SUCCESSFUL 2025 HOVIS RUSH RACING SERIES SEASON SEES $200,000 IN POINT FUND MONIES DISTRIBUTED AT AWARDS BANQUET; TOP LATE MODEL, SPRINT CAR, SPORTSMAN MOD, PRO MOD & STOCK CAR RACERS HONORED

By Mike Leone

January 31, 2026             FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Edinburg, PA)…While the 2026 racing season is only a couple months away, Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Racing Series presented by Born2Run Lubricants Directors Vicki Emig and Mike Leone put a final wrap on the 2025 racing season with the annual awards banquet and dinner on Saturday night at the Gatherings Banquet & Event Center.  A record number of attendees from all over the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Mid-Ohio Valley filled the beautiful banquet hall as nearly $200,000 in cash, which was a record amount, was distributed to RUSH Late Model, Sprint Car, Sportsman Modified, Pro Mod, and Stock Car racers.  All told well over $350,000 in point fund monies and useful product contingencies were distributed to RUSH racers throughout the 2025 season!

The Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Models had events at 20 different speedways in 2025 with nearly 300 different racers participating in either a weekly-sanctioned and/or tour events.  The Hovis RUSH Sprint Cars completed year number eight with more participants than ever.  Year 12 for the Hovis RUSH Sportsman Modified season featured events at five different speedways in three states.  The Hovis RUSH Pro Mods wrapped up year number 10 with a three-night circuit.  The Hovis RUSH Stock Cars completed their fifth season with weekly at Tri-City, Stateline and Eriez for the first time as car count record highs were established at Eriez.

Congrats to the following 2025 RUSH Champions: Jeremy Wonderling (Late Model Tour & Weekly), Demetrios Drellos (Late Model Tour Rookie-of-the-Year), Kyle Thomas (Late Model Mid-Ohio Valley), George Casto III (Late Model Futures Cup), Rob Coffaro (Late Model "Wheelman"), Blaze Myers (Sprint Car Weekly), Wyatt Long (Sprint Car Futures Cup), Chas Wolbert (Sportsman Mod Weekly & Route 7 Rumble), Karston King (Sportsman Mod Futures Cup), Josh Wilcox (Pro Mod Weekly), Trenton Curry (Pro Mod Futures Cup), Kaden Michael (Stock Car Weekly), and Raiddan Wilson (Stock Car Futures Cup). 

All of the champions received their point fund monies, trophies, large championship checks thanks to Ontime Body & Graphic, embroidered RUSH championship jackets, and Hoosier championship jackets.  Also, all 13 Late Model City Chevrolet "Track Pack" Champions received $1,000 as each RUSH weekly-sanctioned track's top six member racers split $2,500. 

Jeremy Wonderling left the banquet as the top point fund money recipient at a record $26,300!  The Wellsville, NY standout earned an unprecedented fifth title in both the Flynn's Tire/Gunter's Honey Touring Series and City Chevrolet National Weekly Series in addition to capturing the $1,000 City Chevrolet Track Pack at McKean County Raceway.  Wonderling won a total of nine races at seven different tracks in four states.  Four of those wins were on the Tour where he upped his all-time total to a milestone 30 victories.  Wonderling beat out 2021 champion, Kyle Hardy, for the Tour title as Hardy took home a total of $12,000 in point fund monies.

In his second year in a Late Model, Demetrios Drellos, a Big-Block Modified standout, followed the Flynn's Tire/Gunter's Honey Tour for the first time and finished fourth in points, which earned him the $3,000 3C Graphix Rookie-of-the-Year honors beating out Zack Carley after a year-long battle.  Drellos' total point fund earnings were $10,773.

Fifth year Late Model racer, Rob Coffaro, ran more Flynn's Tire/Gunter's Honey Touring Series races than ever and was able to earn the D&V Jewelers "Wheelman" Bonus Event Challenge Series Championship.  The Slippery Rock, Pa. driver became the 15th different champion in 16 years!  In addition to his point fund monies and hardware, Coffaro also received a Zamp Helmet.

Veteran racer Kyle Thomas captured the inaugural Dave Poske's Performance Parts Mid-Ohio Valley Series title.  The Pennsboro, WV driver won four races and finished runner-up three other times.  He captured his first career Flynn's Tire/Gunter's Hone Tour victory on July 3 at Tyler County Speedway fending off Wonderling.  Thomas earned a total of $2,300 in point fund monies. 

