The Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series Fueled by VP would make its second appearance of the season at Atomic Speedway in Waverly, OH for the track’s Mother’s Day Shootout and Jerry Bowersock of Wapakoneta, OH would lead the final nine laps of the event and score the $5,000 payday. It was Bowersock’s first series victory since June 19, 2009 as he debuted a brand-new Rocket Chassis to claim the victory.  

The victory by the 60-year-old Bowersock would be his thirteenth career Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series Fueled by VP victory and would aboard a Rocket Chassis powered by a Clements Race Engine and carries sponsorship from T.B. Tile, Afterburner Performance, Howard Johnson’s of Lima, Fullenkamp’s Frenchtown Trailer Sales, LCD Partnership, Hawk Farms Drainage, Village Contractors, Northstar Drilling, Beaverdam Fleet Service, Banshee Graphics, and Tye Twarog Racing.

Caiden Black would grab the lead at the start of the Mother’s Day Shootout Valvoline A-Main event, with Freddie Carpenter, Jerry Bowersock, R.J. Conley, and Adam Stricker giving chase. The front five would remain the same as race leader Black would begin lapping slower traffic by lap seven. Eighth starting Tyler Carpenter would make his way into the top five on lap nine by taking the fifth position from Stricker. Freddie Carpenter would challenge Black for the lead as would deliver a slider for the lead in turn four, but the first caution of the event would wave on lap eleven when Kirk Phillips would see his machine go up in smoke on the backchute, negating Carpenter’s pass for the lead. The restart would see Black maintain the lead, with Freddie Carpenter holding second, with Tyler Carpenter taking third from Bowersock, and Colten Burdette would go to fifth. Bowersock would reclaim third one circuit later, with Conley working by Tyler Carpenter on lap thirteen. Black would maintain a comfortable lead, as Bowersock would challenge Freddie Carpenter for the runner-up spot and take it on lap fifteen. Bowersock would begin to reel in Black for the top spot, however, disaster would strike for Black when his mount made contact with the outside retaining wall in turn four and he would slow with a flat right-front tire. Bowersock would inherit the lead at this point on the restart, followed by Freddie Carpenter, Conley, Tyler Carpenter, and Burdette. The final caution would wave on lap twenty-six for a medical emergency in the pit area. Bowersock would control the field on the restart, with Conley holding second, while Tyler Carpenter would take third from Freddie Carpenter on lap twenty-eight. Bowersock would drive to the win, with Conley, Tyler Carpenter, Freddie Carpenter, and Stricker completing the top five. The remainder of the top ten finishers would be Burdette, Zach Milbee, Justin Cooper, Seth Daniels, and Todd Brennan.

The next events for the Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series Fueled by VP will be Friday May 15 at Mansfield Speedway in Mansfield, OH for the Comeback Classic, paying $5,000 to win, followed on Saturday May 16 at Muskingum County Speedway in Zanesville, OH for the Ronnie Moran Memorial, paying $6,000 to win.  

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), Allgaier Performance Parts & Racing Shocks, 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, Jim & Nancy Viox, JD Enterprise & Dirt Empire Magazine.

Official Summary of Results

Atomic Speedway-Waverly, Ohio

Saturday May 9, 2026 

Feature Finish:

1. Jerry Bowersock-Wapakoneta, Ohio

2. R.J. Conley-Wheelersburg, Ohio

3. Tyler Carpenter-Parkersburg, West Va.

4. Freddie Carpenter-Parkersburg, West Va. 

5. Adam Stricker-Batavia, Ohio

6. Colten Burdette-Parkersburg, West Va.

7. Zach Milbee-Poca, West Va.

8. Justin Cooper-Wheelersburg, Ohio

9. Seth Daniels-Jackson, Ohio

10. Todd Brennan-Zanesville, Ohio

11. Tanner McLoughlin-Nashport, Ohio

12. Josh Bocook-Wheelersburg, Ohio 

13. Caiden Black-New Concord, Ohio

14. Rod Conley-Wheelersburg, Ohio

15. Travis Carr-Stoutsville, Ohio

16. Miles Cook II-Wheelersburg, Ohio

17. Michael LeFevers-Cincinnati, Ohio

18. Trace Settles-Sunbury, Ohio

19. Kirk Phillips-Ashland, Ky

20. Matt Melvin-Coal Grove, Ohio

21. Ryan Markham-Ashland, Ohio

Freddie Carpenter (13.511 seconds) set the Slicker Graphics Fastest Hot Lap.

Caiden Black was the fastest in VP Racing Fuels “Challenge the Clock” Time Trials with a 13.556 second lap.

Caiden Black won Joy Ride Transport Heat-1.

Freddie Carpenter won C&W Sales Heat-2.

Adam Stricker won Curtis Towing Heat-3.

Tyler Carpenter won the MD3 Hard Charger Award advancing 5 positions.

Tanner McLoughlin won the Deatherage Racing Opticians Middleman (11th Place) Award.

Todd Brennan was the FloRacing Rookie of the Race.

R.J. Conley won the Todd Steel Buildings Move of the Race Award.

Caiden Black won the Conley River Terminal Hard Luck Award.

Lap Leaders: Caiden Black 1-21; Jerry Bowersock 22-30

Allgaier Performance Halfway Leader was Caiden Black.

Swafford Signs White Flag Leader was Jerry Bowersock.

Deatherage Racing Opticians Caution Flags: Three (lap 11, 22, 26)

Time of Race: 17 minutes, 56 seconds.

Provisional Starters: None

Margin of Victory: 0.840 seconds.

Heat One Finish: Caiden Black, Jerry Bowersock, Kirk Phillips, Justin Cooper, Josh Bocook, Michael LeFevers, Rod Conley

Heat Two Finish: Freddie Carpenter, Colten Burdette, Tyler Carpenter, Zach Milbee, Seth Daniels, Matt Melvin, Travis Carr

Heat Three Finish: Adam Stricker, R.J. Conley, Todd Brennan, Tanner McLoughlin, Miles Cook II, Trace Settles (DNS-Ryan Markham)

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