by Michael Despain (photo courtesy of Tyler Carr)

WAVERLY, OHIO (June 1, 2024)– The Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series Fueled by VP Racing Fuels would be in action on Saturday evening at Atomic Speedway in Chillicothe, OH for the track’s June Jam event and Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville, IN would lead all thirty-three of the scheduled forty laps before light rain showers began falling over the track and the event was declared complete per series rules. O’Neal would earn $5,000 for his victory.

The victory by the 23-year-old second-generation racer would be his first of the season with the series and his fourth career Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series Fueled by VP Racing Fuels victory. O’Neal would drive the Kevin Rumley owned Longhorn Chassis powered by a Cornett Racing Engine with sponsorship from Rumley Enterprises, Lionel Racing, and D and B Marine.

Hudson O’Neal would take the lead at the start of the June Jam Valvoline A-Main event, with Rod Conley, Rusty Schlenk, R.J. Conley, and Adam Stricker giving chase. O’Neal would quickly begin to speed away from the field, while Stricker would take the fourth position from R.J. Conley on lap seven. O’Neal would catch the rear of the field and begin working slower traffic on lap eight and would encounter heavy traffic by lap ten. O’Neal would work lapped traffic masterfully, while Stricker, who had started sixth, would begin to battle with Schlenk for third and take the position on lap twelve, only to have Schlenk reclaim the spot on lap nineteen. As the field saw the halfway indicator, O’Neal had built his lead to almost just over eight seconds, while Stricker would work back around Schlenk for third on lap twenty-two. By lap twenty-five, O’Neal would hold a lead of over nine seconds, with Rod Conley, Stricker, and Schlenk battling for second through fourth. Stricker would grab the second position from Rod Conley on lap twenty-eight with a daring move to the outside exiting turn four. O’Neal had lapped up to the seventh place running machine of Zach Milbee when the caution waved with thirty-three laps complete for a slowed Jeff Babcock in turn three with a flat right front tire. During the caution period, light rain showers would begin to fall over the track and would not stop and the track was deemed not safe to continue the event, thus, the checkered flag would be displayed and the event was declared complete. O’Neal would be the winner, with Stricker, Rod Conley, Schlenk, and R.J. Conley completing the top five. The remainder of the top ten finishers would be 12th starting David Webb, Zach Milbee, Ryan Missler, Seth Daniels, and Devin Shiels.

The next events for the Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series Fueled by VP Racing Fuels will be Friday June 14 at MRP Raceway Park in Williamsburg, OH paying $5,000 to win and Saturday June 15 at Mudlick Valley Raceway in Wallingford, KY paying $10,000 to win.

For more information on the Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series Fueled by VP Racing Fuels, phone series promoter Chris Tilley at (828) 361-5981 or by visiting the tour website at www.IMDIRT.net or by following American Late Model Iron-Man Series (@ironmandirt) on Twitter or by liking American Late Model Iron-Man Series on Facebook.

The Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series Fueled by VP Racing Fuels would like to thank and recognize the following sponsors and marketing partners for their support of the 2024 racing season: Valvoline, VP Racing Fuels, Allgaier Performance, Allgaier Racing Shocks, Brucebilt Performance Parts, Deatherage Racing Opticians, DIRTcar Racing, DirtonDirt.com, Domination Race Cars, Earnhardt Technologies Group, E-Z-GO, FloRacing, Hoosier Racing Tire, Impact Race Gear, Jim and Nancy Viox, Keltner Contracting, Kentucky Clutch, KND Safety, MyRacePass, CNR Racing, Octane Custom Trailers, Racetrack Safety Initiative, SFP Performance Systems, STAKT Products, Swafford Signs, Todd Steel Buildings, Vic Hill Race Engines, XS Power Batteries, and Zerex by Valvoline.

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.

About VP Racing Fuels
From a single location with two employees in San Antonio, Texas, VP Racing Fuels has grown to over 300 employees with five company-owned and operated race fuel distribution points in Texas, Indiana, Delaware, and Tennessee, a regional office in southern California, and an international office in Berlin, Germany. Each of these distribution points maintains an inventory of VP Fuels available for immediate transport within a day’s drive to virtually any major racing event in North America. The result is that racers and sanctioning bodies can count on access to the availability of quality fuel. VP’s distribution network of over two thousand dealers around the world extends to Europe, Central and South America, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the Pacific Rim. VP Racing Fuels is now recognized by many as the world leader in race fuel technology, with a catalog of more than 80 fuel blends and a growing roster of VP-fueled champions across the entire spectrum of motorsports. The passion and dedication of VP’s development team to staying on the leading edge of technology is legendary. Most of VP’s employees are or have been racers in one form or another and are driven by the competitive will to win. Together, the VP Racing Fuels team intends to solidify its position as the true World Leader in Race Fuel Technology for years to come.

