Garrett Alberson Scores First Eldora Speedway Win In Baltes Classic Late Model Main

Story By: MICHAEL DESPAIN / AMERICAN LATE MODEL IRON-MAN ERIES – ROSSBURG, OH – The Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series Fueled by VP Racing Fuels would conclude the 2024 Labor Day Holiday weekend on Sunday evening at Eldora Speedway for the track’s 16th Annual Baltes Classic presented by Coors Light and Garrett Alberson of Las Cruces, NM would lead all thirty laps on his way to his first career Eldora victory and the $5,000 payday.

For the 35 year-old Alberson, it would be his second career Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series Fueled by VP Racing Fuels victory and he would become the tenth different winner in thirteen series events so far this season. Alberson would drive the Ken Roberts owned Longhorn Chassis, Clement Race Engines powered entry sponsored by Nutrien Ag Solutions, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Done Right TV, Roberts Motorsports, McGrady Construction, Roemer Machine and Welding, and Rick’s Performance Center.

Garrett Alberson would grab the lead at the drop of the green flag on the 16th Annual Baltes Classic presented by Coors Light Valvoline A-Main, with Carson Ferguson, Ricky Thornton, Jr., Jonathan Davenport, and Jimmy Owens in pursuit. The front five would remain the same until Davenport would take third from Thornton, Jr. on lap eight and set his sights on Ferguson and take the runner-up spot on lap eleven, with Cory Hedgecock taking fifth from Owens one circuit later. The first caution would appear on lap seventeen and when action resumed, Alberson maintained the lead, with Davenport second, while Thornton, Jr. would take third from Ferguson. The caution would wave again on lap nineteen for Ricky Weiss, who slowed on the track with a flat right front tire, but would get it changed and continue.

Business would pick up this restart as Thornton, Jr. would slidejob past Davenport for second and also get Alberson in the process, but Alberson would dive back under Thornton, Jr. and continue to lead at the start/finish line, while Owens would slip around Ferguson for fifth. Tyler Erb would spin in turn two and draw the next caution on lap twenty-one. The restart would see Alberson hold the lead still, but Ferguson would get a huge run and would roll past Davenport for third on lap twenty-two, but Davenport would retake the spot on lap twenty-four. The final caution appeared again on lap twenty-seven for a slowed machine and the restart would see Alberson and Thornton, Jr. remain first and second, but Ferguson would roll past Davenport for the third spot and Owens would work past Hedgecock for fifth on lap twenty-eight. The final caution would appear on lap twenty-nine for Zack Mitchell’s slowed machine in turn four, setting up a two-lap shootout to the finish. Alberson would again get a great restart, while Ferguson would drive around Thornton, Jr. for second and Davenport would come to third. Alberson would see the checkered flag first, followed by Ferguson, Davenport, Thornton, Jr., and Gregg Satterlee. The remainder of the top ten finishers would be Owens, Weiss, Daulton Wilson, Nick Hoffman, and Tyler Erb.

The next events for the Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series Fueled by VP Racing Fuels will be Friday September 13 at MRP Raceway Park in Willliamsburg, OH for the 17th Annual Victor “Ike” Moler Memorial paying $5,000 to win and Saturday September 14 at Lawrenceburg Speedway in Lawrenceburg, IN paying $5,000 to win. The Lawrenceburg, Speedway event September 14 will be co-sanctioned with the Ultimate Heart of America Late Model Series.

Valvoline A-Main Feature Results for the Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Late Model Series Fueled by VP Racing Fuels 16th Annual Baltes Classic presented by Coors Light at Eldora Speedway on Sunday September 1, 2024

1. Garrett Alberson-Las Cruces, N.M.
2. Carson Ferguson-Lincolnton, N.C.
3. Jonathan Davenport-Blairsville, Ga.
4. Ricky Thornton, Jr.-Martinsville, Ind.
5. Gregg Satterlee-Indiana, Pa.
6. Jimmy Owens-Newport, Tenn.
7. Ricky Weiss-Monterrey, Tenn.
8. Daulton Wilson-Fayetteville, N.C.
9. Nick Hoffman-Mooresville, N.C.
10. Tyler Erb-New Waverly, Tex.
11. Garrett Smith-Eatonton, Ga.
12. Tanner English-Benton, Ky.
13. Tristan Chamberlain-Richmond, Ind.
14. Seth Daniels-Jackson, Ohio
15. Luke Morey-Denver, N.C.
16. Cory Hedgecock-Loudon, Tenn.
17. Zack Mitchell-Enoree, S.C.
18. Jason Jameson-Lawrenceburg, Ind.
19. Josh Rice-Crittenden, Ky.
20. James Rice-Crittenden, Ky.
21. Doug Drown-Wooster, Ohio
22. Rusty Schlenk-McClure, Ohio
23. Clint Keenan-Pataskala, Ohio
24. Jerry Bowersock-Wapakoneta, Ohio
25. Ryan Missler-Bellevue, Ohio

