7/8/2023
Iron-Man Late Model Series
Josh Rice Stays Hot in Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Northern Series Inaugural Visit to Hilltop Speedway
MILLERSBURG, OHIO (July 7, 2023)– The Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Northern Series would make its first ever visit to Hilltop Speedway in Millersburg, OH on Friday evening and Josh Rice of Verona, KY would take the lead on lap twelve and led the remainder of the way to claim the $7,500 payday.
For the 24-year old Rice, it would be his fourth series win of the season and his tenth career Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Series victory and would come behind the wheel of a Rocket Chassis with a Jay Dickens Race Engine with sponsorship from Sunesis Holdings and Construction, BLOX Spiked Ice, Extreme Sportswear, Map It Right Engineering and Land Surveying, Chain Locker USA, Maxwell Trucking, AirMax Motorsports, and Northern Kentucky Equipment.
Todd Brennan would take the lead at the start of the Valvoline A-Main event, followed by Josh Rice, Drake Troutman, Cody Scott, and Michael Lake. The first caution waved for debris on the track on lap four and the attempted restart would not see a lap scored as Mike Basich and Larry Bellman, Jr. tangle in turn four. The restart would see the top four remain the same, while Lake would take fourth from Scott and Ryan Missler would make his way to fifth past Scott one circuit later. A caution would appear again on lap six for seventh place running Greg Oakes, when he make contact with the outside wall in turn three. Brennan would command the field on the restart, while Troutman worked past Rice for second, with Missler taking fourth way from Lake. Lap ten would see fifteenth-place starter Doug Drown take fifth away from Lake and two laps later, the fourth caution would wave for Freddie Carpenter’s disabled machine in turn three. The restart would see Brennan bring the field back to green and as the leaders exited turn four, Brennan would get crossed up, with Troutman checking up, and Rice driving past both to take the race lead. Drown would continue his charge and claim second from Troutman on lap thirteen, with Brennan now fourth, and seventh-place starter Tyler Carpenter now fifth. Carpenter would continue to charge, taking fourth from Brennan on lap fifteen and third from Troutman one circuit later on lap sixteen. Rice would maintain the lead, while Drown and Troutman would battle for second. Caution for debris in turn three would slow the action again on lap twenty-three just as Rice was about to enter slower traffic and Carpenter would see his night end as he pulled to the infield. Rice would hold the lead on the restart, while Troutman would work past Drown for second, with Scott taking fourth away from Missler. The final caution waved on lap twenty-five when Vic Hottinger would spin in turn two. The restart would see Troutman set up his challenge and get a great run exiting turn four and would slidejob by Rice in turn one, only to see Rice pull alongside Troutman and reclaim the top spot entering turn three on lap twenty-six. Rice would pull away slightly over the remainder of the race to claim the win, while Drown would make a turn four, last lap pass on Troutman to take second, with Troutman settling for third. Missler and Scott would complete the top five. The remainder of the top ten finishers would be Ryan Markham, Rod Conley, Jesse Wisecarver, Larry Bellman, Jr., and Michael Lake.
The next event for the Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Northern Series will be on Saturday July 8 at Wayne County Speedway in Orrville, OH for the Don and Hans Gross Memorial paying $10,000 to win and $500 to start.
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, 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