October 14
Portsmouth Raceway Park,
Portsmouth, OH
Sanction: Steel Block Late Model Series (Steel Block 25) - $4,000
Information provided by: Series and track reports (last updated October 18, 3:23 pm)
Melvin goes flag-to-flag for $4,000 at Portsmouth
Steel Block 25
- Matt Melvin
- Brandon Brown
- Zach Milbee
- Jared Hawkins
- Tyler Carpenter
- Corey DeLancey
- Shawn Shoemaker
- Robbie Lewis
- B.J. Gregory
- Mike Meyers
- Kyle Lear
- Pete Crum
- Kevin Terry
- William Rose
- Seth Daniels
- Tyler Riggs
- Joe Brewer
- Austin Neely
- Kirk Phillips
- Evyian Terry
- Brandon Urban
- Dustin Sprouse
- Jody Adkins
Matt Melvin takes the checkers at Portsmouth Raceway Park.
What won the race: Matt Melvin of Coal Grove, Ohio led all 25 laps at Portsmouth Raceway Park on Saturday, winning the $4,000 Steel Block Late Model Series portion of the Dirt Track World Championship. Melvin's Premier Precast Products Steel Block 25 feature victory is the third of his career with the SBLMS.
Quotable: "I think it was all in qualifying yesterday, we went out 45th out of 50 cars and I was real nervous about that, but we hit a perfect lap," Melvin said. "I feel like at this place, if I'm on the pole, it's gonna be a hard time to get around me."
Key notes: Brandon Brown of Cullman, Ala., advanced five positions and finished second. ... Six-time series winner this year and SBLMS points leader, Zach Milbee of Poca, W.Va., finished third. ... Jared Hawkins gained 12 spots and finished fourth. ... Driving a car owned by Mike Meyers, Tyler Carpenter pressured Melvin for the lead in the opening laps before fading to finish fifth. ... Robbie Lewis gained 10 positions and finished eighth. ... B.J. Gregory moved forward 12 spots and finished ninth. ... Tyler Riggs ran as high as third in the early laps before retiring early and finishing 16th. ... Saturday's feature, the 16th and penultimate race on the SBLMS schedule, was slowed by five cautions. ... The Steel Block Late Model Series concludes its 2022 season with a $1,200-to-win feature on Oct. 22 at Ohio Valley (W.Va.) Speedway.
On the move: Corey DeLancey of Parkersburg, W.Va., started 22nd and finished sixth.
Winner's sponsors: Melvin's Black Diamond Chassis is sponsored by Patriot Meat Processing LLC, Thoroughbred Construction Group, M&G Excavating LLC, Square P Farms, The Williams Fuel Stop of Gallipolis, Noonan Industries LLC, Gryphon Graffix, Josh Wilson Photography, Pickett Concrete and Slicker Graphics.
Points chase: After Portsmouth: 1. Zach Milbee (989); 2. Corey DeLancey (928); 3. Dustin Sprouse (712); 4. Mike Sprouse (703); 5. Chris Williams (668).
Current weather: Clear, 66°F
Car count: 50
Fast qualifier: Matt Melvin
Time: 15.642 seconds
Polesitter: Matt Melvin
Heat race winners: Matt Melvin, Zach Milbee, Tyler Riggs, Tyler Carpenter, Kyle Lear
Consolation race winners: Jared Hawkins, Joe Brewer
Provisional starters: Corey DeLancey, Kevin Terry
Next series race: October 22, Ohio Valley Speedway (Washington, WV) $1,200
Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.