What won the race: Second-starting James Giossi of Roberts, Wis., led 30 laps for a convincing victory in Friday’s Race to be Essential open Late Model main event at Mississippi Thunder Speedway. Giossi earned $2,000 in winning ahead of 11th-starting Jake Timm of Winona, Minn., in Wisconsin’s first Late Model event of 2020.

Key notes: Fourteen of the 19 starters finished. … The race was slowed by three cautions, the first on the initial start, requiring a complete restart. … The second caution was on lap 20 for Kevin Eder of Ashland, Wis., who slowed on the backstretch. … The final yellow was on a lap-20 restart for debris in turn one. … Polesitter Taylor Scheffler of Waukesha, Wis., slowed to a stop during the caution on the initial start and was pushed back to the pit area. … Missouri invader Tony Jackson Jr. was caught up in a wreck on the first start attempt. He ended up seventh. … Justin Ritchie of New London, Wis., ran second for 20 laps before slipping to third. … Ryan Gustin of Marshaltown, Iowa., did not start the feature. ... Friday’s event was originally characterized by track co-owner Bob Timm as a \"protest\" to the track being deemed a non-essential business amid restrictions in the coronavirus pandemic, but later backpedaled from those statements in trying to avoid controversy. ... No spectators were admitted amid coronavirus restrictions.

On the move: Runner-up Jake Timm of Winona, Minn. started 11th and Tony Jackson Jr. of Lebanon, Mo., rallied from 17th to seventh.

Winner's sponsors: Giossi’s GRP Motorports MB Customs Race Car is sponsored by Liquid Nitro, GTK, Auto Value, Keizer, Sue’s Bar & Grill and Deppe Enterprises.

Current weather: Partly Cloudy, 68°F

Car count: 20

Polesitter: Taylor Scheffler

Heat race winners: Taylor Scheffler, A.J. Diemel, Justin Ritchie,  ,  ,  ,  ,