East Smethport, PA (July 4, 2014)

The NDRL McKean County Raceway celebrated the 4th of July with the annual Corporal Jason Dunham Memorial for the RUSH Crate Late Models.  Defending track champion, Max Blair picked up the $1000 prize on lap 19 of the 20 lap main event.   Other winners were John Woodward Jr., Mitch Boylan, Jason Dobson and Rich Wotjowicz picked up his first ever career win at MCR in the Highway Auto Stock Cars.

The RUSH Crate Late Models rolled onto the facility for AMERICA’s 4-WIDE salute featuring all race teams displaying the American Flag in salute to USMC Corporal Jason Dunham.  

Once the green flag dropped, Smethport’s, Damien Bidwell shot into the lead on the outside of Doug Ricotta to lead lap one.  Blair quickly moved into the third position by lap four as Concord, New York’s, Paul Grigsby moved into second.  Ricotta moved Blair back to third on lap five only to see Blair sweep back by coming out of turn four on lap 8.  

Bidwell would be leading at the halfway point with Grigsby, Blair, Ricotta and Dave Shagla Jr rounding out the top five.  Mr. Excitement, Jeremy Wonderling moved into fifth on lap eleven as Grigsby was feeling the pressure of Blair.  Lap 15 would see the yellow lights flashing for Dustin Waters in turn four. 

The restart saw Bidwell lead into turn one, but Blair getting around Grigsby for second.  Blair hounded Bidwell for the top spot and would take the lead as lap 18 was clicked off the board and the final yellow would be displayed for point leader, Chad Ruhlman who came to a stop in turn four setting up a one lap shoot out with Mr. Excitement now in second and looking to grab the win in memory of his childhood friend Dunham. 

On the restart Blair rocketed into turn one with Wonderling dive bombing into turn one with Bidwell right there as the top three duked it out in turns one and two.   Blair would pull away down the back stretch as Bidwell got back by Wonderling for second with Ricotta and Grigsby rounding out the top five.   

Jeremy Wonderling awarded Blair in victory lane with the unique US Marine Trophy as Wonderling and the Dunham families were very close  to each other.

RUSH CRATE LATE MODELS - JASON DUNHAM MEMORIAL: MAX BLAIR, Damien Bidwell, Jeremy Wonderling, Doug Ricotta,  Paul Grigsby, Brady Wonderling (from 22nd), Ward Schell, Dave Shagla Jr., Brad Mesler, Garrett Mott, Steve Watson, Andy Michael, Justin Smith, Jon Lichy, Steve Fitch, TJ Downs, Craig Dean, Chad Ruhlman, Adam Sixt, Dustin Waters, Derek Frank, John Haggerty, Michael Wonderling Jr.