8/26/2023
Iron-Man Late Model Series
Josh Rice Scores Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Series Harold Hardgrove Memorial Victory at Lake Cumberland Speedway
BURNSIDE, KENTUCKY (August 26, 2023)– The Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Northern and Southern Series would be in competition at Lake Cumberland Speedway on Saturday for the 12th Annual Harold Hardgrove Memorial presented by SPEDA (Somerset-Pulaski Economic Development Authority) with a track record $15,022 up for grabs to the winner and Josh Rice of Verona, KY would score the biggest win of his career and score his second consecutive victory in the event.
The win by the 25-year-old Rice would be his sixth series win of the season and his 12th career Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Series victory and would come behind the wheel of a Rocket Chassis with a Vic Hill Race Engine with sponsorship from Sunesis Holdings and Construction, BLOX Spiked Ice, Extreme Sportswear, Map It Right Engineering and Land Surveying, Chain Locker USA, Maxwell Trucking, AirMax Motorsports, Northern Kentucky Equipment, M.C. Tank Transport, and Rice Excavating and Plumbing.
A multi-car in turn two on the first attempted start of the 12th Annual Harold Hardgrove Memorial presented by SPEDA Valvoline A-Main would see the field gathered back together and the second start would be a go as Michael Chilton would take the race lead, followed by Josh Rice, Devin Gilpin, Greg Johnson, and Skylar Marlar. The front five would remain the same and just as Chilton was about to catch the rear of the field, the caution would wave again on lap seven for debris. Chilton would lead Rice and Gilpin on the restart, while Skylar Marlar challenged Johnson for fourth and would take the position on lap eight. Chilton would begin to again catch and start working lapped traffic when Josh Henry would slow on the frontchute with a flat right-rear tire. Chilton and Rice would hold first and second on the restart, while Skylar Marlar would work by Gilpin for third. Meanwhile, seventeenth place starter Jason Jameson had charged his way through the field and would make his way to fifth by Johnson on lap sixteen and would claim fourth from Gilpin one circuit later. Gilpin would draw the next caution when he slowed in turn three on lap twenty-one and would be done for the event. Chilton maintained the top spot on the restart, with Rice and Skylar Marlar giving chase, while Johnson would take from Jameson, only to see Jameson reclaim the fourth spot one lap later. Camaron Marlar would make his way into the top five on lap twenty-five, as Rice began to pressure Chilton for the lead. Rice would finally make his move and grab the top spot from Chilton on lap thirty with the caution waving again one lap tour later for a slowed Grant Garrison on the backchute. Rice would lead the field back to the restart, while Skylar Marlar would take second from Chilton, followed by Jameson and Johnson. Camaron Marlar would draw the next caution on lap thirty-two as he made hard contact with the turn two retaining wall. Rice would lead Skylar Marlar on the restart, however, only one more lap would be completed as Zak Blackwood would spin in turn four. Rice again commanded the field on the restart, with Skylar Marlar second and Jameson now third, trailed by Johnson and Tyler Nicely. Debris on the track would be the reason for the next caution on lap thirty-seven and third place Jameson would pull to the work area with a flat right-rear tire. This restart would continue to see Rice lead, with Skylar Marlar second, followed by Johnson, Nicely, and Rod Conley. Conley would take fourth from Nicely on lap 41 and sixteenth place starter Tripp Gerrald would take from Nicely on the same lap. Caution would wave again with forty-seven laps completed when Nicely would slow the frontchute. The restart would see Shane Bailey spin in turn four and again set up a three-lap dash to the finish. Rice would maintain a comfortable advantage after the final restart and score the victory, followed by Skylar Marlar, Johnson, Conley, and Gerrald. The remainder of the top ten would be Josh Henry, Jesse Lay, Jason Jameson, Rusty Ballenger, and Austin Lay.
The next event for the Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series will be Sunday September 3 at Tazewell Speedway in Tazewell, TN for the 15th Annual Buddy Rogers Memorial paying $5,044 to win and $500 to start. The next event for the Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Northern Series will be Saturday September 16 at Atomic Speedway in Waverly, OH paying $7,500 to win and $500 to start.
For more information on the Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Series, phone series promoter Chris Tilley at (828) 361-5981 or by visiting the tour website at www.IMDIRT.net or by following Iron-Man Series (@CTPROMOTE) on Twitter or liking Iron-Man Racing Series on Facebook.
The Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Series would like to thank the following sponsors and marketing partners for their support of the 2023 racing season: Valvoline, Zerex by Valvoline, Brucebilt Performance Parts, Hoosier Racing Tire, E-Z-GO, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, SFP Performance Systems, MyRacePass, Impact Race Gear, XS Power Batteries, Vic Hill Racing Engines, Racecar Engineering, American Racer Tires, Keltner Contracting, Todd Steel Buildings, TW Taylor Trucking, Earnhardt Technologies Group, Weichert Realtors-Ford Brothers (Judith Dyehouse-Agent), Swafford Signs, KY Clutch, DIRTCAR Racing, Brown Haven Homes, Knowles Race Parts and Bodies, Coosa Heating and Cooling, STAKT Products, KND Safety, Chattanooga Valley Auto Parts, PopBit, Denby’s J&J Construction, Jim and Nancy Viox, 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 the Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Northern/Southern Series 12th Annual Harold Hardgrove Memorial presented by SPEDA at Lake Cumberland Speedway in Burnside, KY on Saturday August 26, 2023
- Josh Rice-Verona, Ky.
