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O’Neal Slides to 17th Annual Iron-Man Classic Victory at Smoky Mountain Speedway

MARYVILLE, TENNESSEE (June 19, 2021)– The Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series and Brucebilt Performance Iron-Man Modified Series would be in action at Smoky Mountain Speedway in Maryville, TN for the 17th Annual Iron-Man Classic. Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville, IN would take the lead on lap 13 and drive to the $5,000 victory and become the seventh different winner in seven series event this season with the Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series. Blake Brown of Corbin, KY would drive to his third victory of the season in the Brucebilt Performance Iron-Man Modified Series portion of the event and would score his third victory of the season.

The victory by the 20-year old O’Neal would be his first career Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Series victory and would come aboard the Double Down Motorsports owned Rocket Chassis powered by a Vic Hill Race Engine and carries sponsorship from Lazydays RV, O’Neal’s Salvage and Recycling, 2150 Enterprises, Smoky Mountain Speedway, Tarpy Trucking, Lucas Oil, VP Racing Fuels, WR1 SIM Chassis, Neubert Fabrication, and Earnhardt Technologies Group.

Spencer Hughes would take the start of the Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series main event, followed by Mike Marlar, Ross Bailes, Dakotah Knuckles, and Hudson O’Neal. O’Neal would snag fourth from Knuckles on lap two with a slider in turn three. The first caution would wave on lap four when Michael Chilton would get his machine crossed up on the frontchute. The restart would see the front five remain the same, but Randy Weaver would pass Knuckles for the fifth spot on lap five. Donald McIntosh would slow on the frontchute on lap eight and be done for the night, while third-place running Bailes would pull to the infield with rear-end issues and be done for the night as well. Hughes would lead on the restart, with Marlar, O’Neal, Weaver, and Knuckles now second through fifth. Brett Wyatt would draw the one caution one lap later when he slowed in turn two. The front five remained the same on the restart and would remain that way until the caution waved again on lap thirteen with a flat right-rear tire and would be done for the race. The restart would see third-place running O’Neal dive between Hughes and Marlar and slidejob both to grab the race lead off of turn two. Cory Hedgecock would make his way into the top five on the restart as well, with O’Neal now leading, with Hughes and Marlar second and third, with Knuckles and Hedgecock fourth and fifth. O’Neal would stretch his lead out a bit, while Marlar would begin to slow on lap twenty-five and would pull to the infield one circuit later. The final caution of the race would appear for Matthew Nance when he slowed on the backstretch on lap twenty-nine. O’Neal would get a great restart and lead the remainder of the way to score the victory, with Hughes coming home second, while Knuckles would finish third. Zack Mitchell would get around Hedgecock late in the going and finish fourth, while Hedgecock would finish fifth. Tommy Kerr, Jensen Ford, Skip Arp, Robby Moses, and Matthew Nance would complete the top ten.

The next events for the Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series will be at Boyd’s Speedway in Ringgold, GA on Friday July 2 and Tazewell Speedway in Tazewell, TN on Saturday July 3. Both events will pay $5,000 to win.

For more information about the Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model 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 Series would like to thank the following sponsors and marketing partners for their support of the 2021 racing season: Valvoline, Zerex by Valvoline, Brucebilt Performance, Hoosier Racing Tire, E-Z-GO, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, DirtonDirt.com, FloRacing, XS Power Batteries, Vic Hill Racing Engines, Earnhardt Technologies Group, Swafford Signs, MSR Mafia, Envy Suspension, Knowles Race Parts and Bodies, Cruise with the Champions, KND Safety, Impact RaceGear, Race Clean, American Racer, and Denby’s J&J Construction.

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 17th Annual Iron-Man Classic at Smoky Mountain Speedway in Maryville, TN on Saturday June 19, 2021

1. Hudson O’Neal-Martinsville, Ind.
2. Spencer Hughes-Meridan, Miss.
3. Dakotah Knuckles-Ewing, Va.
4. Zack Mitchell-Enoree, S.C.
5. Cory Hedgecock-Loudon, Tenn.
6. Tommy Kerr-Maryville, Tenn.
7. Jensen Ford-Johnson City, Tenn.
8. Skip Arp-Georgetown, Tenn.
9. Robby Moses-Maryville, Tenn.
10. Matthew Nance-Ronda, N.C.
11. Mike Marlar-Winfield, Tenn.
12. Michael Chilton-Salvisa, Ky.
13. Dusty Carver-Englewood, Tenn.
14. Randy Weaver-Crossville, Tenn.
15. David Payne-Murphy, N.C.
16. Vic Hill-Mosheim, Tenn.
17. Brett Wyatt-Crossville, Tenn.
18. Ross Bailes-Clover, S.C.
19. Donald McIntosh-Dawsonville, Ga.
20. Ray Cook-Brasstown, N.C.
21. David Crabtree-Maryville, Tenn.
22. Joey Coulter-Miami Springs, Fla.

Time of Race: 26 minutes, 51 seconds
Margin of Victory: 1.924 seconds
Yellow Flags: Five (lap 4, 8, 9,13, 29)
Red Flags: None
Lap Leaders: Spencer Hughes 1-12, Hudson O’Neal 13-40
Entries: 25
E-Z-GO Time Trials Top Qualifier: Ross Bailes (Group A) 15.560 seconds

Provisional Starters: Jensen Ford, Donald McIntosh

Sunoco Race Fuels Heat One Finish (8 laps/top 4 transfer): Matthew Nance, Ray Cook, Joey Coulter, Brett Wyatt, Kenny Cobble, Tim Rucker, Jensen Ford, Donald McIntosh (DNS-Pierce McCarter)

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