What won the race: Inheriting the lead when Brent Larson pulled off the track, fourth-starting Tad Pospisil of Norfolk, Neb., raced to a Lucas Oil Midwest LateModel Association victory, besting fifth-starting Terry Phillips of Springfield, Mo. Pospisil survived a caution with three laps remaining and held off Phillips to earn $3,000 for his work in the 25-lap main event on opening night of the King of the Hill at Junction Motor Speedway.

Quotable: We come here last year and had a couple good runs. To come back and follow (that) up with a win tonight. “Usually we ain’t very good with a big cushion and rough like this, but man we had the car dialed in perfect tonight,” said Pospisil. “I don’t know … Larson broke there; I don’t know if we could’ve got him or not, but we definitely think we had something for him.”

Key notes: The victory was Tad Pospisil's first career Midwest LateModel Racing Association victory. ... Thirteen of 21 starters finished on the lead lap. ... Polesitter Brent Larson of Lake Elmo, Minn., broke on lap eight of the 25-lap while leading the feature. ... Larson and Jesse Stovall made contact on an early restart, resulting in Stovall losing five positions. Pospisil moved to second at the same time. … A lap later, Larson gave up the lead when he slowed and pitted. ... Series points leader Jesse Stovall slowed with a flat right rear tire on lap 20 while running in the top five. He finished 15th. … Rodney Sanders grabbed the second spot from Phillips on lap 18, but on the restart following Stovall’s flat he pushed across the cushion in turn two, losing six spots and dashing his hope for a victory. … Sanders rallied to salvage a fifth-place finish. ... This was the first race of a weekend doubleheader for MLRA competitors at Junction Motor Speedway. … Along with Friday’s $3,000-to-win main event, they’ll compete for $5,000 top prize on Saturday. … Terry Phillips of Springfield, Mo., swept both of the King of the Hill events last season.

On the move: Jeremy Grady of Story City, Iowa, advanced from his 17th-starting position to finish tenth.

Winner's sponsors: Pospisil's Club 29 Race Car is sponsored by Signor Trucking, Window World, Malvern Bank, Keyser Mfg., Cookie's Sauces and Seasonings, Lite Rock 97.5 and ASi Racewear.

Points chase: Entering the event, Jesse Stovall of Galena, Mo., leads Terry Phillips of Springfield, Mo., by 40 points. Tony Jackson Jr. is 42 points behind the leader.

Car count: 21

Polesitter: Brent Larson

Heat race winners: Jesse Stovall, Brent Larson, Randy Timms

Next series race: August 31, I-80 Speedway (Greenwood, NE) $3,000