---

Thornton, Jr. and Bronson Top Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series 17th Annual Baltes Classic at Eldora Speedway

ROSSBURG, OHIO (August 31, 2025)– The Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series Fueled by VP would visit Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, OH for the 17th Annual Baltes Classic presented by Coors Light and Ricky Thornton, Jr. of Martinsville, IN and Kyle Bronson of Brandon, FL would each score $5,000 victories in the pair of twenty-five lap feature events.

The victory by the 34-year-old Thornton, Jr. would be his first with the series and made him the 175th different winner in series history. RTJ’s win would come in the Koehler Motorsports owned Longhorn Chassis powered by a Cornett Race Engine with sponsorship from Excel Floor Coverings, Hoker Trucking, Coltman Farms, Five Star Metal Buildings, FK Rod Ends, Dynamite Drivelines, Ultrashield Race Products, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bilstein Shocks, and Midwest Sheet Metal.

The victory for Bronson, 35-years-old, would also be his first with the series and make him the 176th different winner in tour history. Bronson’s winning ride is the Kyle Bronson Motorsports owned Longhorn Chassis powered by a Clements Race Engines and carriers sponsorship from Racecar Engineering, Michael Lloyd Hauling and Demolition, Atomic Music Group, Borchers Equipment, LTX Home Builders, Angry Elephant Tattoos and Piercings, All Star Buildings, Boswell Oil, Wehr’s Machine, Multi-Fire Spark Plugs, Lucas Oil, and VP Racing Fuels.

In the first feature event, fourth place starting Ricky Thornton, Jr. would work between cars and challenge Mike Marlar for the lead on the opening lap and would secure the top spot at the line, with Marlar, Brandon Overton, Tyler Erb, and Matt Miller in pursuit. Cory Hedgecock would take fifth from Miller on lap two, with the only caution of the race waving on lap three for a turn two spin by Steven Roberts. Thornton would control the lead on the restart, with Marlar, Overton, Erb, and Hedgecock trailing. Hedgecock and Erb would battle for the fourth spot, with Erb winning that battle and taking third from Overton on lap six. Thornton, Jr. would stretch his lead a bit at this point and would begin to lap slower traffic on lap eleven. Hedgecock would get by Overton for the fourth position one circuit later on lap twelve. Thornton, Jr. would begin to work heavy traffic by lap fifteen, allowing Marlar to reel in the race leader at this point. Thornton, Jr. would work traffic masterfully and would again pull away a bit from Marlar by lap twenty-one. Thornton, Jr. would not be challenged the rest of the way in route to the win, followed by Marlar, Erb, Hedgecock, and Overton. The remainder of the top ten finishers would be 22nd starting Josh Rice, Trey Mills, Matt Miller, Kent Robinson, and Michael Chilton.

Tanner English would jump to the lead at the start of the second feature contest, with Kyle Bronson, Frank Heckenast, Jr., Brenden Smith, and Dustin Nobbe giving chase. Bronson would begin to challenge English for the lead and would take the lead at the start-finish line on lap four, only to have English regain the lead one circuit later. English and Bronson would pull away from the field and begin to negotiate slower traffic on lap eight, with Jimmy Owens taking the fifth spot Nobbe on the same lap. Bronson would work his way past English for the lead on lap eleven, with Owens taking fifth from Smith on the same circuit. Bronson would motor around the topside of the racing surface and build a small lead on English, while Owens would claim third from Heckenast, Jr. on lap fifteen and 16th starting Haiden Cowan would make his way into the top five past Smith at the same time. The only caution of the event would wave on lap seventeen when Evan Harrell would spin in turn three, with English making contact but able to continue action. The top five would remain the same on the restart, with Cowan challenging Heckenast, Jr. for fourth and taking the spot on lap eighteen and would continue his charge when he grabbed third from Owens on lap twenty. Meanwhile, Bronson continued to motor around the topside of the track and would not be challenged the remainder of the way, with English, Cowan, Owens, and Heckenast, Jr. finishing second through fifth. The remainder of the top ten finishers would be 20th starting Tristan Chamberlain, Kyle Strickler, Brenden Smith, Jackson Hise, and Chase Burda.

