BURNSIDE, Ky. — The Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Northern and Southern Series was in action Sunday night at Lake Cumberland Speedway for the fifth annual Johnny Wheeler Memorial and Eli Beets led all 40 laps for the $5,031 payday.
Beets was the fifth different winner of the Johnny Wheeler Memorial event in the five seasons it has been contested.
For Beets, it would be his second career Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Series victory and his second of the season and would come aboard a Capital Race Car powered by a Clements Race Engine with sponsorship from TMC Transportation and C&C Specialized Trucking.
Stacy Boles and Eli Beets would bring the field to the green flag, but the caution waved before one lap could be completed for a three-car tangle in turn two involving Shane Bailey, Kenny Cobble and Brady Lear.
The second attempted start saw Beets outduel Boles for the lead, but a four-car would take place in turn two on lap two involving Michael Chilton, Kirk Phillps, Dakotah Knuckles and Shane Irvin.
The restart saw Beets hold the lead, with Boles in second, with Justin Rattliff taking third from Mack McCarter, while Chris Combs would go to fifth. The front five would remain the same until the caution waved on lap eight for debris in turn one.
Beets controlled the restart, with Boles and Rattliff battling for second, with Boles securing the runner-up slot on lap nine, while McCarter would run fourth and Combs would be fifth. Chilton would begin to charge his way back toward the front and would claim the fifth spot on lap 11.
The front five would remain the same with Beets stretching his lead out to better than three seconds over Boles, but Beets would start working slower traffic on lap 22 and Boles would close the gap a bit, however, the final caution of the event would appear on lap 24 when Rod Carter Jr. slowed with mechanical issues.
Beets would again maintain the lead on the restart, with Rattliff taking second from Boles.
Beets would a comfortable lead over Rattliff, while Chilton would battle with Boles for the third spot. Combs would begin to pressure McCarter for fifth and take the spot on lap 33.
Beets would begin working lapped traffic again on lap 36, while Chilton would final win the battle for third with Boles and take the final podium on lap 37.
Beets maintained an almost three second advantage over the final few circuits and grab the victory, with Rattliff finishing second and Chilton claiming third.
The finish:
Eli Beets, Justin Rattliff, Michael Chilton, Stacy Boles, Chris Combs, Camaron Marlar, Mack McCarter, Daulton Wilson, Matt Henderson, Austin Lay, Kirk Phillips, Rod Carter Jr., Dakotah Knuckles, Shane Irvin, Kenny Cobble, Shane Bailey, Brady Lear.