What won the race: Fending off late challenges from Kyle Beard, second-starting Mike Palasini Jr. of Leland, Miss., led all 30 laps to win Friday's $5,000 17th annual Gumbo Nationals weekend opener at Greenville Speedway. Palasini crossed the checkers 0.495 of a second ahead of the third-starting Beard to win the unsanctioned Super Late Model feature.

Key notes: Pole-starting Clay Fisher faded to finish third. ... Jarret Stuckey started fifth and passed for fourth on the third lap. ... Eighth-starting J.C. Waller moved into fifth on lap 21 and completed the top five. ... Bobby Allen improved seven positions and finished 10th. … Friday's 30-lap feature was completed without incident and lasted just nine minutes, with eight drivers completing the distance and 10 running at the finish. ... Doug Showah scratched. ... Previous Gumbo Nationals winners include: Neil Baggett (2022), Logan Martin (’21), Billy Moyer (’20), Brian Rickman (’19 and ’17), Kyle Strickler (’18), Tyler Erb (’16), Timothy Culp (’14 and ‘15) and Bub McCool (’07 and ’11-’13). … The Gumbo Nationals are unsanctioned for the first time since 2010 after being sanctioned by the Comp Cams Super Dirt Series, Mississippi State Championship Challenge Series and the PRO Dirt Car Series through the years. ... The Gumbo Nationals concludes with Saturday's 40-lap, $10,000-to-win finale.

On the move: Brian Rickman of Columbus, Miss., started 14th and finished sixth.

Winner's sponsors: Palasini’s No. 8v Palasini Motorsports machine carries sponsorship from The Tint Man, M&D Aviation, Palasini Farms, Hanos Dirt Works, Inc., L&L Flying Service, Fratesi Grocery, Greenville Steel Sales, Monster Mosquito Control, Pro Green Lawn Care, LLC, Hoosier Tire and HPG Wraps.

Current weather: Clear, 75°F

Car count: 19

Fast qualifier: Clay Fisher

Time: 16.153 seconds

Polesitter: Clay Fisher

Heat race winners: Clay Fisher, Mike Palasini Jr., Kyle Beard