What won the race: Third-starting Trent Ivey of Union, S.C., took the lead on a lap-30 restart and paced the final 21 circuits at Cherokee Speedway, cruising to victory in Friday's $10,000 23rd annual Grassy Smith Memorial. Ivey collected his first feature victory of the season in the inaugural event for the fledgling Mid-East Super Late Model Series.

Quotable: “We haven’t got to race as much this year as I would’ve liked because my new business has kept me busy, so to go out and grab a big win like this means a lot. Grassy Smith and the entire Smith family are obviously legends, so to win his memorial event is special,” Ivey said. “We’re going to head to Wythe (Raceway) this Saturday for the Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals event and try to keep this momentum going.”

Key notes: The event was sanctioned by the Mid-East Racing Association, which previously has sanctioned lower-division action, including Crate Late Models. ... Ben Watkins led laps 5-29 before settling for the runner-up spot, 0.326 of a second back. ... Seeking his second five-figure payday of the season at Cherokee after winning March's $20,000 Ginger Owens Memorial, Chris Ferguson started fourth and finished third. ... Jeff Smith advanced three positions and finished fourth in the race honoring his grandfather. ... Dennis Franklin gained five spots and finished sixth. ... Jordy Nipper started 15th and finished seventh. ... Making his debut behind the wheel of the Billy Hicks-owned Double Nickel Chassis, Donald McIntosh started ninth and finished 10th. ... Pole-starting Zack Mitchell led the first four laps before giving way to Watkins and pulling off on lap 10. ... The event honors Clarence “Grassy” Smith, the late father of National Dirt Late Model Hall of Famer Freddy Smith and grandfather of Jeff Smith; Grassy Smith died Jan. 14, 1999, at the age of 79. ... Benji Hicks suffered engine problems in his heat race and was among five drivers who scratched. ... Friday's feature was slowed by six cautions and lasted 33 minutes, with 10 drivers completing 50 laps.

On the move: Gray Parton of Rutherfordton, N.C., started 19th and finished ninth.

Winner's sponsors: Ivey’s Longhorn Chassis is sponsored by Highway 29 Grill, Palmetto Pole & Piling, Barfield’s Bulldozing & Timber, Ivey Construction, Ivey Septic Service, Spartanburg Fleet Services, Newman Fence Company, Inc., Hardison Suspension Technologies, Southern Legacy VBC, FK Rod Ends, Axles Plus, All-Good Pest Controls, Schaeffer’s Racing Oil, GHS Enterprises, Rick Alman, Sweet Victory Apparel and Slicker Graphics.

Points chase: It’s the inaugural event for the first-year series.

Current weather: Clear, 77°F

Car count: 26

Fast qualifier: Zack Mitchell

Time: 15.196 seconds

Polesitter: Zack Mitchell

Heat race winners: Zack Mitchell, Trent Ivey, Ben Watkins, Chris Ferguson