What won the race: Sliding by early leader Chad Simpson and clearing him out of turn two, fourth-starting Ryan Gustin of Marshalltown, Iowa, led the final 18 laps to earn his second $5,000 Fall Nationals prelim victory in as many nights at Lucas Oil Speedway. Gustin grabbed his 12th career Lucas Oil Midwest LateModel Racing Association victory, half of them at Wheatland.

Quotable: “(Chad Simpson) was good there. I thought I about put it to the fence there when I threw that (turn-three) slider, I didn’t know if it was gonna stick or not, but it did,” Gustin said. “We did some (adjustments) tonight that we’ve never done before. We didn’t know if it was gonna work or not, we figured might as well see if it works tonight, vs. trying for $10,000-to-win tomorrow.”

Key notes: Gustin will chase the MLRA weekend sweep in Saturday's 50-lap, $10,000-to-win Fall Nationals finale. ... Tenth-starting Chris Simpson used a turn-four slider by his brother, Chad Simpson, on lap 29 and took the checkers a distant 5.379 seconds behind Gustin. ... Points leader Chad Simpson led the opening 12 laps before giving way to Gustin and eventually his brother, settling for third. ... Eighth-starting Justin Wells took fourth from Tyler Kuykendall on lap 26, relegating him to finish fifth. ... Second-starting Stormy Scott slipped to seventh. ... Tony Jackson Jr., winner of August's $12,000 Ron Jenkins Memorial at Wheatland, improved six positions and placed ninth. ... Logan Martin retired early for the second straight night after pulling off from 17th with 10 laps to go. ... Payton Looney spun and backed into the turn-four wall hard to bring out the race's lone caution on lap eight. Looney was working his way around Stormy Scott for fourth when the two made contact, sending Looney spinning and ending his night. ... The 30-lap prelim lasted 13 minutes, with 16 starters completing the distance and 20 running at the finish.

On the move: Runner-up Chris Simpson of Oxford, Iowa, started 10th.

Winner's sponsors: Gustin’s Todd Cooney-owned Infinity by Wells 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 Wheatland Friday: 1. Chad Simpson (2,790); 2. Tony Jackson Jr. (2,700); 3. Chris Simpson (2,680); 4. Dillon McCowan (2,515); 5. Trevor Gundaker (2,360).

Current weather: Clear, 73°F

Car count: 34

Fast qualifier: Stormy Scott

Time: 15.318 seconds

Polesitter: Chad Simpson

Heat race winners: Chad Simpson, Payton Looney, Stormy Scott, Ryan Gustin

Consolation race winners: Aaron Marrant, Jeff Herzog

Provisional starters: Steve Stultz, Jim Vanzandt

Next series race: October 5, Lucas Oil Speedway (Wheatland, MO) $10,000