Kyle Hardy Takes Opening Round Of “Battle Of The Bay” Speedweek For RUSH LM’s At Delaware Int’l

Story By: MIKE LEONE / RUSH RACING SERIES – DELMAR, DE – The Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Dirt Late Model Series presented by Born2Run Lubricants kicked off the fifth annual “Battle of the Bay” Speedweek presented by 3C Graphix on Wednesday night at Delaware International Speedway.

The southern Delaware half-mile track oval was able to complete the opening event for the Flynn’s Tire Touring Series for the fourth time in five tries. For the second straight year, sunshine and temps in the mid-80s graced fans along with competitors from seven different states (Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia) plus Ontario, Canada. The event was streamed live for the first time at DIS on FloRacing.

In 2021, Kyle Hardy swept the three completed “Battle of the Bay” Speedweek events in route to the Flynn’s Tire Touring Series Championship. After focusing primarily on Super Late Model racing in 2022, Hardy was able to capture his first Series win since winning the finale at Lernerville Speedway on October 15, 2021. Hardy passed Canadian Charlie Sandercock for good on lap seven and pulled away during the second half of the event for the $3,000 victory- his first ever at DIS.

“Two years ago we won the opener at Georgetown and last year we set fast time here, but it just wasn’t our night,” explained the 29-year-old Winchester, Virginia standout. “It’s been a lot of work to get this car back in victory lane. This is really cool- it’s our family-owned operation; it’s just me, my mom and dad, and a lot of people that put a lot of effort into it. This a tough field. You have a World of Outlaw driver in Max Blair, who is a top 10 at least top 15 driver in the country and Trevor Collins is a heck of a wheelman. You know you have to pay attention because those guys will pounce if you mess up. I want to thank those guys for racing me clean tonight. I was surprised to move forward in the dash and pass Max, because I really thought he was going to be the car to beat. They will be good tomorrow and the rest of the week. I can’t thank Vicki (Emig) and Mike (Leone) enough- it’s an awesome Series that’s a lot of fun to run.”

The 30-lap feature got off to a rough start when a six-car pileup ensued in turn two on the opening lap that collected sixth starting Delaware standout Matt Hill amongst others. Hill was chosen as the TBM Brakes “Tough Brake of the Night” recipient. When racing resumed, Sandercock powered into the lead, while Hardy passed Nick Davis for second with Max Blair and Trevor Collins also getting by Davis for second and third.

Hardy was able to pull alongside Sandercock on lap two and made the pass for the lead off the bottom of turn four; however, Sandercock used the momentum off the topside of the speedway to regain the lead on lap four. The duo continued to race side-by-side for the lead, which allowed Collins, who had passed Blair for third on lap two, to close in. While Hardy challenged Sandercock for the lead, Collins nearly passed Hardy for second on lap six, before Hardy shot underneath Sandercock entering turn one on lap seven to make the winning pass. Collins, who started fifth, charged under Sandercock in turn two for second on lap eight.

By lap 12, Hardy and Collins separated themselves from the field, but the event’s second caution bunched up the field one final time when Matt Glanden, who was running sixth, lost power with 12 laps scored. When green replaced yellow, Blair and Davis moved past Sandercock for third and fourth respectively.

Hardy had opened up a lead of 2.058 seconds on Collins when he caught lapped traffic on lap 26. Collins though was never able to cut much into Hardy’s lead in the closing laps in lapped traffic as Hardy took the checkered flag first for his ninth career Tour win by 2.054 seconds in his Auto Glass Experts/Xceptional Wildlife/American Paint Company/Sommey Lace Racing/Anthony’s Pizza/Ingram Race Engines-sponsored #99. Hardy also received a spoiler kit courtesy of Ontime Body & Graphic.

Collins earned $1,500 for his best career Tour finish in second. “The 99 (Hardy) was fast in clean air,” explained the 24-year-old racer from nearby Seaford, Delaware. “I was wishing him and the 57 (Sandercock) would keep racing. I was catching them on the bottom and didn’t want to see that caution. We had a fast car all night, but got a little behind in the dash. That’s everything here because once you get behind it’s hard to catch up. Kyle did a hell of a job and I thank Max (Blair) for racing me clean. I’m looking forward to Georgetown- we’re always good there and hopefully we can pull one off.”

Blair’s third place came in his first Tour start since July 2, 2021. Davis was fourth. The closing laps saw an excellent four-car battle for the fifth place spot with Garret Paugh coming out on top after starting 14th, while Sandercock dropped to sixth over Ben Scott and 22nd starting Demetrios Drellos as the New York Big-Block Modified standout earned the $50 Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down” Hard Charger gift card in his first RUSH start. Mike Wonderling went 20th to ninth as Jeremy Pilkerton completed the top 10.

