The Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series would kick off the Independence Day weekend of racing action at Boyd’s Speedway in Ringgold, GA with the Stars and Stripes 40 event and Ricky Weiss of Headingly, Manitoba CAN would take the lead on lap twenty-four and take the checkered flag first to score the win and the $5,000 payday.
The win for Weiss would be his second career Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Series win and come behind the wheel of his Sniper Chassis powered by a Vic Hill Race Engines with sponsorship from Drydene Engine Oils, J&C Properties, G-Style Transport, Total Works Truck and Equipment, RDW Recycling, Forks Mobile Wash, LG Transport, Derrick’s Sandblasting, Keewatin Truck Service, and Kakela Farms.
Dakotah Knuckles and Ricky Weiss would bring the field to the green flag, with Weiss taking the lead, however one lap would not be completed as Knuckles would make heavy contact with the outside retaining wall in turn three and Brian Shockley would also become involved, with both drivers finished for the night. Austin Neely and Weiss would now bring the field to the green, with Neely taking the race lead, followed by Weiss, Michael Chilton, Eli Beets, and Vic Hill. The front five would run this way until caution appeared again on lap six for debris on the track. The restart would again see the top five in the running order remain the same until caution waved again on lap nine for Troy Eads, who slowed on the front chute with a broken axle. Neely would maintain the point on the restart, with Chilton taking second from Weiss, while Hill would take fourth from Beets. The top five would remain this way until Terry Wolfenbarger would slow in turn two after having mechanical issues. The restart would see Neely, Chilton, and Weiss battle for the top spot, with the trio going three-wide into turn three, with Neely keeping the lead, followed by Chilton and Weiss. Neely would maintain the lead, while Chilton, Weiss, and Hill would battle furiously for positions two through four. Weiss would jump to the top side of the track and take second from Chilton on lap twenty-two and set his sights on race leader Neely and would slidejob past Neely for the lead in turn two on lap twenty-four. Weiss would pull away a bit from the field, while Chilton and Neely would begin to battle for second. The final caution of the race waved on lap thirty-two when debris would be on the track, with Neely and Chilton making contact and Neely would spin to the inside on the backstretch, while Chilton and Hill would also make contact. The restart would see Weiss maintain the lead for the remainder of the event and score the win, with Chilton finishing second and Hill coming home third. Beets and Matt Tharp would complete the top five. The remainder of the top ten would be Stacy Boles, Steve Smith, Terry Wolfenbarger, Matthew Holt, and Ryan Winchester.
Valvoline Iron Man Late Models
1. 7 Ricky Weiss
2. 97 Michael Chilton
3. 1 Vic Hill
4. 109 Eli Beets
5. 35 Matt Tharp
6. 11B Stacy Boles
7. 3 Steve Smith
8. 14 Terry Wolfenbarger
9. 22 Matthew Holt
10. 51 Ryan Winchester
11. 52 Troy Eads
12. 10 Joseph Joiner
13. 21K Dakotah Knuckles
14. 17 Bryan Shockley
15. 90J Jason Trammell
DQ’d 3 Austin Neely
Sportsman Late Models were also on showcase for an $800 to win feature, Second-generation driver Jody Horton of Sneedville was quickest in qualifying with a lap of 12.212 seconds, earning the pole for the twenty lap race with Tazewell’s own Jonathan Miracle sharing the front row. With the flash of the green Horton used the low line to take the initial lead on the back stretch as Miracle, Joe Bray, Justin Beeler and Odie Overholt fell into queue. The caution flag would fly on lap nine as Beeler’s car slowed in turn 4. With no time to hit the brakes the cars of Overholt and Mitchell Burke would collide, ending their nights. On the restart Horton & Miracle began pulling away with Miracle searching for the right groove to stay with Horton. Racing hard and clean in the closing laps the top two entertained the near capacity crowd. Horton would hold back Miracle to earn his third win of the season piloting the Presley’s Sawmill, G&T Transport, Presley’s Farms, Clinch River Market and Deli, Greasy Rock Auto Shop, Discount Auto Parts, Sneedville Motor Company, Ahlsome Design Concepts, Warrior 1G Shock Service sponsored Warrior Race Car.
Sportsman
1. 56J Jody Horton
2. 50 Jonathan Miracle
3. 76 Joe Bray
4. 54 Mitchell Burke
5. 17 Logan Seal
6. 52 Troy Eads
7. 20 David Bullington
8. 11 Tim Bounds
9. 000 Greg Goins
10. 5 Josh Chesney
11. 43 Harve Gregory
12. 28 Richard Cox
13. 53 Chris Raines
14. 25 Justin Beeler
15. 14 Odie Overholt
16. 17 Matt Melton
17. 27 Randy Davis
DNS 21 Bryan Howerton
DNS 13 Robbie Buchanan
DNS 22B Tyson Britt
A great field of Classic Cars were hand to compete for $500 to win. Josh Chesney of Maynardville earned quick time honors with Will Carey turning in the second quickest time. Chesney would take the lead in the second turn with Carey tacked onto his back bumper. By the fifth lap the pair began pulling away with Carey peaking low in the turns. A couple of times in the opening laps the pair were even on the straights. While Chesney & Carey were duking it our for the lead Jesse Hickman had caught the pair. By lap fifteen the top three were nose to tail. Chesney was able to lead every lap to notch his fourth win of the season driving the Union Equipment Rental, Bronzed Tanning Brilliance sponsored Classic Car sedan.
Classic Car
1. XXX Josh Chesney
2. 16 Will Carey
3. 69 Jesse Hickman
4. 5 Jason Saylor
5. 14 Chad Manning
6. 88 Richie Overholser
7. 52 Kevin Crane
8. 15 Chris Griffin
9. 7 Tim Stevens
10. 86 Matt Shockley
11. 18 Chris Nix
12. 2 Michael Branham
13. 28 Lukas Shelton
14. 44 Eli keck
15. 22 Hunter Graybeal
DNS 3 Michael Milsap
in Street Stock action Morristown natives Austin Levers & Colby Long would pace the field for the $500 to win feature. Long would take the lead on the back chute with Lefevers, James Collett Jr and Tony Trent giving chase. On lap four David Clark, who started fifth, would challenge Trent for fourth. Meanwhile Lefevers muscled his way past Long for the lead. Four laps later Clark moved passed Collett for third and on lap twelve took second away from Long.
The scariest moment of the night came in the closing laps as Long and Collett were trying to navigate around a lap car. Long would make contact sending him spinning on the front stretch and collecting Collett in the process. Both cars would suffer heavy damage and retire from the event. Back under green Lefevers would hold back Clark to earn his first win of the season in the S&H Services, Screen Designs by Sheila, McBride Security sponsored Monte Carlo.
Street Stock
1. 90 Austin Lefevers
2. 13 David Clark
3. 18 Tony Trent
4. 1 Jamie Whitt
5. 31 Brandon Muncey
6. 38 James Collett Jr
7. 10 Colby Long
8. 14 Lee Merritt
9. 71 Wayne Abner
10. XP21 Bob Petty
11. 32 Shawn Stamper
12. 20 Scottie Atkins
13. 33 Chris Hickman
14. 26 Zach Campbell
Samuel Fox of Newport led every lap of the 4Cylinder feature to notch his second win of the season and his career.
4 Cylinder
1. 22 Samuel Fox
2. 18 Damien Holt
3. 25G Gracie Duggan
4. 99 Chuck McMahan
5. 13 Terry Boshears
6. 1 Mark Dalton
7. 1 Mitchell Fox
8. 43 Kenneth Myers
9. 49 Levi Fox
DNS 04 Jake Callebs
