Christian Schneider Ends Michael Norris’ Stranglehold On “Jook George Steel City Classic” With His 1st Ever RUSH Late Model Tour Victory At Pittsburgh

Story By: MIKE LEONE / RUSH LATE MODEL SERIES – IMPERIAL, PA – In a year dominated by rain far and wide, it was no surprise Saturday night would be another battle with Mother Nature. Through the cooperation and teamwork by the drivers, RUSH Racing Series, and track officials at Pittsburgh PA Motor Speedway, the 36th annual “Jook George Steel City Classic” was in the record books just before 9 PM as rain began to fall minutes after Landrum Performance Springs Victory Lane ceremonies! Despite the threatening weather, 39 teams from five states participated in race #8 of the 2025 Flynn’s Tire/Gunter’s Honey Tour Series. Special thanks to event coordinator Branden Lockwich, who brought $15,000 to the show, which was added to the typical RUSH Tour purse thanks to so many gracious sponsors and contributors. The event and was streamed live by The Cushion.

Christian Schneider pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Flynn’s Tire/Gunter’s Honey Touring Series competition in years and simultaneously dethroned Michael Norris’ run of four victories in the last five “Jook George Steel City Classics”. Schneider entered the night with only two career top five finishes with a fourth place at Tri-City Raceway Park in 2018 being his high-water mark in RUSH Tour competition. Schneider started the 40-lap feature from the sixth starting spot, made a four-wide pass on lap seven for the lead, then kept Joe Martin at bay through lapped traffic in the closing laps to secure his biggest career payday. Schneider earned $6,010 plus a $100 bonus for leading lap 22 from Trevor Herr. Schneider becomes the sixth different winner of the season in eight races and 49th all-time to win a RUSH Tour feature.

“This is massive to win this race and finally knock Mike Norris off his tangent by beating that caliber of a guy,” expressed the 28-year-old Pittsburgh, Pa. victor. “He (Norris) was in front of me at one point. It’s always great to race against these guys. These guys are so damn good and could run anywhere in the country and do great things. I’ll tell you what I need to go to the gym. I was sweating so damn bad, I was thinking ‘where is the five to go because I need it now’. I can’t explain the emotions I’m going through right now from where we started three years ago to now by building my own Pro Stock to putting this together with all my family, friends, and sponsors. Two years ago my one Pro Stock was sitting on top of a rock pile and we had success in that now that we’re doing good in this is a blessing.”

“This is for all the people that helped me and to the people that doubted me so I’m dedicating this to my pap along with Ozzy Osbourne and Hulk Hogan- drink a beer for me up in heaven,” added Schneider. “I don’t know if I made the wrong tire choice because I was losing speed at the end and was getting loose in lapped traffic. I was just trying to hit my marks, but I was just so dang tired and it was probably me that was losing it. I have to thank Mike Ingram; he went out on a limb. I just got this motor back on Thursday and had the car all tore apart to go through everything; it’s been a hectic week so to be here is very humbling. Vicki (Emig) is awesome, you guys are awesome, it’s always put together perfectly. You guys get us in, get us out, and keeps us going. And you can buy parts affordably.”

Following the Dave Poske’s Performance Parts “Feel the RUSH” 4-Wide Salute, Norris and Martin led the 26-car field to green with Martin racing to the early lead over Jeremy Wonderling as Norris slipped to third ahead of Kyle Hardy and Brandon Burgoon. A pair of cautions slowed action with one-lap scored. When racing resumed on lap two, Wonderling took over the top spot, while Hardy and Schneider moved past a fading Norris for third and fourth respectively.

With Wonderling running the bottom and Martin the top, the lead duo pulled away from the pack. Wonderling and Martin continued to race side-by-side for the top spot with Martin nosing ahead to lead lap six prior to the event’s final caution when Kassidy Kamicker slowed. Under caution, Norris pitted with a flat tire ending his bid at a fifth “Jook George” victory in the last six events. With a race to beat Mother Nature, the final 34 laps went caution-free.

