What won the race: Fast qualifier and pole-starting Ryan Gustin of Marshalltown, Iowa, captured a commanding flag-to-flag victory in Saturday's $15,000 Fireball 50 at Atomic Speedway, overcoming the loss of his rear spoiler to earn a $15,000 payday on the World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series. Gustin notched his third Outlaws victory of the season and the ninth of his career.

Quotable: “It was definitely physical (racing on the Atomic track surface). I stopped down there (in turn one) and I seen (series director Steve Francis) walk away with my spoiler, I figured I was in bad trouble,” Gustin said. “I knew it was just time to either win it or this thing was going home in 15 pieces.”

Key notes: Gustin's rear spoiler was knocked loose by a large dirt clod and was forcibly removed by series director Steve Francis under the lap-32 caution for debris off Brandon Sheppard's car. ... Bobby Pierce, winner of the previous night's $10,000 opener at Atomic, trailed Gustin the final 14 laps and finished 1.757 seconds back at the line. Pierce muscled by Sheppard for second on a lap-37 restart, pushing him off the racing surface in turn two. ... Tenth-starting Brian Shirley finished third, securing his fifth straight podium. ... Nick Hoffman rebounded to finish fourth after breaking a driveshaft while leading his heat and transferring through a consolation. ... Points leader Brandon Sheppard soldiered to a seventh-place result after early-race contact had his left-rear quarter panel flapping in the wind until it flew off and drew the race's fourth caution. ... Pierce and Hoffman now trail Sheppard by 54 points with just seven races left in the season. ... Fourth-running Tyler Erb pulled off on lap 35 with heavy nose damage. ... Cade Dillard slapped the turn-four wall on lap 23 and slowed from third to bring out the third yellow. ... Cody Overton slammed the turn-one wall while running sixth, causing the second stoppage on a lap-nine restart attempt. ... The Fireball 50 feature was slowed by five cautions and lasted 30 minutes, with 13 competitors completing the entire distance and 17 running at the checkers.

On the move: Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C., started 22nd and finished fourth.

Winner's sponsors: Gustin’s Todd Cooney-owned Infinity Chassis is powered by a Jay Dickens Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from Alan’s Seamless Gutters, Karl Auto Group, May Properties, Murty Farms, Mark Hambelton Ford, Schaeffer’s Racing Oil, FK Rod Ends, Swift Springs, VP Race Fuels, Bilstein Shocks, Dynamic Drivelines and Performance Bodies.

Points chase: After Atomic: 1. Brandon Sheppard (4,976); T2. Bobby Pierce (4,922); T2. Nick Hoffman (4,922); 4. Ryan Gustin (4,798); 5. Kyle Bronson (4,772); 6. Cade Dillard (4,734); 7. Brian Shirley (4,716); 8. Tyler Bruening (4,672); 9. Dennis Erb Jr. (4,560); 10. Dustin Sorensen (4,528).

Current weather: Clear, 84°F

Car count: 32

Fast qualifier: Ryan Gustin

Time: 13.100 seconds

Polesitter: Ryan Gustin

Heat race winners: Bobby Pierce, Cade Dillard, Ryan Gustin, Brandon Sheppard

Consolation race winners: Freddie Carpenter

Next series race: September 14, Senoia Raceway (Senoia, GA) $15,000