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Hedgecock Claims Biggest Career Win with $15,000 Payday in Valvoline TN Fall Nationals at I-75 Raceway

SWEETWATER, TENNESSEE (October 23, 2021)– The Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series would be in action at I-75 Raceway in Sweetwater, TN on Saturday evening for the inaugural Valvoline Tennessee Fall Nationals and Cory Hedgecock of Loudon, TN would score the biggest win of this career with a $15,000 payday. The race itself paid $12,000 to win, plus he claimed the $3,000 bonus to if a driver set overall fast time, won their heat, and won the feature, and Hedgecock did just that.

The win by the 29-year old Hedgecock was his fifth career Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Series victory and would be his second of the season and would come aboard his Black Diamond Chassis powered by an Eagle Race Engine and carries sponsorship from E-Z-GO, Eagle Racing Engines, Voo Doo Technology, Pace Performance, K and P Used Cars, Boyd-Bilt Fabrication, Budget Transmissions, Green’s Recycling, I-75 Raceway, Hoosier Tire, Ohlins Shocks, VP Racing Fuels, and Brucebilt Performance.

Cory Hedgecock would jump to the race lead at the start of the fifty-lap main event, followed by Stacy Boles, Chris Ferguson, Eli Beets, and Jensen Ford. Hedgecock would quickly put some distance on the field, while Beets would get a two-for-one deal when he would go from fourth to second on lap three, working past Boles and Ferguson. Hedgecock would maintain a rapid pace out front and would begin to work slower traffic on lap ten, with Ferguson working past Boles for third one tour later on lap eleven. The front three would remain the same in Hedgecock, Beets, and Ferguson as Hedgecock would work lapped traffic perfectly, with Ford challenging Boles for the fourth position and getting the spot on lap twenty-two. The first caution would appear on lap twenty-four when Robby Moses would slow on the frontchute after shredding a right-rear tire. The restart would also not see a lap completed as Ryan King and Eddie King would tangle on the backchute, with Eddie King being done for the night. The next restart would see action resume, with Hedgecock still on the point, with Ferguson working past Beets for second, followed by Ford and Boles. Ford would challenge Beets for third and would take the position on lap twenty-five, while Bailes would pressure Boles for fifth spot and the duo would trade the spot until Bailes claimed it on lap twenty-seven. The final caution of the event waved on lap thirty-three for debris in turn four. Hedgecock would again get a great restart and maintain the lead, trailed by Ferguson, Ford, Beets, while Boles took fifth from Bailes, only to see Bailes reclaim the spot on lap thirty-four. Hedgecock would maintain a 1.5 to 2.0 second lead over Ferguson and Hedgecock would again begin to work slower traffic on lap forty-two and would again work through traffic smoothly and score the win by 2.239 seconds over Ferguson, while Ford would complete the podium finishers in third. Beets and Bailes would round out the top five. The remainder of the top ten finishers would be Boles, Ray Cook, Skip Arp, Ryan King, and Jordan Rodabaugh.

The next event for the Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series will be on Saturday November 27 at 411 Motor Speedway in Seymour, TN for the 6th Annual Leftover, paying $5,000 to win and $450 to start. This event will be the 2021 series finale for the Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series.

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, 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 Valvoline Tennessee Fall Nationals at I-75 Raceway in Sweetwater, TN on Saturday October 23, 2021

1. Cory Hedgecock-Loudon, Tenn.
2. Chris Ferguson-Mount Holly, N.C.
3. Jensen Ford-Johnson City, Tenn.
4. Eli Beets-Knoxville, Tenn.
5. Ross Bailes-Clover, S.C.
6. Stacy Boles-Clinton, Tenn.
7. Ray Cook-Brasstown, N.C.
8. Skip Arp-Georgetown, Tenn.
9. Ryan King-Seymour, Tenn.
10. Jordan Rodabaugh-Soddy Daisy, Tenn.
11. David Payne-Murphy, N.C.
12. Jed Emert-Maryville, Tenn.
13. Ruben Mayfield-Lenoir City, Tenn.
14. Ryan Winchester-Palmersville, Tenn.
15. Jeff Neubert-Rockford, Tenn.
16. Phil Helton-Clinton, Tenn.
17. Larry Greer-Bowling Green, Ky.
18. Eddie King-Knoxville, Tenn.
19. Robby Moses-Maryville, Tenn.
20. Joseph Faulkner-Fayetteville, Tenn.
21. Jaden Frame-Winchester, Tenn.
22. Christian Hanger-Winchester, Tenn.

Time of Race: 27 minutes, 2 seconds
Margin of Victory: 2.239 seconds
Yellow Flags: Three (lap 24, 24 restart, 33)
Red Flags: None
Lap Leaders: Cory Hedgecock 1-50
Entries: 28
E-Z-GO Time Trials Top Qualifier: Cory Hedgecock (Group B) 14.529 seconds

Provisional Starters: Phil Helton, Ryan Winchester

Sunoco Race Fuels Heat One Finish (8 laps/top 4 transfer): Stacy Boles, Jensen Ford, Christian Hanger, Jordan Rodabaugh, Ruben Mayfield, Larry Greer, Phil Helton

Sunoco Race Fuels Heat Two Finish (8 laps/top 4 transfer): Chris Ferguson, Robby Moses, Ross Bailes, Jeff Neubert, Craig Greer, Ellery Leake, Forrest Trent

Sunoco Race Fuels Heat Three Finish (8 laps/top 4 transfer): Cory Hedgecock, Ryan King, Eddie King, Joseph Faulkner, Jed Emert, Tim Vance, Shawn Chastain

Sunoco Race Fuels Heat Four Finish (8 laps/top 4 transfer): Eli Beets, Skip Arp, Ray Cook, Jadon Frame, David Payne, Ryan Winchester, Aaron Watson

Impact RaceGear B-Main One Finish (8 laps/top 4 transfer): David Payne, Ruben Mayfield, Jed Emert, Larry Greer, Ryan Winchester, Phil Helton, Tim Vance, Craig Greer, Shawn Chastain (DNS-Ellery Leake, Forrest Trent, Aaron Watson)

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