Back under green for the final time, it was four-wide between Martin, Wonderling, Hardy, and Schneider with Schneider emerging into the lead with a thrilling move. Wonderling would grab second back when he passed Martin on lap nine, but it was short-lived as Martin regained the runner-up spot for good on lap 11. Meanwhile, Schneider had pulled away in clean air, but Martin was able to cut into the lead by lap 17 hammering around the top. Lapped traffic came into play on lap 23 as Schneider continued to lead.

Eyes began to shift to PPMS regular, Zach Gunn. Gunn started in 14th and had worked his way into the top five on lap nine. Gunn didn’t really make his presence known until the battle with Hardy raged on and he make the pass for fourth on lap 26. As the laps ticked off during the long green flag run, Gunn tracked down Wonderling and drove around him for third on lap 29. Wonderling though didn’t go away as he regained the position for good on lap 34.

Meanwhile back up front, Martin remained within striking distance of Schneider. Martin really closed the gap and was right there in lapped traffic with two to go. Martin tried changing lines as the two maneuvered through lapped traffic. Schneider made the right moves and broke free on the final lap as he pulled back away and took the checkered flag first by 1.314 seconds in his Schneider Trucks/Dale’s Truck Maintenance/Valley Electric/Valley Security/Maniecki’s 1st Stop/SS Chassis/West Mifflin Collision/Daugherty Motorsports/Fast Andy-sponsored #56.

Martin made just his second Tour start of the season and beat out his fourth place finish at the June 21 “Bill Emig Memorial” presented by Sunoco Race Fuels at Lernerville Speedway as he earned $3,000 in the Jonathan Stockdale-owned #31. Martin missed out on the $1,000 “Jook Jackpot” from Lockwich and PPMS for winning the feature, but was still able to take $500 with Austin Allen ($300) and Tommy Schirnhofer, Jr. ($200) receiving the balance.

“This was so much fun,” acknowledged the 40-year-old Punxsutawney, Pa. driver. “What a great track, great race car, and good guys to race with. I was worried at the beginning of the night how they had it watered and it wasn’t going to clean up, but this place was phenomenal tonight. I’m clearing the top guardrail and Jeremy (Wonderling) is running the bottom and we’re coming out running side-by-side. I really thought I was going to win the race. He (Schneider) slid me on that restart and surprised me. I lifted for him and my car was so good I really thought I’d get him back, but once he got out in front in clean air he was really good. I think we were equal, but the race just didn’t work out in my favor. When he got out in front, I really started charging hard because I thought it was going to rain and I was racing the rain to try and get to the lead before halfway. I think I got my tires too hot then got them back underneath me and got back to him at the end. The lapped cars didn’t do anything wrong, but they just didn’t play out right for me. He did a great job.”

Wonderling made the podium for the sixth time in eight races this season to maintain the points lead in the race for the $20,000 to-win Flynn’s Tire/Gunter’s Honey Touring Series Championship. Wonderling earned $2,000 and joined Schneider and Martin by receiving a three-pack of premium product from Heritage Wine Cellars.

“I thought Joe (Martin) and I were going to have race together then Christian came up and ruined the whole thing,” stated the 45-year-old Wellsville, NY driver. “He (Schneider) was really good. He’s a regular down here and deserved it. I don’t race this place enough. I moved around and actually towards the end of the race I felt better than in the middle and was catching Joe a little. This just isn’t my cup of tea down here; nothing against the place because it’s beautiful and the track was beautiful, but I’m just not used to racing on something like this. Joe and I raced together for how many years and you have 100% trust in the corner for however fast we’re going; he’s going to do what he’s going to do and I’m going to do what I’m going to do. I don’t know how many laps we ran side-by-side. The place is a lot of fun when you race against guys like that. Christian kind of scared the shit out of me when he went blowing through there. I didn’t think there was any way he was going to make it work, but he did then drove away from us.”

Gunn was fourth for $1,500 and was also the event’s hard charger as he received $250 from Bridgeville Automotive and Jimmy Alvater along with a $50 gift card from Precise Racing Products. Hardy was fifth for $1,300 to maintain second in Tour points. Veteran Dan Angelicchio made his 2025 Tour debut and had a solid sixth place for $1,100. After mechanical issues in qualifying that forced him to start last in his heat, Daryl Charlier charged from 10th to 4th to make the “Jook George” then went 16th to 7th in the feature for $900 plus a $107 bonus from Scott Gunn for a $1,007 payday!

