By Michael Despain

BURNSIDE, KENTUCKY (October 8, 2022)– The Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series would make its final visit of the 2022 racing season to Lake Cumberland Speedway in Burnside, KY for the 27th Annual Lake Cumberland Classic presented by SPEDA (Somerset-Pulask Economic Development Authority) with $7,500 going to the winner and Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN would lead all forty laps and capture the victory.

The victory for the 44 year-old Marlar would be his second consecutive and third career Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Series victory and would come behind the wheel of a Longhorn Chassis powered by a Cornett Race Engine and Marlar’s entry carries sponsorship from Delk Equipment, Rocket’s, Tri-Rivers Enterprises, Can-Am Auto Exchange, Auto Parts 4 Less, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Stanley Best Heating and Air, VP Racing Fuels, Midwest Sheet Metal, and Bilstein.  

The first attempted start would not see a lap completed as Austin Atkins and Nick Pennington would tangle exiting turn four, with Pennington’s entry done for the event.  The second attempted start of the race would be a go and Mike Marlar would take the race lead, followed by brother Camaron Marlar, Michael Chilton, Justin Rattliff, and Jesse Lay.  Mike Marlar would set a rapid pace up front as the front five would remain the same as Mike Marlar began lapping slower cars on lap nine.  By lap eleven, Mike Marlar would be in heavy traffic, allowing Camaron Marlar to reel in the leader at this point, while Chilton challenged Camaron Marlar for second in lapped traffic.  The race would reach the halfway mark at lap twenty only to see the caution wave one circuit later on lap twenty-one for the slowed machine of Adam Ahl in turn one, who would be finished for the night.  Mike Marlar would control the restart, followed by Camaron Marlar, Chilton, Rattliff, and Jesse Lay.  Mike Marlar would again pull away from the pack and begin to work slower traffic once again by lap twenty-nine.  The lead trio would be in heavy traffic at this point and Chilton would challenge Camaron Marlar for second and would make a pass for the spot, only to see it negated as the final caution of the race waved on lap thirty-two for debris on the track in turn two.  The final restart would see Mike Marlar once again scoot away from the field and catch slower traffic with two laps remaining but would not be deterred as Mike Marlar would take the victory, with Camaron Marlar, Michael Chilton, Justin Rattliff, and Jesse Lay completing the top five finishers.  The remainder of the top ten would be Donald McIntosh, Austin Lay, Joe Denby, Austin Atkins, and Charlie Jude.  
 
The next events for the Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series will be at Duck River Raceway Park in Lewisburg, TN on Friday November 4 and Saturday November 5 as part of the track’s Deep Fried 75 weekend.  On Friday November 4, the tour will race 30 laps for $5,000 to win and on Saturday November 5 the series races 45 laps for $10,000 to win.  

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 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, Coosa Heating and Cooling, SFP Performance Systems, 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 27th Annual Lake Cumberland Classic presented by SPEDA at Lake Cumberland Speedway in Burnside, KY on Saturday October 8, 2022  
1. Mike Marlar-Winfield, Tenn.
2. Camaron Marlar-Winfield, Tenn.
3. Michael Chilton-Salvisa, Ky.
4. Justin Rattliff-Campbellsville, Ky.
5. Jesse Lay-Walton, Ky.
6. Donald McIntosh-Dawsonville, Ga.
7. Austin Lay-Walton, Ky.
8. Joe Denby-Tullahoma, Tenn.
9. Austin Atkins-Morristown, Tenn.
10. Charlie Jude-Inez, Ky.
11. Shane Irvin-Dunnville, Ky.
12. Cory Brock-Mayking, Ky.
13. Josh Sneed-Knoxville, Tenn.
14. Robby Hensley-Walton, Ky.
15. Adam Ahl-Morristown, Tenn.
16. Nick Pennington-Morehead, Ky.

Time of Race:  20 minutes, 8 seconds
Margin of Victory:  3.342 seconds
Yellow Flags:  Three (lap 1, 21, 32)
Red Flags:  None
Lap Leaders:  Mike Marlar 1-40
Entries:  16
E-Z-GO Time Trials Top Qualifier:  Mike Marlar 13.585 seconds  
SFP Performance Systems Hard Charger Award ($100 product certificate):  Josh Sneed (started 16th-finished 13th-advanced 3 positions)  
Provisionals:  None  

Sunoco Race Fuels Heat Race One Finish (8 laps/all transfer):  Mike Marlar, Justin Rattliff, Jesse Lay, Donald McIntosh, Austin Lay, Austin Atkins, Shane Irvin, Nick Pennington  

Sunoco Race Fuels Heat Race Two Finish (8 laps/all transfer):  Camaron Marlar, Michael Chilton, Adam Ahl, Robby Hensley, Joe Denby, Charlie Jude, Cory Brock, Josh Sneed

2022 Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series Schedule/Results:
January 29-Boyd’s Speedway-Ringgold, GA- SAM SEAWRIGHT (non-points)
March 5-Smoky Mountain Speedway-Maryville, TN-BRANDON OVERTON
March 25-Bristol Motor Speedway-Bristol, TN-CHRIS MADDEN
March 26-Bristol Motor Speedway-Bristol, TN-CHRIS FERGUSON
April 1-Bristol Motor Speedway-Bristol, TN-CHRIS MADDEN
April 2-Bristol Motor Speedway-Bristol, TN-DALE McDOWELL
April 15-Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY-CORY HEDGECOCK
April 16-Tazewell Speedway-Tazewell, TN-CHRIS MADDEN
April 30-Boyd’s Speedway-Ringgold, GA-PAYTON FREEMAN
May 14-Lake Cumberland Speedway-Burnside, KY-ELI BEETS
May 29-Lake Cumberland Speedway-Burnside, KY-ELI BEETS
May 30-411 Motor Speedway-Seymour, TN-JIMMY OWENS
June 3-Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY-ELI BEETS
June 4-Mountain View Raceway-Spring City, TN-JADON FRAME
July 1-Boyd’s Speedway-Ringgold, GA-DONALD McINTOSH
July 2-Lake Cumberland Speedway-Burnside, KY-ELI BEETS
July 3-Tazewell Speedway-Tazewell, TN-RICKY WEISS
July 15-Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY-JOSH RICE
August 6-Brownstown Speedway-Brownstown, IN-DEVIN GILPIN
August 12-Duck River Raceway Park-Lewisburg, TN-SAM SEAWRIGHT
August 13-Talladega Short Track-Eastaboga, AL-ASHTON WINGER
August 27-Lake Cumberland Speedway-Burnside, KY-JOSH RICE
September 14-Volunteer Speedway-Bulls Gap, TN-CORY HEDGECOCK
September 30-Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY-TANNER ENGLISH
October 1-Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY-MIKE MARLAR
October 8-Lake Cumberland Speedway-Burnside, KY-MIKE MARLAR
November 4-Duck River Raceway Park-Lewisburg, TN-$5,000 to win
November 5-Duck River Raceway Park-Lewisburg, TN-$10,000 to win
November 19-Boyd’s Speedway-Ringgold, GA-$5,000 to win
November 26-411 Motor Speedway-Seymour, TN-$5,000 to win