East Smethport, PA (May 27, 2021) by Jay Pees: The Zimmer’s Service Center United Late Model Series pulled into its home track with seventeen of the area’s fastest Super Late Models, racing for $3,000 to win. At the end of the night, Wyatt Scott had pocketed the loot with his first win at the raceway. Other winners included Jeremy Wonderling (Allen’s Wine and Liquor RUSH Late Models), Dennis Lunger, (Peterson’s Refrigeration and AC RUSH Pro Mods, Andy Michael (Absolute Powder Coating Pure Stocks), Andy Schumaker (Andrews Auto Salvage Mini Stocks) and Ridge Cobb (Close Racing Supply Kids Class).

With feature lineups set from heats run last Thursday night, features were run for each class with the Allen’s Wine and Liquor RUSH Late Models first in the running order. Ward Schell and Jeremy Wonderling brought the sixteen-car field to John Powell’s green flag with Wonderling leading through lap one with Steve Dixon (coming from fifth on the grid to second on the back straight), Schell, Bobby Rohrer, and Chuck LaFleur being the top five. Rohrer got to third at lap three and Paul Grigsby was fourth at lap four. With five laps in, it was still Wonderling leading with Dixon and Rohrer following. Grigsby and Schell were near side by side for fourth. Yellow was out at lap five when DJ Krug spun on the front straight. When green resumed Wonderling once again led Dixon and Rohrer with Grigsby getting fourth to himself and Steve LaBarron coming to fifth. By lap eight Schell was again fifth. At the halfway point Wonderling had a 3.101 second lead with LaBarron advancing to fourth. At the finish, his lead had grown to 6.171 seconds. The final finishing order was Wonderling, Dixon, Grigsby, LaBarron, and LaFleur.

The Zimmer’s Service Center ULMS Super Late Model 30-lap main event was next with David Scott and Dave Hess Jr sitting on the front row after time trials, heat races and a “scramble” set the lineup last Thursday. The race only went to turn two before Mike Smith looped it for the first yellow period. On green, going into turn one Scott and Hess were even to turn two where Hess led Scott, Max Blair, Wyatt Scott, and Dutch Davies. By lap four Hess enjoyed a 1.029 lead over David Scott. The front five was still the same at lap five when Smith spun a second time, this time in turn one. After the yellow was shown two cars spun in turn four but since yellow was already on the track, they were restored to their positions. Jason Dobson spun in turn one for the next caution. At lap seven the order was now Hess, Wyatt Scott, Max Blair, Bob Dorman (from twelfth on the grid), and Davies. Damian Bidwell was in the top five at lap eight when Davies slammed into one of the tractor tires marking the edge of the back straight. After green, Max Blair took over second on lap nine. At the halfway point it was Hess leading Blair, Wyatt Scott, Dorman, and Bidwell when sixth-running Bryce Davis slowed on the backstretch and pulled pit side. The order remained the same at the front through caution at lap twenty-eight when Deshawn Gingerich spun in turn one. Then, on green, Jason Dobson spun in turn two, then repeated his spin on the next green, and was sent pit side due to three cautions. After a bad restart, the final start came with two to go. On the fourth turn coming to the white flag, Wyatt Scott got under Hess and completed the pass, then went on to the win over Hess, Bidwell, Ryan Scott, and Blair. During the event Hess was clocked at a fastest lap time of 15.597, 76.937 MPH. Hess won the King of the Hill to cap off the evening over Bob Dorman.

The Peterson Refrigeration & A/C RUSH Pro Mods started with Bob McMillen and C J Irons on the front row with Irons leading lap one over Greg Johnson, Critter Hemphill, McMillen, and Mike Eschrich. Yellow was shown at turn one for Victor Earle and Greg Johnson. At two laps Irons led Hemphill, Al Brewer, Steve Dixon, and Dennis Lunger. Dixon was second with Hemphill third and Lunger fourth over Brewer at five laps when Brodie Hill spun in turn two. Yellow again was shown at six laps for Tim Schram, Duane Powers and Tyler Carlson, tangled in turn three. At six laps it was Irons leading Dixon, Hemphill, Lunger, and Justin Chaddock. Hemphill fell out of the top five at seven, advancing Lunger, Chaddock and Johnson. At halfway Dixon was the leader over Irons, Lunger, Chaddock, and Johnson. At twelve laps Dalton Bradley spun in turn four with an assist. Irons and Lunger were side by side at lap thirteen with Lunger second at fourteen. Hemphill was back to fifth at sixteen. In turn two at seventeen laps Victor Earle Jr, Hemphill, and Vaughn Nystrom all were stopped together in turn two. Officials determined that Earle had stopped to avoid contact so he was not charged in the incident and restored to his position. Johnson spun in turn two after this green. With two laps remaining Lunger was the leader, taking over on the back straight as Dixon slowed to a stop in turn three. After an incident in turn four for Johnson and Chaddock, Johnson was black-flagged for rough driving and sent to the pits. At the final green it was Lunger, Irons, Chaddock, Earle, and Powers. Irons immediately went to the lead but Lunger roared on by to retake it on the back straight of lap nineteen. Lunger then went on to the win over Irons, Earle, Powers, and Hemphill, who made the pass on Chaddock on the final turn.