Another RUSH veteran in Kyle Lukon also made his 2025 Tour debut and finished 8th after starting 17th to earn $850 plus a $100 bonus from Easler Racing for being 10th on lap 10. Tour regular Demetrios Drellos was 9th after starting 13th for $825 plus a spoiler kit from Ontime Body & Graphic. Current City Chevrolet PPMS Track Pack points leader, Brandon Burgoon, who won the $10,000 “Bill Hendren Memorial” at PPMS last October, dropped from 5th top 10th but still earned $800. Burgoon also received a free $100 entry fee by drawing the joker card during the “Jook Jackpot” drawings.

Logan Zarin was credited with the victory in the $500 to-win D&V Jewelers Non-Qualifier after rain cut short the event. Zarin was aboard the Greg Beach-owned, Anarchy Kustoms/RPM Shock Services/Kryptonite Race Cars/Integra Shocks-sponsored #33x. It was Zarin’s third career Non-Qualifier victory putting him in a tie for third on the all-time win list. Zarin also received a $50 Holley Performance gift card for being the first feature non-qualifier. Cale Schwartzmiller was credited with second as Ryan Hare, Bill Holmes III, Michael Stephans, and Chuck Medved completed the starting field.

Burgoon set fast time over the 39-car field in FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Qualifying with a lap of 19.594 to earn a total of $200 from FK and Nick Sutton. Winning the $25 FK Rod Ends heat races were Burgoon, Schneider, Michael Duritsky, Jr., and Norris. Norris also won the “John Beatty Memorial” Sunoco Dash as he received $204 from Nex-Gen Outdoor Services plus a $100 Sunoco fuel card. Also winning $100 Sunoco fuel cards in the random drawings were Tour racers Drellos and Bud Watson, while the $50 Sunoco fuel cards went to Clinton Hersh, Zarin, Zach Gunn, and Tom Klein.

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, which were captured by Stephans, Brodie Oravetz, Duritsky, Norris, and Tommy Schirnhofer, Jr.

The Flynn’s Tire/Gunter’s Honey Touring Series will return to action August 9 and 10 for a two-night swing at Stateline Speedway in Busti, NY on Saturday night and Eriez Speedway in Erie, Pa. on Sunday night. Both events will pay $4,000 to-win. The Eriez event is also “Manufacturers Night” presented by MSD Performance.

Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Model Flynn’s Tire/Gunter’s Honey Touring Series Race #8 (40 laps, $6,010 to-win): 1. CHRISTIAN SCHNEIDER (56) 2. Joe Martin (Stockdale 31) 3. Jeremy Wonderling (3J) 4. Zach Gunn (17G) 5. Kyle Hardy (99) 6. Dan Angelicchio (14) 7. Daryl Charlier (Dobnak 42) 8. Kyle Lukon (184) 9. Demetrios Drellos (111) 10. Brandon Burgoon (Chernik/Bentz 5x) 11. Michael Norris (Dabecco N1) 12. Jake Gunn (14G) 13. Tom Klein (77) 14. Austin Allen (Mullen 32) 15. Ben Easler (02) 16. Tommy Schirnhofer, Jr. (8s) 17. Michael Duritsky, Jr. (90J) 18. Jamie Wrightsman (21J) 19. Logen Lockhart (58) 20. Clinton Hersh (16) 21. Mike Wonderling (18) 22. Zack Carley (2) 23. Jason Knowles (4) 24. Kassidy Kamicker (72B) 25. Michael Reft (9R) 26. Brodie Oravetz (91B). (Note: Zack Carley took a Tour provisional and Jamie Wrightsman a Track provisional.)

