The Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series Fueled by VP would return to Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, KY for the first time since 2023 for the 19th Annual Hugh “Junebug” Rowland Memorial and Adam Stricker of Batavia, OH would lead all thirty laps to score the $6,000 payday. His victory made him the 181st different winner in series history and made him the 13th different winner in 14 series races. The event would be co-sanctioned with the Coltman Farms Racing Battle of the Bluegrass DIRTcar Series presented by Slicker Graphics and was also a Valvoline Weekend Allstars event.
The win by the 31-year-old Stricker would be his first career series wins with both tours and would come aboard the Jamie Christy owned Longhorn Chassis powered by a Clements Race Engine and carries sponsorship from Impact Race Gear, Stainless Craft LLC, Burlile Race Fuel, VG Performance, FK Rod Ends, Holdren Construction, Wilson Monument, Gaydos Funeral Home, Chiggers Dairy Bar and Pizza, and Mike’s Body Shop.
Adam Stricker would take the lead at the start of the main event, with Kaede Loudy, Jason Jameson, Michael Chilton, and Seth Daniels giving chase. Jameson and Chilton would settle into a battle for the third position, while Stricker would open up a 2.5 second lead and would begin to lap slower traffic on lap ten. The pace would be slowed by a Josh Dietz spin in turn three on lap thirteen to draw the caution flag.
Stricker maintained the lead, while Jameson would take second from Jameson on the restart, with Chilton and Daniels holding fourth and fifth. Rod Conley would begin to move at this point, taking fifth from Daniels on lap fifteen and would take claim the fourth spot from Chilton two circuits later on lap seventeen, while Stricker maintained the top spot. The caution would appear on lap nineteen for debris in turn two to slow the action, but once the green flag would fly again, Stricker held serve at the point, with Jameson, Loudy, Conley, and Chilton second through fifth.
Colten Burdette would make his way into the top five, taking fifth from Chilton on lap twenty. Stricker would maintain a steady lead over Jameson until the caution waved again on lap twenty-eight when Seth Daniels slowed on the track with a flat left-rear tire. The restart would not see a lap completed as Jameson and Loudy would make contact and tangle on the frontchute, ending both driver’s night.
Stricker would again control the restart and not be seriously challenged the remainder of the way to score the victory, with Conley taking second and Burdette finishing third. Justin Smith and Jeff Watson would complete the top five. The remainder of the top ten finishers would be Heath Hindman, Michael Chilton, Miles Cook II, Justin Rattliff, and Shane Bailey.
The next events for the Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series will be on Friday August 7 at I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa, MI and then Saturday August 8 at Butler Motor Speedway in Quincy, MI. Both events pay $5,000-to-win. The event on August 1 at Portsmouth (OH) Raceway Park has been postponed due to weather.
For more information on the Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series fueled by VP, please log on to www.IMDIRT.net or call (828) 361-5981.
The Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series fueled by VP is brought to the fans in the region by many important sponsors and partners: Official partners include, Valvoline Global Operations (Official Oil), VP Racing Fuels (Official Fuel), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), Jail Breaker Brands (Official Potato Chip), STAKT Products, DIRTcar Racing, XS Power Batteries (Green Flag Sponsor), Todd Steel Buildings (Move of the Race Award), FloRacing (Rookie of the Year Award), DirtonDirt.com, MD3 (Hard Charger of the Race Award), Conley River Terminal (Hard Luck Award), Impact RaceGear (Official Outfitter), Domination Race Cars (Official Victory Lane Sponsor), C&W Sales, Joy Ride Transport, Curtis Towing, MAGA Lift (Official Droop Check Sponsor), Simpson Race Products (Official Safety Equipment), Swafford Signs (Official Decals & Graphics), MyRacePass (Official Website), Deatherage Racing Opticians (Middleman Award), Wayne’s Auto Repair (Official Hot Pit Sponsor), Slicker Graphics, Shane Bailey Racing, Jim & Nancy Viox, JD Enterprise & Dirt Empire Magazine.
Official Summary of Results
Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, Kentucky
Friday July 31, 2026
Feature Finish:
1. Adam Stricker-Batavia, Ohio
2. Rod Conley-Wheelersburg, Ohio
3. Colten Burdette-Parkersburg, West Va.
4. Justin Smith-Barbourville, Ky.
5. Jeff Watson-Campbellsville, Ky.
6. Heath Hindman-Signal Mountain, Tenn.
7. Michael Chilton-Salvisa, Ky.
8. Miles Cook II-Wheelersburg, Ohio
9. Justin Rattliff-Campbellsville, Ky.
10. Shane Bailey-Grayson, Ky.
11. Travis Carr-Stoutsville, Ohio
12. Jason Jameson-Lawrenceburg, Ind.
13. Kaede Loudy-Rogersville, Tenn.
14. Seth Daniels-Jackson, Ohio
15. Josh Dietz-Florence, Ky.
16. Logan Walls-Junction City, Ky.
17. C.J. Ruble-Richmond, Ky.
18. Michael Wallin, Jr.-Crab Orchard, Ky.
Adam Stricker (12.897 seconds) set the Slicker Graphics Fastest Hot Lap.
Adam Stricker was the fastest in VP Racing Fuels “Challenge the Clock” Time
Trials with a 12.438 second lap and earned the $246 “In Memory of Dennis Selby” Fast Time Award.
Adam Stricker won Joy Ride Transport Heat-1.
Kaede Loudy won C&W Sales Heat-2.
Jason Jameson won Curtis Towing Heat-3.
Justin Rattliff won the MD3 Hard Charger Award advancing 6 positions.
Travis Carr won the Deatherage Racing Opticians Middleman (11th Place) Award.
Miles Cook II was the FloRacing Rookie of the Race.
Rod Conley won the Todd Steel Buildings Move of the Race Award.
Kaede Loudy won the Conley River Terminal Hard Luck Award.
Lap Leaders: Adam Stricker 1-30
Allgaier Performance Halfway Leader was Adam Stricker.
Swafford Signs White Flag Leader was Adam Stricker.
Deatherage Racing Opticians Caution Flags: Four (lap 13, 19, 28, 28 restart)
Time of Race: 18 minutes, 22 seconds.
Provisional Starters: None
Margin of Victory: 1.494 seconds
Heat One Finish: Adam Stricker, Michael Chilton, Colten Burdette, Heath Hindman, Miles Cook II, Logan Walls
Heat Two Finish: Kaede Loudy, Seth Daniels, Justin Smith, Josh Dietz, Shane Bailey, C.J. Ruble
Heat Three Finish: Jason Jameson, Rod Conley, Jeff Watson, Travis Carr, Justin Rattliff, Michael Wallin, Jr.
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