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Josh Rice Rides to Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Series 6th Annual Johnny Wheeler Memorial Victory at Lake Cumberland Speedway

BURNSIDE, KENTUCKY (May 27, 2023)– The Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Northern and Southern Series would make its first visit of the 2023 racing season to Lake Cumberland Speedway in Burnside, KY for the 6th Annual Johnny Wheeler Memorial and Josh Rice of Verona, KY would score his second straight series victory and take the checkered flag first to claim the $7,531 payday.

For the 24-year old Rice, it would be his second series win of the season and his eighth career Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Series victory and behind the wheel of a Rocket Chassis with a Vic Hill Race Engine with sponsorship from Sunesis Holdings, BLOX Spiked Ice, Extreme Sportswear, Map It Right Engineering and Land Surveying, Chain Locker USA, Maxwell Trucking, AirMax Motorsports, and Northern Kentucky Equipment.

Polesitter Josh Henry and outside front row starter Josh Rice would battle for the race lead on the opening lap of the 6th Annual Johnny Wheeler Memorial Valvoline A-Main contest, with Rice taking the lead off turn four over Henry, followed by Zack Dohm, Camaron Marlar, and Justin Rattliff. Marlar would get by Dohm for third on lap two, with Michael Chilton working past Rattliff for fifth on the same circuit. Marlar would pressure Henry for second and take the spot on lap four. With Rice pulling away a bit at this point in the race, Dohm would chase down Henry and take the third spot on lap seven. Rice would begin to start working slower traffic on lap ten and by lap thirteen, Marlar would begin to close the gap between himself and Rice at the front. Chilton would challenge Henry for fourth at this point, with the duo battling side by side until Chilton would claim the position on lap eighteen. Rice would weave his way through some more lapped traffic just past the halfway point and actually put some distance between he and Marlar. Rattliff would begin to pressure Henry for the fifth and make his way back into the top five on lap twenty-four. Rice would maintain about a one second advantage over Marlar, who would begin to get some pressure from Dohm for the runner-up slot by lap thirty. Rice would struggle a bit with slower traffic for a couple of laps with around five laps remaining, allowing Marlar to close in slightly, but Rice would not be denied and would claim his second straight victory of the weekend, with Marlar placing second and Dohm finishing third. Chilton and Rattliff would complete the top five. The remainder of the top ten would be Dakotah Knuckles, Henry, Adam Ahl, Austin Lay, and Skylar Marlar.

The next event for the Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series will be on Sunday May 28 at Tazewell Speedway in Tazewell, TN for the 5th Annual Melvin Corum Memorial, paying $5,001 to win and $450 to start. The next event for the Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Northern Series will be Friday June 16 at Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, KY for the opening race of the Hall of Fame Classic weekend, paying $7,500 to win and $500 to start.

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 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 6th Annual Johnny Wheeler Memorial at Lake Cumberland Speedway in Burnside, KY on Saturday May 27, 2023

1. Josh Rice-Verona, Ky.
2. Camaron Marlar-Winfield, Tenn.
3. Zack Dohm-Cross Lanes, West Va.
4. Michael Chilton-Salvisa, Ky.
5. Justin Rattliff-Campbellsville, Ky.
6. Dakotah Knuckles-Ewing, Va.
7. Josh Henry-Newport, Tenn.
8. Adam Ahl-Morristown, Tenn.
9. Austin Lay-Walton, Ky.
10. Skylar Marlar-Winfield, Tenn.
11. Henry Hornsby III-Beckley, West Va.
12. Shane Irvin-Dunnville, Ky.
13. Stacy Boles-Clinton, Tenn.
14. Larry Martin, Jr.-Maysville, Ky.
15. Josh Sneed-Knoxville, Tenn.
16. Jeff Watson-Campbellsville, Ky.
    DNS-Mike Bargo-Corbin, Ky.
    DNS-Jensen Ford-Johnson City, Tenn.
    DNS-Victor Lee-Danville, Ky.

Time of Race: 10 minutes, 4 seconds
Margin of Victory: 0.592 seconds
Yellow Flags: None
Red Flags: None
Lap Leaders: Josh Rice 1-40
Entries: 19
E-Z-GO Time Trials Top Qualifier: Zack Dohm 13.107 seconds
SFP Performance Systems Hard Charger Award ($100 product certificate): Adam Ahl (started 12th-finished 8th-advanced 4 positions)
Provisionals: None

Todd Steel Buildings Heat Race One Finish (8 laps/all transfer): Josh Henry, Zack Dohm, Michael Chilton, Austin Lay, Henry Hornsby III, Jeff Watson, Shane Irvin, Mike Bargo, Jensen Ford (DNS-Victor Lee)

SFP Performance Systems Heat Race Two Finish (8 laps/all transfer): Josh Rice, Camaron Marlar, Dakotah Knuckles, Justin Rattliff, Stacy Boles, Adam Ahl, Skylar Marlar, Larry Martin, Jr. Josh Sneed

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 16-Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY-$7,500 to win
June 17-Lake Cumberland Speedway-Burnside, KY-$7,500 to win
June 23-Atomic Speedway-Waverly, OH-$5,000 to win
June 24-Atomic Speedway-Waverly, OH-$7,500 to win
July 7-Hilltop Speedway-Millersburg, OH-$5,000 to win
July 8-Wayne County Speedway-Orrville, OH-$10,000 to win
July 22-Atomic Speedway-Waverly, OH-$7,500 to win
August 4-Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY-$7,500 to win
August 26-Lake Cumberland Speedway-Burnside, KY-$15,022 to win
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 28-Tazewell Speedway-Tazewell, TN-$5,001 to win
May 29-411 Motor Speedway-Seymour, TN-$5,052 to win
June 16-Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY-$7,500 to win
June 17-Lake Cumberland Speedway-Burnside, KY-$7,500 to win
July 3-Tazewell Speedway-Tazewell, TN-$21,000 to win
August 4-Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY-$7,500 to win
August 10-North Alabama Speedway-Tuscumbia, AL-$5,000 to win
August 11-Fort Payne Motor Speedway-Fort Payne, AL-$5,000 to win
August 12-Talladega Short Track-Eastaboga, AL-$10,000 to win
August 26-Lake Cumberland Speedway-Burnside, KY-$15,022 to win
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

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