Max Blair won the Bill Law Memorial on Saturday night at Stateline Speedway in Busti, N.Y. Photo courtesy of Woah Nellie

BUSTI — After five consecutive rainouts to open the season, the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Dirt Late Model Flynn’s Tire/Gunter’s Honey Touring Series was finally able to kick off 2025 on a beautiful Saturday evening at Stateline Speedway.

It was the first event under the new ownership of Bill Catania as a huge crowd watched an all-time Stateline record high 49 Chevrolet Performance Late Models from six states plus Ontario, Canada race in the eighth annual “Bill Law Memorial.”

Max Blair etched his name in the record books as a winner of the “Bill Law Memorial.” Blair entered the night as the tour’s all-time winner, but had never won a tour race at Stateline. That changed on Saturday night as Blair used a night off from the World of Outlaws to be at Stateline and made a winning debut for car owner Dave McManus. Blair passed Greg Carrico on lap 13 and pulled away late to earn the $4,000 payday — the richest in the event’s history.

“This place is tough and unique, and so different than anywhere else in the country,” explained the 35-year-old Centerville, Pennsylvania, driver. “If you don’t race here a lot, it’s really tough to be fast. I didn’t know if it was going to work (passing on the outside). I was hounding and hounding him (Carrico) and needed him to make a mistake. He made a little one up there and didn’t get up off the bottom, but it slowed him enough down the backstretch and I had a decent enough run. I felt like if there was ever a chance to make the top work that it had to happen right there. He could have raced me crappy going into (turn) one and he didn’t so I appreciate that from him.”

“It’s a lot of fun coming here and I forgot how much fun these crates can be to run,” added Blair. “Look at this turnout. I wish Bill (Catania) and everyone the best in keeping this place going and hope we can come back real soon. I didn’t know Bill (Law) personally but knew the story of what he did for crate (Late Model) racing, which is awesome. I do know Kyle (Bill’s grandson), who is a great kid. It’s really cool to get one of these (big check) to hang up on the wall.”

Following the Dave Poske’s Performance Parts “Feel the RUSH” 4-Wide Salute, Carrico and Blair led the 26-car starting field to green in the 30-lap feature. Carrico had earned the pole following his first career victory in the Sunoco Dash and took off in the early lead over Bryce Davis, Blair, Austin Allen and Demetrios Drellos.

A six-car pileup in turn three slowed action with two laps completed. When racing resumed, Blair and sixth-starting Jeremy Wonderling overtook Davis for second and third, respectively. Shortly thereafter, the top five began to distance themselves from the field. Blair inched closer to Carrico and was all over the Virginia driver by lap 12. Blair surprised Carrico going to the outside and nosing ahead to lead lap 13. The duo ran side-by-side for most of lap 14 with Blair getting by for good.

A caution for Mike Wonderling’s spin with 17 laps completed halted action for the second time of the event. Back under green, Carrico slipped high into the fluff and dropped out of the top five as Wonderling, Drellos, Davis and Allen advanced into positions two through five, respectively. One more caution for a spin by Jacob Wilber slowed action for the final time with 22 laps scored.

The last eight laps went green-to-checkered as Blair increased his advantage every lap and took the checkered flag first for his 34th career tour victory by 3.391 seconds in the Murphy’s Logging/C&J Dairy/Creek Pizza & Pub/Coltman Farms/Tavern 618/Gable Inn/Riggs Fiber/Creekside Auto Sales/Deer Lake Bowl/Bish Heating & Cooling/TLW Trucking-sponsored, Dave McManus-owned #114. Blair also earned a spoiler kit from Ontime Body & Graphic along with a three-pack of Heritage Wine Cellars premium product, as did all three of the podium finishers.

Four-time tour champion Jeremy Wonderling kicked off his season strong with a runnerup finish worth $2,000 for the four-time “Bill Law Memorial” winner.

“I tried some things in the dash that I probably shouldn’t have,” acknowledged the 45-year-old Wellsville, New York, resident. “To run second to Max at this place is nothing to hang your hat about. I was hoping we maybe had something for him, but he got out front and that was it. Max passed for the lead on the outside so we have to get a tick better.”

