What won the race: Starting from the pole, Steve Blackburn of Brown Summit, N.C., won the opener for the Fastrak Racing Series Triple Crown Championship weekend, collecting $3,000 for his win over Ross Bailes at 311 Motor Speedway in Pine Hall, N.C.

Key notes: Blackburn scored his first Fastrak victory of the season. ... Seventeen cars finished the race, with 16 still on the lead lap. ... Luke Fleming and Randy Ring were early retirees. ... Series points leader Cla Knight finished ninth after starting 12th. ... Blackburn is the third series winner in as many events; Jonathan Davenport and Benji Hicks each previously won a single race. ... Fastrak sanctions its Triple Crown Championship for the 12th straight season. ... Friday's race was the first of a weekend tripleheader that will take competitors to Princeton (W.Va.) Speedway on Saturday and to Wythe Raceway in Rural Retreat (Va.) on Sunday. ... The Pine Hall track was a late edition to the schedule after the weekend opener at Beckley (W.Va.) Motorsports Park was cancelled. ... Tony Hicks leased 311 from track owner Mike Fulp in the 11th hour and managed to put the show together in less than a week. ... An anonymous donor helped raise the winner's share of the purse from its originally-planned $2,500 to $3,000. ... The race was in honor of the promoter's father, the late Bill Hicks, who passed away after suffering a heart attack at 311 Speedway 26 years ago. Tony Hicks, along with his brothers Billy and Mark, raced at 311. Fastrak competitor Benji Hicks is the grandson of Bill Hicks.

On the move: Corey Almond of Appomattox, Va., improved eight spots from 18th to 10th.

Winner's sponsors: Steve Blackburn's No. 39 is sponsored by Raymond Brown Well Company and Sherry Whitt Properties.

Points chase: Entering Memorial Day weekend, Cla Knight (63 points) held a one-point lead over Jensen Ford. Matthew Nance (57) was third.

Next series race: June 3, Virginia Motor Speedway (Jamaica, VA) $3,000