---

Josh Rice Rides to Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Series Johnny Mulligan Classic Win at Ponderosa Speedway

JUNCTION CITY, KENTUCKY (July 15, 2022)– The Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Northern and Southern Series would be in action at Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, KY on Friday evening for the 2nd Annual Johnny Mulligan Classic and Josh Rice of Verona, KY would take the lead on lap thirteen and put on a dominant performance the remainder of the contest to claim the victory and the $5,000 payday.

The win for 23 year old Rice would be his first of the season with the tour and fifth career Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Series victory. Rice’s winning entry is a Rocket Chassis powered by a Jay Dickens Race Engine with sponsorship from Sunesis Holdings, Blox Spiked Ice, Chain Locker USA, ATC Bolts and Fasteners, Base Racing Fuel, Extreme Sportswear Sales, Maxwell Trucking, Valvoline, Integra Shocks, Rice Brothers Racing, and Slicker Graphics.

Eli Beets would take the lead at the start of the 2nd Annual Johnny Mulligan Classic main event, with Michael Chilton, Justin Rattlliff, Josh Rice, and Scott James in pursuit. Rice would work past Rattliff on lap two for the third position, but the action would be slowed one lap later when fifth place running James would slow on the backchute and pull to the infield, done for the event. The attempted restart would not see a lap completed before a three-car tangle involving Wesley Brummett, Shane Irvin, and Kenny Cobble would occur in turn four. The next restart would see action stay green and Beets would maintain the lead, with Rice getting by Chilton for the second position, with Rattliff and Josh Putnam fourth and fifth. Beets and Rice would begin to put some distance back to Chilton, while Victor Lee would challenge Putnam for fifth and take the position on lap five. The front pair of Beets and Rice would lap some slower traffic beginning on lap nine and Rice would begin to pressure Beets for the lead, with the pair trading slidejobs for the race lead on lap twelve before Rice would secure the lead with a turn two slidejob pass of Beets for the lead on lap thirteen. Rice would begin to really flex his muscles and stretch his lead and by the halfway mark of the race, Rice held a four second advantage over Beets. Rice would work slower traffic to perfection throughout the second half of the race and would continue to stretch his around a half-track advantage in the waning stages of the race. At the drop of the checkered flag, Rice would have a 9.270 second advantage over second-place Beets, while Chilton would finish third. Rattliff and Lee would complete the top five finishers. The remainder of the top ten would be Dakotah Knuckles, Garrett Smith, Josh Putnam, Austin Lay, and Keegan Cox.

The next event for the Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Northern Series will be on Saturday July 30 at Portsmouth Raceway Park in Portsmouth, OH for the 11th Annual Boone Coleman Memorial Gator 50, paying $5,000 to win. The next event for the Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series will be at Ponderosa Speedway on Friday August 5 for the Pete Abell Memorial, paying $5,000 to win (this will also be a Northern Series points event).

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 (Super Late Models) 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 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 the Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Northern and Southern Series Johnny Mulligan Classic at Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, KY on Friday July 15, 2022

1. Josh Rice-Verona, Ky.
2. Eli Beets-Knoxville, Tenn.
3. Michael Chilton-Salvisa, Ky.
4. Justin Rattliff-Campbellsville, Ky.
5. Victor Lee-Danville, Ky.
6. Dakotah Knuckles-Ewing, Va.
7. Garrett Smith-Eatonton, Ga.
8. Josh Putnam-Florence, Ala.
9. Austin Lay-Walton, Ky.
10. Keegan Cox-Franklin, Ind.
11. Shane Irvin-Dunnville, Ky.
12. Brayton Laster-Greenwood, Ind.
13. Billy Denby-Tullahoma, Tenn.
14. Brady Lear-Brodhead, Ky.
15. Scott James-Lawrenceburg, Ind.
16. Wesley Brummett-Harrodsburg, Ky.
17. Kenny Cobble-Cookeville, Tenn.
18. Michael Klein-Elsmere, Ky.

Time of Race: 18 minutes, 57 seconds
Margin of Victory: 9.270 seconds
Yellow Flags: Two (lap 3, lap 3 restart)
Red Flags: None
Lap Leaders: Eli Beets 1-12, Josh Rice 13-50
Entries: 18
E-Z-GO Time Trials Top Qualifier: Eli Beets 12.909 seconds
SFP Performance Systems Hard Charger Award ($100 product certificate): Dakotah Knuckles (started 9th-finished 6th-advanced 3 positions)
Provisionals: None

Sunoco Race Fuels Heat Race One Finish (8 laps/all transfer): Eli Beets, Josh Rice, Josh Putnam, Garrett Smith, Dakotah Knuckles, Keegan Cox, Shane Irvin, Billy Denby, Brady Lear

Sunoco Race Fuels Heat Race Two Finish (8 laps/all transfer): Justin Rattliff, Michael Chilton, Scott James, Victor Lee, Austin Lay, Wesley Brummett, Kenny Cobble, Brayton Laster (DNS-Michael Klein)

Back to News