What won the race: Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., used the outside line to take the lead from race-long leader Dale McDowell with two laps remaining to pick up the $5,000 semifeature victory during in World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series prelims for the Rock Gault Memorial at the Cherokee Speedway.

Quotable: “Towards the end we got to lap traffic and luckily my tires must’ve been just right at the end because I could roll the middle and top pretty good compared to early in the race,” said Sheppard. “We’ve been on the struggle bus for most of the year, but I knew not to count ourselves out.”

Key notes: The 43-car field was divided in half at the draw/sign-in with a pair of 25-lap features held. ... Friday's twin features did not award full WoO points. Drivers earned show-up points only. ... Polesitter Dale McDowell jumped out into the early lead of the event and would lead all but the final two laps of the event before giving way to defending series champion Brandon Sheppard. ... Series action continues tomorrow night with the conclusion of the Rock Gault Memorial at Cherokee Speedway paying $40,000-to-win.

On the move: Sheppard won from the sixth starting spot.

Winner's sponsors: Sheppard’s Rocket Chassis has a Durham Racing Engine and sponsorship from Valvoline, Seubert Calf Ranches, Rocket Chassis, Ace Metal Works, Gunter’s Honey, Hoosier Racing Tire, Integra Racing Shocks, Keyser Manufacturing Co., Petroff Towing, Slavic Shirts & Decals, Sunoco Race Fuels and Rocket Preowned Motors.

Points chase: Before Cherokee: 1. Kyle Strickler (844); 2. Brandon Sheppard (778); 3. Ricky Weiss (768); 4. Tyler Bruening (764); 5. Kyle Bronson (762); 6. Dennis Erb Jr. (748); 7. Darrell Lanigan (740); 8. Chris Madden (730); 9. Scott Bloomquist (726); 10. Ross Bailes (718); 11. Cade Dillard (698); 12. Boom Briggs (696); 13. David Breazeale (682); T14. Chase Junghans (674); T14. Ryan Gustin (674), 16. Tony Jackson Jr. (668); 17. Brent Larson (644).

Current weather: Clear, 68°F

Car count: 43

Fast qualifier: Chris Ferguson

Time: 14.867 seconds

Polesitter: Dale McDowell

Heat race winners: Chris Ferguson, Jimmy Owens, Scott Bloomquist, Brandon Overton

Next series race: March 27, Cherokee Speedway (Gaffney, SC) $40,000