Payton Looney climbs atop his car to celebrate in West Plains.
What won the race: Polesitter Payton Looney of Republic, Mo., led all 35 laps, turning back repeated challenges from Tim Manville of Highland, Ill. — including a door-banging incident amid lapped traffic with 10 laps remaining — to win his first career MARS DIRTcar feature in the West Region program.
Quotable: "I was just trying to hit my marks," Looney said. "I could see Timmy (Manville) there every once in awhile in the bottom, so I was just trying to keep my momentum up and make sure that he couldn't ... you know, as long as I stayed in my line, he was gonna really have to rough me up to get by me."
Key notes: The race ran caution-free. ... Manville, who was seeking his second career MARS victory, slid under Looney on lap 12 but couldn't make the move stick and nearly spun in turn two on the slick West Plains surface. ... Looney and Manville raced side-by-side on laps 21 and 23. ... After making hard contact with the race leader with 10 laps remaining, Manville began to slide back and was eventually passed by 17-time MARS winner Tony Jackson Jr., who finished second. ... Daniel Jensen crashed in prelims, heavily damaging a car he'd purchased from Jesse Stovall. ... Competitors head to Midway Speedway in Lebanon, Mo., on Sunday to make up a Friday rainout.
On the move: Austin Rettig of Sikeston, Mo., started 14th and finished sixth.
Winner's sponsors: Looney's Black Diamond Race Car is powered by a Scott Bailey Racing Engines and is sponsored by Atnip Enterprises and Berger's Marina.
Points chase: Entering Saturday's event, Tony Jackson Jr. of Lebanon, Mo., was atop the West standings with (243) points over Austin Rettig (207) and Payton Looney (191).
Car count: 26
Fast qualifier: Tim Manville
Time: 14.183 seconds
Polesitter: Payton Looney
Heat race winners: Tim Manville, Tony Jackson Jr., Payton Looney, , , , ,
Consolation race winners: Logan Martin, , ,
Next series race: April 2, Midway Speedway (Lebanon, MO) $2,000