What won the race: Rodney Sanders of Happy, Texas, led all 30 laps, running down around the hub the entire way in winning ahead of Terry English of Benton, Ky., by 1.109 seconds.

Quotable: "We had a good car. That really helped. We had a good car and track position," said Sanders. "I knew I was bottled up so bad that they had to be right there. I was just trying not to get off that bottom. Lapped traffic was pretty hairy."

Key notes: The feature was slowed by two caution periods: a lap-14 yellow and a red flag on lap 15 when Jeff Roth rolled over in turn three; Roth was OK. ... Sanders notched his second career MARS victory. ... Sanders caught lapped traffic with five laps to go, but stuck to the bottom of the track and was never challenged. ... Sanders passed overall fast qualifier Kent Robinson on lap three of their heat race and went on to win the prelim. After winning the heat, Sanders drew a No. 1 to earn the pole for the feature. ... Track champion Caleb Ashby of Cunningham, Tenn., finished 18th, the last car on the lead lap. ... Dennis Erb Jr., of Carpentersville, Ill., retired on lap 22 while running inside the top 10. ... The opening MARS weekend (for both the newly developed East and West divisions of the tour, now owned by Clarksville promoter William Scogin) continues Saturday with the Tuckassee Toilet Bowl Classic finale.

Winner's sponsors: Sanders' No. 20 MB Customs Race Car is sponsored by driveWFX.com, Swan Energy, Kimrad Transport, Wichita Tank Racing, D&G Contracting and Bergman Tax & Accounting.

Points chase: Tony Jackson Jr. of Lebanon, Mo., is the reigning and four-time MARS DIRTcar champion.

Car count: 40

Fast qualifier: Kent Robinson

Time: 12.532 seconds

Polesitter: Rodney Sanders

Heat race winners: Rodney Sanders, Terry English, Tony Jackson Jr., Cody Mahoney

Consolation race winners: Caleb Ashby, Gordy Gundaker

Next series race: March 17, Brownstown Speedway (Brownstown, IN) $3,000