In the final tune-up prior to next weekend’s World 100, the Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series fueled by VP would sanction the 18th Annual Baltes Classic presented by Coors Light at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio with a pair of $5,000 to win feature events and Tristan Chamberlain of Richmond, Ind. and Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C. would each score $5,000 victories in their respective main events. Their wins would make them the 16th and 17th different feature winners in 20 completed feature events for the tour in 2026.

The win for the 19-year-old Chamberlain would be his first career Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series victory and made him the 183rd different winner in tour history. Chamberlain’s entry is the Wayne and Holly Gibson owned Longhorn Chassis powered by a Spec Race Engine with sponsorship from Vision Wood Werx, Vision Homes, Pardo’s Towing, Wide Open Graphics, DCE Fabrication, Truman Quarter Horses, Simpson Race Products, VP Racing Fuel, FK Rod Ends, Bert Transmissions, and Allstar Performance.

The win for Hoffman, 34-years of age, would be his sixth career Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series victory and came aboard the Tye Twarog owned Longhorn Chassis powered by a Clements Race Engine sponsored by NOS Energy Drinks, C&W Towing, Petroff Towing, Lonewolf Petroleum, Holdren Construction, Tri Valley Equipment Sales, Tye Twarog Performance Parts, Bilstein Shocks, Allgaier Performance Parts, Haulin’ Haskells, VP Racing Fuels, and Burlile Fuels. 

In the first feature event, Tristan Chamberlain would take the initial race lead, with Luke Morey, Brandon Overton, Blake Creech, and Max Blair giving chase. Blair would take fourth from Creech on lap two, while Chamberlain would set a rapid pace up front. Overton would work past Morey for second, with Frank Heckenast, Jr. making his way into the top five on lap five. Chamberlain would catch the rear of the field and start lapping slower cars by lap seven, with Blair claiming third from Morey one circuit later. Heckenast, Jr. would work past Morey for fourth on lap eleven, but caution would wave on lap thirteen for Logan Nickerson, who slowed on the frontchute. The restart would see the top five remain the same, but problems would strike fourth place Heckenast, Jr. on lap fourteen and he slows on the backchute. Chamberlain would get a great restart, with Blair taking second from Overton, while Jerry Bowersock would take fourth from Morey. Chamberlain would stretch his lead a bit as he would start working traffic again by lap twenty, with Overton reclaiming second from Blair. Chamberlain would continue to stretch his lead over the final five circuits to score the win over Overton, Blair, Bowersock, and Morey. The remainder of the top ten finishers would be Jadon Frame, Freddie Carpenter, Brody Smith, Jason Riggs, and Kody Evans.  

The second feature would see Ricky Thornton, Jr. win the drag race to turn one, but before a full lap would be completed, the only caution of the event would appear for Doug Drown after he made contact with the turn four retaining wall. The second attempted start would see Thornton, Jr. again grab the lead, followed by Nick Hoffman, Trey Mills, Josh Rice, and Jason Jameson. The top five would remain the same until lap seven when Rice would grab the third position from Mills, while Thornton, Jr. and second place running Hoffman would begin to lap slower traffic one tour later on lap eight. With the front pair working through traffic, Rice would begin to close in on the front pair, while 11th starting Tyler Erb would make his way into the top five by taking fifth from Jameson on lap fifteen. The front trio of Thornton, Jr., Hoffman, and Rice would distance themselves from the field by lap twenty. Hoffman would continue to pressure Thornton, Jr. until Thornton, Jr. would slip up in turn two, allowing Hoffman to work under him and grab the lead entering turn three as the field came to the white flag. Hoffman would keep Thornton, Jr. at bay to score the victory over Thornton, Jr., while Rice, Mills, and Erb rounded out the top five. Completing the ten finishers would be Jameson, Kyle Bronson, Steven Roberts, Michael Leach, and Brenden Smith.

