What won the race: Repelling race-long challenges from multiple veterans, series rookie Daniel Adam of Wade, N.C., led all 25 laps to win Friday's $5,000 third annual Gary Gerstner Memorial at Tri-City Speedway. Adam earned his first career MARS Late Model Championship Series victory and his first ever in a Late Model since he started racing them at the end of the 2021 season.

Quotable: "Honestly, I didn't think it would happen. I saw (Shannon) Babb and (Jason) Feger behind me, and I'm like, 'Oh, crap!' " Adam said in victory lane, thanking his family and crew. "This feels good to finally get a win after three years. ... Holy crap it was awesome."

Key notes: Fifth-starting Shannon Babb reclaimed the runner-up spot on a lap-24 restart and finished 1.364 seconds back at the checkers. Babb, piloting a Category 5 Race Car, also pursued Adam between laps 10-19. ... Fellow series rookie Justin Duty surged to second on lap 20 and trailed Adam until getting swept up in the sixth and final caution when the lapped cars of Dale Markham and Matt Santel tangled in turn four. Duty slammed into Santel's stalled car, ending their night. Markham continued to finish 12th, the final driver completing 25 laps. ... Jason Feger improved eight positions and rounded out the podium. ... Bob Gardner overcame a spin at the race's opening start and placed seventh. The lap-one multicar incident triggered a 10-minute red flag for cleanup after Doug Tye, Tony Wolf, Tucker Finch, Joe Chalmers, Todd Rehg and Billy Laycock were collected; Laycock could not continue. ... Frank Heckenast Jr. pressured Daniel Adam for the opening nine laps before slowing to cause the third stoppage and pulling off. ... The fourth and fifth yellow flags came after Rusty Griffaw slowed from seventh on lap 13 and Blaze Burwell spun from ninth on lap 15. ... The main event lasted 25 minutes. ... Mike Harrison was slated to start seventh, but scratched after a rock was believed to puncture his radiator during heat race action.

On the move: Joe Chalmers of South Yunderup, Western Australia, started 21st and finished ninth.

Winner's sponsors: Adam's Rocket Chassis has a Pro Power Racing Engine and sponsorship from RLM Enterprises, Re-Store Warehouse, I Buy Cars (910-823-7297), Spiffy’s, Evolution Graphics, GraybaR (Ben Allen), Racing For Heroes, Team XXX Racing Services, Sunoco Race Fuels, Razbone’s Towing & Lockout Service, Justin L. Langdon Electrical Contractor, Trix Utility Services, Signature Shine Mobile Detailing and MyRacePass.com Marketing & PR Services.

Points chase: After Tri-City: 1. Jason Feger (713); 2. Ryan Unzicker (671); 3. Bob Gardner (537); 4. Justin Duty (525); 5. Kye Blight (491).

Current weather: Clear, 75°F

Car count: 25

Fast qualifier: Shannon Babb

Polesitter: Frank Heckenast Jr.

Heat race winners: Shannon Babb, Daniel Adam, Kye Blight

Next series race: August 24, Red Hill Raceway (Sumner, IL) $5,000