The next events for the Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Late Model Series Fueled by VP will be on Friday September 12 at Hidden Hollow Speedway in Colson, KY for the Coal Miners Classic, paying $7,500 to win. This event will be co-sanctioned with the Ultimate Heart of America Super Late Model Series and the Battle of the Bluegrass DIRTcar Series. The weekend will conclude on Saturday September 13 at Muskingum County Speedway in Zanesville, OH for the 43rd Annual Jim Dunn Memorial, paying $10,000 to win.

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 Chips), 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 (Group A)

Valvoline A-Main Feature Results for the Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Late Model Series Fueled by VP 17th Annual Baltes Classic presented by Coors Light at Eldora Speedway on Sunday August 31, 2025

1. Ricky Thornton, Jr.-Martinsville, Ind.
2. Mike Marlar-Winfield, Tenn.
3. Tyler Erb-New Waverly, Tex.
4. Cory Hedgecock-Loudon, Tenn.
5. Brandon Overton-Evans, Ga.
6. Josh Rice-Crittenden, Ky.
7. Trey Mills-Saint Augustine, Fla.
8. Matt Miller-Whitehouse, Ohio
9. Kent Robinson-Bloomington, Ind.
10. Michael Chilton-Salvisa, Ky.
11. Colten Burdette-Parkersburg, West Va.
12. Rusty Schlenk-McClure, Ohio
13. Travis Stemler-Ionia, Mich.
14. Tyler Millwood-Kingston, Ga.
15. Eric Wilson-Cortland, Ohio
16. Dylan Thornton-Orcutt, Ca.
17. Jordan Koehler-Mount Airy, N.C.
18. Miles Cook II-Wheelersburg, Ohio
19. Brody Smith-Dade City, Fla.
20. Casey Noonan-Sylvania, Ohio
21. Caiden Black-New Concord, Ohio
22. Todd Brennan-Zanesville, Ohio
23. Jerry Bowersock-Wapakoneta, Ohio
24. Steven Roberts-Sylvester, Ga.

Time of Race: 11 minutes, 51 seconds
Margin of Victory: 2.158 seconds
Deatherage Racing Opticians Yellow Flags: One (Lap 3)
Red Flags: None
Lap Leaders: Ricky Thornton, Jr. 1-25
Entries: 65 (33 in Group A)
Provisionals: Colten Burdette, Miles Cook II
Emergency Provisionals: None
VP Racing Fuels “Challenge the Clock” Time Trials Top Qualifier: Brandon Overton 15.535 seconds
Five Star Race Bodies/MD3 Hard Charger Award ($100 product certificate): Josh Rice (started 22nd-finished 6th-advanced 16 positions)
Conley River Terminal Hard Luck Award ($50 entry fee credit at next event): Jerry Bowersock
Deatherage Racing Opticians Middleman Award ($50 product certificate to the 11th place finisher): Colten Burdette
Todd Steel Buildings Move of the Race ($50 entry fee credit at next event): Tyler Erb

Hoosier Racing Tire Heat Race One Finish (8 laps/top 6 transfer): Mike Marlar, Ricky Thornton, Jr., Todd Brennan, Travis Stemler, Dylan Thornton, Rusty Schlenk, Miles Cook II, B.J. Gregory, Nick Fenner, Nathan Loney, Josh Rice

FloRacing Heat Race Two Finish (8 laps/top 6 transfer): Brandon Overton, Michael Chilton, Cory Hedgecock, Jordan Koehler, Kent Robinson, Eric Wilson, Steven Roberts, Brody Smith, Freddie Carpenter, Rachel Snider, Colten Burdette

Impact RaceGear Heat Race Three Finish (8 laps/top 6 transfer): Matt Miller, Tyler Erb, Trey Mills, Tyler Millwood, Caiden Black, Jerry Bowersock, Casey Noonan, Dillon Kohn, Steve Sabo, Megan Sanders, Toma Johnson

