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Ray Cook Kicks Off New Year with 32nd Annual Ice Bowl Victory at Talladega Short Track

EASTABOGA, ALABAMA (January 6-7, 2023)– The Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series presented the first race of the Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Winter Series with the 32nd Annual Ice Bowl presented by Racecar Engineering and Ray Cook of Brasstown, NC would survive an early race tangle and work his way back through the field and also survive a rash of late race cautions for flat tires to claim his third Ice Bowl victory (previous wins came in 2009 and 2012) and the $7,500 payday.

The win for Cook would be his first career Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Series victory and would come aboard a Capital Race Car powered by a Cornett Race Engine and the car was sporting the Youngblood Concrete Special throwback scheme that carries sponsorship from Vinson Sims Construction, Circuit World, Schaeffer’s Oil, American Racer South, Sunoco Race Fuels, FK Rod Ends, Delph Communications, and Steering Buddy.

Pearson Lee Williams and Sam Seawright would bring the field to the green flag, but the caution would wave in turn one before a lap would be completed for a multi-car incident that eliminate Jordy Nipper from action. The second attempted start would be a go, with Sam Seawright taking the lead, followed by J.T. Seawright, Dallas Cooper, Pearson Lee Williams, and Dalton Cook. Jason Hiett and Will Roland would tangle in turn one on lap two to draw the next caution and Mark Bangs and Will Harris would tangle in turn four on the restart. The next restart would see sixth-place running Chase Oliver clip an infield uke tire entering turn three, collecting Ray Cook in the process and drawing the caution. Sam Seawright would control the lead again on the restart, followed by J.T. Seawright, Cooper, and Williams, while Dalton Cook and Booger Brooks would trade the fifth position until Brooks won the battle for the spot on lap six. The front five would remain the same until caution waved again on lap twelve for Mark Bangs after he made contact with the end of the frontstretch wall entering turn one. The restart would also be a no-go when Dalton Cook would slow in turn two with a flat right-front tire. The restart would see Sam Seawright, J.T. Seawright, Cooper, Williams, and Brooks hold down the top five spots, while Ray Cook and Will Roland began to march their way back toward the front of the field. David Seibers would draw the next caution on lap twenty when he would slow in turn three. The front five would again remain the same until Roland would slow in turn two with a flat right rear tire and under this caution, second place running J.T. Seawright would stop on the track and be pushed off the track with mechanical issues. This restart would not see a lap completed as Randy Holder went over the back in turn one to keep the field under caution. Sam Seawright would maintain the lead on the restart, with Brooks climbing to second, trailed by Cooper, Williams, and Chris Jones. The next caution waved on lap thirty-five when Cooper would slow in turn two and see his night finished at this point. Seawright would be challenged by Brooks on the restart, with Williams now third, and Ray Cook would work past Jones for the fourth position. Lap thirty-seven would see Todd Morrow slow in turn four and when action resumed, disaster would strike for Williams as he would tangle in turn four on the restart and his night would be done. Seawright again held off Brooks on the restart, while Ray Cook would now be third, followed by Jones and Roland. Dalton Cook would draw the next caution on lap thirty-eight. The top five remained the same on the restart until the caution waved again on lap forty for sixth place running Scott Crigler, who slowed in turn one with a flat right rear tire. Seawright maintained the lead once again, while Ray Cook would drive past Brooks for the second position, followed by Jones and Roland. Disaster would strike Seawright on lap forty-three when his mount would slow down the backchute with a flat right rear tire. This turn of events would hand the lead to Ray Cook on the restart, who would be trailed by Brooks, Jones, Roland, and Morrow. The final caution of the race waved on lap forty-four for second place running Brooks, who would suffer a flat right rear tire. Cook would lead the way the remainder of the way and score the victory, followed by Jones, Roland, Morrow, and Crigler. The remainder of the top ten finishers would be Seawright, Brooks, Will Harris, Dalton Cook, and Williams.

