American Late Model Iron-Man Series

5/3/2026

Drake Troutman Tops Mark Balzano Memorial with the Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series at WVMS

MINERAL WELLS, WEST VIRGINIA (May 3, 2026)- The Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series Fueled by VP would be in action for the Mark Balzano Memorial at West Virginia Motor Speedway in Mineral Wells, WV on Sunday evening and Drake Troutman of Hyndman, PA would make a thirteen plus hour overnight trip from Wisconsin pay off with a victory in the event and scored a $10,000 victory.

The win for the 20-year-old Troutman would be his first career series win and make him the 179th different winner in Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series Fueled by VP history. Troutman’s win came aboard the G.R. Smith owned Longhorn Chassis with sponsorship from Victory Circle, Gambler Transport, RFI Resources, Shaffer Construction, Shoe’s Diesel Performance, Stone Natural Resources, Glassmere Fuel Service, D&R Trucking, Thunderhill Trucking, Rice Tire, Smith Warehouse, Claar’s Notary, and Jerry’s Siding/Roofing/Windows.

Drake Troutman would take the lead at the start of the Mark Balzano Memorial Valvoline A-Main, with Freddie Carpenter, Henry Hornsby III, Benji Hicks, and Luke Morey giving chase. Tyler Carpenter would take fifth from Morey on lap three, while Troutman set a torrid pace out front and began to lap slower traffic on lap six. Carpenter, Hicks, and Hornsby III would go three wide for third on lap ten, with Tyler Carpenter going from fifth to third. Troutman would work traffic masterfully and continue to build his lead, while Tyler Carpenter would challenge Freddie Carpenter for second and take the spot on lap fifteen. The first caution would wave on lap eighteen for Colten Burdette’s slowed machine in turn four. Troutman would command the restart, while Freddie Carpenter worked back around Tyler Carpenter for second, with Hicks and Morey fourth and fifth. Hornsby III would get back into the top five around Morey on lap twenty. Troutman’s lead would be almost a full straightaway when the caution waved again on lap twenty-five when Caiden Black slowed in turn four with significant body damage on his entry. The restart would again see Troutman maintain the lead, followed by Freddie Carpenter, Hornsby III, Tyler Carpenter, and Hicks. Tyler Carpenter would retake third from Hornsby III on lap twenty-six. Meanwhile, Devin Moran would make his way into the top five and take fourth on lap twenty-seven. Hornsby III would see his night go sour when he slowed to stop at the top of turn one on lap thirty-one. The restart would not see a lap completed as the caution appeared once again and Troutman would get a great restart to hold command of the event over Freddie Carpenter, while Morey would go from fifth to third after a three wide battle over Tyler Carpenter and Moran. Zack Dohm would slow in turn two to draw yet another caution on lap thirty-four and the restart would not see a lap completed as Benji Hicks would make contact with the backstretch wall to keep the action under caution, with the next attempted restart also coming back when Ryan Markham make contact with the outside wall in turn three. The final restart would see Troutman again get a great launch, with Morey taking second from Freddie Carpenter, while Moran and Montgomery completed the top five. Troutman would not be seriously challenged in the final few circuits to secure the victory, with Morey, Freddie Carpenter, Moran, and Montgomery rounding out the top five. The remainder of the top ten would be Carson Ferguson, Justin Cooper, Levi Yetter, R.J. Conley, and Tyler Carpenter.

The next event for the Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series Fueled by VP will be on Saturday May 9 at Atomic Speedway in Waverly, OH for the track’s Mother’s Day Shootout, paying $5,000 to win.

For more information on the Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series fueled by VP, please log on to www.IMDIRT.net or call (828) 361-5981.

The Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series fueled by VP 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), Jail Breaker Brands (Official Potato Chip), STAKT Products, DIRTcar Racing, XS Power Batteries (Green Flag Sponsor), Todd Steel Buildings (Move of the Race Award), FloRacing (Rookie of the Year Award), DirtonDirt.com, MD3 (Hard Charger of the Race Award), Conley River Terminal (Hard Luck Award), Impact RaceGear (Official Outfitter), Allgaier Performance Parts & Racing Shocks, Domination Race Cars (Official Victory Lane Sponsor), C&W Sales, Joy Ride Transport, Curtis Towing, MAGA Lift (Official Droop Check Sponsor), Simpson Race Products (Official Safety Equipment), Swafford Signs (Official Decals & Graphics), MyRacePass (Official Website), Deatherage Racing Opticians (Middleman Award), Wayne’s Auto Repair (Official Hot Pit Sponsor), Slicker Graphics, Jim & Nancy Viox, JD Enterprise & Dirt Empire Magazine.