In the pre-race drivers meeting, Series Promoter Chris Tilley presented the 2026 ALMS Hall of Fame Award to Eldora Speedway and the Baltes Family which was accepted by track manager Levi Jones.

The next event for the Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series fueled by VP will on Saturday, September 19 at Muskingum County Speedway in Zanesville, Ohio for the 44th Annual Jim Dunn Memorial, paying $10,000-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), 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, Shane Bailey Racing, Jim & Nancy Viox, JD Enterprise & Dirt Empire Magazine.

Official Summary of Results (GROUP A)

Eldora Speedway-Rossburg, Ohio
Sunday September 6, 2026

Feature Finish:

1. Tristan Chamberlain-Richmond, Ind.  

2. Brandon Overton-Evans, Ga.

3. Max Blair-Titusville, Penn.

4. Jerry Bowersock-Wapakoneta, Ohio

5. Luke Morey-Zeeland, Mich.

6. Jadon Frame-Winchester, Tenn.

7. Freddie Carpenter-Parkersburg, W.V.

8. Brody Smith-Dade City, Fla.

9. Jason Riggs-College Grove, Tenn.

10. Kody Evans-Camden, Ohio

11. Mike Spatola-Manhattan, Ill.

12. Clay Stuckey-Shreveport, La.

13. Seth Daniels-Jackson, Ohio

14. Rod Conley-Wheelersburg, Ohio

15. Colten Burdette-Parkersburg, W.V.

16. Miles Cook II-Wheelersburg, Ohio

17. Blake Creech-Richmond, Ind.

18. Lane Snook-Port Royal, Penn.

19. Evan Harrell-Franklin, N.C.

20. Rob Anderzack-Swanton, Ohio

21. Terry Rushlow-Holland, Ohio

22. Travis Carr-Stoutsville, Ohio

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

24. Logan Nickerson-Vestaburg, Mich.

Max Blair was the fastest in VP Racing Fuels “Challenge the Clock” Timed Hot Laps presented by Slicker Graphics with a 15.550 second lap.

Luke Morey won Joy Ride Transport Heat-1.

Tristan Chamberlain won C&W Sales Heat-2.

Brandon Overton won Curtis Towing Heat-3.

Mike Spatola won STAKT Products B-Main

Mike Spatola won the MD3 Hard Charger Award advancing 8 positions.

Mike Spatola won the Deatherage Racing Opticians Middleman (11th Place) Award.

Miles Cook II was the FloRacing Rookie of the Race.

Max Blair won the Todd Steel Buildings Move of the Race Award.

David Ellis & Wesley Scott were the STAKT Products First Non-Transfers.

Lap Leaders: Tristan Chamberlain 1-25

Allgaier Performance Halfway Leader was Tristan Chamberlain.

Swafford Signs White Flag Leader was Tristan Chamberlain.

Deatherage Racing Opticians Caution Flags: Two (lap 13, 14)

Time of Race:12 minutes, 53 seconds 

Provisional Starters: Miles Cook II, Travis Carr

Margin of Victory: 3.257 seconds

Heat One Finish: Luke Morey, Blake Creech, Jerry Bowersock, Brody Smith, Kody Evans, Seth Daniels, Mike Spatola, Rob Anderzack, Zach Hawk, Wesley Scott, Trevor Reed

Heat Two Finish: Tristan Chamberlain, Freddie Carpenter, Jason Riggs, Jadon Frame, Clay Stuckey, Lane Snook, Evan Harrell, Terry Rushlow, Jason Ferguson, David Ellis (DNS-Jeff Robertson)

Heat Three Finish: Brandon Overton, Max Blair, Frank Heckenast, Jr., Rod Conley, Colten Burdette, Logan Nickerson, Travis Carr, Steven Tippens, Miles Cook II, Chase Burda, Megan Sanders

 Mike Spatola, Evan Harrell, Rob Anderzack, Terry Rushlow, Chase Burda, Zach Hawk, Travis Carr, David Ellis, Wesley Scott, Trevor Reed, Jeff Robertson, Megan Sanders, Steven Tippens, Jason Ferguson, Miles Cook II