Time of Race: 26 minutes, 44 seconds
Margin of Victory: 1.553 seconds
Yellow Flags: Five (lap 17, 19, 21, 27, 29)
Red Flags: None
Lap Leaders: Garrett Alberson 1-30

Entries: 65
Provisionals: Rusty Schlenk, Seth Daniels
Emergency Provisionals: Ryan Missler

E-Z-GO Time Trials presented by Brucebilt Performance Parts Top Qualifier ($50 product certificate): Garrett Alberson (Group A) 15.583 seconds
SFP Performance Systems Hard Charger Award ($100 product certificate): Seth Daniels (started 24th-finished 14th-advanced 10 positions)
SFP Performance Systems Hard Luck Award ($100 product certificate): Cory Hedgecock
Deatherage Racing Opticians Middleman Award ($50 product certificate to the 11th place finisher): Garrett Smith
Brucebilt Performance Parts Youngest Driver/Highest Finisher ($25 product certificate): Carson Ferguson
Octane Custom Trailers Move of the Race (free entry fee at next event): Ricky Thornton, Jr.
CNR Racing 5th Place Finisher ($50 product certificate): Gregg Satterlee
CNR Spoiler Challenge Leader: Rusty Schlenk

VP Racing Fuels Makin’ Power Heat Race One Finish (8 laps/top 3 transfer): Garrett Alberson, Tyler Erb, James Rice, Clint Keenan, Cory Workman, Freddie Carpenter, Steve Prince, Clayton Bryant, John Miller, Megan Sanders, Mike Marlar

FLORacing Heat Race Two Finish (8 laps/top 3 transfer): Ricky Thornton, Jr., Daulton Wilson, Doug Drown, Brenden Smith, Ryan Missler, Gavin Cowan, Carson Brown, Devin Shiels, Caiden Black, Bill Lewis, Dustin Nobbe

Jim and Nancy Viox Heat Race Three Finish (8 laps/top 3 transfer): Zack Mitchell, Gregg Satterlee, Ricky Weiss, Josh Rice, Kent Robinson, Jeff Babcock, Rob Anderzack, Cody Sommer, Austin Lay, Bryant Dickinson (DNS-Jeff Robertson)

DirtonDirt.com Heat Race Four Finish (8 laps/top 3 transfer): Carson Ferguson, Garrett Smith, Jason Jameson, Tripp Gerrald, Nathan Loney, Rod Conley, Mike Hildebrand, Trace Settles, Jordan Van Hal, Dusty Moore, Tyler Millwood

Hoosier Tire Heat Race Five Finish (8 laps/top 3 transfer): Jonathan Davenport, Cory Hedgecock, Jerry Bowersock, Luke Morey, Kenneth Howell, Terry Rushlow, Jeremy Petty, Jackson Lovelady, Shane Bailey, Trevor Reed, Rusty Schlenk

MyRacePass Heat Race Six Finish (8 laps/top 3 transfer): Jimmy Owens, Nick Hoffman, Tanner English, Andrew Reaume, Tristan Chamberlain, Oakley Johns, Casey Noonan, Seth Daniels, Matt Melvin, Gregg Haskell

STAKT Products B-Main One Finish (10 laps/top 2 transfer): Josh Rice, Clint Keenan, Brenden Smith, Gavin Cowan, Kent Robinson, Cory Workman, Ryan Missler, Devin Shiels, Carson Brown, Rob Anderzack, Jeff Babcock, Freddie Carpenter, Steve Prince, Austin Lay, John Miller, Bryant Dickinson, Dustin Nobbe, Jeff Robertson (DNS-Clayton Bryant, Cody Sommer, Caiden Black, Megan Sanders, Bill Lewis, Mike Marlar)

STAKT Products B-Main Two Finish (10 laps/top 2 transfer): Tristan Chamberlain, Luke Morey, Andrew Reaume, Tripp Gerrald, Oakley Johns, Rod Conley, Nathan Loney, Matt Melvin, Terry Rushlow, Jeremy Petty, Casey Noonan, Mike Hildebrand, Rusty Schlenk, Seth Daniels, Shane Bailey, Dusty Moore, Jordan Van Hal, Gregg Haskell, Kenneth Howell, Tyler Millwood, Trevor Reed, Jackson Lovelady, Trace Settles