What won the race: Overcoming a last-lap slide job attempt by Ben Watkins, pole-starting Zack Mitchell regained the lead at turn-four exit to lead all 50 laps en route to winning Saturday's $12,000 Mike Duvall Memorial finale at Cherokee Speedway. Mitchell beat the third-starting Watkins to the line by 0.667 of a second to secure his first career Southern All Star Series feature victory.

Quotable: “Man, this place has kicked my ass the last three or four years,” Mitchell said. “We’ve had a really good race car here the last few times, this thing was a pleasure to drive. I come up off of (turn) two over there and (my stick guy) had the sticks pretty close, so I knew (Ben Watkins) probably got a good run on me and I tried not to enter really wide into three and four, but I didn’t want to enter too low and crowd myself, cause I knew he was probably gonna try to slide me. Hats off to him man, he’s a hell of a race car driver and I appreciate him racing me clean.”

Key notes: Mitchell became the ninth driver to collect his first career SAS tour triumph this season and the second in as many nights at Cherokee. ... Friday's runner-up, sixth-starting Chris Ferguson passed for third on lap 35 and completed the podium. ... After winning Friday's $5,000 opener, 18th-starting Trent Ivey overcame a spin on lap eight and finished fourth. ... Benji Hicks improved two positions and rounded-out the top five. ... After slowing from fourth to draw the race's fourth caution on lap 15, Ross Bailes recovered to finish eighth. ... Kyle Strickler gained four spots and finished ninth. ... Anthony Sanders ran as high as fourth before a flat tire ended his night on lap 42. ... Adam Yarbrough spun to bring out the fifth yellow on lap 16 and completed 18 more laps before pulling off. ... Donald McIntosh retired on lap 14 while running ninth. ... Saturday's feature was slowed by seven incidents and lasted 48 minutes, with 12 drivers completing 50 laps.

On the move: Caleb Gay of Dublin, Ga., started 22nd and finished sixth.

Winner's sponsors: Mitchell’s Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from Eubanks Oil, Clary Hood, Inc., SoCar Chemical, Charles West Grading, Rolling Pines Lawn & Landscaping, Hoosier Tire, Fox Racing Shocks and DirtCarLift.

Points chase: Before Cherokee Friday: 1. Caleb Gay (1,044); 2. Dan Cox (750); 3. Billy Franklin (712); 4. Matthew Brocato (506); 5. Dalton Cook (468).

Current weather: Broken Clouds, 73°F

Car count: 26

Fast qualifier: Zack Mitchell

Time: 15.172 seconds

Polesitter: Zack Mitchell

Next series race: October 13, Lexington 104 Speedway (Lexington, TN) $3,000