D&V Jewelers Non-Qualifier ($500 to-win): 1. Logan Zarin (Beach 33x) 2. Cale Schwartzmiller (28s) 3. Ryan Hare (29) 4. Bill Holmes III (8) 5. Mike Stephans (38) 6. Chuck Medved (2M). DNS: Jon Lee (Deller 75), Austin Hauser (51), Bud Watson (225), Matt Benard (15), Chuck Recker (6), Bryce Davis (94), Mason Zeigler (25z).

Car Count: 39

Feature Margin of Victory: 1.314 seconds

Feature Lap Leaders: Joe Martin (1-6), Jeremy Wonderling (2-5), Christian Schneider (7-40)

9th on lap 9 from Bill Kessler ($100): Jake Gunn

10th on lap 10 from Easler Racing ($100): Kyle Lukon

17th on lap 17 from Zach Gunn ($100): Ben Easler

Leader on lap 22 from Trevor Herr ($100): Christian Schneider

7th place finisher ($107 from Scott Gunn): Daryl Charlier

Last finishing car in feature from Jake Brake Customs ($100): Jason Knowles

Heritage Wine Cellars 3-Pack of Premium Products: Christian Schneider, Joe Martin & Jeremy Wonderling

Holley Performance Group “Nosed Out”: Logan Zarin

“Jook Jackpot” from Branden Lockwich & PPMS ($1000): Joe Martin ($500), Austin Allen ($300) & Tommy Schirnhofer, Jr. ($200)

“Jook Jackpot” Free Entry Fee ($100): Brandon Burgoon

Landrum Performance Springs BOGO Certificates: Michael Stephans, Brodie Oravetz, Michael Duritsky, Jr., Michael Norris, Tommy Schirnhofer, Jr.

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

Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down” Hard Charger ($250 from Bridgeville Automotive and Jimmy Alvater plus $50 gift card): Zach Gunn (+10)

Sunoco Fuel Card Winners presented by Bazell Race Fuels: Demetrios Drellos ($100), Bud Watson ($100), Clinton Hersh ($50), Logan Zarin ($50), Zach Gunn ($50), Tom Klein ($50).

FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Flight A Qualifying (Track record 18.332 by Michael Norris on 9/29/23) ($200 for fast time): 1. 5X-Brandon Burgoon, 00:19.594[14]; 2. 31-Joe Martin, 00:19.601[3]; 3. 9R-Mike Reft, 00:19.713[19]; 4. 56-Christian Schneider, 00:19.857[16]; 5. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling, 00:19.941[11]; 6. 72B-Kassidy Kamicker, 00:19.951[1]; 7. 111D-Demetrios Drellos, 00:19.994[17]; 8. 91B-Brodie Oravetz, 00:20.026[12]; 9. 184-Kyle Lukon, 00:20.093[8]; 10. 77-Tom Klein, 00:20.094[5]; 11. 21J-Jamie Wrightsman, 00:20.114[4]; 12. 02-Ben Easler, 00:20.292[15]; 13. 15B-Matthew Benard, 00:20.478[2]; 14. 29-Ryan Hare, 00:20.558[13]; 15. 75-Jon Lee, 00:20.641[7]; 16. 32A-Austin Allen, 00:20.803[18]; 17. 8-Bill Holmes, 00:21.071[9]; 18. 28S-Cale Schwartzmiller, 00:21.268[6]; 19. 6R-Chuck Recker, 00:22.301[10].

FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Flight B Qualifying (Track record 18.332 by Michael Norris on 9/29/23): 1. 14G-Jake Gunn, 00:19.731[2]; 2. N1-Michael Norris, 00:19.761[17]; 3. 16-Clinton Hersh, 00:19.916[4]; 4. 14A-Dan Angelicchio, 00:20.054[13]; 5. 17G-Zach Gunn, 00:20.056[15]; 6. 8S-Tommy Schirnhofer Jr, 00:20.091[1]; 7. 25Z-Mason Zeigler, 00:20.185[16]; 8. 58-Logen Lockhart, 00:20.189[10]; 9. 90J-Michael Duritsky Jr, 00:20.198[18]; 10. 4-Jason Knowles, 00:20.275[5]; 11. 99-Kyle Hardy, 00:20.276[20]; 12. 94-Bryce Davis, 00:20.463[3]; 13. 33X-Logan Zarin, 00:20.503[12]; 14. 51-Austin Hauser, 00:20.600[8]; 15. 18-Mike Wonderling, 00:20.627[19]; 16. 2C-Zack Carley, 00:20.767[7]; 17. 2M-Chuck Medved, 00:21.067[9]; 18. 38-Michael Stephans, 00:21.186[11]; 19. 225-Bud Watson, 00:21.326[6]; 20. 42-Daryl Charlier, NT.

