3/27/2022
Iron-Man Late Model Series
Saturday is “Fergy Time” at Karl Kustoms Bristol Dirt Nationals at Bristol Motor Speedway
BRISTOL, TENNESSEE (March 26, 2022)– The Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series would co-sanction with the XR Super Series and for the second event of the 2022 Karl Kustoms Bristol Dirt Nationals at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, TN and Chris Ferguson of Mount Holly, NC would take the lead on lap eight and see the checkered flag first and claim his biggest career victory with the $50,000 payday.
Ferguson’s victory was his first career Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Series win and Ferguson’s win would come in a Team Zero Race Car powered by a Clements Race Engine with sponsorship from Live Oak Aesthetic and Family Dentistry, K&K Trucking, Diff-Tran Machining, The Racing Warehouse, Carolina Roofing and Gutters, Little Mountain Farm, Heckle’s Plumbing, Keith’s Handyman Services, Vinson Sims Construction, Beaux-Tie Limousine Serivce, Hoosier Tire by Brian, and FOX Racing Shocks.
Polesitter Ricky Weiss would snag the lead at the start of the feature contest, with Chris Ferguson, Jimmy Owens, Scott Bloomquist, and Tim McCreadie giving chase. The front five would set a rapid pace up front, with Ferguson closing in on Weiss on lap six as Weiss would close in on the rear of the field. As the lead duo exited turn four to complete lap eight, Earl Pearson, Jr.’s entry would slow and Weiss would have to take evasive measures and in the process, Ferguson would drive past Weiss and take the race lead. The first caution of the event would wave three laps later on lap eleven and would become a red flag after fifth place running Tim McCreadie would make hard contact with the outside retaining wall in turn three. The restart would see Ferguson maintain the lead, with Weiss second, followed by Owens, Bloomquist, while Jonathan Davenport would now assume the fifth position. Ferguson would maintain a comfortable lead at this point with the remainder of the top five remaining the same until the caution flew again on lap twenty-two when third place running Owens would make contact with the outside wall in turn three. Ferguson would again hold the lead on the restart, with Bloomquist snatching second from Weiss, while Ricky Thornton, Jr. taking fourth from Davenport. Racing would go for three more laps before the final caution of the race would wave on lap twenty-five when Garrett Smith would make contact with the outside wall in turn two. Ferguson would continue to lead on the restart, with Bloomquist and Weiss holding second and third, while Davenport would reclaim fourth from Thornton, Jr. Ferguson would hold a comfortable lead until he began to work slower traffic on lap thirty-five, allowing Bloomquist to close in on Ferguson, with Bloomquist looking beneath Ferguson on lap thirty-seven, however, Ferguson would keep Bloomquist at bay and would maintain the lead for the remainder of the event to score the victory. Bloomquist would settle for second, with early race leader Weiss coming home third. Davenport and Thornton, Jr. would complete the top five. The remainder of the top ten would be Darrell Lanigan, Dale McDowell, Shane Clanton, Devin Moran, and Kyle Strickler.
The next events for the Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series will be on Friday April 1 and Saturday April 2 at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, TN to conclude the 2022 Karl Kustoms Bristol Dirt Nationals. The events will be co-sanctioned with the XR Super Series and the feature events will pay $50,000 to win.
For more information about the Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series, please contact Chris Tilley at (828) 361-5981 or visit the tour’s webpage at www.IMDIRT.net or visit the tour page Iron-Man Racing Series on Facebook and Iron-Man Series (@CTPROMOTE) on Twitter.
The Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series would like to thank the following sponsors and marketing partners for their support of the 2022 racing season: Valvoline, Zerex by Valvoline, Brucebilt Performance Parts, Hoosier Racing Tire, E-Z-GO, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, DirtonDirt.com, MyRacePass, FloRacing, XS Power Batteries, Vic Hill Racing Engines, American Racer Tires, Keltner Contracting, TW Taylor Trucking, Earnhardt Technologies Group, Swafford Signs, KY Clutch, Brown Haven Homes, Knowles Race Parts and Bodies, Coosa Heating and Cooling, Cruise with the Champions, SFP Performance Systems, KND Safety, Impact RaceGear, Chattanooga Valley Auto Parts, Race Clean, Denby’s J&J Construction, Advanced Transportation, Lowe’s Tows, Reno’s Roadhouse, and Racetrack Safety Initiative.
About Valvoline™
Valvoline Inc. (NYSE: VVV) is a leading worldwide marketer and supplier of premium branded lubricants and automotive services, with sales in more than 140 countries. Established in 1866, the company’s heritage spans more than 150 years, during which time it has developed powerful brand recognition across multiple product and service channels. Valvoline ranks as the No. 3 passenger car motor oil brand in the DIY market by volume. It operates and franchises approximately 1,400 quick-lube locations, and it is the No. 2 chain by number of stores in the United States under the Valvoline Instant Oil ChangeSM brand and the No. 3 chain by number of stores in Canada under the Valvoline Great Canadian Oil Change brand. It also markets Valvoline lubricants and automotive chemicals, including the Valvoline High Mileage with MaxLife technology motor oil for engines over 75,000 miles; Valvoline Advanced Full Synthetic motor oil; Valvoline Premium Blue™ heavy-duty motor oil; Valvoline Multi-Vehicle Automatic Transmission Fluid; and Zerex™ antifreeze. To learn more, visit www.valvoline.com.
Official Summary of Results
Feature Results for Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series Karl Kustoms Bristol Dirt Nationals at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, TN on Saturday March 26, 2022
- Chris Ferguson-Mount Holly, N.C.
- Scott Bloomquist-Mooresburg, Tenn.