George Casto III had an excellent season to earn the Russ King Racing Futures Cup Championship as a 17-year-old.  Casto had 8 top 5s and 12 top 10s including a victory at Tyler County where he finished second in their Track Pack points.  He also finished fifth in the Mid-Ohio Valley Series points.  In total, the Reynoldsville, WV driver earned $1,750 in point fund monies plus was the lucky recipient of the $1,000 Dave Poske's Performance Parts gift card!

Former RUSH Sportsman Modified Futures Cup Champion, Blaze Myers, won his first RUSH Sprint Car title since making the move to the Sprint Car division in 2021.  Myers of Franklin, Pa. won a personal best 11 times in route to the $5,000 Billy's Garage Weekly Series title for car owner Ted Hull.  Myers now has 26 career Sprint Car victories.

Former RUSH Karting racer, Wyatt Long, made the successful jump to the RUSH Sprint Cars in 2025 and won the Russ King Racing Futures Cup Championship.  After some early season struggles with no top 5s in the first 12 races, Long caught fire beginning July 6 at Stateline when he finished fifth.  From that point on, the 17-year-old Georgetown, PA driver became one of the most consistent top finishers in the Series ripping off 12 top 5s to end the season!  Long also won the non-winners race at Tri-City. 

Chas Wolbert celebrated his fourth RUSH Sportsman Modified Weekly Series title and first ever in the "Route 7 Rumble" Series.  The Warren, Ohio driver won 14 times and took home a personal best $4,500 in point fund monies.  Wolbert won the 2020 and 2021 Weekly Series titles before competing full-time in Big-Block Modifieds in 2022 and 2023 and returned to the class to win titles each of the last two years.

Karston King, a third generation Modified racer, turned 15 during this past season, which was his second in a RUSH Sportsman.  After tying for seventh in the 2024 Weekly Series points and sixth in the Route 7 Rumble, the North Bloomfield, Ohio racer was able to move into the top 5 in points of both Series in 2025 in addition to winning the Futures Cup title, presented by his Uncle Russ’ Russ King Racing business.  King finished in the top 5 on seven occasions and failed to finish in the top 10 just twice out of 20 starts.  His career best finish came on August 15 when he finished second at Raceway 7, which helped him to finish third in the Route 7 Rumble. 

Josh Wilcox became a new RUSH champion taking the $3,500 Pro Mod Weekly Series title.  After running limited RUSH Pro Mod events in 2021 and 2022, the 40-year-old Bradford, PA driver joined the Series as a member in 2023 and finished eighth in points.  The 2024 season was a dramatic increase moving up to second in points trailing Zain Harvey, who set a Series single season record with 19 victories.  Wilcox got off to a hot start in 2025 winning three of the first five races he competed in taking the early lead in points and one he’d never relinquish.  He ended the season with a Series best five wins including three triumphs at Stateline and two at McKean.  Amazingly, Wilcox finished in the top 5 in 17 of his 20 starts. 

Fifteen-year-old RUSH Pro Mod rookie Trenton Curry of Jamestown, NY copped the Russ King Racing Futures Cup crown.

In 2023, Kaden Michael won the RUSH Stock Car Futures Cup crown.  In 2024, the son of RUSH Late Model veteran, Andy Michael, took the next step capturing the Weekly Series title thanks to 11 wins in 22 races!  This past season, the 17-year-old Allegany, NY driver was able to win at four of the five tracks that hosted events including three wins at both Stateline and Eriez, a victory at Freedom, along with his first career Tri-City win in his first ever visit!  For the third straight year, Michael is a RUSH Champion- this time taking his second straight Weekly Series title worth $2,000!
 

Raiddan Wilson captured the Russ King Racing Futures Cup Championship for the RUSH Stock Cars,  The 17-year-old Great Valley, NY driver won 10 races, just one less than Michael.  Most impressively was the fact Wilson had 35 top 5s in 39 races!

The highlight of the banquet was the special awards ceremony.  The prestigious Legacy Award was won by RUSH Late Model racer Scott Gurdak.  His legacy goes back well beyond the Chevrolet Performance Crate Engine racing era; in fact, this driver started his career back in 1975.  Over his 50+ years he’s won in numerous divisions; Stocks, Sportsman, Super Late Models, Big-Block Modifieds, RUSH Pro Mods and RUSH Late Models.  He won 49 Big-Block Modified races alone at 10 different speedways.  He’s raced against the World of Outlaws and the Super DIRTcar Series.

