Key notes: The Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series concludes its 2026 season and the inaugural Halloween Nationals with Saturday’s 60-lap, $50,000-to-win finale at Portsmouth Raceway Park. … The two-day event began when Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., slid by Nick Hoffman on a lap-25 restart and led the final six laps in winning Friday’s $10,000 opener. Thornton now has five career Portsmouth victories, including the 2021 Dirt Track World Championship in Lucas Oil Series action, worth $100,000. … The Jent family of Hillsboro, Ky., recently reopened the 3/8-mile facility that sits near where the Ohio and Scioto Rivers meet. … Tyler Erb of New Waverly, Texas, led all but one of the opening 23 laps Friday before a flat right-rear tire ended his bid for a fourth straight Portsmouth triumph. Erb swept the Sept. 4-5 unsanctioned Super Late Model weekend there, worth more than $25,000 before topping the last Iron-Man Series visit on Oct. 3, for a $10,000 payday. … Hoffman, of Mooresville, N.C., led twice for two laps Friday before settling for fourth. … R.J. Conley of Wheelersburg, Ohio, is a three-time winner this season in local Super Late Model action. … Colten Burdette of Parkersburg, W.Va., has all but clinched his second straight Iron-Man Series title. … Modifieds ($10,000-to-win) and sport mods ($1,100-to-win) are on the undercard. … Pits open at 1 p.m. and grandstands open at 3 with hot laps at 6. … Watch live on FloRacing or Hunt the Front TV.
Who to watch: Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., eyes the Halloween Nationals sweep at Portsmouth and his sixth straight victory.
Points chase: Before Portsmouth Friday: 1. Colten Burdette (1,278); 2. Rod Conley (1,150); 3. Miles Cook II (1,047); 4. Seth Daniels (983); 5. Travis Carr (863).
Expected entrants: Ricky Thornton Jr., Tyler Erb, Nick Hoffman, Josh Rice, Drake Troutman, R.J. Conley, Colten Burdette, Jason Jameson, Michael Chilton, Dustin Sorensen, Eddie Carrier Jr., Ryan Montgomery, Rod Conley, Adam Stricker, Levi Yetter, Kyle Hardy, Tristan Chamberlain, Mike Benedum, Seth Daniels, Shannon Thornsberry, Justin Cooper, Kirk Phillips, Josh Bocook, Miles Cook II, Travis Carr and more.
Current weather: Clear, 64°F
From staff reports
PORTSMOUTH, Ohio — Updates from Saturday’s Halloween Nationals finale at Portsmouth Raceway Park, featuring a 60-lap, $50,000-to-win feature for Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series-sanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):
Saturday’s schedule
(All times local)
1 p.m. - Pits open
3 p.m. - Grandstands open
5 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
5:30 p.m. - On-track activity
- Late Model hot laps
- Modified hot laps
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- Modified group qualifying
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Modified heats (8 laps)
- Sport mod hot laps
- Late Model consolations (8 laps)
- Modified consolations (8 laps)
Feature events
- Sport mods (15 laps)
- Late Models (60 laps)
- Modifieds (40 laps)
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