Andy Michael started on the pole for the Absolute Powder Coating Pure Stock main event with Dennis Harrison Jr to his right as they came to green. Michael led lap one with Larry Mitchell Jr coming from third to second at the end of one, Tim Steis third, with Josh Wilcox and Harrison side by side for fourth. Mitchell was challenging for the lead at lap three, but Michael held him at bay. Also at lap three Josh Fields got into the top five. Again at lap six Mitchell tried for the lead, getting alongside Michael briefly. The leaders encountered lapped traffic at lap seven with Steis making an attempt in turn one but sliding high over the edge. At halfway it was Michael leading Mitchell, Wilcox, Fields, and Steis. The final finish was Michael, Mitchell, Wilcox, and Fields, one half length ahead of Steis for fourth. The race was the first of the evening to go green to checkers with no cautions.

The Andrews Auto Salvage Mini Stocks started with Kevin Bacon and Tammy Watson at the head of the eighteen-car field but sixth-starting Andy Schumaker leading after one lap. Following Schumaker were Holden Heineman, Watson, Travis Babcock (from tenth at the green), and Tim Fisher. At just two laps in Schumaker had a half-straight lead over Heineman with Dylan Strade, up to third from ninth at green, Kurt Babcock, and Jacob Tubbs. At ten laps the advantage was a full straight. With two to go the leader was in heavy lapped traffic with Heineman slowly closing ground on the leader. Schumaker was up to the task, going on to the win over Heineman, Babcock, Tubbs, and Josh Torrence in the second all green race of the night.

Ridge Cobb led the Close Racing Supply Kids Class from the pole for the distance over fifth starting Chance Palmer, CJ Sherwood, Bryson Hill, and Kaden Michael.

–– RESULTS ––

Zimmer’s Service Center ULMS Super Late Model $3,000 to win Jim & Mike Duffy Memorial:

1. Wyatt Scott
2. Dave Hess
3. Damian Bidwell
4. Ryan Scott
5. Max Blair
6. Deshawn Gingerich
7. Bob Dorman
8. Jason Dobson
9. Bryce Davis
10. Garrett Mott
11. David Scott
12. Greg Oakes
13. Mike Wonderling
14. Jason Genco
15. Michael Smith
16. Cody Egner

$2,000 to win ‘King of the Hill’ Winner: Dave Hess

Allen’s Wine and Liquor RUSH Late Model Feature:

1. Jeremy Wonderling
2. Steve Dixon
3. Paul Grigsby
4. Steve LaBarron
5. Chuck LaFleur
6. Andy Michael
7. Austin Allen
8. Jason Dobson
9. Kurt Stebbins
10. Mark Schweikart
11. Joe Layfield
12. John Haggerty
13. DJ Krug
14. Ward Schell
15. Bobby Rohrer
16. David Pangrazio (DNS)

Peterson Refrigeration & A/C Pro Mod Feature:

1. Dennis Lunger
2. CJ Irons
3. Victor Earle Jr
4. Duane Powers
5. Rich (Critter) Hemphill
6. Justin Chaddock
7. Steve Dixon
8. Tyler Carlin
9. Dean Ingalls
10. Ian Degolier
11. Derek Peterson
12. Dalton Bradley
13. Brodie Hill
14. Vaughn Nystrom
15. Chad Ramsey Jr
16. Robert McMillen
17. Al Brewer
18. Timothy Schram
19. Tyler Oakes
20. Mike Eschrich
21. Adam Ashcroft
22. Bradley Curran Jr
23. Greg Johnson (DQ)

Absolute Powder Coating Pure Stock Feature:

1. Andy Michael
2. Larry Mitchell Jr
3. Josh Wilcox
4. Josh Fields
5. Timothy Steis
6. Jake Wilber
7. Mike Parmenter
8. Dennis Harrison Jr
9. Dustin Skinner
10. Dave Lowe
11. Cliff Easton
12. Jon Caine
13. Dan Calhoun
14. Ken Shelly

Andrews Auto Salvage Mini Stock Feature:

1. Andy Schumaker
2. Holden Heineman
3. Kurt Babcock
4. Jacob Tubbs
5. Josh Torrence
6. Travis Babcock
7. Trever Putt
8. James Syzmanski
9. Timothy Fisher
10. Tammy Watson
11. Kevin Bacon
12. Gene Kontz
13. Dylan Slade
14. Bruno Mowrey
15. Paul Biel
16. Phillip Vaughn
17. Jason Fries
18. Andrew Kreamer (DNS)

Close Racing Supply Kids Class Feature:

1. Ridge Cobb
2. Chance Palmer
3. CJ Sherwood
4. Bryson Hill
5. Kaden Michael