Drellos, an eastern New York Big-Block Modified standout, bested his career-best tour finish of fourth from last season with an impressive third. Allen got his sophomore season on the Flynn’s Tire/Gunter’s Tour off to a great start with a fourth-place effort over 2017 champion Bryce Davis.

Carrico was a disappointing sixth after leading the first 12 laps as he’ll contend for the 3C Graphix Rookie-of-the-Year. Braeden Dillinger returns to full-time tour competition for the first time since finishing fourth in 2019 and came home seventh in the feature. Ben Easler, another sophomore driver on the tour, was eighth after starting 11th. Jason Genco was the top Stateline regular in ninth. Dave Hess Jr., who won the $20,000 “Bill Emig Memorial” presented by Sunoco Race Fuels in 2024 at Lernerville Speedway, came from 15th to 10th. Track regular David Parker earned the $50 Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down” Hard Charger gift card as he advanced from 26th to 14th.

Brad Mesler led all 10 caution-free laps of the D&V Jewelers Non-Qualifier. The 36-year Wellsville, New York, driver earned $200 for car owner Ken Sturdevant for his second career “Wheelman” Bonus Event Challenge Series victory in the #87s. Tour rookie Tom Snyder Jr. chased Mesler for the duration, but was 2.375 seconds behind at the finish. West Virginia Tour rookie Ryan Hare made his Stateline debut and came home third in the event as William Pinckney and veteran Jeff Hoffman completed the first five.

Drellos set fast time overall against the 49-car field in FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Qualifying to earn $100 with a 17.412. Picking up $25 FK Rod Ends heat race wins were Drellos, Davis, Jeremy Wonderling, Allen, Carrico and Blair. Carrico received a $100 Sunoco gift card for winning the dash. Tour drivers Mike Wonderling and Damian Bidwell were the lucky recipients of the $100 Sunoco gift card drawings, while Blair, Jacob Wilber, Steve Houser and Chuck LaFluer won the $50 gift cards.

Landrum Performance Springs, which will award a $5,000 “Loyalty Bonus” later in the year to a lucky full-time Flynn’s Tire/Gunter’s Honey Touring Series regular, distributed “buy one, get one” spring certificates to Kassandra Norman, Ward Schell, Shane Crotty, Andrew Chess and Bobby Rohrer.

Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Model “Bill Law Memorial” Flynn’s Tire/Gunter’s Honey Touring Series Race #1 (30 laps, $4,000 to-win)

1. MAX BLAIR (McManus 114) 2. Jeremy Wonderling (3J) 3. Demetrios Drellos (114) 4. Bryce Davis (94) 5. Austin Allen (Mullen 32) 6. Greg Carrico (Hurley 39) 7. Braeden Dillinger (14) 8. Ben Easler (02) 9. Jason Genco (Craig/Badgley 29J) 10. Dave Hess, Jr. (Anderson 44) 11. Kyle Hardy (99) 12. Zack Carley (2) 13. Bud Watson (225) 14. Andy Michael (17x) 15. Scott Gurdak (Hollabaugh 5G) 16. David Parker (2) 17. Randy Hall (Krug 87) 18. Chuck LaFleur (61) 19. Jacob Wilber (Suppa 4s) 20. Mike Wonderling (18) 21. Damian Bidwell (1/2-PT) 22. Cody Dawson (36) 23. Kurt Stebbins (26) 24. Austin Hauser (51) 25. Jason Knowles (4) 26. Ashton Briggs (11A). (Note: Damian Bidwell took a Tour provisional & David Parker a Track provisional)

D&V Jewelers Non-Qualifier (10 laps, $200 to-win): 1. Brad Mesler (Sturdevant 87s) 2. Tom Snyder, Jr. (10s) 3. Ryan Hare (29) 4. William Pinckney (Cole 11JR) 5. Jeff Hoffman (32) 6. Brandt Graham (14) 7. Bill Holmes III (8) 8. Andrew Chess (8c) 9. Craig Graham (98) 10. Drake McCray (3) 11. Steve Blodgett (23GB) 12. Austin Fitzgerald (2A). DNS: Bill Taylor (1), Shane Crotty (Briggs 4), Ward Schell (61s), Kassandra Norman (6), Steve Houser (33z), Brady Wonderling (1s), Bobby Rohrer (11), Jacob Peterson (112), Raymond Houser (360), Chad Clement (45), A.J. Miller (14AJ).