The next event for the Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Series will be race number two of the Winter Series and will take place at Boyd’s Speedway in Ringgold, GA on Saturday January 28 for the 15th Annual Cabin Fever 40, paying $5,000 to win.

For more information about the Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Series or Brucebilt Performance Parts Iron-Man Open Wheel Modified Series, please contact Chris Tilley at (828) 361-5981 or visit the tour’s webpages 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 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, Cruise with the Champions, Coosa Heating and Cooling, SFP Performance Systems, Stakt Products, PopBit, 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 Southern Series/Winter Series 32nd Annual Ice Bowl presented by Racecar Engineering at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL on Friday/Saturday January 6-7, 2023

1. Ray Cook-Brasstown, N.C.
2. Chris Jones-Alabaster, Ala.
3. Will Roland-Jasper, Ga.
4. Todd Morrow-Penton, Ala.
5. Scott Crigler-Alton, Mo.
6. Sam Seawright-Fort Payne, Ala.
7. Booger Brooks-Chickamauga, Ga.
8. Will Harris-Maysville, Ga.
9. Dalton Cook-Salem, Ala.
10. Pearson Lee Williams-Dublin, Ga.
11. Blake Craft-Lavonia, Ga.
12. Randy Holder-Anniston, Ala.
13. Dallas Cooper-Talladega, Ala.
14. J.T. Seawright-Oxford, Ala.
15. Mike Bargo-Corbin, Ky.
16. Mark Bangs-Hollywood, Ala.
17. Christian Hanger-Winchester, Tenn.
18. David Seibers-Chapel Hill, Tenn.
19. Andy Morris-Canton, Ga.
20. Michael Seibers-Chapel Hill, Tenn.
21. Chase Oliver-Crossville, Ala.
22. Maddux Mullinax-Birmingham, Ala.
23. Jason Hiett-Oxford, Ala.
24. Jordy Nipper-Gray, Ga.

Time of Race: 58 minutes, 6 seconds
Margin of Victory: 2.442 seconds
Yellow Flags: 18 (lap 1, 2, 2 restart, 2 restart, 12, 12 restart, 20, 29, 29 restart, 35, 37, 37 restart, 37 restart, 37 restart, 38, 40, 43, 44)
Red Flags: None
Lap Leaders: Sam Seawright 1-42, Ray Cook 43-50
Entries: 33
E-Z-GO Time Trials Top Qualifier: Sam Seawright (Group B) 14.653 seconds
Provisionals: None

Sunoco Race Fuels Heat Race One Finish (10 laps/top 4 transfer): Pearson Lee Williams, Dalton Cook, Scott Crigler, Jason Hiett, Andy Morris, Mike Bargo, Justin Owens, Mike Bruner (DNS-Parrish Duncan)

Sunoco Race Fuels Heat Race Two Finish (10 laps/top 4 transfer): J.T. Seawright, Chase Oliver, Maddux Mullinax, Mark Bangs, David Seibers, Randy Holder, Aaron Watson, Brandon Tibaldi

Sunoco Race Fuels Heat Race Three Finish (10 laps/top 4 transfer): Sam Seawright, Booger Brooks, Christian Hanger, Chris Jones, Will Roland, Luke Hoffner, Brian Burke, Wesley Scott

Sunoco Race Fuels Heat Race Four Finish (10 laps/4 transfer): Dallas Cooper, Jordy Nipper, Ray Cook, Blake Craft, Todd Morrow, Michael Seibers, Will Harris, Skip Freeman

Impact Race Gear B-Main One Finish (12 laps/top 4 transfer): David Seibers, Andy Morris, Mike Bargo, Randy Holder, Aaron Watson, Parrish Duncan, Justin Owens, Brandon Tibaldi (DNS-Mike Bruner)

Impact Race Gear B-Main Two Finish (12 laps/top 4 transfer): Todd Morrow, Will Roland, Michael Seibers, Will Harris, Wesley Scott, Skip Freeman, Luke Hoffner (DNS-Brian Burke)

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