What won the race: Outrunning fast qualifier Eli Beets, third-starting Josh Rice of Verona, Ky., stormed to the $10,000 victory in Friday’s Johnny Mulligan Classic at Ponderosa Speedway. He recorded his fifth Valvoline Iron-Man Southern Series victory 9.270 seconds ahead of Beets.

Key notes: Rice recorded his second straight victory after pocketing the $3,000 July Jamboree on July 9th at Atomic Speedway … Series points leader Michael Chilton of Salvisa, Ky., finished third. … Michael Klein of Elsmere, Ky., who piloted a secondary car owned by Brayton Laster, scratched from the feature.

Winner's sponsors: Rice’s Rick Jones-owned Rocket Chassis is powered by a Jay Dickens Racing Engine and sponsored by Sunesis Construction, Blox Spiked Ice, Extreme Sportswear, ATC Bolts & Fasteners, Maxwell Trucking, AirMax Heating and Cooling, Integra Shocks, Accu-Force Dynos & Testers, Schaeffer’s Oil and Slicker Graphics.

Points chase: South points before Ponderosa: 1. Michael Chilton (683); 2. Eli Beets (568); 3. Stacy Boles (515); 4. Ricky Weiss (457); 5. Christian Hanger (344). North points before Ponderosa: 1. Michael Chilton (497); 2. Kirk Phillips (373); 3. Eli Beets (365); 4. Camaron Marlar (349); 5. Austin Lay (316).

Current weather: Clear, 75°F

Car count: 18

Fast qualifier: Eli Beets

Time: 12.909 seconds

Polesitter: Eli Beets

Heat race winners: Eli Beets, Justin Rattliff,  ,  ,  ,  ,  

Next series race: August 5, Ponderosa Speedway (Junction City, KY) $5,000