What won the race: Polesitter Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., led all the way in a de facto Rocket Chassis house car for a $2,000 victory at Bubba Raceway Park in the opening of a weekend Crate Late Model tripleheader. Sheppard edged away from fifth-starting Kyle Bronson of Brandon, Fla., on the final restart for a 40-lap victory.

Quotable: "The racetrack was pretty good. It got a little bit one-laned there, but with the (afternoon) rain and everything, it's really hard to determine what you need to do to the racetrack to get it too racy," Sheppard said. "But overall it was pretty racy there at the beginning."

Key notes: Sheppard is driving the Rocket Chassis house car in Super Late Model action in 2017; Rocket partner Marc Sallack provides a Crate Late Model ride for Sheppard at Ocala. ... The winning margin was 1.252 seconds. ... Tyler Bare started 10th and worked his way up to fifth before drawing a late caution with a flat tire. ... Eighteen drivers finished on the lead lap. ... Among those failing to make the feature were Jake Teague, Hunter Carroll, Pierce McCarter, Forrest Trent, Guy Taylor, Joe Kump, Connor Meade and Dennis Franklin. ... Competitors are eyeing a $10,000-to-win weekend finale Saturday, a 100-lapper.

On the move: Hudson O'Neal of Martinsville, Ind., started 22nd and finished sixth.

Winner's sponsors: The Marc Sallack-owned No. 17B Rocket Chassis is sponsored by Sallack Well Services, Valvoline, Morocco Welding and Hoosier Tire.

Points chase: Ronnie Johnson is the points leader after two races in NeSmith's winter miniseries.

Car count: 41

Fast qualifier: Brandon Sheppard

Time: 14.983 seconds

Polesitter: Brandon Sheppard

Consolation race winners: Mark Whitener, Jeff Mathews, Doug Horton,  ,  

Next series race: January 27, Bubba Raceway Park (Ocala, FL) $2,000