Official Summary of Results (GROUP B)

Eldora Speedway-Rossburg, Ohio
Sunday September 6, 2026

Feature Finish:

1. Nick Hoffman-Mooresville, N.C.

2. Ricky Thornton, Jr.-Chandler, Ariz.

3. Josh Rice-Crittenden, Ky.

4. Trey Mills-Saint Augustine, Fla.

5. Tyler Erb-New Waverly, Texas

6. Jason Jameson-Lawrenceburg, Ind.

7. Kyle Bronson-Brandon, Fla.

8. Steven Roberts-Sylvester, Ga.

9. Michael Leach-Sun River, Mont.

10. Brenden Smith-Dade City, Fla.

11. Eli Ross-Muskogee, Okla.

12. Ches Chester-Twin City, Ga.

13. Mike Benedum-Salem, W.V.

14. Dallas Murty-Chelsea, Iowa

15. Justin Haley-Winamac, Ind.

16. Eric Wilson-Vienna, Ohio

17. Matt Cooper-McKenzie, Tenn.

18. Todd Morrow-Penton, Ala.

19. Duane Chamberlain-Richmond, Ind.

20. Chad Finley-Saint Johns, Mich.

21. Zach Hawk-Rockford, Ohio

22. Chase Burda-Lapeer, Mich.

23. Dustin Nobbe-Batesville, Ind.

24. Doug Drown-Wooster, Ohio

Nick Hoffman was the fastest in VP Racing Fuels “Challenge the Clock” Timed Hot Laps presented by Slicker Graphics with a 15.014 second lap and earned the C&W Sales $500 Overall Fast Time Award.

Ricky Thornton, Jr. won Joy Ride Transport Heat-1.

Trey Mills won C&W Sales Heat-2.

Nick Hoffman won Curtis Towing Heat-3.

Dustin Nobbe won the Impact RaceGear B-Main.

Tyler Erb won the MD3 Hard Charger Award advancing 6 positions.

Eli Ross won the Deatherage Racing Opticians Middleman (11th Place) Award.

Nick Hoffman won the Todd Steel Buildings Move of the Race Award.

Austin Howes & Bryant Dickinson were the STAKT Products First Non-Transfers.

Lap Leaders: Ricky Thornton, Jr. 1-23; Nick Hoffman 24-25

Allgaier Performance Halfway Leader was Ricky Thornton, Jr. 

Swafford Signs White Flag Leader was Nick Hoffman

Deatherage Racing Opticians Caution Flags: One (lap 1)

Time of Race: 10 minutes, 38 seconds

Provisional Starters: Chase Burda, Zach Hawk

Margin of Victory: 0.891 seconds 

Heat One Finish: Ricky Thornton, Jr., Josh Rice, Michael Leach, Ches Chester, Matt Cooper, Doug Drown, Dustin Nobbe, Bryant Dickinson, Jace Owens (DNS-Chris Stotts, Ashton Winger)

Heat Two Finish: Trey Mills, Kyle Bronson, Jason Jameson, Tyler Erb, Justin Haley, Eli Ross, Eric Wilson, Chad Finley, Dillon Kohn, Rachel Snider (DNS-Keith Morris)

Heat Three Finish: Nick Hoffman, Steven Roberts, Todd Morrow, Mike Benedum, Brenden Smith, Duane Chamberlain, Dallon Murty, Austin Howes, Jaren Crabtree (DNS-Casey Noonan)

B-Main One Finish: Dustin Nobbe, Dallon Murty, Eric Wilson, Chad Finley, Austin Howes, Bryant Dickinson, Rachel Snider, Jace Owens, Jaren Crabtree, Dillon Kohn (DNS-Chris Stotts, Casey Noonan, Ashton Winger, Keith Morris) 

NEXT: Ricky Thornton Jr., Brandon Overton, Tim McCreadie, And More Reveal Their World 100 Wraps