2/6/2022
Iron-Man Late Model Series
Sam Seawright Scores 2022 Cabin Fever Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series Opener at Boyd’s Speedway
RINGGOLD, GEORGIA (February 5, 2022)– The Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series would open its 2022 racing season on Saturday afternoon with a non-points event at Boyd’s Speedway in Ringgold, GA for the track’s 14th Annual Cabin Fever event and Sam Seawright of Fort Payne, AL would take the lead on lap nineteen and survive a trio of late race cautions to capture the Cabin Fever victory and $5,000 payday.
The win by the 18-year-old Seawright would be his first career Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series victory and would come aboard a Black Diamond Race Car powered by a Durham Race Engine with sponsorship from Agcor Steel, J&R Lumber Supply, Farm Systems, Inc., Team Grow Pediatric Therapy, J&R Excavating, and Martin Motorsports Racing Shocks.
A ten-car pileup in turn one on the opening lap of the event would draw the first caution of the event and once action got underway, John Ownbey would jump to the lead over Brandon Williams, followed by Sam Seawright, Robby Mason, and Ronnie Johnson. Williams would pressure Ownbey and would take the lead in turn two on lap two and on the next circuit, Bill Mahan would slow at the top of turn four with mechanical issues and would be done for the event. The restart would see Williams maintain the top spot, with Seawright taking second, followed by Ownbey, with Johnson taking fourth from Mason. Williams and Seawright would put some distance on the field and as Williams began working slower traffic on lap eleven, Seawright would close in on Williams back bumper. Seawright would turn up his pressure on Williams and would take the race lead on lap nineteen. The caution would appear again one tour later when Ownbey’s mount would slow on the frontchute on be finished for the event. This restart would have Seawright still on the point, while Mason would go to second and shuffle Williams back to third, followed by Johnson and Tod Hernandez. Johnson would get by Williams for third on lap twenty-three and would begin to close on Mason until the caution waved on lap 26 when Drew Deaver would slow with mechanical issues. The restart would keep Seawright on the point, followed by Mason, Johnson, Williams, and Dillon Crim would climb to the fifth spot. Johnson would mount a charge on Mason for second and would take the runner-up slot on lap twenty-nine, while Williams would slip high in turn one on lap thirty, allowing Crim and Tod Hernandez to take fourth and fifth respectively. Crim’s charge would continue as he would take third from Mason on lap thirty-one as Seawright would begin to work slower traffic on lap thirty-two. Williams would slow on lap thirty-five on the frontchute and draw the caution flag and would be pushed off the track. The next attempted restart would see the caution flag fly once again when Mason would lose a right-rear tire entering turn one and be finished for the event. One more caution on the next attempted restart would slow action again for water on the track in turn one and on what would be the final restart, Seawright would pull away from the field immediately and drive on the victory and $5,000 payday. Johnson would finish second, while tenth-place starting Crim would finish third. Hernandez and Rucker Orr would complete the top five. The remainder of the top ten finishers would be Pete Crum, Matt Steward, Justin Owens, Tim Thornton, and Jacques Daniel.
For more information about the Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series, please contact Chris Tilley at (828) 361-5981 or visit the tour’s webpage at www.IMDIRT.net or visit the tour page Iron-Man Racing Series on Facebook and Iron-Man Series (@CTPROMOTE) on Twitter.
The Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series would like to thank the following sponsors and marketing partners for their support of the 2022 racing season: Valvoline, Zerex by Valvoline, Brucebilt Performance Parts, Hoosier Racing Tire, E-Z-GO, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, DirtonDirt.com, MyRacePass, FloRacing, XS Power Batteries, Vic Hill Racing Engines, American Racer Tires, Keltner Contracting, TW Taylor Trucking, Earnhardt Technologies Group, Swafford Signs, KY Clutch, Brown Haven Homes, Knowles Race Parts and Bodies, Coosa Heating and Cooling, Cruise with the Champions, SFP Performance Systems, KND Safety, Impact RaceGear, Race Clean, Denby’s J&J Construction, Advanced Transportation, Lowe’s Tows, Reno’s Roadhouse, and Racetrack Safety Initiative.
