What won the race: Polesitter Trent Ivey of Union, S.C., led all 40 laps while outrunning second-starting Furman Parton of Union Mills, N.C., to earn the $3,000 Fast Unified Engine Late Model Series victory at Cherokee Speedway. Ivey took the checkered flag 1.584 seconds ahead of Parton.

Quotable: "Last Sunday night this car was a bare chassis with just the interior decking in it", said Ivey. "My dad (Petey Ivey), Skee (Nichols), Rick (Alman), and myself worked our tails off getting it ready. We put the same setup under it that we have under the other car, so we knew pretty much what we would be starting with. All we did tonight was change the right front shock before the feature."

Key notes: The victory marked the first of Ivey's career with FUEL.. ... It was Ivey's third consecutive win at Cherokee. ... Pat Lindsay didn't start the feature. ... Eight of the 17 starters finished on the lead lap. ... The race was slowed by five cautions. ... The series opened its season at Cherokee for the fourth consecutive year. … Series officials hope to add two more events to FUEL’s 11-race schedule, which currently takes drivers to eight tracks in four states.

Winner's sponsors: Ivey's MasterSbilt Race Car is sponsored by Ivey Construction, Octane Race Products, Integra Shocks, Dirtwrap and Barfield’s Bulldozing.

Points chase: Jonathan Edwards of Charlotte, N.C., captured the 2016 series championship.

Car count: 18

Fast qualifier: Trent Ivey

Time: 15.808 seconds

Polesitter: Trent Ivey

Dash winner: Trent Ivey

Heat race winners: Doug Sanders, Bryan Mullis

Next series race: April 22, Fayetteville Motor Speedway (Fayetteville, NC) $3,000