FK Rod Ends Heat 1 (8 laps, Top 5 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 5X-Brandon Burgoon[1]; 2. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling[3]; 3. 9R-Mike Reft[2]; 4. 111D-Demetrios Drellos[4]; 5. 184-Kyle Lukon[5]; 6. 75-Jon Lee[8]; 7. 8-Bill Holmes[9]; 8. 6R-Chuck Recker[10]; 9. 21J-Jamie Wrightsman[6]; 10. 15B-Matthew Benard[7].

FK Rod Ends Heat 2 (8 laps, Top 5 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 56-Christian Schneider[2]; 2. 31-Joe Martin[1]; 3. 02-Ben Easler[6]; 4. 72B-Kassidy Kamicker[3]; 5. 32A-Austin Allen[8]; 6. 91B-Brodie Oravetz[4]; 7. 77-Tom Klein[5]; 8. 28S-Cale Schwartzmiller[9]; 9. 29-Ryan Hare[7].

FK Rod Ends Heat 3 (8 laps, Top 5 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. 90J-Michael Duritsky Jr[5]; 2. 99-Kyle Hardy[6]; 3. 16-Clinton Hersh[2]; 4. 17G-Zach Gunn[3]; 5. 18-Mike Wonderling[8]; 6. 14G-Jake Gunn[1]; 7. 33X-Logan Zarin[7]; 8. 225-Bud Watson[10]; 9. 2M-Chuck Medved[9]. DNS: 25Z-Mason Zeigler.

FK Rod Ends Heat 4 (8 laps, Top 5 transfer to A, $25 to-win): 1. N1-Michael Norris[1]; 2. 14A-Dan Angelicchio[2]; 3. 8S-Tommy Schirnhofer Jr[3]; 4. 42-Daryl Charlier[10]; 5. 4-Jason Knowles[5]; 6. 58-Logen Lockhart[4]; 7. 94-Bryce Davis[6]; 8. 2C-Zack Carley[8]; 9. 38-Michael Stephans[9]; 10. 51-Austin Hauser[7].

Last Chance B Main 1 (8 laps, $50 to-win, Top 2 transfer to A): 1. 77-Tom Klein[4]; 2. 91B-Brodie Oravetz[2]; 3. 21J-Jamie Wrightsman[7]; 4. 75-Jon Lee[1]; 5. 28S-Cale Schwartzmiller[6]; 6. 29-Ryan Hare[8]; 7. 8-Bill Holmes[3]. (DNS: 15B-Matthew Benard & 6R-Chuck Recker

Last Chance B Main 2 (8 laps, $50 to-win Top 2 transfer to A): 1. 14G-Jake Gunn[1]; 2. 58-Logen Lockhart[2]; 3. 33X-Logan Zarin[3]; 4. 2C-Zack Carley[6]; 5. 51-Austin Hauser[10]; 6. 225-Bud Watson[5]; 7. 38-Michael Stephans[8]; 8. 2M-Chuck Medved[7]; 9. 94-Bryce Davis[4]. DNS: 25Z-Mason Zeigler.

“John Beatty Memorial” Sunoco Dash presented by Nex-Gen Outdoor Services (6 laps, $204 to-win plus $100 Sunoco fuel card): 1. N1-Michael Norris[1]; 2. 31-Joe Martin[2]; 3. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling[5]; 4. 99-Kyle Hardy[7]; 5. 5X-Brandon Burgoon[4]; 6. 56-Christian Schneider[8]; 7. 14A-Dan Angelicchio[6]; 8. 90J-Michael Duritsky Jr[3].