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Ben Watkins Wins Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series/Carolina Clash Palmetto State 50 at Lancaster Motor Speedway

LANCASTER, SOUTH CAROLINA (November 18, 2023)– The Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series would conclude the 2023 racing season with the tour’s first-ever visit to Lancaster Motor Speedway in Lancaster, SC for the Palmetto State 50 for a non-points event and Ben Watkins of Rock Hill, SC would take the race lead on lap forty-three and drive on to the $10,000 payday. The win by Watkins would be his sixth straight victory at Lancaster Motor Speedway. The event was co-sanctioned with the Carolina Clash Super Late Model Series.

The win by Watkins would be his first career Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Series victory and came aboard a Longhorn Chassis powered by a Clements Race Engine and carries sponsorship from Mega Plumbing of the Carolinas, Sandwood Company, Craig Industries, Langley’s Collision Center, Collins Signs, WP Racing Shocks, Bilstein Shocks, VP Racing Fuels, and Allstar Performance.

Polesitter Christian Thomas would lead the first three circuits of the Palmetto State 50 feature contest before Adam Yarbrough would take the race lead on lap four and would immediately be pressured by Donald McIntosh for the top spot, with McIntosh taking the race lead on lap six and Michael Page would slide into the second position. As McIntosh maintained the race lead and Daulton Wilson taking second after Page retired after he drew a caution on lap thirteen, sixth place starting Ben Watkins would begin to work his way toward the front and after finally securing the second position, would begin to mount a charge on race leader McIntosh. Watkins would make what would be the race winning pass on lap forty-three and maintain the top spot and claim a 1.917 second victory over McIntosh, with Yarbrough completing the podium finishers in third, while Wilson and Benji Hicks would complete the top five. The remainder of the top ten finishers would be Thomas, Dennis Franklin, Gray Parton, David McCoy, and David Yandle.

This event concludes the 2023 racing season for the Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series. The series would like to congratulate Josh Henry of Newport, TN on winning the 2023 Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series championship. Also, the series would like to thank all the racetracks, race fans, and race teams for their support during the 2023 racing season.

For more information on the Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Series, phone series promoter Chris Tilley at (828) 361-5981 or by visiting the tour website at www.IMDIRT.net or by following Iron-Man Series (@CTPROMOTE) on Twitter or liking Iron-Man Racing Series on Facebook.

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, FloRacing, 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 Southern Series/Carolina Clash Super Late Model Series Palmetto State 50 at Lancaster Motor Speedway in Lancaster, SC on Sunday November 18, 2023

1. Ben Watkins-Rock Hill, S.C.
2. Donald McIntosh-Dawsonville, Ga.
3. Adam Yarbrough-Denver, N.C.
4. Daulton Wilson-Fayetteville, N.C.
5. Benji Hicks-Mount Airy, N.C.
6. Christian Thomas-Wake Forest, N.C.
7. Dennis Franklin-Gaffney, S.C.
8. Gray Parton-Rutherfordton, N.C.
9. David McCoy-Franklin, N.C.
10. David Yandle-Monroe, N.C.
11. Josh Henry-Newport, Tenn.
12. Mike Huey-Chester, S.C.
13. Michael Brown-Pageland, S.C.
14. Kevin Godwin-Blythewood, S.C.
15. Haiden Cowan-Rincon, Ga.
16. Carl Vaughan-Chesapeake, Va.

Time of Race: 31 minutes
Margin of Victory: 1.917 seconds
Yellow Flags: Three
Red Flags: None
Lap Leaders: Christian Thomas 1-3, Adam Yarbrough 4-5, Donald McIntosh 6-42, Ben Watkins 43-50
Entries: 16
E-Z-GO Time Trials Top Qualifier: Christian Thomas 19.177 seconds
SFP Performance Systems Hard Charger Award ($100 product certificate): Ben Watkins (started 6th-finished 1st-advanced 5 positions)
Provisionals: None

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 29-411 Motor Speedway-Seymour, TN-Cory Hedgecock (Loudon, TN)
June 17-Lake Cumberland Speedway-Burnside, KY-Josh Rice (Verona, KY)
July 3-Tazewell Speedway-Tazewell, TN-Dale McDowell (Chickamauga, GA)
August 4-Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY-Michael Chilton (Salvisa, KY)
August 11-North Alabama Speedway-Tuscumbia, AL-Christian Hanger (Winchester, TN)
August 12-Talladega Short Track-Eastaboga, AL-Sam Seawright (Fort Payne, AL)
August 26-Lake Cumberland Speedway-Burnside, KY-Josh Rice (Verona, KY)
September 3-Tazewell Speedway-Tazewell, TN-Dakotah Knuckles (Ewing, VA)
November 18-Lancaster Motor Speedway-Lancaster, SC-Ben Watkins (Rock Hill, SC) (Non-Points)

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