For the past 11 years he’s primarily been a regular on the tough Eriez-Stateline circuit with his RUSH Late Model winning numerous races and always finishing near the top of the standings.  From 2016-2021, he did double duty also running a RUSH Pro Mod where he won five features and finished in the top 4 in points in his first three seasons when he competed for the championships.  Throughout his illustrious career, he’s been a hard-nosed racer, but always well respected both on and off the track.  He's always maintained his jovial spirit and has brought many a smile to both his friends and competitors!     

Nineteen-year-old Ben Easler won the Horizon Award.  Easler made the move from go-karts into full-size race cars in 2021 aboard a RUSH Sportsman Modified.  He had immediate success winning a feature event, finishing fourth in the Weekly Series points and capturing the Futures Cup title.  He took a huge step forward in 2022 winning six features and the Weekly Series Championship.  He added four more wins in a runner-up in points in 2023, which would be his final year in a RUSH Sportsman Mod.  

In 2024, he jumped into the RUSH Late Models winning a Weekly Series event at Eriez Speedway and took on the Tour where he finished 11^th in points.  This past season was a major step forward with additional top 5s and top 10s, and even though he didn’t win any races, what increased was his competition level on the Tour.  After only recording 2 top 10s in 2024 Touring competition, Easler reeled off 8 in 2025.  He recorded his first career top 5s in back-to-back races in July at Tyler County and Ohio Valley Speedways then came home a career best 3^rd in the $10,000 to-win Bill Hendren Memorial in October at Pittsburgh!  In the end, Easler finished fifth in points and +6 gain over 2024.

Chas Wolbert won the first of two Outstanding Achievement Awards that were presented.  Wolbert won his unprecedented fourth Weekly Series title in the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds in addition to his first "Route 7 Rumble" title.  His 14 victories in 2025 set a new single season win record for the division, and bumped his all-time leading total to 68 victories.      

The second Outstanding Achievement was awarded to Tim Engles of Franklin, PA.  A former "410" Sprint Car and Big-Block Modified racer became a car owner first for his son Jason then had a ton of success in the E-Mods with standout drivers Steve Dixon and David Scott.  In between, Engles has been involved with the BRP Mod Tour and also had involvement in the promotional team at Tri-City Speedway. 

In 2021, Engles went a more affordable route in the RUSH Sprint Cars and won three championships and 25 races with Chad Ruhlman.  The last two years has saw Brent Rhebergen and Zach Morrow each win a pair of features and finish in the top five in points.  This past season was Engles' last as a car owner as he sold his operation recently to longtime crew member, Tim Phillips, who will continue to have Morrow drive the car.

The 2025 RUSH Car Owner-of-the-Year was awarded to Ted Hull.  The veteran car owner from Oil City, PA had Blaze Myers in his car for the second straight year.  This time, Myers won his first RUSH Sprint Car Championship and gave Hull his second as a car owner as Jeremy Weaver won the 2020 title.  Myers won 10 of his 11 races this past season driving for Hull, who now has 26 career RUSH Sprint Car victories with four different drivers in seven years of ownership.  Ted's father, Cal, a 96-year-old former racer himself, joined Ted to accept the honors.

Demetrios Drellos was recognized with the 2025 Miles Traveled Award.  Drellos hit the road full-time with the RUSH Late Model Flynn's Tire/Gunter's Honey Touring Series season winning the 3C Graphix Rookie-of-the-Year.  It's estimated Drellos traveled 13,000 miles from his home in Queensbury, NY to compete in the 18 completed events. 

Mike Wonderling was given the Appreciation Award.  The 52-year-old Wellsville, NY veteran completed his third year on the Flynn's Tire/Gunter's Honey Tour as 2025 was his 28th year of racing and his last as a full-time driver.

Special thanks to Velocita-USA for providing custom drivers suits to the five Weekly Series Champions; Wonderling, Myers, Wolbert, Wilcox, and Michael.  Landrum presented the inaugural "Loyalty Bonus" in 2025 to RUSH Late Model Touring Series driver, Jason Knowles, which was worth $5,000.  Landrum was also the victory lane sponsored and awarded numerous product to all of the Series' "Manufacturers Nights" presented by MSD Performance.   

RUSH Series announcer, Brian Spaid, emceed the affair and also previewed the upcoming 2026 season with details to be released soon, while Mike Lysakowski photographed the event.  Stay tuned to all of the RUSH Series social media channels and websites for the latest news.

