Ray Cook celebrates in victory lane after winning Saturday’s Ice Bowl at Talladega Short Track. Photo: VIMLMS Media
Ray Cook survived an early race tangle to score his third career Ice Bowl victory for the Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Series on Saturday night at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, Alabama.
The Brasstown, North Carolina veteran worked his way back through the field and survived a rash of late race cautions for flat tires to score the win at the 1/3-mile dirt track to earn a $7,500 payday.
It also marked Cook’s first career series victory.
Pearson Lee Williams and Sam Seawright brought the field to the green flag, but the caution would wave in turn one before a lap would be completed for a multi-car incident that eliminate Jordy Nipper from action. The second attempted start would be a go, with Seawright taking the lead, followed by J.T. Seawright, Dallas Cooper, Williams, and Dalton Cook.
Jason Hiett and Will Roland tangled in turn one on lap two to draw the next caution and Mark Bangs and Will Harris got togetehr in turn four on the restart. The next restart would see sixth-place running Chase Oliver clip an infield tire entering turn three, collecting Ray Cook in the process and drawing the caution.
Seawright held the lead on the restart, but saw the caution fly again on lap 12 when Mark Bangs made contact with the end of the frontstretch wall entering turn 1. The restart was called back when Dalton Cook slowed in turn two with a flat right-front tire.
The restart would see Seawright continued to lead, while Ray Cook began moving back towards the front of the field. The caution flew again on lap 20 when David Seibers slowed in turn three. Another caution came out moments later for a flat tire by Will Roland in turn two.
The restart would not see a lap completed as Randy Holder went over the back in turn one to keep the field under caution. The next caution waved on lap 35 when Cooper slowed in turn two and see his night finished.
Seawright would be challenged by Booger Brooks on the restart, with Williams now third, and Ray Cook in fourth. Lap 37 saw Todd Morrow slow in turn four and when action resumed, disaster would strike for Williams as he would tangle in turn 4 on the restart, ending his night.
Seawright again held off Brooks on the restart, with Ray Cook in third. Dalton Cook would draw the next caution on lap 38, with another flying two laps later when Scott Crigler slowed with a flat right rear tire. While Seawright maintained the lead, Ray Cook drove past Brooks for the second position.
Disaster struck Seawright on lap 43 when his slowed on the backstretch with a flat right rear tire.
That handed the lead to Ray Cook. The final caution of the race waved on lap 44 for second place running Brooks, who would suffer a flat right rear tire.
Cook would lead the way the remainder of the way and score the victory.
Chris Jones finished in second, with Jasper, Georgia’s Will Roland in third, Todd Morrow in fourth, and Scott Crigler in fifth.
Sam Seawright, Booger Brooks, Will Harris, Dalton Cook, and Williams rounded out the top 10.
The next event for the Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Series will on Saturday, January 28 at Boyd’s Speedway in Ringgold, Georgia.
For more information, visit IMDirt.net.
Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Series
Talladega Short Track – Eastaboga, AL
Ice Bowl – January 7, 2023
1. Ray Cook
2. Chris Jones
3. Will Roland
4. Todd Morrow
5. Scott Crigler
6. Sam Seawright
7. Booger Brooks
8. Will Harris
9. Dalton Cook
10. Pearson Lee Williams
11. Blake Craft
12. Randy Holder
13. Dallas Cooper
14. J.T. Seawright
15. Mike Bargo
16. Mark Bangs
17. Christian Hanger
18. David Seibers
19. Andy Morris
20. Michael Seibers
21. Chase Oliver
22. Maddux Mullinax
23. Jason Hiett
24. Jordy Nipper
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