Official Summary of Results

Valvoline A-Main Feature Results for the Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Late Model Series Fueled by VP Racing Fuels June Jam at Atomic Speedway on Saturday June 1, 2024
1. Hudson O’Neal-Martinsville, Ind.
2. Adam Stricker-Batavia, Ohio
3. Rod Conley-Wheelersburg, Ohio
4. Rusty Schlenk-McClure, Ohio
5. R.J. Conley-Wheelersburg, Ohio
6. David Webb-Nicholasville, Ky.
7. Zach Milbee-Poca, West Va.
8. Ryan Missler-Bellevue, Ohio
9. Seth Daniels-Jackson, Ohio
10. Devin Shiels-Britton, Mich.
11. Austin Lay-Walton, Ky.
12. Casey Noonan-Sylvania, Ohio
13. Jerry Bowersock-Wapakoneta, Ohio
14. Billy Green-Walton, Ky.
15. Jacob Stuhr-Harrison, Mich.
16. Rob Anderzack-Swanton, Ohio
17. Gregg Haskell-Chatham, Ont. CAN
18. Justin Cooper-Wheelersburg, Ohio
19. Jeff Babcock-Wayne, Ohio
20. Chad Roush-Reedsville, Ohio
21. Shane Bailey-Grayson, Ky.
22. Matt Melvin-Coal Grove, Ohio

Time of Race: 17 minutes, 10 seconds
Margin of Victory: 9.445 seconds
Yellow Flags: One (lap 34)
Red Flags: None
Lap Leaders: Hudson O’Neal 1-33
Entries: 31
Provisionals: Casey Noonan, Billy Green
Emergency Provisionals: None
E-Z-GO Time Trials presented by Brucebilt Performance Parts Top Qualifier ($50 product certificate): Hudson O’Neal 13.439 seconds
SFP Performance Systems Hard Charger Award ($100 product certificate): Casey Noonan (started 21st-finished 12th-advanced 9 positions)
SFP Performance Systems Hard Luck Award ($100 product certificate): Shane Bailey
Deatherage Racing Opticians Middleman Award ($50 product certificate to the 11th place finisher): Austin Lay
Brucebilt Performance Parts Youngest Driver/Highest Finisher ($25 product certificate): Billy Green
Octane Custom Trailers Move of the Race (free entry fee at next event): Adam Stricker
CNR Racing 5th Place Finisher ($50 product certificate): R.J. Conley
CNR Spoiler Challenge Leader: Rusty Schlenk
VP Racing Fuels Makin’ Power Heat Race One Finish (8 laps/top 5 transfer): Hudson O’Neal, Rusty Schlenk, Seth Daniels, Zach Milbee, Chad Roush, Matt Melvin, Billy Green, Jacob Stuhr, Travis Carr, Brock Morris (DNS-Clint Keenan)

FloRacing Heat Race Two Finish (8 laps/top 5 transfer): Rod Conley, Justin Cooper, Jeff Babcock, Jerry Bowersock, Devin Shiels, Shane Bailey, Casey Noonan, Derreck Meadors, Tony Paynter, Kirk Phillips

Jim and Nancy Viox Heat Race Three Finish (8 laps/top 5 transfer): R.J. Conley, Adam Stricker, Ryan Missler, David Webb, Gregg Haskell, Austin Lay, Rob Anderzack, Dave Hornikel, Russell Throckmorton (DNS-Dusty Moore)

STAKT Products B-Main One Finish (8 laps/top 5 transfer): Matt Melvin, Austin Lay, Jacob Stuhr, Rob Anderzack, Shane Bailey, Casey Noonan, Billy Green, Dave Hornikel, Travis Carr, Derreck Meadors, Russell Throckmorton (DNS-Tony Paynter, Brock Morris, Kirk Phillips, Dusty Moore, Clint Keenan)

2024 Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series Fueled by VP Racing Fuels Events:
May 24-Attica Raceway Park-Attica, OH-Rusty Schlenk (McClure, OH)
May 25-Oakshade Raceway-Wauseon, OH-Rusty Schlenk (McClure, OH)
June 1-Atomic Speedway-Waverly, OH-Hudson O’Neal (Martinsville, IN)
June 14-MRP Raceway Park-Williamsburg, OH-$5,000 to win
June 15-Mudlick Valley Raceway-Wallingford, KY-$10,000 to win
July 3-Merritt Speedway-Merritt, MI-$5,000 to win
July 4-Merritt Speedway-Merritt, MI-$5,000 to win
July 6-Brownstown Speedway-Brownstown, IN-$5,000 to win
July 7-Tri-State Speedway-Haubstadt, IN-$5,000 to win
August 10-Wayne County Speedway-Orrville, OH-$5,000 to win
August 16-Tri-City Motor Speedway-Auburn, MI-$5,000 to win
August 17-Crystal Motor Speedway-Crystal, MI-$5,000 to win
August 24-Butler Motor Speedway-Butler, MI-$5,000 to win
August 30-Portsmouth Raceway Park-Portsmouth, OH-$7,500 to win
September 1-Eldora Speedway-Rossburg, OH-$5,000 to win
September 13-MRP Raceway Park-Williamsburg, OH-$5,000 to win
September 14-Lawrenceburg Speedway-Lawrenceburg, IN-$5,000 to win
September 21-Atomic Speedway-Waverly, OH-$5,000 to win