Rod Conley Advances to Fourth in Topless 50 at Ohio Valley!
(April 30, 2022) Rod Conley and the #71R Conley Motorsports, Inc. (CMI) team entered one lone event over the weekend, as they ventured to Ohio Valley Speedway in Washington, West Virginia on Friday night, April 29. An unsanctioned Super Late Model bout was held and the 'Topless 50' boasted a $5,000 paycheck. In the roof-less special, Rod stopped the clock eighth fastest during the qualifying session before running second in his heat race. The Wheelersburg, Ohio ace then stayed out of trouble during the 50-lap headliner and ultimately placed fourth at the checkers behind only victor Tyler Carpenter, Jacob Hawkins, and Tim Dohm! Complete results from the 'Topless 50' can be found online by clicking on www.raceovs.com. (Zach Yost Racing Photography)

"Hot Rod" Nabs Top Five in Sunday Stop to Sprawling WVMS
(April 25, 2022) The #71R team and driver Rod Conley competed in a huge three-day weekend from April 22-24 in the states of Ohio and West Virginia. Things kicked off at Atomic Speedway in Alma, Ohio, as the World of Outlaws Case Construction Late Model Series presided over the two-day 'Outlaw Invasion.' On Friday night during the $10,000 to win opener, Rod unfortunately just missed out on transferring into the 40-lap feature after placing eighth in his heat race and fourth in his B-Main. At Atomic on Saturday evening, Rod finished sixth in his heat race, third in his B-Main, and sixteenth in the 50-lap finale, which shelled out a $15,000 paycheck.

The action then quickly shifted to the sprawling West Virginia Motor Speedway on Sunday for the track's season opening event. A $10,000 top prize was up for grabs at the Mineral Wells, West Virginia speedplant. "Hot Rod" ran third in his heat race to earn the inside of the third row for the start of the 25-lap feature event. The Wheelersburg, Ohio native then maintained his position during the course of the contest and eventually recorded a solid fifth place effort behind only victor Max Blair, Ryan Montgomery, Devin Moran, and Tyler Carpenter. Full results from all three weekend races can be found online at www.woolms.com and www.wvmotorspeedway.com. (Zach Yost Racing Photography)

Rod Conley Returns to Atomic Speedway for Second Event of 2022 Season
(April 3, 2022) Rod Conley, of Wheelersburg, Ohio, and his #71R team invaded Atomic Speedway in Alma, Ohio on Saturday evening, April 2 for their second event of the young 2022 campaign. A solid field of 23 competitors showed up to the 3/8-mile oval to do battle for the $3,000 top prize.

Rod stopped the clock eleventh quickest overall during the qualifying session before running third in heat race action. After starting the 25-lapper from the outside of the fourth row, "Hot Rod" fought hard for a top ten showing before winding up fourteenth in the final rundown of the contest. Complete results from Atomic Speedway can be viewed online by clicking on www.atomicspeedway.net. (Flag to Flag Photography)

Brothers Rod and R.J. Conley Open Up 2022 Campaign at Atomic Speedway
(March 21, 2022) The Conley Motorsports, Inc. (CMI) teams opened up their 2022 campaign on Sunday, March 20 in the annual running of the 'Buckeye Spring 50' at Atomic Speedway in Alma, Ohio. The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series rolled into the 3/8-mile oval to preside over the single-day throwdown and 31 competitors signed into the pit area to vie for the $12,000 winner's check. Rod Conley stopped the clock eleventh fastest in Group A during the qualifying session prior to placing sixth in his stacked heat race. After nabbing the fifth transfer spot through the B-Main, "Hot Rod" was eventually paid for a nineteenth place performance following fifty green flag circuits.

His brother R.J. Conley was also in competition at Atomic Speedway and started off his evening by posting the ninth quickest lap in Group B despite qualifying on a half flat Hoosier tire. The Wheelersburg, Ohio native then finished sixth in his heat race and fourth in his B-Main to earn the outside of the tenth row for the start of the 50-lapper. R.J. unfortunately went down a lap early in the contest, but ran some fast laps at the end of the race and was credited with a seventeenth place showing in his season opener. Full results from the 'Buckeye Spring 50' can be viewed online at www.lucasdirt.com.

Hall of Famer Delmas Conley Unfortunately Passes Away at Age 79
(January 4, 2022) Delmas Conley, the patriarch of the talented southern Ohio racing clan who won more Super Late Model races in his 70s than most drivers do in a career, died Tuesday afternoon, according to team publicist Ryan Delph. The 79-year-old Wheelersburg, Ohio, resident who owned and operated Conley Trucking had been hospitalized with cancer since mid-December.

The ageless wonder inducted into the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame in 2003 tallied 561 career feature victories over seven decades of racing as one of the state's all-time winningest drivers, scoring numerous track championships and capturing major events that included the Beckley USA 100 at Beckley (W.Va.) Motor Speedway, the Southern 100 at his hometown Southern Ohio Speedway, Portsmouth (Ohio) Raceway Park's Cornett Clash and Eldora Speedway's Johnny Appleseed Classic.

Conley's famed red No. 71 — his also successful sons Rod Conley (71R) and R.J. Conley (71C) drove near identical cars for Conley Motorsports alongside their father at many of the same tracks — was popular as Dirt Late Model racing moved from the early to modern era, but he was later even more popular among older spectators as he became the sport's fastest septuagenarian.

"I never feel like I’m an older guy,” Conley said after a 2012 victory. "Everybody puts a lot of emphasis on age, and age is a factor, without a doubt, but it’s what you feel and what you want to do. If I didn’t feel like I could drive a race car, I wouldn’t get in it. If I didn’t feel like I could be competitive, I wouldn’t race.”

Conley's career included track championships at Southern Ohio, Beckley, Atomic, Portsmouth and Checkered Flag Speedway near Ashland, Ky. He was a nine-time starter of the World 100 (best finish of seventh in 1991 and '94) and a six-time starter of the Dirt Track World Championship (best finish of ninth in 1987) and fourth-place finisher in 1980's Hillbilly 100 at I-79 Speedway in Shinnston, W.Va. His 561st and final victory came Aug. 7 at Portsmouth.

“I never want to retire," Conley said in the 2012 interview, adding he arose for work at 5 a.m. daily. "I’m a firm believer that if you retire and shut it down, you just rust. If I live to be 80, I want to be going at 80. If I live to be 90, I want to be doing something at 90. I want to be productive.” (Rick Schwallie Photo - Story by DirtonDirt.com)

Delmas and R.J. Conley Diecast Cars Now Available Online!
(October 18, 2021) If you are a diecast car collector or a fan of Delmas and R.J. Conley, be sure to view and purchase BRAND NEW stock through our online store, which is available safely and securely at www.olddirtshirts.com/collections/delmas-conley! These 1:24 scale ADC diecast cars are new in box, never been opened, and have all original packaging. We appreciate your support of Conley Motorsports, Inc.!