Schlenk Scores Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series Win at Montpelier Speedway 

Story & Photo by Michael Despain

MONTPELIER, INDIANA (June 28, 2025)– The Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series Fueled by VP would visit Montpelier Speedway in Montpelier, IN on Saturday evening in an event presented by LUSESTYLE.com and Rusty Schlenk of McClure, OH would take the lead on lap twelve and never look back and claim the $5,000 payday.

The victory by the 38-year-old Schlenk would be his 38th career Valvoline American Late Model Series Fueled by VP Racing Fuels and would come aboard the Tyler Borck owned Domination Race Car powered by a Clements Race Engine and carries sponsorship from Terry Hendricks Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/RAM, Tom Finch Automotive, Tri-State Pole Barns, Buckeye Concrete Coatings, Landrum Performance Springs, Integra Shocks, Domination Race Cars, Dominator Race Products, VP Racing Fuels, Willy’s Carb and Dyno Shop, and Velocita USA.

The start of the Valvoline A-Main would not see a full lap completed as Seth Daniels would spin in turn four to negate the start. The second attempted start would be a go and Rod Conley would jump to the race lead, with Colten Burdette, Ryan Missler, Clint Keenan, and Rusty Schlenk giving chase. The caution would wave on lap two and would turn into a red flag when Jon Henry, Colin Shipley, Daniels, and Toma Johnson would tangle on the frontchute, with Henry’s machine flipping and emerging from his machine unscathed. Once action resumed Conley would continue to lead, with Missler going to second, Schlenk would take third, followed by Keenan and Burdette. Missler would slip over the banking in turn two, allowing Schlenk, Keenan, and Burdette to work past him. The front five would remain the same, with Conley and Schlenk putting some distance back to Keenan. Steve Peeden would begin to pressure Missler for the fifth and would take fifth on lap ten, while Schlenk would dog Conley for the race lead and take the lead with a pass in turn three on lap twelve. Schlenk would begin to work slower traffic on lap fourteen, but the caution would wave one lap later on lap fifteen when sixth place running Frank Heckenast, Jr. slowed in turn two with a flat right-rear tire and would get it changed and return. Schlenk would control the lead on the restart, with Conley second, with Burdette taking third from Keenan, with Peeden staying fifth. Burdette would slip over the turn two banking and lose four spots and Peeden would take third from Keenan on lap eighteen. Missler would draw the next caution on lap nineteen when his mount slowed in turn three and would be done for the night. Schlenk would control the restart once again, with Conley, Peeden, Keenan, and Jerry Bowersock giving chase. The final caution of the race would appear on lap twenty when Josh Boller and Dusty Moore would tangle in turn three and four, with both drivers seeing their night be finished. Schlenk and Conley would remain first and second on the restart, while Keenan would take third from Peeden, with Burdette now back in fifth. Burdette and Peeden would trade the fourth spot for three straight laps, with Burdette reclaiming the spot on lap twenty-five and taking third from Keenan one circuit later. Meanwhile, Schlenk was turning in a dominant performance out in front and would go unchallenged the remainder of the way to take the victory. Burdette would work past Conley at the white flag to take second and finish in the spot, with Conley settling for third. Keenan and Peeden would complete the top five. The remainder of the top ten finishers would be Shane Bailey, Bowersock, Miles Cook II, Heckenast, Jr., and Blake Creech.   

The next events for the Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Late Model Series Fueled by VP Racing Fuels will be on Thursday July 3 at Mudlick Valley Raceway in Wallingford, KY for the 4B4EVER event paying $10,000 to win (co-sanctioned with the Battle of the Bluegrass DIRTcar Series presented by Slicker Graphics) and Saturday July 5 at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, IN paying $10,000 to win (co-sanctioned with the DIRTcar Summer Nationals).   

For more information on the Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series Fueled by VP Racing Fuels, phone series promoter Chris Tilley at (828) 361-5981 or by visiting the tour website at www.IMDIRT.net or by following American Late Model Iron-Man Series (@ironmandirt) on Twitter or by liking American Late Model Iron-Man Series on Facebook.

The Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series Fueled by VP Racing Fuels is brought to the fans in the region by many important sponsors and partners: Official partners include, Valvoline Global Operations (Official Oil), VP Racing Fuels (Official Fuel), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), Jailbreaker Brands (Official Potato Chip), STAKT Products, DIRTcar Racing, XS Power Batteries, Todd Steel Buildings (Move of the Race Award), FloRacing (Rookie of the Year Award), DirtonDirt.com, MD3 (Hard Charger of the Race Award), Impact RaceGear, Allgaier Performance Parts, Allgaier Racing Shocks, Domination Race Cars (Official Victory Lane Sponsor), Swafford Signs (Official Graphics), MyRacePass (Official Website), Deatherage Racing Opticians (Middleman Award Sponsor), Wayne’s Auto Repair, Slicker Graphics, First Line Industries, Jim & Nancy Viox, Octane Custom Trailers, CNR, and Dirt Empire Magazine.

Official Summary of Results

Valvoline A-Main Feature Results for the Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Late Model Series Fueled by VP at Montpelier Speedway on Saturday June 28, 2025  

1. Rusty Schlenk-McClure, Ohio

2. Colten Burdette-Parkersburg, West Va.

3. Rod Conlely-Wheelersburg, Ohio

4. Clint Keenan-Pataskala, Ohio

5. Steve Peeden-Martinsville, Ind.

6. Shane Bailey-Grayson, Ky.

7. Jerry Bowersock-Wapakoneta, Ohio

8. Miles Cook II-Wheelersburg, Ohio

9. Frank Heckenast, Jr.-Frankfort, Ill.

10. Blake Creech-Richmond, Ind.

11. Greg Ressler-Riverview, Fla.

12. Dustin Shoulders-Coatesville, Ind.

13. Rob Anderzack-Swanton, Ohio

14. Josh Boller-Greencastle, Ind.

15. Dusty Moore-Swanton, Ohio

16. Ryan Missler-Bellevue, Ohio

17. Toma Johnson-Monticello, Ind.

18. B.J. Gregory-Lyons, Ohio

19. Jon Henry-Ada, Ohio

20. Colin Shipley-McClure, Ohio 

21. Seth Daniels-Jackson, Ohio

22. Clayton Bryant-Yoder, Ind. (DNS)

23. Jeff Babcock-Wayne, Ohio (DNS)

Time of Race: 30 minutes, 46 seconds

Margin of Victory: 7.567 seconds

Deatherage Racing Opticians Yellow Flags: Five (lap 1, 2, 15, 19, 20) 

Red Flags: One (lap 2)

Lap Leaders: Rod Conley 1-11; Rusty Schlenk 12-30

Entries: 23

Provisionals: None 

Emergency Provisionals: None

VP Racing Fuels “Challenge the Clock” Time Trials Top Qualifier: Rod Conley 13.981 seconds 

Five Star Race Bodies/MD3 Hard Charger Award ($100 product certificate): Shane Bailey (started 20th-finished 6th-advanced 14 positions)

Conley River Terminal Hard Luck Award ($50 entry fee credit at next event): Seth Daniels

Deatherage Racing Opticians Middleman Award ($50 product certificate to the 11th place finisher): Greg Ressler

Todd Steel Buildings Move of the Race ($50 entry fee credit at next event): Steve Peeden

Hoosier Racing Tire Heat Race One Finish (8 laps/top all transfer): Rod Conley, Ryan Missler, Clint Keenan, Frank Heckenast, Jr., Josh Boller, Blake Creech, Colin Shipley, Toma Johnson 

FloRacing Heat Race Two Finish (8 laps/all transfer): Colten Burdette, Clayton Bright, Jerry Bowersock, Rob Anderzack, Miles Cook II, Dusty Moore, Shane Bailey (DNS-Jeff Babcock) 

Impact RaceGear Heat Race Three Finish (8 laps/all transfer): Rusty Schlenk, Steve Peeden, Seth Daniels, Dustin Shoulders, Jon Henry, B.J. Gregory, Greg Ressler

Current Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series Points (after June 28)

1. Colten Burdette-433 (Rookie)

2. Rusty Schlenk-425

3. Rod Conley-320

4. Clint Keenan-303 (Rookie)

5. Seth Daniels-292

6. Dusty Moore-277

7. Jeff Babcock-264

8. Jerry Bowersock-222

9. Ryan Missler-220

10. Rob Anderzack-216

11. Colin Shipley-191 (Rookie)

12. Josh Rice-170

13. Shane Bailey-152 (Rookie)

14. Austin Lay-147

15. Tyler Erb-145