WAVERLY, Ohio — The Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Northern Series made its first visit of the season to Atomic Speedway for the track’s Summer Shootout event.
Nick Hoffman would lead all 40 laps on his way to the $7,500 payday and stop Josh Rice’s four-race winning streak with the series.
Hoffman, a 31-year-old second generation racer, would score his first career Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Series and would become the fourth driver in series history to win with the Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Series and Brucebilt Performance Parts Iron-Man Open Wheel Modified Series.
The drop of the green flag on 40-lap, $7,500 to win Valvoline A-main event would see Hoffman take the lead, followed by R.J. Conley, Rice, Tyler Carpenter and Jesse Wisecarver. While Hoffman maintained the lead, Conley and Rice would trade sliders on laps three and four, before Conley would control the second spot by lap five.
Wisecarver took fourth from Carpenter on lap five as well.
Hoffman would begin to work slower traffic on lap seven, with Carpenter reclaiming the fourth position on the same circuit. Hoffman would continue to pull away a bit as he worked slower traffic, while Rice would pressure Conley for second. Rice took the spot on lap 12.
Rice would close in on Hoffman and pull alongside him on lap 15, but could not complete the pass. Clint Keenan made his way into the top five on lap 17 as he would drive past Wisecarver. The first caution of the event waved on lap 25 when third-place running R.J. Conley spun in turn two.
The restart would see Hoffman, Rice and Keenan first through third, while Wisecarver took fourth from Carpenter.
Rod Conley worked past Carpenter for fifth one circuit later.
Hoffman would catch traffic again on lap 32. However, the caution would appear when fourth-place running Wisecarver rolled to a stop on the backchute, with his night ended. During the caution, third-place running Keenan pulled to the infield and was finished for the event.
The restart did not see a full lap complete before Travis Carr spun in turn four.
The restart saw Hoffman and Rice remain first and second, with Conley now third, followed by Doug Drown and Zack Dohm. The final caution would wave on lap 36 when third place running Conley would slow on the frontchute with a flat right-rear tire. Hoffman maintained the lead on the restart and led the remainder of the way to claim the victory.
Rice finished second and Drown finished third. Dohm and Seth Daniels completed the top five.
The remainder of the top ten included Andy Bond, R.J. Conley, Kirk Phillips, Rod Conley and Jerry Bowersock.
Keyword: Hoffman Stops Rice’s Win Streak At Summer Shootout