Car Count: 49

Feature Margin of Victory: 3.391 seconds

Feature Lap Leaders: Greg Carrico (1-12), Max Blair (13-30)

Heritage Wine Cellars 3-Pack of Premium Products: Max Blair, Jeremy Wonderling, Demetrios Drellos

Holley Performance Group “Nosed Out”: Bill Taylor

Landrum Performance Springs BOGO Certificates: Kassandra Norman, Ward Schell, Shane Crotty, Andrew Chess, Bobby Rohrer.

Ontime Body & Graphic “Spoiler Alert” Spoiler Kit: Max Blair

Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down” Hard Charger: David Parker (+10)

Precise Racing Products 5-Gallon Race Jug: Max Blair

Sunoco Fuel Card Winners: Mike Wonderling ($100), Damian Bidwell ($100), Max Blair ($50), Steve Houser ($50), Jacob Wilber ($50).

FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Flight A Qualifying (Track record 16.717 by John Waters on 5/14/22) ($100 for fast time)

1. 114D-Demetrios Drellos, 00:17.412[13]; 2. 94-Bryce Davis, 00:17.425[14]; 3. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling, 00:17.567[22]; 4. 14D-Braeden Dillinger, 00:17.695[25]; 5. 99-Kyle Hardy, 00:17.739[16]; 6. 02-Benjamin Easler, 00:17.822[21]; 7. 29J-Jason Genco, 00:17.843[4]; 8. 11A-Ashton Briggs, 00:17.870[23]; 9. 4S-Jacob Wilber, 00:17.887[6]; 10. 14-Brandt Graham, 00:18.057[10]; 11. 44-Dave Hess Jr, 00:18.071[2]; 12. 225-Bud Watson, 00:18.176[12]; 13. 1-Bill Taylor, 00:18.220[19]; 14. 32-Jeff Hoffman, 00:18.313[11]; 15. 1/2PT-Damian Bidwell, 00:18.344[3]; 16. 5G-Scott Gurdak, 00:18.447[5]; 17. 23GB-Steve Blodgett, 00:18.461[7]; 18. 3M-Drake McCray, 00:18.477[1]; 19. 11JR-William Pinckney, 00:18.480[20]; 20. 112-Jacob Peterson, 00:18.567[9]; 21. 98-Craig Graham, 00:18.742[24]; 22. 61S-Ward Schell, 00:18.762[18]; 23. 6N-Kassandra Norman, 00:18.972[17]; 24. 2A-Austin Fitzgerald, 00:19.833[8]; 25. 14AJ-AJ Miller, NT.

FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock” Flight B Qualifying (Track record 16.717 by John Waters on 5/14/22)

1. 32A-Austin Allen, 00:17.515[8]; 2. 39-Gregory Carrico, 00:17.675[3]; 3. 114-Max Blair, 00:17.711[16]; 4. 2C-Zack Carley, 00:17.740[4]; 5. 2-David Parker, 00:17.851[6]; 6. 4-Jason Knowles, 00:17.891[7]; 7. 17X-Andy Michael, 00:17.892[20]; 8. 18-Mike Wonderling, 00:17.928[1]; 9. 11R-Robert Rohrer, 00:18.076[24]; 10. 29-Ryan Hare, 00:18.099[13]; 11. 26-Kurt Stebbins, 00:18.213[15]; 12. 8-Bill Holmes III, 00:18.253[14]; 13. 87K-Randy Hall, 00:18.255[11]; 14. 8C-Andrew Chess, 00:18.350[23]; 15. 61-Chuck LaFleur, 00:18.382[19]; 16. 1S-Brady Wonderling, 00:18.461[9]; 17. 10S-Tom Snyder Jr, 00:18.531[12]; 18. 4C-Shane Crotty, 00:18.647[2]; 19. 87S-Brad Mesler, 00:18.851[10]; 20. 51-Austin Hauser, 00:19.005[21]; 21. 33Z-Steve Houser, 00:19.013[18]; 22. 360-Raymond Houser, 00:19.269[17]; 23. 45C-Chad Clement, 00:19.286[5]; 24. 36-Cody Dawson, NT.