2025 Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Model Flynn's Tire/Gunter's Honey Touring Series Driver Top 12 Points: 1. JEREMY WONDERLING 1525  2. Kyle Hardy 1493  3. Demetrios Drellos 1406  4. Daryl Charlier 1375  5. Ben Easler 1358  6. Austin Allen 1354  7. Zack Carley 1350  8. Jason Knowles 1342  9. Mike Wonderling 1291  10. Austin Hauser 1228  11. Ryan Hare 1225  12. Bill Holmes III 1170.

2025 Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Model Flynn's Tire/Gunter's Honey Touring Series 3C Graphix Rookie-of-the-Year: 1. DEMETRIOS DRELLOS 1406  2. Zack Carley 1350  3. Ryan Hare 1225  4. Bill Holmes III 1170.

2025 Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Model City Chevrolet National Weekly Series Top 40 Points: 1. JEREMY WONDERLING 1338  2. Jason Genco 1334  3. Breyton Santee 1324  4. Davin Kaiser 1323  5. Kyle Hardy 1322  6. Brandon Burgoon 1310  7. Christian Schneider 1309  8. Daryl Charlier 1303  9. Austin Allen 1302  10. Jacob Wilber 1298  11. David Parker 1296  12. Brett Marlatt 1287  13. Bill Holmes III 1286  14. Paul Grigsby 1285  15. Steve LeBarron 1282  16. Bryce Davis 1281  17. Tom Snyder, Jr. 1280  18. Mike Laughard 1273  19. Scott Gurdak 1270  20. Bud Watson 1266  21. Billy Henry, Jr. 1261  22. Austin Hauser 1260  23. Randy Hall 1255  24. Tommy Schirnhofer, Jr. 1252  25. Demetrios Drellos & Brian Nethers 1251  27. A.J. Spagnuolo 1248  28. Logan Reed 1245  29. Ben Easler 1244  30. George Casto III 1243  31. Andy Michael 1240  32. Tom Klein 1234  33. Kassidy Kamicker 1226  34. William Pinckney 1222  35. Logan Stockdale 1221  36. Jason Knowles 1217  37. Logen Lockhart 1210  38. Braeden Dillinger 1208  39. Leo Iarrapino 1207  40. Marshall O’Brian & Ward Schell 1203.

2025 Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Model Dave Poske’s Performance Parts Mid-Ohio Valley Series Top 10 Points: 1. KYLE THOMAS 1076  2. Brian Nethers & A.J. Spagnuolo 1052  4. Logan Reed 1052  5. George Casto III 1047  6. Jim Cochran 985  7. Santino Loretta 884  8. Bud Watson 818  9. Robbie Scott 778  10. Blake Runyon 735.

2025 Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Model Russ King Racing Futures Cup Points: 1. GEORGE CASTO III 1243  2. Logan Stockdale 1221  3. Leo Iarrapino 1207  4. Marshall O’Brian 1203  5. Lincoln Smith 651.

2025 Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Model D&V Jewelers “Wheelman” Bonus Event Challenge Series Champion: ROB COFFARO

2025 Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Model $1,000 City Chevrolet "Track Pack" Champions: Jacob Wilber (Bradford), Tom Snyder, Jr. (Dog Hollow), Jason Genco (Eriez & Stateline), Paul Grigsby (Genesee), Nick Davis (Georgetown), Jeremy Wonderling (McKean), Lincoln Smith (Muskingum), Brandon Burgoon (Pittsburgh), Billy Henry, Jr. (Raceway 7), A.J. Spagnuolo (Tyler County), Davin Kaiser (Winchester), Steve LeBarron (Woodhull).

2025 Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Sprint Car Billy’s Garage Weekly Series Top 20 Points: 1. BLAZE MYERS 1198  2. John Mollick 1198  3. Zach Morrow 1180  4. Arnie Kent 1160  5. Wyatt Long 1144  6. Luke Mulichak 1138  7. Joe Buccola 1125  8. Ricky Tucker III 1107  9. Trent Marshall 1104  10. Zack Wilson 1102  11. Cooper Fritz 1080  12. Brandon Shughart 1078  13 Charlie Utsinger 1074  14. Samantha Priest 1072  15. Devon Deeter 1069  16. Grayson Bayle 1068  17. Lucas Roessner 1051  18. C.J. McClintock 1028  19. Gale Ruth, Jr. 1018  20. Kevin Kaserman 1008.

