Jensen Ford enjoys Wartburg victory lane with his family.
What won the race: Inheriting the lead when frontrunners Donald McIntosh and Jordan Rodabaugh collided on lap 11, Jensen Ford of Johnson City, Tenn., raced to victory in the Valvoline Iron-Man Racing-sanctioned Donald "Ducky" Jones Memorial at Wartburg Speedway. Ford pocketed $4,000.
Quotable: “Kinda had it handed to us right there. McIntosh and the 66 (Rodabaugh) got together and it just kinda presented itself right in my lap,” Ford said. “I was lucky enough to get by them. It didn’t really get tore up that bad. I knew after that, just stay around the bottom and protect the bottom and I knew we was gonna be hard to pass.”
Key notes: Ford's Wartburg debut resulted in his his first career Valvoline Iron-Man Series win. ... On a lap-11 restart, race leader Jordan Rodabaugh and second-running Donald McIntosh made contact which resulted in both spinning, handing the lead to Jensen Ford. ... Ford kept local favorite Eddie King Jr. at bay for the victory. ... Jeff Neubert was slated to start 10th in the feature but scratched with a broken rocker arm.
On the move: Anthony White of Clinton, Tenn., started 10th and finished third.
Winner's sponsors: Ford’s TNT Race Car is powered by a Vic Hill Race Engine and sponsored by Whitehead Construction, WPR Fabrication, Stanco Equipment, Scoun Trucking, Exel Enterprises, TruForm Race Products and Penske Shocks.
Points chase: Entering the weekend, Jensen Ford (144 points) of Johnson City, Tenn., led Jimmy Owens (135), Michael Chilton (132), Dale McDowell (130) and Dustin Linville (126).
Current weather: Clear, 72°F
Car count: 20
Fast qualifier: Jordan Rodabaugh
Time: 12.530 seconds
Polesitter: Jordan Rodabaugh
Next series race: June 5, I-75 Raceway (Sweetwater, TN) $4,000