As another race season is starting to wind down for the Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series fueled by VP, the series has named the Second Annual “Noel Hargis Lifetime Achievement Award” recipient for the 2026 season.
Rod Conley, a native of Wheelersburg, Ohio, was presented the award at the drivers meeting for the Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series during the Fall 40 at Portsmouth Raceway Park.
Conley, a second-generation racer and the elder statesman in the Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series pit area, has raced for over 35 years and holds track championships at multiple Ohio tracks. Conley has three series victories and has finished inside the top-10 in the final standings the last five seasons. For several seasons, Conley followed the renowned STARS tour (four victories) and the MACS (Mid-Atlantic Championship Series) for several seasons and even collected a World of Outlaws victory in 2008. Conley was the 1997 Hillbilly Hundred winner and also holds the Mountain Momma 100 payday. Conley also holds wins with the Cornett Clash and Southern 100. Since 2006, Conley has 41 personal feature victories.
The award was named last year in honor of longtime race official Noel Hargis of Somerset, Ky. Hargis was a race car driver in the 1960’s and 1970’s before becoming a flagman for several Central Kentucky dirt tracks then flagman for the Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series (2002-2009) and the NARA which became the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series from 2004-2006 under promoter Spencer Wilson. Hargis also flagged numerous Iron-Man Series events from 2004 and retired from the flagstand on Labor Day Weekend of 2011. Hargis was inducted into the South-Central Kentucky Dirt Racing Hall of Fame in 2021 and has continued to work behind the scenes as a consultant and supporter of the sport.
Hargis’ character on and off the race track propelled Series Promoter Chris Tilley to name the award in his honor. “Last year, I wanted to name this award in honor of Noel (Hargis) because he’s someone I’ve always admired and looked up to. His consistency, work ethic, professionalism and fair treatment of the race teams over the years have made him respected across the sport. Our group this year felt like Rod Conley embodies those principles and we wanted to show our appreciation to a longtime racer that deserved it,” stated Tilley. Roy Faulkner was the inaugural award recipient in 2025.
The Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series has four events that remain on the schedule include Portsmouth Raceway Park on October 3 paying $10,000-to-win, Montpelier Speedway on October 24 paying $5,000-to-win then back to Portsmouth Raceway Park on October 30-31 for a $10,000-to-win and $50,000-to-win event.
For more information on the Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series, call (828) 361-5981 or log on to www.IMDIRT.net.
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