Hudson O'Neal with the $5,000 check after his rain-shortened win.
What won the race: Leading all 33 laps before rain moved in, pole-starting Hudson O'Neal of Martinsville Ind., dominated Saturday's Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series-sanctioned June Jam at Atomic Speedway. O'Neal's $5,000 payday was his fourth career series victory and his first since topping a 33-car Iron-Man Southern field on Aug. 7, 2021, to win Brownstown Speedway's $10,000 Hall of Fame Classic.
Key notes: O'Neal grabbed his first win in a Longhorn Chassis, though came driving Kevin Rumley's Longhorn development car rather than a machine from his own fledgling race team. ... O'Neal's advantage reached its largest margin at 11 seconds before sixth-starting Adam Stricker took the runner-up spot from Rod Conley on lap 27. Stricker reduced O'Neal's lead to nine seconds before rain hit during the race's lone caution period on lap 33 after Jeff Babcock slowed from 11th. ... Series points leader Rusty Schlenk ran in third for the opening 21 circuits before Stricker got by and relegated him to finish fourth. ... The feature — reduced from 40 laps — lasted less than 12 minutes before rain hit during the lap-33 stoppage. The field circled as the moisture intensified until the race was deemed official just five minutes later.
On the move: David Webb of Nicholasville, Ky., started 12th and finished sixth.
Winner's sponsors: O’Neal’s K&L Rumley Enterprises Longhorn Chassis carries sponsorship from Lionel Racing, Senior Life Insurance Company, Rumley Engineering, Mesilla Valley Transportation, American Racing Wheels, Professional Concrete, Mark Martin Automotive, O’Neal’s Salvage & Recycling, Indiana USSSA Fastpitch, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bilsetin Shocks and Wheeler Metals.
Points chase: After Atomic: 1. Rusty Schlenk (178); 2. Rod Conley (163); 3. Seth Daniels (152); 4. Ryan Missler (149); 5. R.J. Conley (140).
Current weather: Overcast, 72°F
Car count: 31
Fast qualifier: Hudson O'Neal
Time: 13.439 seconds
Polesitter: Hudson O'Neal
Heat race winners: Hudson O'Neal, Rod Conley, R.J. Conley, , , , ,
Consolation race winners: Matt Melvin, , ,
Provisional starters: Casey Noonan, Billy Green, ,
Next series race: June 14, MRP Raceway Park (Williamsburg, OH) $5,000