What won the race: Fast qualifier and current points leader Dustin Mitchell of Pine Level, N.C., raced to the $4,000 Steel Block Bandits Dirt Late Model Challenge victory on Friday night at Carolina Speedway. He took the checkers 0.728 seconds ahead of Michael Batten for his third series victory of 2022.

Quotable: “We had a good car when we unloaded,” Mitchell said. “We were fast in hot laps, fast in qualifying and were pretty good there in the heat. We tightened up a little bit too much for the (feature) race there."

Key notes: Contact between Dustin Mitchell and fellow heat race winner Russell Erwin early in the race sent Erwin spinning. He did not return and finished 19th. … Jay Sessoms, Matt Long and Jesse Rockett tangled on the restart, ending the night for both Sessoms and Long. … With his win, Mitchell now sits atop The Steel Block Bandits Dirt Late Model Challenge leaderboard with three victories. … Tyler Bare used a GM CT525 engine en route to his podium finish. … Derrick Quade, was was second in points entering the event, had engine trouble in his heat race and didn’t start the feature. … The second round of the doubleheader weekend in the Tar Heel State takes place on Saturday at Friendship Motor Speedway for the event paying $5,000 to the winner.

On the move: Derrick Rankin of Stuarts Draft, Va., started 21st and finished seventh.

Winner's sponsors: Mitchell’s C&R Motorsports Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Victory Race Engine and sponsored by TWA Concrete, The Muffler Place, ColeBrooke Custom Homes, Honeycutt Custom Cabinets, Harry's Tire and Auto, The Fat Pelican Bare, R.W. Mason Roofing, Superior Automotive, HST Suspension and Penske Racing Shocks.

Points chase: Before Carolina: 1. Dustin Mitchell (159); 2. Derick Quade (141); 3. Russell Erwin (140); T4. Brian Strickland (132); T4. Tyler Bare (132).

Current weather: Scattered Clouds, 68°F

Car count: 30

Fast qualifier: Dustin Mitchell

Time: 15.922 seconds

Heat race winners: Russell Erwin, Cody Wright, Dustin Mitchell, Tyler Bare,  ,  ,  ,  

Consolation race winners: Gray Parton, Mike Evock,  ,  

Next series race: May 21, Friendship Motor Speedway (Elkin, NC) $5,000