5/31/2025
American Late Model Iron-Man Series
R.J. Conley Captures Fantastic Ronnie Moran Memorial at Muskingum County Speedway
ZANESVILLE, OHIO (May 31, 2025)—Excitement and drama led to a fantastic finish at the Inaugural Ronnie Moran Memorial at Muskingum County Speedway on Saturday Night.
With over 145 cars on the grounds in five divisions, the top money class was the Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series fueled by VP which paid $5,000-to-win and was captured by Wheelersburg, Ohio native R.J. Conley. This would be Conley’s second-career series victory. His last series victory came on May 10, 1997, at the now Atomic Speedway, formerly K-C Raceway in Chillicothe, Ohio.
Conley took the lead away from Ryan Markham with three laps remaining to go in the non-points 36-lapper which honored longtime track operator Ronnie Moran who passed away last winter. It had been 10,239 days since R.J. Conley visited ALMS Victory Lane and Conley was very complimentary of the track surface in post-race interviews. “I know they went softer on tires. I put the harder tire on,” Conley said. “And I think the harder tire was starting to work a little better at the end, but the track was great. The Moran’s (operate a) great facility. I just got a little lucky cause I know Kyle, (Moore) he was checked out. Ryan (Markham) did a great job, but I think he pushed a little bit up there, but we’ll take it. We’re glad to win,” Conley went on to say.
Ryan Markham and Kyle Moore brought the field down to start the main event in front of a packed house and Markham would roll to the early race lead with Moore and Todd Brennan coming from the fifth place starting spot on lap-2 for the third position. By the seventh lap, the field would enter slower traffic for the first time. On lap ten, the battle up front would be between Markham and Moore who battles side-by-side up until the caution flew on lap 14. Moore would get around race leader Markham on the 19th circuit and lead until he fell out of the race on lap 30 giving the lead back to Markham. At one point, Moore’s lead was in excess of a full straightaway. On the final restart, Markham lead the field back to green and would slip up just a bit with three laps remaining allowing R.J. Conley to nip beneath and take the point. Conley would be victorious over Markham, 19th-starting Tyler Carpenter finished third after winning the B-Main, Clint Keenan finished fourth & Doug Drown driving for Brad Malcuit finished fifth.
A total of four Deatherage Racing Opticians Caution Flags would wave during the main event. On lap 9, Todd Brennan went over the embankment in turn three. On lap 10, Eddie Carrier Jr. slowed on the back-chute. On lap 14, Ron Hall spun his mount in turn two and the final yellow flag would wave on lap 30 as race leader Kyle Moore slowed at the top of the backstretch with mechanical problems ending his bid for a second-career series payday.
The 60-year-old veteran racer drove to Victory Lane in the Conley Motorsports-owned, Dargie Racing Engine-powered Longhorn Chassis which is sponsored by Conley Trucking, Conley River Terminal, Afterburner Performance, Poske’s Performance Parts & Shain Custom Decals.
The next events for the Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series will be on Friday June 13th at MRP (Moler) Raceway Park in Williamsburg, Ohio for the 2nd Annual Impact RaceGear 30 paying $5,000-to-win then Saturday June 14 at Mudlick Valley Raceway in Wallingford, Ky. for the 5th Annual 4B4EVER event honoring the late Jackie Boggs paying $7,500-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 X 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), 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 Racing Fuels at Muskingum County Speedway on May 31, 2025
- R.J. Conley-Wheelersburg, Ohio
- Ryan Markham-Ashland, Ohio
- Tyler Carpenter-Parkersburg, W. Va.
- Clint Keenan-Pataskala, Ohio
- Doug Drown-Wooster, Ohio
- Todd Brennan-Zanesville, Ohio
- Brandon Weigle-Middlebourne, W. Va.
- Colten Burdette-Parkersburg, W. Va.
- Eddie Carrier Jr.-Fairmont, W. Va.
- Rod Conley-Wheelersburg, Ohio
- Logan Zarin-Hookstown, Penn.
- Tanner McLoughlin-Zanesville, Ohio
- Brock Morris-Charleston, W. Va.
- Rob Anderzack-Swanton, Ohio
- J.R. Gentry-Wooster, Ohio
- Matt Aber-Wooster, Ohio
- Ron Hall-Hookstown, Penn.
- Kyle Moore-Mansfield, Ohio
- Rayn Missler-Bellevue, Ohio
- Travis Carr-Stoutsville, Ohio
- Henry Hornsby III-Bradley, W. Va.
- Larry Holbrook-Newark, Ohio
- Billy Dawson-Lakeville, Ohio
- Mitch Caskey-North Lawrence, Ohio
Time of Race: 22 minutes, 1 second
Margin of Victory: 0.932 seconds
Deatheridge Racing Opticians Yellow Flags: Four (laps 9, 10, 14 & 30)
Red Flags: None
Lap Leaders: Markham (1-18), Moore (19-30), Markham (31-33), R.J. Conley (34-36)
Entries: 30
Provisionals: None
Emergency Provisionals: None
VP Racing Fuels “Challenge the Clock” Time Trials Top Qualifier: Ryan Markham-16.026 seconds
Five Star Race Bodies/MD3 Hard Charger Award ($100 product certificate): Tyler Carpenter (started 19th-finished 3rd-advanced 16 positions)
Conley River Terminal Hard Luck Award ($50 entry fee credit at next event): Kyle Moore
Deatherage Racing Opticians Middleman Award ($50 product certificate to the 11th place finisher): Logan Zarin
Todd Steel Buildings Move of the Race ($50 entry fee credit at next event): R.J. Conley
Hoosier Racing Tire Heat Race One Finish (8 laps/top 6 transfer): Ryan Markham, Eddie Carrier Jr., Colten Burdette, Clint Keenan, Rod Conley, Mitch Caskey, Matt Aber, Ron Hall, Chaz Dawson Jr., Tyler Carpenter
FloRacing Heat Race Two Finish (8 laps/top 6 transfer): Kyle Moore, Todd Brennan, Logan Zarin, Doug Drown, Tanner McLoughlin, Ryan Missler, Travis Carr, Cory Workman, George Klintworth, Tyler Evans.
Impact RaceGear Heat Race Three Finish (8 laps/top 6 transfer): R.J. Conley, Brandon Weigle, J.R. Gentry, Rob Anderzack, Henry Hornsby III, Brock Morris, Matt Nailor, Larry Holbrook, Billy Dawson, Kyle Bond.
STAKT Products B-Main One Finish (8 laps/top 6 transfer): Tyler Carpenter, Travis Carr, Matt Aber, Larry Holbrook, Billy Dawson, Ron Hall, George Klintworth, Chaz Dawson Jr., Cory Workman, Matt Nailor, Tyler Evans, Kyle Bond.
Article Credit: Tyler Carr image
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