Saturday, August 9, 2025
By Mike Swanger
The Valvoline American Late Model Iron Man Series rolled into Wayne County Speedway Saturday night for the 11th running of the Don & Hans Gross Memorial and after the 40 lap feature, Rusty Schlenk stood in the Summit Racing victory circle with his first win ever at WCS. The race would start with VP Racing Fuels Challenge the Clock quick qualifier Caiden Black setting the pace for the opening nine circuits followed by outside front row starter Colton Flinner as Schlenk was in third from his sixth starting spot in just four laps. As the leaders headed into lap traffic on lap nine, Mike McGinnis would spin in turn four in front of the leaders that sent them scattering to avoid contact with Flinner dropping from competition with a flat tire. On the restart, Schlenk from McClure would overpower Black in turns one and two and head down the backstretch with the lead. Driving the Terry Henrick Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Buckeye Concrete Coatings and Tri State Pole Barns #91 would open up a two and half second lead at the halfway mark with Black in second as four time winner of the Gross Memorial and last years winner, Doug Drown and Kyle Moore went back and forth for fourth behind third place Colten Burdette. Moore’s night would end with overheating problems on lap 26 then a caution would bunch the field back together. With the green flag waving again, Schlenk would pull away with Burdette, Drown and Clint Keenan all overtaking a fading Black on lap 33. None of those three could make a challenge on Schlenk as he would post his second win of the weekend with the Iron Man series and fourth of the year with them. Burdette, Drown and Kennan would follow as Ryan Markham filled out the top five with the 5 StarRace Bodies/MD3 Hard Charger award coming from his 18th starting position.
Nate Young led the opening nine laps of the Flynn’s Tire & Auto Service Modified main as three cautions early on kept everyone packed together as Wyatt Scott pestered Young for the top spot. Following a lap 8 restart, Young would bounce off the guard rail in turn one and receive a flat tire sending him to the work area for a new one. Mansfield’s Kyle Moore overtook Scott on the restart in turn two and then cruise to his 7th win of the season aboard the McKenzie Concrete, JoyRide Transport and Kepling Flooring #21d. Scott, in his first trip to Orrville’s Historic Oval, held on to second as Jimmy Humphrey claimed third ahead of another first timer, Andrew Hammond with Young coming back to finish fifth.
Jumping into the Wooster Hydrostatics, D J Directional Services and Dino’s Drive Thru #69, Nate Young of Painesville would fend off Brad Hensel for his first Canton Glass House Super Stock win of the season. Young and Hensel would slide and crossover each other in the early laps of the feature before Young took control of the race on lap eight as Hensel kept it close and gave it one more try on the last lap but settled for second. O’Reilly’s Auto Parts ‘Race to the Championship’ points leader Brandon Craver ran third with Paul McVicker and Todd Warnick rounding out the top five.
Another It’s not over until it’s over feature for the JoyRide Transport Mini Stocks as Valek Menough look good for the first 8 circuits of the main event until he hit the turn four guardrail to end his race and giving the lead to Johnny Bruce, who banged the same spot in turn four, breaking the front end of his car ending his run for the win. Kyle Petit would inherit the lead and the Jeromesville driver and his Down & Dirty Services, Hardridge Restoration and Apple Creek Drive Thru #23p would hold off a fast closing Cody Musselman and Moose Workman the final two circuits to claim his second win of the year. Colton and Peyton Davis filled out the top five.
Wayne County Speedway will be right back in action on Tuesday night for the Bob Chaney Memorial featuring the All Star Circuit of Champions Sprints and the Open 305 Sprints. The ASCOC will pat $7500 to win in their second visit to WCS in 2025. Bryce Lucius was the winner of the Speedweek show back in June. Then on Saturday, August 16, it will be another Fast Five program as all five class’ will be in action on Food Drive Night as fans are encouraged to bring food items to help with different charities around the Wayne County area. The usual start times will be used for both events.
WAYNE COUNTY SPEEDWAY SUMMARY
August 9,2025
VALVOLINE AMERICAN LATE MODEL IRON MAN SERIES
V P Racing Fuels Challenge the Clock Fast Qualifier Caiden Black 16.898 seconds
Hoosier Tire Heat 1 Caiden Black, Rob Anderzack, Corey Conley, Larry Bellman, Miles Cook, J R Gentry, Billy Dawson
FloRacing Heat 2 Colton Flinner, Colten Burdette, Doug Drown, Rod Conley, Wes Morrison, Jim Gingery, Kyle Moore dns
Impact Race Gear Heat 3 Clint Keenan, Rusty Schlenk, Todd Brennan, Tyler Evans, Justin Chance, Ryan Markham, Mike McGinnis
Feature Rusty Schlenk, Colten Burdette, Doug Drown, Clint Keenan, Ryan Markham, J R Gentry, Caiden Black, Rod Conley, Rob Anderzack, Todd Brennan, Corey Conley, Miled Cook, Larry Bellman, Justin Chance, Jim Gingery, Kyle Moore, Wes Morrison, Mike McGinnis, Tyler Evans, Billy Dawson, Colton Flinner
FLYNN’S TIRE & AUTO SERVICE MODIFIEDS
Fast Qualifier Kyle Moore 18.094 seconds
Henthorn Golf Cart Sales Heat 1 Nate Young, Kyle Moore, Caden Alexander, Daniel Dehner, Chaz Dawson, Jesse Griffitts
TruForm Products Heat 2 Wyatt Scott, Brandon Morrow, Andrew Hammond, Casey Butler, Jim Plance, Rob Stambaugh
Hutch Xtreme Photos Heat 3 Doug Hensel, Jimmy Humphrey, D J Miller, Ryan Markham, Ron Miller, Vinnie DePizzo
Feature Kyle Moore, Wyatt Scott, Jimmy Humphrey, Andrew Hammond, Nate Young, Caden Alexander, Chaz Dawson, Daniel Dehner, Ryan Markham, Doug Hensel, Jim Plance, Casey Butler, Jesse Griffitts, D J Miller, Brandon Morrow, Ron Miller dns, Rob Stambaugh dns, Vinnie DePizzo dns
CANTON GLASS HOUSE SUPER STOCKS
Fast Qualifier Brandon Craver 20.548
Henthorn Golf Cart Sales Heat 1 Nate Young, Brad Hensel, Brandon Craver, Denny Shear, Paul McVicker, Todd Warnick, Marc Edwards
Feature Nate Young, Brad Hensel, Brandon Craver, Paul McVicker, Todd Warnick, Marc Edwards, Denny Shear
JOYRIDE TRANSPORT MINI STOCKS
Henthorn Golf Cart Sales Heat 1 Kyle Petit, Valek Menough, Johnny Bruce, Cody Musselman, Moose Workman, Clayton Evans
TruForm Product Heat 2 Eugene Arkenburgh, Jimmy Burns, Trent Bishop, Peyton Davis, Colton Davis, Cody Newbury
Feature Kyle Petit, Cody Musselman, Moose Workman, Colton Davis, Peyton Davis, Johnny Bruce, Eugene Arkenburgh, Trent Bishop, Jimmy Burns, Valek Menough, Clayton Evans dns, Cody Newbury dns