FK Rod Ends Heat 1 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win)

1. 111D-Demetrios Drellos[1]; 2. 14D-Braeden Dillinger[2]; 3. 29J-Jason Genco[3]; 4. 5G-Scott Gurdak[6]; 5. 1-Bill Taylor[5]; 6. 11JR-William Pinckney[7]; 7. 61S-Ward Schell[8]; 8. 14-Brandt Graham[4]. DNS: 14AJ-AJ Miller.

FK Rod Ends Heat 2 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win)

1. 94-Bryce Davis[1]; 2. 99-Kyle Hardy[2]; 3. 44-Dave Hess Jr[4]; 4. 11A-Ashton Briggs[3]; 5. 32-Jeff Hoffman[5]; 6. 23GB-Steve Blodgett[6]; 7. 6N-Kassandra Norman[8]; 8. 112-Jacob Peterson[7].

FK Rod Ends Heat 3 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win)

1. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling[1]; 2. 02-Benjamin Easler[2]; 3. 4S-Jacob Wilber[3]; 4. 225-Bud Watson[4]; 5. 1/2PT-Damian Bidwell[5]; 6. 98-Craig Graham[7]; 7. 3M-Drake McCray[6]; 8. 2A-Austin Fitzgerald[8].

FK Rod Ends Heat 4 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win)

1. 32A-Austin Allen[1]; 2. 17X-Andy Michael[3]; 3. 2C-Zack Carley[2]; 4. 87K-Randy Hall[5]; 5. 87S-Brad Mesler[7]; 6. 29-Ryan Hare[4]; 7. 1S-Brady Wonderling[6]; 8. 360-Raymond Houser[8].

FK Rod Ends Heat 5 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win)

1. 39-Gregory Carrico[1]; 2. 18-Mike Wonderling[3]; 3. 26-Kurt Stebbins[4]; 4. 51-Austin Hauser[7]; 5. 10S-Tom Snyder Jr[6]; 6. 2-David Parker[2]; 7. 8C-Andrew Chess[5]; 8. 45C-Chad Clement[8].

FK Rod Ends Heat 6 (8 laps, Top 3 transfer to A, $25 to-win)

1. 114-Max Blair[1]; 2. 4-Jason Knowles[2]; 3. 61-Chuck LaFleur[5]; 4. 36-Cody Dawson[8]; 5. 4C-Shane Crotty[6]; 6. 33Z-Steve Houser[7]; 7. 11R-Robert Rohrer[3]; 8. 8-Bill Holmes III[4].

Last Chance B Main 1 (10 laps, Top 2 transfer to A)

1. 11A-Ashton Briggs[2]; 2. 5G-Scott Gurdak[1]; 3. 1-Bill Taylor[3]; 4. 11JR-William Pinckney[5]; 5. 32-Jeff Hoffman[4]; 6. 14-Brandt Graham[9]; 7. 61S-Ward Schell[7]; 8. 6N-Kassandra Norman[8]; 9. 23GB-Steve Blodgett[6]. DNS: 112-Jacob Peterson, 14AJ-AJ Miller.

Last Chance B Main 2 (10 laps, Top 2 transfer to A)

1. 225-Bud Watson[1]; 2. 87K-Randy Hall[2]; 3. 87S-Brad Mesler[4]; 4. 1/2PT-Damian Bidwell[3]; 5. 29-Ryan Hare[6]; 6. 3M-Drake McCray[7]; 7. 2A-Austin Fitzgerald[9]; 8. 98-Craig Graham[5]. DNS: 1S-Brady Wonderling, 360-Raymond Houser.

Last Chance B Main 3 (10 laps, Top 2 transfer to A)

1. 51-Austin Hauser[1]; 2. 36-Cody Dawson[2]; 3. 10S-Tom Snyder Jr[3]; 4. 2-David Parker[5]; 5. 4C-Shane Crotty[4]; 6. 8-Bill Holmes III[10]; 7. 8C-Andrew Chess[7]. DNS: 33Z-Steve Houser, 11R-Robert Rohrer, 45C-Chad Clement.

Sunoco Dash (6 laps, $100 Sunoco fuel card to win)

1. 39-Gregory Carrico[1]; 2. 114-Max Blair[5]; 3. 94-Bryce Davis[4]; 4. 32A-Austin Allen[3]; 5. 111D-Demetrios Drellos[2]; 6. 3J-Jeremy Wonderling[6].