What won the race: Rodney Sanders of Happy, Texas, outdueled Randy Timms of Wheatland, Okla., in a late-race, lead-swapping battle to capture Saturday night's 40-lap Lucas Oil Midwest LateModel Association-sanctioned Spring Nationals finale at Lucas Oil Speedway. Sanders made his winning move to overtake Timms coming to the white flag and crossed the finish line with a slim margin of 0.366 of a second on Timms.

Quotable: "Randy had a hell of a car," said Sanders, an open-wheel modified ace who is focusing more on Dirt Late Model action this season. "The lapped traffic kind of got him boxed in. I kind of had to throw a Hail Mary there at the end. We were kind of searching for the moisture. I was a little bit too free, but if I could get to the top we were pretty good."

Key notes: Sanders notched his second Dirt Late Model win of 2017 (he previously won a MARS event March 3 in Clarksville, Tenn.) and third career MLRA victory. ... Sanders's $3,500 in earnings included an addition $500 in memory of Ron Jenkins, who built the original Wheatland Raceway. ... Sanders led the race's first five laps before being overtaken by Terry Phillips, whose brief stay in front lasted until Timms took over on lap 13. Timms went on to lead a race-high 26 laps. ... Timms's Western Flyer Trucking business is a sponsor on each of the top three cars; third-place Jesse Stovall is a teammate, in fact, as he and Timms drive Black Diamond race cars. ... Friday winner Will Vaught experienced transmission issues late, forcing him to drive with one hand while holding his transmission in high gear. He hung on to finish fourth. ... The race was red-flagged on lap 11 when Josh Hughes came to a stop in turn four with flames shooting from under his hood. He escaped unharmed.

On the move: Payton Looney of Republic, Mo., started 23rd and finished ninth.

Winner's sponsors: Sanders's MB Customs machine is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and sponsored by driveWFX.com, Swan Energy, Kimrad Transport, Wichita Tank Racing, D&G Contracting and Bergman Tax & Accounting.

Points chase: The series kicked off its 2017 season at Lucas Oil Speedway.

Car count: 34

Heat race winners: Randy Timms, Chase Junghans, Terry Phillips, Rodney Sanders

Consolation race winners: Tony Jackson Jr., Cole Wells

Next series race: May 4, Lee County Speedway (Donnellson, IA) $3,000