Official Summary of Results

West Virginia Motor Speedway- Mineral Wells, West Virginia
Sunday May 3, 2026

Feature Finish:

Drake Troutman-Hyndman, Penn.
Luke Morey-Denver, N.C.
Freddie Carpenter-Parkersburg, West Va.
Devin Moran-Dresden, Ohio
Ryan Montgomery-Fairmont, West Va.
Carson Ferguson-Lincolnton, N.C.
Justin Cooper-Wheelersburg, Ohio
Levi Yetter-Sarver, Penn.
R.J. Conley-Wheelersburg, Ohio
Tyler Carpenter-Parkersburg, West Va.
Miles Cook II-Wheelersburg, Ohio
Corey Conley-Wellsburg, West Va.
Rod Conley-Wheelersburg, Ohio
Todd Brennan-Zanesville, Ohio
Travis Carr-Stoutsville, Ohio
Colten Burdette-Parkersburg, West Va.
Ryan Markham-Ashland, Ohio
Seth Daniels-Jackson, Ohio
Benji Hicks-Mount Airy, N.C.
Zack Dohm-Cross Lanes, West Va.
Henry Hornsby III-Beckley, West Va.
Kyle Hardy-Winchester, Va.
Caiden Black-New Concord, Ohio
Mason Zeigler-Chalk Hill, Penn.
K.C. Burdette-Parkersburg, West Va.

Drake Troutman (14.021 seconds) set the Slicker Graphics Fastest Hot Lap.

Drake Troutman (Group A) was the fastest in VP Racing Fuels “Challenge the Clock” Time Trials with a 14.012 second lap.

Drake Troutman won Joy Ride Transport Heat-1.

Freddie Carpenter won C&W Sales Heat-2.

Henry Hornsby III won Curtis Towing Heat-3.

Luke Morey won Jim & Nancy Viox Heat-4.

Ryan Markham & Colten Burdette won STAKT Products & Impact RaceGear B-Mains.

R.J. Conley won the MD3 Hard Charger Award advancing 11 positions.

Miles Cook II won the Deatherage Racing Opticians Middleman (11th Place) Award.

Todd Brennan was the FloRacing Rookie of the Race.

Devin Moran won the Todd Steel Buildings Move of the Race Award.

Caiden Black won the Conley River Terminal Hard Luck Award.

Donovan Jackson & Eddie Carrier, Jr. were the STAKT Products First Non-Transfers.

Lap Leaders: Drake Troutman 1-40

Allgaier Performance Halfway Leader was Drake Troutman.

Swafford Signs White Flag Leader was Drake Troutman.

Deatherage Racing Opticians Caution Flags: Seven (lap 18, 25, 31, 31 restart, 34, 34 restart, 34 restart)

Time of Race: 29 minutes, 40 seconds

Provisional Starters: Rod Conley and Miles Cook II; Emergency-Seth Daniels, Todd Brennan, Travis Carr

Margin of Victory: 1.628 seconds.

Heat One Finish: Drake Troutman, Benji Hicks, Caiden Black, K.C. Burdette, Seth Daniels, Mike Benedum, Clay Harris, Dave Loudin, Brian Nethers

Heat Two Finish: Freddie Carpenter, Ryan Montgomery, Devin Moran, Kyle Hardy, Ryan Markham, Donovan Jackson, Corey Conley, Todd Brennan, Miles Cook II (DNS-Steve Banal)

Heat Three Finish: Henry Hornsby III, Justin Cooper, Carson Ferguson, Levi Yetter, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Colten Burdette, Rod Conley, Jon Lee, Brandon Weigle, Dylan Lewis, Travis Carr

Heat Four Finish: Luke Morey, Tyler Carpenter, Mason Zeigler, Zack Dohm, R.J. Conley, Lincoln Smith, Connor White, Shane Greco, Kirk Phillips, Brock Pinkerous

B-Main One Finish: Ryan Markham, Corey Conley, Donovan Jackson, Seth Daniels, Clay Harris, Tyler Bare, Todd Brennan, Mike Benedum, Miles Cook II, Dave Loudin, Brian Nethers (DNS-Steve Banal)

B-Main Two Finish: Colten Burdette, R.J. Conley, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Rod Conley, Lincoln Smith, Dylan Lewis, Travis Carr, Jon Lee, Shane Greco, Connor White, Brandon Weigle, Kirk Phillips, Brock Pinkerous

Article Credit: By Michael Despain | Photo by Tyler Carr