STAKT Products B-Main Finish (8 laps/top 4 transfer): Steven Roberts, Casey Noonan, Brody Smith, Josh Rice, Miles Cook II, Colten Burdette, B.J. Gregory, Dillon Kohn, Rachel Snider, Megan Sanders, Nick Fenner, Steve Sabo, Toma Johnson, Freddie Carpenter (DNS-Nathon Loney)

Official Summary of Results (Group B)

Valvoline A-Main Feature Results for the Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Late Model Series Fueled by VP 17th Annual Baltes Classic presented by Coors Light at Eldora Speedway on Sunday August 31, 2025

1. Kyle Bronson-Brandon, Fla.
2. Tanner English-Benton, Ky.
3. Haiden Cowan-Savannah, Ga.
4. Jimmy Owens-Newport, Tenn.
5. Frank Heckenast, Jr.-Frankfort, Ill.
6. Tristan Chamberlain-Richmond, Ind.
7. Kyle Strickler-Mooresville, N.C.
8. Brenden Smith-Dade City, Fla.
9. Jackson Hise-Ocala, Fla.
10. Chase Burda-Lapeer, Mich.
11. Dustin Nobbe-Batesville, Ind.
12. Logan Nickerson-Vestaburg, Mich.
13. Clint Keenan-Pataskala, Ohio
14. Seth Daniels-Jackson, Ohio
15. Chad Stapleton-Edinburgh, Ind.
16. Rod Conley-Wheelersburg, Ohio
17. David Webb-Nicholasville, Ky.
18. Todd Morrow-Lafayette, Ga.
19. Rob Anderzack-Swanton, Ohio
20. Cory Workman-Gratiot, Ohio
21. Evan Koehler-Mount Airy, N.C.
22. Terry Rushlow-Holland, Ohio
23. Evan Harrell-Franklin, N.C.
24. B.J. Gregory-Lyons, Ohio

Time of Race: 12 minutes, 44 seconds
Margin of Victory: 3.747 seconds
Deatherage Racing Opticians Yellow Flags: One (Lap 17)
Red Flags: None
Lap Leaders: Tanner English 1-3, 5-10; Kyle Bronson 4, 11-25
Entries: 65 (32 in Group B)
Provisionals: Terry Rushlow, B.J. Gregory
Emergency Provisionals: None
VP Racing Fuels “Challenge the Clock” Time Trials Top Qualifier: Tanner English 15.263 seconds
Five Star Race Bodies/MD3 Hard Charger Award ($100 product certificate): Tristan Chamberlain (started 20th-finished 6th-advanced 14 positions)
Conley River Terminal Hard Luck Award ($50 entry fee credit at next event): B.J. Gregory
Deatherage Racing Opticians Middleman Award ($50 product certificate to the 11th place finisher): Dustin Nobbe
Todd Steel Buildings Move of the Race ($50 entry fee credit at next event): Haiden Cowan

Hoosier Racing Tire Heat Race One Finish (8 laps/top 6 transfer): Tanner English, Kyle Bronson, Jimmy Owens, Jackson Hise, Kyle Strickler, Haiden Cowan, Rod Conley, Donnie Jeschke, Bryant Dickerson, Kaede Loudy, Jace Owens

FloRacing Heat Race Two Finish (8 laps/top 6 transfer): Frank Heckenast, Jr., Brenden Smith, Clint Keenan, David Webb, Evan Koehler, Todd Morrow, Chase Burda, Rob Anderzack, Terry Rushlow, Bill Bray, Tristan Chamberlain

Impact RaceGear Heat Race Three Finish (8 laps/top 6 transfer): Seth Daniels, Dustin Nobbe, Logan Nickerson, Chad Stapleton, Cory Workman, Evan Harrell, Rich Neiser, Jordan VanHal, Jeff Robertson, Brandon Moore

Todd Steel Buildings B-Main Finish (8 laps/top 4 transfer): Chase Burda, Tristan Chamberlain, Rod Conley, Rob Anderzack, Kaede Loudy, Rich Neiser, Terry Rushlow, Jace Owens, Bryant Dickenson, Bill Bray, Donnie Jeschke, Jeff Robertson (DNS-Jordan VanHal, Brandon Moore)

Article Media

Back to News