JUNCTION CITY, Ky. — The Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Northern and Southern Series would begin their points season on Friday evening at Ponderosa Speedway for the Bobby Carrier, Sr. Tribute.
Josh Rice would lead all 40 laps of the contest on his way to a $7,500 payday.
The win by Rice, a 24-year-old second-generation racer would be his seventh career Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Series victory.
Rice would take the lead at the start of the Bobby Carrier, Sr. Tribute Valvoline A-Main event, with Jensen Ford, David Webb, Zack Dohm, and Victor Lee giving chase.
The front five positions would stay the same until Lee would roll past Webb for third on lap five. A caution would appear on lap seven that would become a red flag for a medical emergency in the main grandstand area.
Once action resumed, Rice would maintain the race lead, while Lee would work past Ford for the runner-up slot, with Dohm taking fourth from Webb as well. Rice would begin to motor away from the field at this point and would begin lapping slower traffic on lap fifteen.
Meanwhile, Devin Gilpin would begin to charge through the field and would make his way into the fifth position by Webb on lap nineteen. Rice would build over a five second advantage over the field at this point until a caution on lap twenty-four would wave for a slowed Camaron Marlar on the backchute area.
The restart would again see Rice continue to lead, while Ford would reclaim the second position from Lee, with Gilpin grabbing the fourth spot from Dohm. Rice would begin working slower again by lap thirty-three, with Dohm and Gilpin battling back and forth for the fourth position, while tenth place starting Justin Rattliff would claim the fifth spot from Webb on lap thirty-five.
The final caution appeared one circuit later for Gilpin, who slowed in turn one with a flat right-rear tire. Rice would lead the final circuits and claim the victory, with Ford finishing second and Dohm coming home third. Lee and Rattliff would complete the top five.
Feature Finish (40 Laps)
1. Josh Rice-Verona, Ky., 2. Jensen Ford-Johnson City, Tenn., 3. Zack Dohm-Cross Lanes, W.V., 4. Victor Lee-Danville, Ky., 5. Justin Rattliff-Campbellsville, Ky., 6. Devin Gilpin-Columbus, Ind., 7. David Webb-Nicholasville, Ky., 8. Dakotah Knuckles-Ewing, Va., 9. Adam Ahl-Morristown, Tenn., 10. Jeff Watson-Campbellsville, Ky., 11. Stacy Boles-Clinton, Tenn., 12. Austin Lay-Walton, Ky., 13. Shane Irvin-Dunnville, Ky., 14. Mike Bargo-Corbin, Ky., 15. Michael Chilton-Salvisa, Ky., 16. Camaron Marlar-Winfield, Tenn., 17. Steve Godsey-Campbellsville, Ky., 18. Skylar Marlar-Winfield, Tenn., 19. Larry Martin, Jr.-Maysville, Ky.