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.
Official Summary of Results
Feature Results for Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series 14th Annual Cabin Fever at Boyd’s Speedway in Ringgold, GA on Saturday February 5, 2022
- Sam Seawright-Fort Payne, Ala.
- Ronnie Johnson-Chattanooga, Tenn.
- Dillon Crim-Eastaboga, Ala.
- Tod Hernandez-Chattanooga, Tenn.
- Rucker Orr-Newnan, Ga.
- Pete Crum-Cutler, Ohio
- Matt Steward-Ooltewah, Tenn.
- Justin Owens-Rossville, Ga.
- Tim Thornton-Lafayette, Ga.
- Jacques Daniel-Cartersville, Ga.
- Daylon Martin-Cleveland, Tenn.
- Dakota Smith-Powell, Tenn.
- Robby Mason-Hixson, Tenn.
- Brandon Williams-Crossville, Tenn.
- Josh Walker-Ringgold, Ga.
- Drew Deaver-McCraysville, Ga.
- John Ownbey-Cleveland, Tenn.
- Steve Smith-Powell, Tenn.
- Brodie Sharp-Andersonville, Tenn.
- Bill Mahan-Lacey Springs, Ala.
Time of Race: 40 minutes, 23 seconds
Margin of Victory: 2.161 seconds
Yellow Flags: Seven (lap 1, 3, 20, 26, 35, 35 restart, 35 restart)
Red Flags: None
Lap Leaders: John Ownbey 1, Brandon Williams 2-18, Sam Seawright 19-40
Entries: 20
E-Z-GO Time Trials Top Qualifier: Brandon Williams (Group B) 15.153 seconds ($100 overall fast qualifier award courtesy of Brown Haven Homes)
SFP Performance Systems Hard Charger Award ($100 product certificate): Dillon Crim (advanced 7 positions)
Provisional Starters: None
2022 Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series Schedule/Results:
January 29-Boyd’s Speedway-Ringgold, GA- SAM SEAWRIGHT (non-points)
March 5-Smoky Mountain Speedway-Maryville, TN-$12,000 to win
April 15-Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY-$5,000 to win
April 16-Tazewell Speedway-Tazewell, TN-$21,000 to win
May 29-Lake Cumberland Speedway-Burnside, KY-$5,031 to win
May 30-411 Motor Speedway-Seymour, TN-$10,052 to win
June 3-Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY-$5,000 to win
June 4-Mountain View Raceway-Spring City, TN-$5,000 to win
July 1-Boyd’s Speedway-Ringgold, GA-$5,000 to win
July 2-Lake Cumberland Speedway-Burnside, KY-$5,000 to win
July 3-Tazewell Speedway-Tazewell, TN-$5,000 to win
July 8-Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY-$10,000 to win
August 5-Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY-$10,000 to win
August 6-Brownstown Speedway-Brownstown, IN-$10,000 to win
August 12-Duck River Raceway Park-Lewisburg, TN-$5,000 to win
August 13-Talladega Short Track-Eastaboga, AL-$10,000 to win
August 27-Lake Cumberland Speedway-Burnside, KY-$10,022 to win
September 3-Boyd’s Speedway-Ringgold, GA-$5,000 to win
September 4-Tazewell Speedway-Tazewell, TN-$5,044 to win
October 1-Lake Cumberland Speedway-Burnside, KY-$5,000 to win
October 22-I-75 Raceway-Sweetwater, TN-$10,000 to-win
October 28, 29-Duck River Raceway Park-Lewisburg, TN-$20,000 to win
November 19-Boyd’s Speedway-Ringgold, GA-$5,000 to win
November 26-411 Motor Speedway-Seymour, TN-$5,000 to win
Article Credit: By Michael Despain Photo by Josh James Artwork
Submitted By: Ben Shelton
