Rice Banks $10,000 In Kentucky

WALLINGFORD, Ky. — The Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series Fueled by VP Racing Fuels would conclude its weekend doubleheader of racing action at Mudlick Valley Raceway on Saturday evening with Josh Rice earning the $10,000 victory. 

The win by the 26-year-old Rice was his second of the season with the series at Mudlick Valley Raceway, third of the season with the tour overall, and his 16th series victory. 

Derek Fisher grabbed the lead at the start of second annual Fall 40 Valvoline A-Main event, with Rice, Kenneth Howell, Ryan Missler and Seth Daniels in pursuit. 

The first of five caution flags would fly on lap three when Kirk Phillips would slow on the back chute and be pushed to the infield, done for the race. 

The restart would see the first four positions stay the same, while Clint Keenan would take fifth from Daniels. Keenan would continue to charge at this point, taking fourth from Missile on lap five and bringing Carpenter along into the fifth position. 

Missler and Carpenter would work past Keenan on lap seven, while the caution would fly again one tour later on lap eight for a tangle between Avery Taylor and R.J. Conley in turn three. 

The restart would see Fisher would maintain the race lead, with Rice, Howell, Missler, and Keenan would be second through fifth. 

At this point, Jason Jameson, who started 12th, would make his way into fifth on lap nine, while the caution waved on lap ten for a multi-car incident exiting turn four, with all drivers able to continue. Fisher, Rice, and Howell would maintain the top three spots the restart, while Jameson would go past Missler for fourth and one lap later on lap 12, Jameson would get Howell for third, while Carpenter grabbed fifth from Missler. 

Nicky Pennington would draw the next caution when he would slow on the back chute. The restart would not see a full lap completed as debris would be spotted on the track in turn four to slow the action for the final time in the event. 

For what would be the final restart, Fisher, Rice, and Jameson would run first through third, while Carpenter would take fourth from Missler. Carpenter would mount a charge on Jameson and take the third position on lap 18. 

Rice would begin to challenge Fisher for the top spot at this point and would make his move for the lead with a slidejob pass in turn one on lap 20. 

Rice would begin to distance himself from Fisher at this point, while Carpenter would close a bit. Rice would continue to slowly pull away and begin lapping slower traffic on lap twenty-nine. Kenneth Howell would take fourth from Jameson on lap 35, but Rice would go unchallenged the remainder of the way and see the checkered flag first, with Fisher and Carpenter completing the podium. 

The finish:

Josh Rice, Derek Fisher, Freddie Carpenter, Jason Jameson, Kenneth Howell, Ryan Missler, Rod Conley, Luke Morey, Rusty Schlenk, Seth Daniels, Austin Lay, Devin Shiels, Henry Hornsby III, Clint Keenan, Jeff Babcock, Rob Anderzack, Billy Green, Shannon Thornsberry, Nicky Pennington, Tim Dohm, Kenny Christy, Avery Taylor, R.J. Conley, Larry Martin Jr., Kirk Phillips.