What won the race: Terry Phillips of Springfield, Mo., overtook Jesse Stovall on the 28th of 30 laps Friday at Salina Highbanks Speedway in the opening round of the Freedom Classic for MLRA and MARS Late Models. Phillips, the winningest driver by far on both tours, earned $3,000.

Quotable: "I took a little guess at what we needed after the heat race, it kind of came to me," Phillips said. "(Stovall) was really tight getting in (the corner) I noticed. If he wasn't so tight getting in, I probably couldn't have run him down. I hit it a little better than he did tonight I guess. He makes fun of me for being old all the time, I showed him what old is!"

Key notes: Friday's program the first of back-to-back nights of racing at Salina. with Saturday's event offering a $5,000 winner's purse. … Drivers will qualify, run heats, B-main if needed and a feature each night. … The event was co-sanctioned by the Lucas Oil MLRA and the MARS DIRTcar Series West. … Former track and USMTS announcer Bryce Hall has taken over the day to day management of Salina Highbanks.

Winner's sponsors: Phillips drives a Black Diamond Chassis with an Andy Durham Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from Andy's Frozen Custard, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Don Babb Motorsports, New Vision Graphics, Integra Shocks, Keyser Mfg., Peterson Fluid Systems, Performance Bodies and Midwest Sheet Metal.

Points chase: Entering the weekend opener, Jesse Stovall (819 points) led the MLRA standings over Tony Jackson Jr. (813); Jackson (675 points) entered with a substantial lead in the MARS West standings.

Car count: 22

Fast qualifier: Rodney Sanders

Time: 15.653 seconds

Next series race: July 1, Salina Highbanks Speedway (Salina, OK) $5,000