What won the race: Keeping Willie Milliken at bay on a late restart, fast qualifier and polesitter Steve Banal of Rock Hill, S.C., captured the $7,007 Steel Block Bandits Dirt Late Model Challenge victory on Saturday at Sumter Speedway. He finished 0.833 seconds ahead of Milliken.

Quotable: “The car, it really drives itself. My buddy Kirk helped me all week. We didn’t even have a motor until Tuesday. We ended up (putting) a 525 in …” Banal said. “I’ve really gotta thank Wesley Page. I gave him my shocks and springs, he set ‘em up, we bolted ‘em on and the car was unbelievable."

Key notes: Banal is the sixth winner in eight series races. ... The winner, who survived a few scary moments in traffic, earned another $600 for a bounty on Banjo Duke. ... Banal of lowered the track record (for any Late Model-style car) with a 14.600 second lap, eclipsing 2021 track champion Dalton Hodge's previous mark. He pocketed an extra $200 for fast time. ... Runner-up Willie Milliken got together with series point leader Russell Erwin on an early restart and bent an axle tube, tightening his car up. He chalked the contact up to hard racing. ... Erwin retired after eight laps and blamed Milliken for his departure. “He flat wrecked me on purpose," said Erwin, who last the points lead. "You don’t break an entire left suspension by accident.” ... The race was originally set for $5,000-to-win, but the purse was upped to $7,007 in memory of Billy Cagle, the racing shop owner who recently died. … Series director Jim Long Jr. was absent after the recent death of his wife Denah.

Winner's sponsors: Banal’s Swartz Race Car is sponsored by Banal Racing.

Points chase: After Sumter: 1. Shaun Harrell; 2. Russell Erwin (243); 3. Willie Milliken (239); 4. Derick Quade (230); 5. Michael Rouse (156).

Current weather: Clear, 79°F

Car count: 23

Fast qualifier: Steve Banal

Time: 14.600 seconds

Polesitter: Steve Banal

Next series race: October 23, Cherokee Speedway (Gaffney, SC) $10,000