8/24/2023
Iron-Man Late Model Series
Harold Hardgrove Memorial presented by SPEDA $15,022 to win for Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Series at Lake Cumberland Speedway Saturday, Aug. 26
SOMERSET, KENTUCKY (August 24, 2023) – The Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Northern and Southern Series will be at Lake Cumberland Speedway in Burnside, KY on Saturday August 26 for the 12th Annual Harold Hardgrove Memorial presented by SPEDA (Somerset-Pulaski Economic Development Authority) racing for $15,022-to-win and $700-to-start. The 12th Annual Harold Hardgrove Memorial presented by SPEDA will be the biggest to win event in the history of the track better known as “the House of Hardcore Mayhem”.
The 12th Annual Harold Hardgrove Memorial presented by SPEDA will take place at Lake Cumberland Speedway on Saturday August 26 featuring the Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Northern/Southern Series in a full program of Denby’s J&J Construction Hot Laps, E-Z-GO Time Trials, Heats, Impact Race Gear B-Mains, and the 50-lap, $15,022 to win/$700 to start 12th Annual Harold Hardgrove Memorial presented by SPEDA Valvoline A-Main contest. Other divisions in action at the 12th Annual Harold Hardgrove Memorial presented by SPEDA at Lake Cumberland Speedway on Saturday August 26 will be the track’s Crate Late Models ($1,522 to win), Open Wheel Modifieds ($1,022 to win), Super Stocks ($1,022 to win), Hobby Stocks ($1,022 to win), and FWD Mini-Stocks ($522 to win).
Activities at Lake Cumberland Speedway for the 12th Annual Harold Hardgrove presented by SPEDA on Saturday August 26 will see the pit area and general admission area at 2:00 p.m. The drivers meeting will be at 7:00 p.m., with practice laps and time trials to get underway at 7:15 p.m. Ticket prices at Lake Cumberland Speedway on Saturday August 26 in the general admission area will be $30 (children ages 10 and under are free), while a pit pass will be $45 for adults (children ages 6-10 will be $25, with children ages 5 and under free).
The Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Northern and Southern Series will sanction the Super Late Model portion of the event and the tire rule will be as follows: Fronts: Open; Left Rear: Hoosier NLMT 2 (LM20) and NLMT 3 (LM30); Right Rear: Hoosier NLMT 3 (LM30) and Hoosier NLMT 4 (LM40) (there is no limit on the number of tires used; the droop rule will be in effect, along with the standardized body rules of WoO/Lucas). The entry fee will be $100 and transponders for timing/scoring will be available for rent at the track. Any driver not making the 22-car starting field will receive $75 tow money.
The event honors the memory of former Kentucky racer and former Lake Cumberland Speedway track promoter Harold Hardgrove, who owned and operated Lake Cumberland Speedway from 1997 until his untimely death in 2009. Mr. Hardgrove often competed at the track prior to him purchasing the track and beginning his tenure as owner and promoter in 1997. Mr. Hardgrove reinstated the running of the Lake Cumberland Classic in 1998, while also hosting an invitational event that featured national country music superstars Montgomery-Gentry in concert prior to that event in 2002. The late Mr. Hardgrove also presented the track’s first $10,000 to win event (the Coca-Cola 100 in November 2002), while also presenting several Northern Allstars Late Model Series events and Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series events during his time at the helm the track. The late Mr. Hardgrove’s son, Brandon Hardgrove, currently owns and operates Lake Cumberland Speedway and presents this event annually in memory of his father.
Current Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Northern Series points leader Josh Rice of Verona, KY would claim the victory in the 2022 Harold Hardgrove Memorial event after taking the lead on lap two of the contest and leading the rest of the fifty-lap distance to score the win over Zack Dohm of Cross Lanes, WV, Victor Lee of Danville, KY, Skylar Marlar of Winfield, TN, and Sam Seawright of Fort Payne, AL.
Lake Cumberland Speedway is located at 360 Race Track Road Burnside, KY 42519. For more information about Lake Cumberland Speedway, visit the track’s webpage at www.lcspeedway.net or by liking Lake Cumberland Speedway Dirt Racing on Facebook.
For more information on the Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Series, please call 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.
Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Northern/Southern Series Harold Hardgrove Memorial presented by SPEDA Feature Purse (50 laps): 1. $15,022, 2. $5,000, 3. $2,500, 4. $2,000, 5. $1,500, 6. $1,100, 7. $1,000, 8. $950, 9. $900, 10. $850, 11. $800, 12. $750, 13. $700, 14. $700, 15. $700, 16. $700, 17. $700, 18. $700, 19. $700, 20. $700, 21. $700, 22. $700.
Previous Harold Hardgrove Memorial Champions:
2009-Greg Johnson-Bedford, IN
2010-Skylar Marlar-Winfield, TN
2011-Michael Chilton-Salvisa, KY
2012-Brad Neat-Dunnville, KY
2013-Dustin Neat-Dunnville, KY
2014-Event Not Held
2015-Event Not Held
2016-Event Not Held
2017-Skylar Marlar-Winfield, TN
2018-Jason Jameson-Lawrenceburg, IN
2019-Tanner English-Benton, KY
2020-Michael Chilton-Salvisa, KY
2021-Michael Chilton-Salvisa, KY
2022-Josh Rice-Verona, KY
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 17-Lake Cumberland Speedway-Burnside, KY-Josh Rice (Verona, KY)
July 7-Hilltop Speedway-Millersburg, OH-Josh Rice (Verona, KY)
July 22-Atomic Speedway-Waverly, OH-Nick Hoffman (Mooresville, NC)
August 4-Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY-Michael Chilton (Salvisa, KY)
August 19-Atomic Speedway-Waverly, OH-Josh Rice (Verona, KY)
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 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-$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
November 18-Lancaster Motor Speedway-Lancaster, SC-$10,000 to win
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.