2025 Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Sprint Car Russ King Racing Futures Cup Top 5 Points: 1. Wyatt Long 1144  2. Ricky Tucker III 1107  3. Cooper Fritz 1080  4. Samantha Priest 1072  5. Grayson Bayle 1068.

2025 Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Sportsman Modified Weekly Series Points: 1. CHAS WOLBERT 1200  2. Kole Holden 1172  3. Todd English 1138  4. Jacob Rutana 1116  5. Karston King 1108  6. JC Boyer 1098  7. Doug Rutana 1095  8. Rob Kristyak 1064  9. Nolan Burns 1055  10. Darin Gallagher 1037  11. Jackson Kristyak 1036  12. Troy Pinch 1026  13. Dalton Gabriel 963  14. Kyle Martell 685  15. Lucas Canon 600  16. Logen Lockhart 449  17. Cole Edwards 341  18. Jacob Jordan 87.

2025 Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Sportsman Modified "Route 7 Rumble Series" Top 8 Points: 1. CHAS WOLBERT 1388  2. Kole Holden 1326  3. Karston King 1229  4. Nolan Burns 1195  5. Jackson Kristyak 1109  6. Troy Pinch 1105  7. Jacob Rutana 1093  8. Doug Rutana 1080.

2025 Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Sportsman Modified Russ King Racing Futures Cup Points: 1. KARSTON KING 1108  2. Nolan Burns 1055  3. Jackson Kristyak 1036.

2025 Hovis Auto & Truck Supply GMC RUSH Pro Mod Weekly Series Points: 1. JOSH WILCOX 1307  2. Al Brewer 1303  3. Tyler Oakes 1287  4. Nick Arnold 1275  5. Cody Rickard 1236  6. Paul Nelson III 1227  7. Cody VanGuilder 1223  8. Josh Canfield 1216  9. Derek Austin 1213  10. Greg Marsh 1189  11. Trenton Curry 1184  12. Ian DeGolier 1138  13. Tim Peterson 1061  14. Steve Dixon 1023  15. Leonard Enos 599  16. Tommy Kemp 200  17. Dean Ingalls 195  18. Ryan Sanders 96

2025 Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Pro Mod Russ King Racing Futures Cup Champion: TRENTON CURRY

2025 Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Stock Car Weekly Series Points: 1. KADEN MICHAEL 1312  2. Raiddan Wilson 1303  3. William Baker, Jr. 1301  4. Darr Diegelman 1289  5. Camron Kramer 1280  6. Cole Strickland 1276  7. Alex Bush 1254  8. Cole Laskey 1199  9. Ken Moore, Sr. 1190  10. Mark Lawrence 1180  11. Jim Buchanan 1177  12. Allen Haskins 584  13. Gavin Eddy 290  14. Chelsea Haskins 196  15. Brian Bush 97. 

2025 Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Stock Car Russ King Racing Futures Cup Top 3 Points: 1. RAIDDAN WILSON 1303  2. Cole Strickland 1276  3. Cole Laskey 1199.

2025 Special Award Winners:

Legacy: Scott Gurdak

Car Owner of the Year: Ted Hull

Horizon: Ben Easler

Miles Traveled: Demetrios Drellos

Outstanding Achievement: Chas Wolbert & Tim Engles

Appreciation: Mike Wonderling

The RUSH Racing Series is brought to you by Hovis Auto & Truck Supply together with Born2Run Lubricants along with the support of Hoosier Tire, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, Insinger Performance, Flynn's Tire, Gunter's Honey, MSD Performance, Holley Performance Products, FK Rod Ends, Rustler Sales & Service, Capital Contracting Service, Joseph J. Oliva Attorney at Law, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, Landrum Performance Springs, Russ King Racing, 3C Graphix, Dave Poske's Performance Parts, Velocita-USA, Wieland Metal Services, Frankland Racing Supply, Seal-Tite Paving & Excavating, Schneider Trucks Inc, Dusted Steak Seasoning, Ontime Body & Graphic, D&V Jewelers, AERO Race Wheels, Racing Electronics, Design Creations, and Competition Crate Parts.

E-mail can be sent to the RUSH Racing Series at [email protected] and mail to 4368 Route 422, Pulaski, PA 16143. Office phone is 724-964-9300. The RUSH Racing Series website is www.rushracingseries.com. Like our various Facebook and Twitter pages by searching for the appropriate RUSH Series.

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