What won the race: Pulling off a successful slider with two laps remaining, polesitter Josh Rice of Verona, Ky., charged to the $4,000 Valvoline Iron-Man Northern Series victory on Friday night at Atomic Speedway in the Atomic 100 opener. Rice took the checkers 0.843 ahead of race-long pacesetter Devin Moran.

Quotable: "We've had nothing but (terrible) luck for the past month," Rice said in victory lane. "I'm glad we finally broke it. I grabbed that monkey and I slammed that damn thing on the ground. It finally got off my damn back."

Key notes: Rice got his sixth special event victory of the season and seventh overall. ... He followed outside front-row starter Moran closely throughout the 40-lapper and made the pass for the lead on lap 38. … The first caution of the race on the seventh lap eliminated Kody Evans, Dave Hornikel, and Steve Casebolt after Evans' car landed atop of Hornikel's hood exiting turn two. … Freddie Carpenter of Parkersburg, W.Va., who was also involved in the lap-seven tangle pulled off on lap 15. … Atomic hosts the Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Northern Series for a weekend doubleheader. … Saturday's finale concludes with a 60-lap, $12,000-to-win main event.

On the move: Clint Keenan of Pataskala, Ohio, started 20th and finished ninth.

Winner's sponsors: Rice’s Rocket Chassis is powered by a Jay Dickens Racing Engine and sponsored by Sunesis Construction, Rice Brothers Racing, Extreme Sportswear, Brucebilt Performance, Integra and Valvoline.

Points chase: Devin Moran (165 points) of Dresden, Ohio, leads Jared Hawkins (150), Dustin Nobbe (149), Tristan Chamberlain (148), Tyler Erb (130).

Current weather: Few Clouds, 77°F

Car count: 30

Fast qualifier: Devin Moran

Time: 13.555 seconds

Polesitter: Josh Rice

Heat race winners: Josh Rice, Jared Hawkins, Devin Moran, R.J. Conley,  ,  ,  ,  

Consolation race winners: Steve Casebolt, Freddie Carpenter,  ,  

Next series race: June 26, Atomic Speedway (Alma, OH) $12,000