What won the race: Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., took the lead after race-long pacestter Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C., spun out following contact with a lapped car and marched on to a $4,000 triumph in Friday night's 40-lap opener of the Old Man's Garage Spring Nationals-sanctioned Spring Thaw Weekend.

Key notes: The pivotal moment occurred on lap 24 when Madden, who started from the outside pole, found himself entangled with the slower car of Jake O’Neil between turns one and two after O’Neil slowed with a broken rear j-bar and was attempting to drop down and enter the turn two infield opening. With nowhere to go, contact sent the race leader spinning and ultimately to the rear of the field. ... Marlar, who was the fastest qualifier in Group A and started the feature from the pole, scored his first win of 2016 and third career victory on Ray Cook's Spring Nationals Series. ... Three of the top six finishes were from Pennsylvania: Rick Eckert (third) and first-time Volunteer visitors Gregg Satterlee (fifth) and Jason Covert (sixth). ... The feature was slowed by four caution flags. ... Saturday night's 60-lap Spring Thaw finale pays $10,000 to win.

On the move: Rick Eckert of York, Pa., who started 12th and came home in third. He capped his run by surging past several cars on a lap-24 restart to reach third place.

Winner's sponsors: Marlar's Capital Race Car is sponsored by Delk Equipment Sales and RC Trading Company.

Points chase: Donald McIntosh of Dawsonville, Ga., extended his points lead with a fourth-place finish.

Car count: 31

Fast qualifier: Chris Madden

Time: 13.318 seconds

Polesitter: Mike Marlar

Heat race winners: David Payne, Jason Covert, Dale McDowell, Donald McIntosh

Next series race: April 16, Volunteer Speedway (Bulls Gap, TN) $10,000