What won the race: Keeping a threatening Brandon Sheppard at bay amid lapped-traffic, polesitter Tyler Erb of New Waverly, Texas, raced to a $10,000 World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series victory on Friday night at Atomic Speedway. He led the 40-lap feature from flag-to-flag and finished 0.503 of a second ahead of second-starting Sheppard, who was later disqualified because his car failed the post-race "droop" rule inspection.

Key notes: All three of Erb's World of Outlaw victories have come at Atomic Speedway, with two in September 2018. … Sheppard ducked underneath Erb through turns one and two late in the distance but couldn't pull ahead; his DQ for a postrace deck-height violation dropped him to 25th in the rundown. ... Josh Rice crossed the finish line third but moved up to second, a career-best in WoO competition. ... Debuting a new Rocket car, Tanner English was elevated to the final podium spot with Sheppard's DQ. It was his first WoO top-five of the season. ... The World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series visits Atomic for the ninth time in series history and first time since September 2018. … Saturday's $15,000-to-win finale wraps up the doubleheader weekend.

On the move: Provisional starter Gordy Gundaker of St. Charles, Mo., started 24th and finished 13th.

Winner's sponsors: Erb’s winning Best Performance Motorsports Rocket Chassis is powered by an Clements Racing Engine and sponsored by Terbo Threads, First Class Septic, Roberts Bee Company, Bazell Race Fuels, M&W Transport, Central Coast Tire, Bulk Material Lift, Gaier’s Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram, Sunoco Race Fuels, Keyser Mfg., Hoosier Racing Tire, Integra Racing Shocks, R&R Design, Day Motorsports and KBC Graphix.

Points chase: After Atomic Friday: 1. Dennis Erb Jr. (1,238); 2. Max Blair (1,196); 3. Brandon Sheppard (1,168); 4. Tanner English (1,144); 5. Hudson O'Neal (1,136); 6. Tyler Bruening (1,132); 7. Josh Richards (1,068); 8. Brent Larson (1,046); T9. Ryan Gustin (1,020); T9. Kyle Hammer (1,020); T9. Gordy Gundaker (1,020); T9. Boom Briggs (1,020).

Current weather: Clear, 66°F

Car count: 35

Fast qualifier: Brandon Sheppard

Time: 13.310 seconds

Polesitter: Tyler Erb

Heat race winners: Devin Moran, Josh Rice, Brandon Sheppard, Tyler Erb,  ,  ,  ,  

Consolation race winners: Steve Casebolt, Austyn Mills,  ,  

Provisional starters: Tyler Bruening, Gordy Gundaker,  ,  

Next series race: April 23, Atomic Speedway (Alma, OH) $15,000