What won the race: Ninth-starting Chad Becker of Aberdeen, S.D., used an inside move exiting turn four to take the lead on lap eight and paced the final 18 circuits of Thursday's $1,250 Howie Schill Memorial opener at Red River Valley Speedway. Becker bagged his first Northern LateModel Racing Association victory of the season and the fifth of his career.

Quotable: “Oh it was a wild (race), we got in lapped traffic there and everybody was everywhere,” Becker said. “It was fun, it was fast. I didn’t know if we’d get to the front (of the field) or not, but we got it done.”

Key notes: Becker notched his third touring series triumph of the season after collecting back-to-back Tri-State Late Model wins in early June. ... Tyler Peterson led laps 2-7 before entering turn one in Becker's wake on lap 14 and leaving the racing surface to draw the race's second and final caution; Peterson opted not to continue and drove his car back to the pits. ... Pole-starting Denver Nickeson led lap one and inherited the runner-up position when Peterson faltered, finishing 2.448 seconds behind Becker. ... Mitch Johnson started and finished third. ... Seventh-starting Brad Seng finished fourth after taking the spot on lap 19. ... Competing in the event honoring his late father, 11th-starting Cole Schill rounded-out the top five. ... Brody Troftgruben advanced 10 positions and finished ninth. ... The winner of 2021's inaugural Howie Schill Memorial, Shane Edginton pulled off on lap nine. ... The race's first incident was its biggest when second-running Mike Greseth spun at turn-four exit and sat sideways to the oncoming field at the completion of the first lap; fourth-running Josh Zimpel had nowhere to go and slammed into Greseth's motionless car, ending both of their nights. ... Thursday's 25-lap feature was slowed by two incidents and lasted 20 minutes, with 15 competitors completing the distance and 18 running at the finish. ... Defending Howie Schill Memorial winner Don Shaw of Ham Lake, Minn., hit the frontstretch wall during his heat race and scratched for the remainder of the night. ... NLRA competitors return to Red River Valley Speedway for Friday's $2,404-to-win Howie Schill Memorial finale.

On the move: Dave Mass of East Bethel, Minn., started 17th and finished seventh.

Winner's sponsors: Becker’s MB Customs Race Car has KBS Power Racing Engine and sponsorship from Aberdeen Wings, Nickeson Angus Ranch Harvesting, PM Auto Repair, Brad’s Auto Glass, Sylte Farms, Fastenal of Sioux Falls, Ultimate Graphics, RBL Designs, SadDawg Motorsports, Buffalo Wings and Rings, Mark Petersen, Todd’s Taxidermy, American Power and Communications, KBS Power and CMD Shocks.

Points chase: Before Red River Valley Thursday: 1. Mike Greseth (3,261); 2. Brad Seng (3,195); 3. Dustin Strand (3,103); 4. Brody Troftgruben (3,079); 5. Tyler Peterson (3,053).

Current weather: Clear, 64°F

Car count: 36

Polesitter: Denver Nickeson

Heat race winners: Tyler Peterson, Josh Zimpel, Denver Nickeson, Mike Greseth, Dustin Strand

Consolation race winners: John Seng, Dave Mass

Provisional starters: Casey Stremick, Terry Nelson, Jeff Hapala, Kevin Robertson

Next series race: August 18, Red River Valley Speedway (West Fargo, ND) $2,404