What won the race: Repelling a late-race challenge from Ryan Gustin, pole-starting Zack Mitchell of Enoree, S.C., led all 40 laps to win Friday's $5,000 Carolina Clash Super Late Model Series stop at Lavonia Speedway. Mitchell motored to his second overall victory of the young season and his 14th career Carolina Clash Series triumph, his first since Sept. 3 at Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney, S.C.

Quotable: “We had that caution right before halfway and felt like I was in a pretty good groove. I felt like I had a little bit of distance in between me and (second place) Ryan Gustin,” Mitchell said. “I don’t know, we fired off (on the lap-18 restart) and he was staying with me fairly well and we got to lapped traffic and felt like he was up under me every single lap. I knew he was gonna race me hard, no doubt, I just had to get up on the wheel a little bit harder than I wanted to.”

Key notes: Making a rare Carolina Clash start and rolling off from fourth, Gustin, of Marshalltown, Iowa, drew within a half-second and pressured Mitchell on laps 28-33 before giving way to Ross Bailes and settling for third. Gustin's Cooney Motorsports team headed South after the World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series weekend in Oklahoma and Kansas was rained out ... The eighth-starting Bailes, of Clover, S.C., trailed Mitchell the final eight laps and finished 1.185 seconds back. ... Kenny Collins and Payton Freeman each improved four positions, finishing seventh and eighth. ... Series points leader Ben Watkins gained four spots and completed the top 10. ... Friday's 40-lapper was slowed by two cautions and lasted 17 minutes, with 11 competitors completing the distance. ... Cody Haskins scratched from the feature lineup.

On the move: Runner-up finisher Ross Bailes of Clover, S.C., started eighth.

Winner's sponsors: Mitchell’s Longhorn Chassis by Wells is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from Eubanks Oil, Clary Hood, Inc., SoCar Chemical, Charles West Grading, Rolling Pines Lawn & Landscaping, Earnhardt Technologies Group, Hoosier Tire, VP Racing Fuels, Fox Racing Shocks and Big A’s Custom Graphics.

Points chase: Before Lavonia: 1. Ben Watkins (235); 2. Brent Robinson (220); 3. Adam Yarbrough (199); 4. Carson Brown (198); 5. Dale Timms (183); 6. Michael Brown (182).

Current weather: Clear, 75°F

Car count: 25

Fast qualifier: Zack Mitchell

Time: 15.989 seconds

Polesitter: Zack Mitchell

Consolation race winners: Kenny Collins, Payton Freeman

Next series race: April 27, Cherokee Speedway (Gaffney, SC) $5,000