What won the race: Wrapping up his championship season, polesitter Kyle Hardy of Stephens City, Va., soared to the $2,000 Steel City Stampede victory Saturday at Lernerville Speedway. Battling for the lead with Michael Norris in the first half of the race, Hardy took over for good on the 16th lap and scored his eighth Pace Performance RUSH Racing Series victory of the season ahead of Bryce Davis and Norris.

Quotable: "I just needed to be able to pull a good slider and not break my momentum," Hardy said. "It was fun racing with Michael (Norris). It's great to win the race and the championship. We had a great car. I can't believe how good it drove."

Key notes: Hardy has more than 30 victories in Late Model-style cars in 2021. … He took the checkers 2.193 seconds ahead of third-starting Bryce Davis. … The RUSH Dirt Late Model Series was among the 10 divisions on the card for the 13th annual Steel City Stampede. ... Hometown driver Michael Norris won the ULMS-sanctioned Super Late Model portion of the event.

On the move: Zach Kane of Washington, Pa., started 16th and finished ninth.

Winner's sponsors: Hardy's Rocket Chassis is sponsored by Ingram Race Engines, Sommey Lacey Racing, American Paint Co., Cline Construction, Anthony's Pizza, Auto Glass Experts, Xceptional Wildlife and Cluster Communication.

Points chase: Before Lernerville: 1. Kyle Hardy (1,624); 2. Joe Martin (1,557); 3. Jeremy Wonderling (1,509); 4. Michael Duritsky (1,445); 5. Bud Watson (1,342).

Current weather: Overcast, 52°F

Car count: 26

Fast qualifier: Bryce Davis

Time: 16.750 seconds

Polesitter: Kyle Hardy

Dash winner: Kyle Hardy

Heat race winners: Bryce Davis, Michael Norris, Jeremy Wonderling,  ,  ,  ,  ,  

Consolation race winners: R.J. Dallape,  ,  ,