- Ricky Weiss-Headingly, Manitoba CAN
- Jonathan Davenport-Blairsville, Ga.
- Ricky Thornton, Jr.-Martinsville, Ind.
- Darrell Lanigan-Union, Ky.
- Dale McDowell-Chickamauga, Ga.
- Shane Clanton-Zebulon, Ga.
- Devin Moran-Dresden, Oh.
- Kyle Strickler-Mooresville, N.C.
- Mike Marlar-Winfield, Tenn.
- Chris Madden-Gray Court, S.C.
- Dakotah Knuckles-Ewing, Va.
- Ashton Winger-Hampton, Ga.
- Brandon Overton-Evans, Ga.
- Mark Whitener-Middleburg, Fla.
- Kyle Bronson-Brandon, Fla.
- Brian Nuttall, Jr.-Claxton, Ga.
- Stacy Boles-Clinton, Tenn.
- Garrett Smith-Eatonton, Ga.
- Jimmy Owens-Newport, Tenn.
- Joseph Joiner-Milton, Fla.
- Tim McCreadie-Watertown, N.Y.
- Earl Pearson, Jr.-Jacksonville, Fla.
Time of Race: 27 minutes, 15 seconds
Margin of Victory: 2.230 seconds
Yellow Flags: Three (lap 11, 22, 25)
Red Flags: One (lap 11)
Lap Leaders: Ricky Weiss 1-7, Chris Ferguson 8-50
Entries: 33
E-Z-GO Time Trials Top Qualifier: Ricky Weiss (Group A) 15.261 seconds
SFP Performance Systems Hard Charger Award ($100 product certificate): Brandon Overton (started 24th-finished 15th-advanced 9 positions)
Provisional Starters: Stacy Boles (time), Brandon Overton (series)
Sunoco Race Fuels Heat One Finish (8 laps/top 4 advance): Ricky Weiss, Ricky Thornton, Jr., Jonathan Davenport, Mike Marlar, Devin Moran, Mark Whitener, Justin Hammett, Christian Hanger (DNS-Brenden Smith)
Sunoco Race Fuels Heat Two Finish (8 laps/top 4 advance): Jimmy Owens, Dakotah Knuckles, Shane Clanton, Brian Nuttall, Jr., Joseph Joiner, Tim Vance, Terry Wolfenbarger, Brandon Overton
Sunoco Race Fuels Heat Three Finish (8 laps/top 4 advance): Chris Ferguson, Tim McCreadie, Dale McDowell, Chris Madden, Johnny Scott, Adam Yarbrough, Stacy Boles, Garrett Smith
Sunoco Race Fuels Heat Four Finish (8 laps/top 4 advance): Scott Bloomquist, Darrell Lanigan, Ashton Winger, Kyle Strickler, Kyle Bronson, Earl Pearson, Jr., Jon Hodgkiss, Fast Eddy
Impact RaceGear B-Main One Finish (10 laps/top 3 advance): Devin Moran, Joseph Joiner, Mark Whitener, Brandon Overton, Tim Vance, Christian Hanger, Justin Hammett (DNS-Terry Wolfenbarger, Brenden Smith)
Impact RaceGear B-Main Two Finish (10 laps/top 3 advance): Kyle Bronson, Earl Pearson, Jr., Garrett Smith, Jon Hodgkiss, Fast Eddy, Johnny Scott, Stacy Boles (DNS-Adam Yarbrough)
2022 Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series Schedule/Results:
January 29-Boyd’s Speedway-Ringgold, GA- SAM SEAWRIGHT (non-points)
March 5-Smoky Mountain Speedway-Maryville, TN-BRANDON OVERTON
March 25-Bristol Motor Speedway-Bristol, TN-CHRIS MADDEN
March 26-Bristol Motor Speedway-Bristol, TN-CHRIS FERGUSON
April 1-Bristol Motor Speedway-Bristol, TN-$50,000 to win
April 2-Bristol Motor Speedway-Bristol, TN-$50,000 to win
April 15-Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY-$5,000 to win
April 16-Tazewell Speedway-Tazewell, TN-$21,000 to win
May 29-Lake Cumberland Speedway-Burnside, KY-$5,031 to win
May 30-411 Motor Speedway-Seymour, TN-$10,052 to win
June 3-Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY-$5,000 to win
June 4-Mountain View Raceway-Spring City, TN-$5,000 to win
July 1-Boyd’s Speedway-Ringgold, GA-$5,000 to win
July 2-Lake Cumberland Speedway-Burnside, KY-$5,000 to win
July 3-Tazewell Speedway-Tazewell, TN-$5,000 to win
July 8-Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY-$10,000 to win
August 5-Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY-$10,000 to win
August 6-Brownstown Speedway-Brownstown, IN-$10,000 to win
August 12-Duck River Raceway Park-Lewisburg, TN-$5,000 to win
August 13-Talladega Short Track-Eastaboga, AL-$10,000 to win
August 27-Lake Cumberland Speedway-Burnside, KY-$10,022 to win
September 3-Boyd’s Speedway-Ringgold, GA-$5,000 to win
September 4-Tazewell Speedway-Tazewell, TN-$5,044 to win
October 1-Lake Cumberland Speedway-Burnside, KY-$10,000 to win
October 22-I-75 Raceway-Sweetwater, TN-$10,000 to-win
October 28, 29-Duck River Raceway Park-Lewisburg, TN-$20,000 to win
November 19-Boyd’s Speedway-Ringgold, GA-$5,000 to win
November 26-411 Motor Speedway-Seymour, TN-$5,000 to win
Article Credit: By Michael Despain | Photo by Chad Wells
