave Goble, 00:19.294[20]; 10. 14G-Jake Gunn, 00:19.303[2]; 11. 84-Cole Petrelle, 00:19.308[18]; 12. 17G-Zach Gunn, 00:19.361[17]; 13. 137-Devin Brannon, 00:19.370[9]; 14. 111D-Demetrios Drellos, 00:19.392[21]; 15. 11A-Ashton Briggs, 00:19.410[6]; 16. 38-Michael Stephans, 00:19.472[7]; 17. 28S-Cale Schwartzmiller, 00:19.500[14]; 18. 25Z-Mason Zeigler, 00:19.592[12]; 19. 18-Mike Wonderling, 00:19.631[16]; 20. 15B-Matthew Benard, 00:19.706[8]; 21. 42-Daryl Charlier, 00:19.895[25]; 22. 555-Brock Pinkerous, 00:19.915[4]; 23. 21J-Jim Rasey, 00:20.076[13]; 24. 91B-Brodie Oravetz, 00:20.127[11]; 25. 2M-Chuck Medved, 00:20.794[26]; 26. 81-Tony Paynter, 00:20.943[22].

FK Rod Ends Heat 1 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 6-Dillon Brown[2]; 2. 22S-Jeremy Steele[1]; 3. 14A-Dan Angelicchio[4]; 4. 5B-Steve Baldwin[8]; 5. 33X-Logan Zarin[7]; 6. 11K-Davin Kaiser[5]; 7. 32A-Austin Allen[3]; 8. 36B-Colby Beighey[6].

FK Rod Ends Heat 2 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. N1-Michael Norris[1]; 2. 03-Garret Paugh[2]; 3. 17R-Logan Roberson[3]; 4. 8S-Tommy Schirnhofer Jr[5]; 5. 184C-Justin Chance[7]; 6. B6-Braeson Fulton[6]; 7. 75-Christian Schneider[4]; 8. 55A-Marino Angelicchio[8]; 9. 38L-Mike Laughard[9].

FK Rod Ends Heat 3 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 14B-Ben Policz[1]; 2. 111-Max Blair[3]; 3. 1/2PT-Damian Bidwell[2]; 4. 10S-Joe Martin[5]; 5. 60H-Brian Huchko[4]; 6. 45-Tim Shaffer[7]; 7. 4JR-Jacob Billyk Jr[6]; 8. 42S-Bobby Springer[8].

FK Rod Ends Heat 4 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 60-Brandon Burgoon[1]; 2. 4S-Ryan Montgomery[3]; 3. 14G-Jake Gunn[4]; 4. 137-Devin Brannon[5]; 5. 555-Brock Pinkerous[9]; 6. 77-Tom Klein[2]; 7. 38-Michael Stephans[6]; 8. 2M-Chuck Medved[8]; 9. 18-Mike Wonderling[7].

FK Rod Ends Heat 5 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 111D-Demetrios Drellos[5]; 2. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling[1]; 3. 57C-Luke Cooper[3]; 4. 21J-Jim Rasey[8]; 5. 81-Tony Paynter[9]; 6. 15B-Matthew Benard[7]; 7. 72B-Kassidy Kamicker[2]; 8. 84-Cole Petrelle[4]; 9. 28S-Cale Schwartzmiller[6].

FK Rod Ends Heat 6 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 29-Ryan Hare[2]; 2. 25Z-Mason Zeigler[6]; 3. 184-Kyle Lukon[1]; 4. 20G-Dave Goble[3]; 5. 17G-Zach Gunn[4]; 6. 42-Daryl Charlier[7]; 7. 11A-Ashton Briggs[5]; 8. (DNS) 91B-Brodie Oravetz.

Last Chance B Main 1 (10 laps, Top 2 transfer to A): 1. 5B-Steve Baldwin[2]; 2. 33X-Logan Zarin[4]; 3. 8S-Tommy Schirnhofer Jr[1]; 4. 184C-Justin Chance[3]; 5. 32A-Austin Allen[8]; 6. 11K-Davin Kaiser[6]; 7. 36B-Colby Beighey[10]; 8. 75-Christian Schneider[7]; 9. B6-Braeson Fulton[5]; 10. (DNS) 55A-Marino Angelicchio; 11. (DNS) 38L-Mike Laughard.

Last Chance B Main 2 (10 laps, Top 2 transfer to A): 1. 10S-Joe Martin[1]; 2. 555-Brock Pinkerous[4]; 3. 137-Devin Brannon[2]; 4. 77-Tom Klein[6]; 5. 18-Mike Wonderling[11]; 6. 45-Tim Shaffer[5]; 7. 38-Michael Stephans[8]; 8. 2M-Chuck Medved[10]; 9. 42S-Bobby Springer[9]; 10. 4JR-Jacob Billyk Jr[7]; 11. 60H-Brian Huchko[3].

Last Chance B Main 3 (10 laps, Top 2 transfer to A): 1. 20G-Dave Goble[2]; 2. 42-Daryl Charlier[6]; 3. 17G-Zach Gunn[4]; 4. 21J-Jim Rasey[1]; 5. 11A-Ashton Briggs[8]; 6. 15B-Matthew Benard[5]; 7. 81-Tony Paynter[3]; 8. (DNS) 72B-Kassidy Kamicker; 9. (DNS) 91B-Brodie Oravetz; 10. (DNS) 84-Cole Petrelle; 11. (DNS) 28S-Cale Schwartzmiller.

“Bob’s Bentz Memorial” Sunoco Dash presented by Stan’s Transmission (6 laps, $200 to-win plus a $100 Sunoco fuel card): 1. 111D-Demetrios Drellos[2]; 2. 6-Dillon Brown[4]; 3. 14B-Ben Policz[1]; 4. 60-Brandon Burgoon[5]; 5. N1-Michael Norris[3]; 6. 29-Ryan Hare[6].

The RUSH Racing Series is brought to you by Hovis Auto & Truck Supply together with Born2Run Lubricants along with the support of Hoosier Tire, Rick Hendrick City Chevrolet, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, Insinger Performance, Flynn's Tire, Gunter's Honey, Sunbelt Rentals, MSD Performance, Holley Performance Products, FK Rod Ends, Joseph J. Oliva Attorney at Law, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, Landrum Performance Springs, 3C Graphix, Dave Poske's Performance Parts, Velocita-USA, Wieland Metal Services, Frankland Racing Supply, Dusted Steak Seasoning, Ontime Body & Graphic, Sherwood Wheels, D&V Jewelers, Dusted, Heritage Wine Cellars, Precise Racing Products, Wedge Motorsports, Racing Electronics, and Billy’s Garage.

E-mail can be sent to the RUSH Racing Series at info@rushracingseries.com 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 X (formerly known as Twitter) @RUSHLM.

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