Gunn, Street, Wayne County Speedway regulars locked and loaded for 2-day ASCoC invasion

Written By: Randy Worrell (Ranger)

ORRVILLE – When the All Star Circuit of Champions returns to The O’Reilly Auto Parts Wayne County Speedway near Orrville on Sunday and Monday evenings, the tracks regulars know the deck will be stacked against them. 

Regardless, it’s still the highlight of the season for most of the speedway’s Pine Tree Towing and Recovery 410 Sprint Car division that call WCS home. But this year’s WCS regulars’ chances for a top finish – or perhaps to pull off an upset win – feels different than most of the previous Speedweek stops.  

A lot different. 

Led by a pair of Tylers – Gunn and Street – this seasons WCS roster of talent, which also includes defending track champion Henry Malcuit, the always-fast Trey Jacobs, young charger Leyton Wagner, two-time 2022 winner Chris Myers, and former track champion Danny Mumaw among others, has solidified the speedway as having one of the region’s most stout weekly lineups.  

With back-to-back ASCoC champion and Kings Royal winner Tyler Courtney, non-wing ace-turned full time traveler Chris Windom, Central Pennsylvania front-runner Danny Dietrich, and Californian Buddy Kofoid, who was tabbed to fill the seat in the recently vacated Vermeer 55 formerly driven by Hunter Schurenberg among the 40-plus entries expected, it won’t be an easy task. 

Gunn is the one regular, though, who has shown the speed to compete for the $6,000-to-win Sunday top prize and the $10,000 winners share in Monday’s Duffy Smith Memorial. 

The “Machine Gunn” has a pair of wins at WCS this season to go along with a sixth and third place finish as well as a solid showing in last month’s High Limit program, the only WCS regular to qualify for the main event, but hard impact with Street and subsequent flip during the white flag lap of last Saturday’s feature event threatened to derail the early-season momentum. As of Thursday afternoon, though, it’s full speed ahead for the 27-year-old Gunn and the Wooster-based Eikleberry-Sipe owned RPM No. 91.  

“We were just out there giving 110%,” Gunn said of his high-flying assault from the rear after going to the tail following a flat left rear while leading with seven laps remaining last Saturday. “We took the car to Beaber’s on Sunday and got it back on Monday. He got it fixed for us and we kind of wanted to stick with what we had instead of building a new car.” 

Gunn thrilled the crowd with his cushion-pounding drive by first taking command  from early leader Jacobs, then running down an equally fast Street in the closing laps.  

“I heard from a few people that it was crazy to watch, but from in the seat there was no time l didn’t feel 100% in control, but that’s just how good (mechanic Zach Holloway) has our car right now.  

“I think we are all excited (for both races at Wayne County Speedway) with how fast we’ve been. I think we have a good shot to run up front and possibly win if the cards fall our way a little.” 

Although Gunn will race just at WCS on Sunday and Monday, Street, following a trip to a local medical center with a possible back injury suffered during Saturday’s mishap, has his Integrity Auto and Truck Sales No. 4 locked and loaded for a full-out assault on the eight-race in nine-day extravaganza which starts on Friday at Attica Speedway and culminates next Saturday June 17 with the $22,554-to-win finale at Portsmouth Raceway Park.  

Street has one win at WCS in 2023 following a breakout season a year ago. Street recorded a victory and 10 top-ten finishes in 2022. 

Pit gates open at 2 p.m. both days at the speedway with grandstands opening at 3. The Open 305 sprints join Sunday’s card, with Monday’s action featuring only the All Star Circuit of Champions 410 sprint cars.