What won the race: Josh Rice of Verona, Ky., was dominant in marching to a flag-to-flag victory in Friday night’s 50-lap C.J. Rayburn Memorial at Circle City Raceway. The 25-year-old standout was never seriously challenged en route to capturing the Ultimate Heart of America-sanctioned event’s $10,000 top prize by 1.956 seconds over Christian Hanger.

Quotable: “I knew that bottom was gonna come in there and dad (former driver Jerry Rice) did a helluva job moving me down when he did,” Rice said. “I was a little bit harder on tire than everybody and I think that’s what won us the race. I just needed it to stay green. The bottom kept getting easier and easier to hit when that 40 (compound tire) came in.”

Key notes: Josh Rice's 11th overall triumph of 2023 came one year after his older brother, James, won the inaugural C.J. Rayburn Memorial at the 3/8-mile oval. James's bid for a second straight victory saw him climb as high as fourth on lap 28 before settling for a seventh-place finish. ... After missing hot laps, Tennessee's Hanger advanced from the seventh starting spot to finish second; he overtook Greg Johnson for the runner-up spot on lap 35 but only briefly raced within striking distance of Rice. ... Kent Robinson wrestled third place from Chad Stapleton on lap 48. ... Four caution flags slowed the race. … Shelby Miles fell off the pace on lap 15 to bring out the first yellow after climbing up to third. … Lucas Oil Series regular Spencer Hughes spun around on the inside of turn four on lap 22 after contact with Kent Robinson as they contested fourth place. … Other drivers triggering cautions were Skyller Lewis (lap 27) and series points leader Tristan Chamberlain (lap 36). … The event honoring late Hall of Fame chassis builder C.J. Rayburn was rescheduled from its original May 19 date due to rain. … It was the tour’s fourth visit to the Indianapolis, Ind., oval.

On the move: Chad Stapleton of Edinburgh, Ind., started 17th and finished fourth.

Winner's sponsors: Rice’s Rick Jones-owned Rocket Chassis carried a Jay Dickens engine and is sponsored by Sunesis Holdings & Construction, BLOX Spiked Ice, Extreme Sportswear, Map It Right Engineering & Land Surveying, Chain Locker USA, Maxwell Trucking, AirMax Heating and Cooling, ATC Bolts & Fasteners LLC, Northern Kentucky Equipment, Bazell Race Fuels, Integra Shocks, Accu-Force Dynos & Testers, STAKT Products, TopSide Marketing and Slicker Graphics.

Points chase: After Circle City: 1. Tristan Chamberlain (162); 2. Dustin Linville (159); 3. Blake Creech (141); 4. James Rice (126); 5. Trevor Landrum (97).

Current weather: Clear, 73°F

Car count: 35

Fast qualifier: Josh Rice

Time: 12.827 seconds

Polesitter: Dustin Linville

Heat race winners: Dustin Linville, Josh Rice, Greg Johnson, Shelby Miles

Consolation race winners: Chad Stapleton

Next series race: September 2, Red Hill Raceway (Sumner, IL) $10,000