Thirteen-year-old “Futures Cup” racer Brock Pinkerous led wire-to-wire to win the 10-lap D&V Jewelers Non-Qualifier in just his second Flynn’s Tire Tour start. The Ellenville, NY driver earned $200 in the NPS/Valor Ins/Decklerax Trucking/Foam Boys/SHR/Pasculas Auto Body-sponsored #555. Pinkerous became the 65th different winner in 77 non-qualifier races run all-time, and also picked up the $100 Performance Bodies gift card for being the “Nosed Out” recipient. West Virginia’s Ryan Hare held off Canadian Kyle Sopaz for second. Kerry King was fourth over Canadian Joe Brosseau, who made his first ever RUSH start.

Collins set fast time overall against the 39-car field in FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Qualifying with a lap of 20.145 to earn $100. Capturing $25 FK Rod Ends heat races were Sandercock, Blair, Collins, and Hill. Chad Sines and Drellos split the last chance B main victories. Sandercock also won the Sunoco Dash to earn a $100 Sunoco fuel card. Jim Rasey and Brandt Graham were the lucky recipients of the $100 Sunoco fuel cards, while the $50 Sunoco fuel cards went to Amanda Robinson, Joe Warren, Sopaz, and Pilkerton.

The Flynn’s Tire Touring Series will head 20 miles to Georgetown (DE) Speedway on Thursday night for round two of the fifth annual “Battle of the Bay” Speedweek presented by 3C Graphix for another $3,000 to-win event. Pit passes go on sale at 4 p.m., drivers meeting at 6 with warmups at 6:20.

Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Model Flynn’s Tire Touring Series “Battle of the Bay” Speedweek presented by 3C Graphix Race #1 (30 laps, $3,000 to-win): 1. KYLE HARDY (99) 2. Trevor Collins (72) 3. Max Blair (Briggs 1) 4. Nick Davis (92) 5. Garret Paugh (03) 6. Charlie Sandercock (57) 7. Ben Scott (80) 8. Demetrios Drellos (111) 9. Mike Wonderling (18) 10. Jeremy Pilkerton (8) 11. Jeremy Wonderling (3J) 12. Ashton Briggs (11A) 13. Michael Duritsky, Jr. (90J) 14. Jim Rasey (Wrightsman 21J) 15. Joe Martin (Snyder 10s) 16. Andy Michael (17x) 17. Cody Dawson (36) 18. Joe Warren (11) 19. Chad Sines (15) 20. Matt Glanden (01) 21. Matt Hill (84) 22. Tyler Hoy (71T) 23. Amanda Robinson (Dutchstar Motorsports 4) 24. Matt Latta (21) 25. Jason Knowles (4). (Note: Andy Michael took a Tour provisional)

Non-Qualifier (10 laps, $200 to-win): 1. Brock Pinkerous (555) 2. Ryan Hare (29) 3. Kyle Sopaz (11) 4. Kerry King (KB) 5. Joe Brosseau (47B) 6. Brandt Graham (14) 7. Megan Mann (55) 8. Craig Graham (98) 9 Marc Berzowski (25) 10. Travis Justice (23) 11. Braeson Fulton (6). DNS: Matt Tepper (90), Russell Erwin (22), Derek Magee (96).

Car Count: 39

Feature Margin of Victory: 2.054 seconds.

Feature Lap Leaders: Charlie Sandercock (1, 4-6), Kyle Hardy (2, 7-30)

Ontime Body & Graphic “Spoiler Alert” Spoiler Kit: Kyle Hardy

Performance Bodies “Nosed Out”: Brock Pinkerous

Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down” Hard Charger: Demetrios Drellos (+14)

Sunoco Fuel Card Winners: Brandt Graham ($100), Jim Rasey ($100), Amanda Robinson ($50), Jeremy Pilkerton ($50), Joe Warren ($50), Kyle Sopaz ($50).

TBM Brakes “Tough Brake of the Night”: Matt Hill

FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Flight A Qualifying (Track record 19.624 by Max Blair on 4/17/19): 1. 57-Charlie Sandercock, 00:20.196[17]; 2. 111-Max Blair, 00:20.260[8]; 3. 555-Brock Pinkerous, 00:20.320[12]; 4. 71T-Tyler Hoy, 00:20.413[18]; 5. 92-Nick Davis, 00:20.415[4]; 6. 80-Ben Scott, 00:20.446[11]; 7. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling, 00:20.450[19]; 8. 15-Chad Sines, 00:20.452[6]; 9. 11W-Joe Warren, 00:20.495[5]; 10. 90J-Michael Duritsky Jr, 00:20.496[13]; 11. 22-Russell Erwin, 00:20.596[9]; 12. 6F-Braeson Fulton, 00:20.822[7]; 13. 21L-Matt Latta, 00:20.900[15]; 14. 4-Jason Knowles, 00:20.906[10]; 15. 21J-Jim Rasey, 00:20.937[2]; 16. 23J-Travis Justice, 00:21.130[14]; 17. 47B-Joe Brosseau, 00:21.242[3]; 18. KB-Kerry King, 00:21.287[1]; 19. 90T-Matt Tepper, 00:21.776[16]; 20. 25M-Marc Berzowski, 00:21.879[20].

FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Flight B Qualifying ($100 for fast time): 1. 72-Trevor Collins, 00:20.145[11]; 2. 84-Matt Hill, 00:20.229[3]; 3. 8-Jeremy Pilkerton, 00:20.255[5]; 4. 4R-Amanda Robinson, 00:20.401[10]; 5. 55-Megan Mann, 00:20.490[19]; 6. 99-Kyle Hardy, 00:20.610[7]; 7. 01-Matt Glanden, 00:20.697[15]; 8. 36-Cody Dawson, 00:20.713[8]; 9. 03-Garret Paugh, 00:20.824[17]; 10. 10S-Joe Martin, 00:20.846[4]; 11. 111D-Demetrios Drellos, 00:20.908[1]; 12. 29-Ryan Hare, 00:20.961[2]; 13. 14-Brandt Graham, 00:20.970[16]; 14. 11S-Kyle Sopaz, 00:21.006[6]; 15. 11A-Ashton Briggs, 00:21.024[9]; 16. 18-Mike Wonderling, 00:21.032[12]; 17. 98-Craig Graham, 00:21.901[18]; 18. 17X-Andy Michael, 00:21.972[14]; 19. 96-Derek Magee, NT.

FK Rod Ends Heat 1 (8 laps, Top 5 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 57-Charlie Sandercock[1]; 2. 92-Nick Davis[3]; 3. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling[4]; 4. 21L-Matt Latta[7]; 5. 11W-Joe Warren[5]; 6. 21J-Jim Rasey[8]; 7. 555-Brock Pinkerous[2]; 8. 90T-Matt Tepper[10]; 9. 47B-Joe Brosseau[9]; 10. 22-Russell Erwin[6].

FK Rod Ends Heat 2 (8 laps, Top 5 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 111-Max Blair[1]; 2. 80-Ben Scott[3]; 3. 71T-Tyler Hoy[2]; 4. 4-Jason Knowles[7]; 5. 90J-Michael Duritsky Jr[5]; 6. 15-Chad Sines[4]; 7. KB-Kerry King[9]; 8. 6F-Braeson Fulton[6]; 9. 23J-Travis Justice[8]; 10. 25M-Marc Berzowski[10].

FK Rod Ends Heat 3 (8 laps, Top 5 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 72-Trevor Collins[1]; 2. 8-Jeremy Pilkerton[2]; 3. 01-Matt Glanden[4]; 4. 03-Garret Paugh[5]; 5. 11A-Ashton Briggs[8]; 6. 111D-Demetrios Drellos[6]; 7. 14-Brandt Graham[7]; 8. 55-Megan Mann[3]; 9. 98-Craig Graham[9]. DNS: 96-Derek Magee.

FK Rod Ends Heat 4 (8 laps, Top 5 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 84-Matt Hill[1]; 2. 99-Kyle Hardy[3]; 3. 4R-Amanda Robinson[2]; 4. 36-Cody Dawson[4]; 5. 18-Mike Wonderling[8]; 6. 10S-Joe Martin[5]; 7. 11S-Kyle Sopaz[7]; 8. 29-Ryan Hare[6]; 9. 17X-Andy Michael[9].

Last Chance B Main 1 (10 laps, Top 2 transfer to A): 1. 15-Chad Sines[2]; 2. 21J-Jim Rasey[1]; 3. 555-Brock Pinkerous[3]; 4. 23J-Travis Justice[8]; 5. KB-Kerry King[4]; 6. 47B-Joe Brosseau[7]; 7. 6F-Braeson Fulton[6]; 8. 25M-Marc Berzowski[10]; 9. 90T-Matt Tepper[5]. DNS: 22-Russell Erwin.

Last Chance B Main 2 (10 laps, Top 2 transfer to A): 1. 111D-Demetrios Drellos[1]; 2. 10S-Joe Martin[2]; 3. 29-Ryan Hare[6]; 4. 11S-Kyle Sopaz[4]; 5. 17X-Andy Michael[8]; 6. 14-Brandt Graham[3]; 7. 98-Craig Graham[7]; 8. 55-Megan Mann[5]. DNS: 96-Derek Magee.

Sunoco Dash (6 laps, $100 Sunoco fuel card to-win): 1. 57-Charlie Sandercock[1]; 2. 92-Nick Davis[3]; 3. 99-Kyle Hardy[6]; 4. 111-Max Blair[5]; 5. 72-Trevor Collins[7]; 6. 84-Matt Hill[8]; 7. 8-Jeremy Pilkerton[4]; 8. 80-Ben Scott[2].