“Hardy 2 for 3 With Friday Battle of the Bay Victory at Potomac”

“Win in Family Owned Mount Was Career 100th”

By Doug Watson 

    Budds Creek, MD (4/14/23)- Stephens City Virginia’s Kyle Hardy used his home track advantage to take round three of the RUSH Dirt Late Model Series “Battle of the Bay” tour event Friday night at Potomac Speedway. The win for Hardy, worth $3000, was a momentous occasion for many reasons. Aboard his family owned Rocket no.99, Hardy drove to his second career Potomac RUSH tour event win becoming only the second repeat tour winner at the track and it would also Mark Kyle’s 100th career feature win, where oddly enough, he scored his first ever Late Model win back in June of 2010.
    Bryce Davis and Trevor Collins brought the field to green to start the 30-lap A main with Davis surging into the race lead with Collins in tow. As the field was settling in, 7th starting Kyle Hardy was on the move and had reached second by the 10th lap And appeared fruitful as the yellow flag was displayed slowing the action. Hardy found the opportunity he needed as a field came down on the restart for the 11th lap, with Hardy driving hard into turn one to snare the race lead from Trevor Collins with an outside pass of turn two. Hardy would then lead the distance to collect his 17th career Potomac feature win over Collins. “I really didn’t think there would be any passing here tonight.” A jubilant Hardy stated post race. “When we drew an 8 for the dash we knew it would be tough to pass so we put the feature set up on our car to see what we had.” Hardy knew starting where he did that he would have to work hard for a shot at the win. “I was a little worried at first, But my crew gave me a good car and it was up to me to get the job done.”Hardy reflected. “We take a lot of pride in this car and I can’t thank everyone enough, especially my mom and dad, for all they do with our race program.” Nick Davis was third with Jeremy Pilkerton and Dale Hollidge completing the top-five. Tyler Hoy set fast time in time trials over the 35 car field with a one lap time of 16.427. Heat race wins went Kyle Hardy, Nick Davis, Russell Irwin and Bryce Davis with twin B mains going to Ed Pope Jr and Cody Dawson.
   In support class action, defending track champion PJ Hatcher drove to his first win of the season and career 31st in the 20 lap Street Stock feature, Colin Long ended his win drought dating back to 2021 with his victory in the 15 lap hobby stock feature, Jayden Hatcher used some late race dramatics to score the strictly stock victory with Cody Bottorff collecting his first career feature win in the 15 lap Roadster contest.

RUSH Late Model feature finish 
Kyle Hardy, Trevor Collins, Nick Davis, Jeremy Pilkerton, Dale Hollidge, Russell Irwin, Bryce Davis, Austin Hubbard, Tyler Hoy, Matt Latta, Charlie Sandercock, Jeremy Wonderling, Max Blair, Garrett Paugh, Jason Knowles, Travis Justice, Kyle Sopaz, Megan Mann, Cody Dawson, Ed Pope Jr, Andy Michael, Chad Sines, Chuck Bowie, Brock Pinkerous, Ashton Briggs DNQ-Jim Rasey, Mike Wonderling, Ryan Hare, Brandt Graham, Jarrett Edwards, Matt Tepper, Marc Berzowski, Joe Brousseau, Joe Martin, Craig Graham

Street Stock feature finish 
PJ Hatcher, Wyatt Hanson, Mason Hanson, Doug Barber, Ben Pirner, Hank Stonestreet, John Cobb, Deuce Wright, Bud Randall, Jason Penn, James Rainey, Jonny Oliver, Raymond Reed, Stevie Gingery, Gerald Shannon 

Hobby Stock feature finish 
Colin Long, Mikey Latham, Watson Gordon, Billy Crouse, Austin Lathroum, Greg Morgan, Owen Lacey, Eric Hanson, Justin Hatcher, Dave Adams, Dylan Penn, Matt Tarbox, Richie Gibson, Ralph Price, Mason Hanson, Buddy Dunagan, Bradley Shannon, Ben Oliver 

Strictly Stock feature finish 
Jayden Hatcher, Billy Tucker, Nabil Guffey, James Stone Jr, Brian Copsey, Patrick Kelly, Shawn Howsare, John Hardesty, Ricky Sexton, Sarah Culver, Bob Todd DNS-Gregg Mattingly, Johnny Hardesty 

Roadster feature finish 
Cody Bottorf, Dominic King, John Hammett, Stephen Suite, Mackenzie Smith, Kelly Crouse, John Burch, John Healy, Earl Whitehouse III, Richard Inscoe, Lucas Haghfill, Rebecca Stone, Justin Borman, Trevor Hammett