5/24/2023
Iron-Man Late Model Series
Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series Gets Fast at Tazewell Speedway for the 5th Annual Melvin Corum Memorial on Sunday May 28
SOMERSET, KENTUCKY (May 24, 2023) – The Valvoline Iron-Man Racing Southern Series continues the 2023 Memorial Day weekend at “The Bad Fast Taz” Tazewell Speedway in Tazewell, TN for the track’s 5th Annual Melvin Corum Memorial event that will pay $5,001 to win and $450 to start.
This event is the third of a four-race Memorial Day weekend swing for the series, that includes events at Ponderosa Speedway on Friday May 26 ($7,500 to win), Lake Cumberland Speedway on Saturday May 27 ($7,531 to win), and 411 Motor Speedway on Monday May 29 ($5,052 to win).
The 5th Annual Melvin Corum Memorial takes place at Tazewell Speedway on Sunday May 28 and will feature the Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series in a full program of Denby’s J&J Construction Hot Laps, E-Z-GO Time Trials, Last Chance Heats, and the 40-lap, $5,001 to win/$450 to start 5th Annual Melvin Corum Memorial Valvoline A-Main main event. Other divisions in competition at the 5th Annual Melvin Corum Memorial on Sunday May 28 at Tazewell Speedway will be the track’s Sportsman ($800 to win), Classic Cars ($500 to win), and Street Stocks ($500 to win), plus there will be fireworks show during the evening. Of note, no personal vehicles nor four-wheelers allowed in the pit area. Each race team is allowed one (1) four-wheeler. Handicapped vehicle parking is on first come, first serve basis.
Activities at Tazewell Speedway on Sunday May 28 for the 5th Annual Melvin Corum Memorial will see the pit area open at 3:00 p.m., with the general admission area opening at 5:00 p.m. The driver’s meeting will be at 7:15 p.m., with practice laps set to begin at 7:45 p.m. Ticket prices for the 5th Annual Melvin Corum Memorial at Tazewell Speedway on Sunday May 28 in the general admission area will be $20 for adults (children ages 9 and under free), while a pit pass will be $35 for adults (children 12 and under $25).
The Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series will sanction the Super Late Model portion of the event and the tire rule will be as follows: Fronts: Open; Left Rear: Hoosier NLMT 2 (LM20) and NLMT 3 (LM30); Right Rear: Hoosier NLMT 3 (LM30) and Hoosier NLMT 4 (LM40) (there is no limit on the number of tires used; the droop rule will be in effect, along with the standardized body rules of WoO/Lucas). The entry fee will be $100 per event and transponders for timing/scoring will be available for rent at the track. Any driver not making the 22-car starting field on Monday May 29 will receive $50 tow money.
The Melvin Corum Memorial is contest in memory of the late Melvin Corum, who resided in Maynardville, TN and passed away on September 15, 2018 at his home at the age of 78. Corum was a long-time dirt track race car driver in the East Tennessee region and won many championships in the area, including wins and titles at Tazewell Speedway. After retiring from active driving, Corum’s hobbies included restoring vintage cars and trucks.
The Melvin Corum Memorial has been a Crate Late Model in the past four seasons, sanctioned by the UCRA Crate Late Model Series. Josh Collins of Strawberry Plains, TN would be the 2022 winner of the event, finishing ahead of Kenny Kizzar of Sale Creek, TN, Bradley Lewelling of Seymour, TN, Phillip Thompson of Whitesburg, TN, and Heath Alvey of Dandridge, TN.
Tazewell Speedway is located at 1400 Bacchus Road in Tazewell, TN 37879. For more information about Tazewell Speedway, visit the track website at www.tazewellspeedway.net.
For more information on the Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Series, please call series promoter Chris Tilley at (828) 361-5981 or by visiting the tour website at www.IMDIRT.net or by following Iron-Man Series (@CTPROMOTE) on Twitter or liking Iron-Man Racing Series on Facebook.
The Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Series would like to thank the following sponsors and marketing partners for their support of the 2023 racing season: Valvoline, Zerex by Valvoline, Brucebilt Performance Parts, Hoosier Racing Tire, E-Z-GO, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, SFP Performance Systems, MyRacePass, Impact Race Gear, XS Power Batteries, Vic Hill Racing Engines, Racecar Engineering, American Racer Tires, Keltner Contracting, Todd Steel Buildings, TW Taylor Trucking, Earnhardt Technologies Group, Weichert Realtors-Ford Brothers (Judith Dyehouse-Agent), Swafford Signs, KY Clutch, DIRTCAR Racing, Brown Haven Homes, Knowles Race Parts and Bodies, Coosa Heating and Cooling, Stakt Products, KND Safety, Chattanooga Valley Auto Parts, PopBit, Denby’s J&J Construction, Jim and Nancy Viox, Advanced Transportation, Lowe’s Tows, Reno’s Roadhouse, and Racetrack Safety Initiative.
Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series 5th Annual Melvin Corum Memorial Feature Purse (40 laps): 1. $5,001, 2. $2,500, 3. $1,500, 4. $1,200, 5. $700, 6. $650, 7. $550, 8. $500, 9. $475, 10. $465, 11. $450, 12. $450, 13. $450, 14. $450, 15. $450, 16. $450, 17. $450, 18. $450, 19. $450, 20. $450, 21. $450, 22. $450
Previous Melvin Corum Memorial Champions:
2019-Jesse Lowe (Crossville, TN)
2020-Jason Trammell (Powell, TN)
2021-Aaron Guinn (Russellville, TN)
2022-Josh Collins (Strawberry Plains, TN)
Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series 2023 Schedule/Results
January 6/7-Talladega Short Track-Eastaboga, AL-Ray Cook (Brasstown, NC) (Non-Points)
January 29-Boyd’s Speedway-Ringgold, GA-J.T. Seawright (Oxford, AL (Non-Points)
May 26-Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY-$7,500 to win
May 27-Lake Cumberland Speedway-Burnside, KY-$7,531 to win
May 28-Tazewell Speedway-Tazewell, TN-$5,001 to win
May 29-411 Motor Speedway-Seymour, TN-$5,052 to win
June 16-Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY-$7,500 to win
June 17-Lake Cumberland Speedway-Burnside, KY-$7,500 to win
July 3-Tazewell Speedway-Tazewell, TN-$21,000 to win
August 4-Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY-$7,500 to win
August 10-North Alabama Speedway-Tuscumbia, AL-$5,000 to win
August 11-Fort Payne Motor Speedway-Fort Payne, AL-$5,000 to win
August 12-Talladega Short Track-Eastaboga, AL-$10,000 to win
August 26-Lake Cumberland Speedway-Burnside, KY-$15,022 to win
September 3-Tazewell Speedway-Tazewell, TN-$5,044 to win
October 6-Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY-$5,000 to win
October 7-Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY-$10,088 to win
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.