What won the race: Slipping by race-long leader Cody Bauer down the backstretch on the 17th lap, second-starting Rusty Schlenk of Jackson, Mich., led the rest of Saturday's 30-lap Monster Mash finale at Montpelier Speedway for a $5,000 payday. Schlenk beat Bauer by 2.596 seconds for his fourth Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series victory of the season and third Montpelier triumph.

Key notes: Schlenk notched his 44th career Iron-Man Series victory, a majority of them coming on the American Late Model Tour. ... It's his third Montpelier victory of 2026 and sixth since 2018, five coming since last April, including the most recent Iron-Man Series visit on June 28, 2025. ... Schlenk scored his 15th overall feature win of the season, seven coming since July 25's Wood Tic at Merritt Speedway in Lake City, Mich., collecting more than $34,000 over that span. ... Cody Bauer led the opening 16 laps from the pole before giving way to Schlenk and slipping back after a lap-25 restart. ... Tenth-starting Devin Gilpin came alive after the lap-25 restart, climbing from ninth on lap 24 to third by 28, before completing the podium. ... Thirteenth-starting Rod Conley slipped by Miles Cook II four fourth on the final lap, dropping Cook to fifth. ... Iron-Man points leader Colten Burdette improved six positions to place sixth. ... Montpelier's 16-minute season finale was slowed three times, first for debris on lap seven. ... Jeff Robertson and Herb Reich continued after a lap-12 tangle on the backstretch; Robertson was credited with 19th after retiring on the 24th lap while Reich finished 17th as the first starter one lap down. ... Jerry Bowersock and Carter Schlenk made contact in turn three as they battled for sixth on lap 25, with both drivers spinning to draw the final stoppage; the younger Schlenk retired while Bowersock soldiered to a 15th-place finish. ... Eric Wilson, winner of Friday's $2,000 unsanctioned Monster Mash prelim, pulled off on the third lap and credited 22nd as the race's first retiree.

On the move: Justin White of Stevensville, Mich., started 18th and finished seventh.

Winner's sponsors: Schlenk’s Domination Race Car is powered by a Mullins Engine and sponsored by Buckeye Concrete Coatings, Tom Finch Automotive, TriState Pole Barns, Dominator Race Products, Integra Racing Shocks, Terry Henricks Auto Group, Velocita USA, Landrum Performance Springs, VP Racing Fuel and Lubricants, Vahlco Racing Wheels, Willy’s Carbs, ML Performance Allstar Performance, Wilwood Disc Brakes and KBC Graphix.

Points chase: Before Montpelier: 1. Colten Burdette (1,223); 2. Rod Conley (1,085); 3. Miles Cook II (987); 4. Seth Daniels (936); 5. Travis Carr (820).

Current weather: Clear, 55°F

Car count: 35

Fast qualifier: Rusty Schlenk

Time: 14.344 seconds

Polesitter: Cody Bauer

Heat race winners: Cody Bauer, Clayton Bryant, Rusty Schlenk, Miles Cook II

Consolation race winners: Colin Shipley, Justin White

Provisional starters: Herb Reich, Jeff Robertson

Next series race: October 30, Portsmouth Raceway Park (Portsmouth, OH) $10,000