- Skylar Marlar-Winfield, Tenn.
- Greg Johnson-Bedford, Ind.
- Rod Conley-Wheelersburg, Ohio
- Tripp Gerrald-Lexington, Ky.
- Josh Henry-Newport, Tenn.
- Jesse Lay-Walton, Ky.
- Jason Jameson-Lawrenceburg, Ind.
- Rusty Ballenger-Seymour, Tenn.
- Austin Lay-Walton, Ky.
- Shane Bailey-Grayson, Ky.
- Dallas Miller-Hamilton, Ohio
- Tyler Nicely-Owensboro, Ky.
- Zak Blackwood-Columbus, Ind.
- Michael Chilton-Salvisa, Ky.
- Camaron Marlar-Winfield, Tenn.
- Grant Garrison-Walton, Ky.
- Scott Cook-Shelbyville, Tenn.
- Devin Gilpin-Columbus, Ind.
- Shane Irvin-Dunnville, Ky.
Time of Race: 40 minutes, 23 seconds
Margin of Victory: 1.315 seconds
Yellow Flags: Ten (Lap 1, 7, 15, 21, 31, 32, 33, 37, 48, 48 restart)
Red Flags: None
Lap Leaders: Michael Chilton 1-29, Josh Rice 30-50
Entries: 20
E-Z-GO Time Trials Top Qualifier: Michael Chilton 13.277 seconds
SFP Performance Systems Hard Charger Award ($100 product certificate): Tripp Gerrald (started 16th-finished 5th-advanced 11 positions)
Provisionals: None
Todd Steel Buildings Heat Race One Finish (8 laps/all transfer): Michael Chilton, Devin Gilpin, Skylar Marlar, Tyler Nicely, Jesse Lay, Zak Blackwood, Scott Cook, Shane Irvin, Jason Jameson, Grant Garrison
SFP Performance Systems Heat Race Two Finish (8 laps/all transfer): Josh Rice, Greg Johnson, Camaron Marlar, Rod Conley, Rusty Ballenger, Josh Henry, Austin Lay, Tripp Gerrald, Shane Bailey, Dallas Miller
Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Northern Series 2023 Schedule/Results:
May 26-Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY-Josh Rice (Verona, KY)
May 27-Lake Cumberland Speedway-Burnside, KY-Josh Rice (Verona, KY)
June 17-Lake Cumberland Speedway-Burnside, KY-Josh Rice (Verona, KY)
July 7-Hilltop Speedway-Millersburg, OH-Josh Rice (Verona, KY)
July 22-Atomic Speedway-Waverly, OH-Nick Hoffman (Mooresville, NC)
August 4-Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY-Michael Chilton (Salvisa, KY)
August 19-Atomic Speedway-Waverly, OH-Josh Rice (Verona, KY)
August 26-Lake Cumberland Speedway-Burnside, KY-Josh Rice (Verona, KY)
September 16-Atomic Speedway-Waverly, OH-$7,500 to win
October 6-Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY-$5,000 to win
October 7-Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY-$10,088 to win
Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series 2023 Schedule/Results
January 6/7-Talladega Short Track-Eastaboga, AL-Ray Cook (Brasstown, NC) (Non-Points)
January 29-Boyd’s Speedway-Ringgold, GA-J.T. Seawright (Oxford, AL (Non-Points)
May 26-Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY-Josh Rice (Verona, KY)
May 27-Lake Cumberland Speedway-Burnside, KY-Josh Rice (Verona, KY)
May 29-411 Motor Speedway-Seymour, TN-Cory Hedgecock (Loudon, TN)
June 17-Lake Cumberland Speedway-Burnside, KY-Josh Rice (Verona, KY)
July 3-Tazewell Speedway-Tazewell, TN-Dale McDowell (Chickamauga, GA)
August 4-Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY-Michael Chilton (Salvisa, KY)
August 11-North Alabama Speedway-Tuscumbia, AL-Christian Hanger (Winchester, TN)
August 12-Talladega Short Track-Eastaboga, AL-Sam Seawright (Fort Payne, AL)
August 26-Lake Cumberland Speedway-Burnside, KY-Josh Rice (Verona, KY)
September 3-Tazewell Speedway-Tazewell, TN-$5,044 to win
October 6-Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY-$5,000 to win
October 7-Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY-$10,088 to win
November 18-Lancaster Motor Speedway-Lancaster, SC-$10,000 to win
Article Credit: Ryan Roberts image
