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Legendary Marvin Ford Classic Kicks Off Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series at Fort Payne Motor Speedway April 29

SOMERSET, KENTUCKY (April 24, 2023)- The Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series will now begin their 2023 points season on Saturday April 29 at Fort Payne Motor Speedway in Fort Payne, AL with the running of the Legendary Marvin Ford Classic paying $10,038 to win and $500 to start, making this the biggest event in the history of Fort Payne Motor Speedway.

The weekend will get underway on Friday April 28 as the UCRA Crate Late Model Series will be in action for $3,038 to win/$200 to start (plus $200 Fast Time Award), along with racing in the Fort Payne Motor Speedway 602 Sportsman, Bomber, and Front Wheel Drive divisions. Activities on Friday April 28 will see the pit area open at 3:00 p.m., while the general admission area will open at 4:00 p.m. The drivers meeting will be at 6:00 p.m., with hot laps getting underway at 6:30 p.m. (all times listed are Central Time). Ticket prices on Friday April 28 in the general admission area will be $20, while a pit pass will be $35 (an ATV pass will be $20).

The Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series will take center stage on Saturday April 29 for the inaugural Legendary Marvin Ford Classic and the Super Late Models will be featured in a full program of Denby’s J&J Construction Hot Laps, E-Z-GO Time Trials, Heat Races, Impact Race Gear B-Mains, and the 50-lap, $10,038 to win/$500 to start Legendary Marvin Ford Classic Valvoline A-Main feature event. Other divisions that will be in competition at Fort Payne Motor Speedway on Saturday April 29 will be the track’s A-Hobby, B-Hobby, Open Wheel Modified, and Pony divisions. Activities at Fort Payne Motor Speedway on Saturday April 29 will see the pit area open at 3:00 p.m. and the general admission area will open at 4:00 p.m. The drivers meeting will be at 6:00 p.m., with hot laps scheduled to be on the track at 6:30 p.m. (all times listed are Central Time). Ticket prices at Fort Payne Motor Speedway on Saturday April 29 in the general admission area will be $25 for adults, while a pit pass will be $40 (an ATV pass will be $25).

Fort Payne Motor Speedway has posted the following bonuses for the Legendary Marvin Ford Classic event on Saturday April 29: $500 Fast Time Award for the fastest overall qualifier; $500 for the highest finishing entry utilizing a 604 Crate Engine, as the 604 Late Models will be allowed to race with the Super Late Models if they choose to do so.

The Super Late Model portion of the Legendary Marvin Ford Classic on Saturday April 29 will be sanctioned by the Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series and will be contested under their series rules and regulations. The tire rule for Super Late Models will be as follows: Front: Open; Left Rear: Hoosier NLMT 2 (LM20) and NLMT 3 (LM30); Right Rear: Hoosier NLMT 3 (LM30) and NLMT 4 (LM40); no limit on number of tires used. The Droop Rule will be in effect, along with the WoO/Lucas standardized body rules and tire samples will be taken. The entry fee for the event is $100 and transponders for timing/scoring are available for rent from the track. Any driver not making the 22-car starting field will receive $75 tow money.

This event is being held in memory of the late Marvin Ford, who passed away suddenly on November 5, 2022 at the age of 71. Mr. Ford was the owner and promoter of Fort Payne Motor Speedway at the time of his passing, a track he had owned since 2012. Ford was also the founder of the United Championship Racing Alliance (UCRA) Crate Late Model Series, establishing that series in 2014. Mr. Ford was well respected by racers and fans alike, was always easily accessible to the racers, and strived to help any racer in any way he could. The late Mr. Ford’s involvement in racing date back to being a former flagman at Dixie Speedway in Woodstock, GA before taking on the role of a track promoter when he would operate the now defunct Green Valley Speedway in Glencoe, AL from 1989 through 1997. Ford would purchase Thunder Mountain Speedway in 2012 and renamed it Fort Payne Motor Speedway, which he operated until the time of his passing.

Fort Payne Motor Speedway is located at 4365 County Road 72 in Fyffe, AL 35971. For more information, please visit the track’s webpage at www.fortpaynemotorspeedway.com or by visiting Fort Payne Motor Speedway on Facebook.

For more information about the Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Series, please contact Chris Tilley at (828) 361-5981 or visit the tour’s webpage 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 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.

Legendary Marvin Ford Classic Feature Purse April 29 (50 laps): 1. $10,038, 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. $650, 14. $600, 15. $550, 16. $530, 17. $520, 18. $500, 19. $500, 20. $500, 21. $500, 22. $500

Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series 2023 Schedule/Results
April 29-Fort Payne Motor Speedway-Fort Payne, AL-$10,038 to win
May 26-Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY-$7,500 to win
May 27-Lake Cumberland Speedway-Burnside, KY-$7,531 to win
May 28-Tazewell Speedway-Tazewell, TN-$5,001 to win
June 10-North Georgia Speedway-Chatsworth, GA-$5,000 to win
June 16-Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY-$7,500 to win
June 17-Lake Cumberland Speedway-Burnside, KY-$7,500 to win
July 3-Tazewell Speedway-Tazewell, TN-$21,000 to win
August 4-Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY-$7,500 to win
August 10-North Alabama Speedway-Tuscumbia, AL-$5,000 to win
August 11-Fort Payne Motor Speedway-Fort Payne, AL-$5,000 to win
August 12-Talladega Short Track-Eastaboga, AL-$10,000 to win
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

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.

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