12/13/2023
Iron-Man Late Model Series
Josh Henry Earns 2023 Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series Championship
SOMERSET, KENTUCKY (December 13, 2023)- The Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series has completed its 2023 racing season and second-generation racer Josh Henry of Newport, TN has earned top honors for 2023 and is the 2023 Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series champion, claiming his first-ever series championship title with the tour in his first full season of competition on the tour after racing in a limited number of tour events in 2022.
For Henry, a 32-year-old second generation racer who finished 20th in tour points in 2022, his run to the 2023 Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series championship would prove that consistency is the key to winning a points championship as the Newport, TN native would score six top ten finishes on his way to securing the tour title. While not claiming a feature event victory, Henry would earn his best finish of the season with the tour at North Alabama Speedway in Tuscumbia, AL on August 11. Henry’s 2023 championship winning efforts came aboard a Savage Race Car powered by a DJ’s Performance Race Engine and the tour champion would carry sponsorship from Henry Trucking, Competition Racing Equipment, Williams Starters, and Cantrell Trucking.
After finishing eighth in 2022 Southern Series points, Josh Rice of Verona, KY would claim 2023 Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series championship runner-up honors. The 25-year-old Rice, a second-generation driver who is the 2023 Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Northern Series champion, would claim four series victories in limited action with the Southern Series (Ponderosa Speedway May 26 and Lake Cumberland Speedway on May 27, June 17, andAugust 26). Defending Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series champion Michael Chilton of Salvisa, KY would final third in final tour points as the 37-year-old driver would score three top ten finishes and score one victory at Ponderosa Speedway on August 4.
Adam Ahl of Morristown, TN would finish fourth in the final Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series points tally in his first year of competition with the series. The 25-year-old Ahl would not claim an event victory, but five top ten finishes, with his best finish being a seventh-place effort at 411 Motor Speedway on May 29. Dakotah Knuckles of Ewing, VA would complete the top five in tour points as the 29-year-old would score three top ten finishes and would score one tour victory with a thrilling turn-four last lap pass at Tazewell Speedway on September 3.
For the 2023 Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series tour, a total of 136 different drivers competed with the tour during the season and the average car count per event would be 23.4 entries per event, with the high car count being 36 at Talladega Short Track on August 12 for the Governor’s Cup event. Ten different drivers would score feature event wins, with only one driver scoring more than one victory (Josh Rice-4).
The Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series would like to sincerely thank all the racetracks and their staffs, the racers and race teams, and the race fans for their support of the 2023 season for the Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series.
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 Northern 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, FloRacing, 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.
FINAL 2023 Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series Points
- Josh Henry (Newport, TN)- 457
- Josh Rice (Verona, KY)- 395
- Michael Chilton (Salvisa, KY)- 302
- Adam Ahl (Morristown, TN)- 291
- Dakotah Knuckles (Ewing, VA)- 275
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)