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Ricky Weiss Lights Up Tazewell Speedway for Firecracker 40 Win

TAZEWELL, TENNESSEE (July 3, 2022)– The Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series would kick off the Independence Day weekend of racing action at Boyd’s Speedway in Ringgold, GA with the Stars and Stripes 40 event and Ricky Weiss of Headingly, Manitoba CAN would take the lead on lap twenty-four and take the checkered flag first to score the win and the $5,000 payday. (Michael Moats image)

The win for Weiss would be his second career Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Series win and come behind the wheel of his Sniper Chassis powered by a Vic Hill Race Engines with sponsorship from Drydene Engine Oils, J&C Properties, G-Style Transport, Total Works Truck and Equipment, RDW Recycling, Forks Mobile Wash, LG Transport, Derrick’s Sandblasting, Keewatin Truck Service, and Kakela Farms.

Dakotah Knuckles and Ricky Weiss would bring the field to the green flag, with Weiss taking the lead, however one lap would not be completed as Knuckles would make heavy contact with the outside retaining wall in turn three and Brian Shockley would also become involved, with both drivers finished for the night. Austin Neely and Weiss would now bring the field to the green, with Neely taking the race lead, followed by Weiss, Michael Chilton, Eli Beets, and Vic Hill. The front five would run this way until caution appeared again on lap six for debris on the track. The restart would again see the top five in the running order remain the same until caution waved again on lap nine for Troy Eads, who slowed on the frontchute with a broken axle. Neely would maintain the point on the restart, with Chilton taking second from Weiss, while Hill would take fourth from Beets. The top five would remain this way until Terry Wolfenbarger would slow in turn two after having mechanical issues. The restart would see Neely, Chilton, and Weiss battle for the top spot, with the trio going three-wide into turn three, with Neely keeping the lead, followed by Chilton and Weiss. Neely would maintain the lead, while Chilton, Weiss, and Hill would battle furiously for positions two through four. Weiss would jump to the top side of the track and take second from Chilton on lap twenty-two and set his sights on race leader Neely and would slidejob past Neely for the lead in turn two on lap twenty-four. Weiss would pull away a bit from the field, while Chilton and Neely would begin to battle for second. The final caution of the race waved on lap thirty-two when debris would be on the track, with Neely and Chilton making contact and Neely would spin to the inside on the backstretch, while Chilton and Hill would also make contact. The restart would see Weiss maintain the lead for the remainder of the event and score the win, with Chilton finishing second and Hill coming home third. Beets and Matt Tharp would complete the top five. The remainder of the top ten would be Stacy Boles, Steve Smith, Terry Wolfenbarger, Matthew Holt, and Ryan Winchester.

The next event for the Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series (and Northern Series) will be at Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, KY on Friday July 8 for the 2nd Annual Johnny Mulligan Classic, paying $10,000 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 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, Impact Race Gear, 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, SFP Performance Systems, KND Safety, 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 Firecracker 40 at Tazewell Speedway in Tazewell, TN on Sunday July 3, 2022

1. Ricky Weiss-Headingly, Manitoba CAN
2. Michael Chilton-Salvisa, Ky.
3. Vic Hill-Mosheim, Tenn.
4. Eli Beets-Knoxville, Tenn.
5. Matt Tharp-Luttrell, Tenn.
6. Stacy Boles-Clinton, Tenn.
7. Steve Smith-Powell, Tenn.
8. Terry Wolfenbarger-Powell, Tenn.
9. Matthew Holt-Washburn, Tenn.
10. Ryan Winchester-Palmersville, Tenn.
11. Troy Eads-Tazewell, Tenn.
12. Joseph Joiner-Milton, Fla.
13. Dakotah Knuckles-Ewing, Va.
14. Brian Shockley-Thorn Hill, Tenn.
15. Jason Trammell-Mascot, Tenn.
16. Austin Neely-New Tazewell, Tenn.
    Did Not Start-Ryan King-Seymour, Tenn.

Time of Race: 33 minutes, 46 seconds
Margin of Victory: 1.942 seconds
Yellow Flags: Six (lap 1, 1 restart, 6, 9, 17, 32)
Red Flags: None
Lap Leaders: Austin Neely 1-23, Ricky Weiss 24-40
Entries: 17
E-Z-GO Time Trials Top Qualifier: Ricky Weiss (Group B) 10.866 seconds
SFP Performance Systems Hard Charger Award ($100 product certificate): Steve Smith (started 13th-finished 7th-advanced 6 positions)
Provisionals: None

Sunoco Race Fuels Heat One Finish (8 laps/all transfer): Joseph Joiner, Brian Shockley, Steve Smith, Ryan Winchester, Matthew Holt (DNS-Troy Eads, Ryan King)

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-CHRIS MADDEN
April 2-Bristol Motor Speedway-Bristol, TN-DALE McDOWELL
April 15-Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY-CORY HEDGECOCK
April 16-Tazewell Speedway-Tazewell, TN-CHRIS MADDEN
April 30-Boyd’s Speedway-Ringgold, GA-PAYTON FREEMAN (non-points)
May 14-Lake Cumberland Speedway-Burnside, KY-ELI BEETS
May 29-Lake Cumberland Speedway-Burnside, KY-ELI BEETS
May 30-411 Motor Speedway-Seymour, TN-JIMMY OWENS
June 3-Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY-ELI BEETS
June 4-Mountain View Raceway-Spring City, TN-JADON FRAME
July 1-Boyd’s Speedway-Ringgold, GA-DONALD McINTOSH
July 2-Lake Cumberland Speedway-Burnside, KY-ELI BEETS
July 3-Tazewell Speedway-Tazewell, TN-RICKY WEISS
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 11-North Alabama Speedway-Tuscumbia, AL-$5,000 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 7-North Wilkesboro Speedway-North Wilkesboro, NC-$5,000 to win
October 8-North Wilkesboro Speedway-North Wilkesboro, NC-$10,000 to win
October 22-I-75 Raceway-Sweetwater, TN-$10,000 to-win
November 4, 5-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

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