What won the race: Third-starting John Waters of Whitesville, N.Y., took the lead for good on lap 23 and paced the final seven circuits, topping the Pace Performance RUSH Racing Series Crate Late Model field to win Friday's Topless Nationals at Genesee Speedway, collecting $2,000.

Quotable: “It’s been a tough year," the 40-year-old Waters said. "We were really down this week. This is my 17th year racing and every year I’ve gotten a win. I thought this was going to be the first year we went winless so I’m glad to be here tonight. I couldn’t do it without Dale (LeBarron) and the crew sticking with me. Dale has been begging me to get rid of the Rocket and change to this Black Diamond by Chub. Man this thing is good. It just fits my driving style."

Key notes: Waters led twice (lap one through 18, then laps 23 through 30) for a total of 26 laps. ... Polesitter Joe Martin of Mayport, Pa., led laps 19 through 22, before losing the lead to Waters and settling for the runner-up position, 0.481 seconds back. ... Jeremy Wonderling of Wellsville, N.Y., moved into third place on lap 29 and completed the podium. ... Fifteenth-starting Bud Watson of Conneaut, Ohio, advanced nine positions and finished sixth. ... A six-time feature winner with the RUSH Racing Series this season and current point leader, Kyle Hardy of Linden, Va., finished eighth. ... Friday's feature, the first of two $2,000-to-win events during the Topless Nationals, was slowed by six separate incidents and lasted 25 minutes, with 17 competitors completing all 30 laps. … In addition to another $2,000-to-win RUSH Racing Series Crate Late Model event, Saturday will also feature another $2,000-to-win crate sportsman show, along with $1,000-to-win for street stocks and $500-to-win for mini stocks.

On the move: Brad Mesler of Wellsville, N.Y., started 19th and finished seventh.

Winner's sponsors: Waters drives a Black Diamond Chassis sponsored by Atkins Appraisal, Troups Creek Auto Parts Corporation, Little Power Shop and Stan's Transmission Service.

Points chase: Before Genesee: 1. Kyle Hardy (1,268); 2. Joe Martin (1,197); 3. Jeremy Wonderling (1,181); 4. Michael Duritsky (1,112); 5. Bud Watson (1,009).

Current weather: Few Clouds, 61°F

Car count: 28

Fast qualifier: Kyle Hardy

Time: 16.603 seconds

Polesitter: Joe Martin

Heat race winners: Kyle Hardy, Michael Duritsky, Joe Martin

Consolation race winners: Brad Mesler

Next series race: September 25, Genesee Speedway (Batavia, NY) $2,000