What won the race: Powering around the outside of early leader Andy Eckrich, third-starting Chad Holladay of Muscatine, Iowa, led the rest of Saturday's 30-lap Tribute to Legends at Independence Motor Speedway. Holladay, the reigning series champ, earned his first victory of the season and his fourth career Malvern Bank East triumph — his first since Sept. 2, 2022, at West Liberty (Iowa) Raceway.

Quotable: “It was pretty dirty up there in the middle, early and I just picked up the topside early and found a little different groove than they did,” Holladay said. “I lost my brakes like five laps into that deal .. that might’ve helped me, but we didn’t have any brakes, so it was a little sketchy. I’m excited, we were stumped last year but we finally got it done second night in, so that’s good (to get the) monkey off our back.”

Key notes: The second-starting Eckrich, of Oxford, Iowa, led the opening six circuits before giving way to Holladay and trailing the remainder of Saturday's 30-lapper. Eckrich pressured Holladay in the late going, nearly drawing alongside him in the closing laps, before finishing 0.283 of a second back. ... Pole-starting Derrick Stewart finished third. ... Blair Nothdurft improved nine positions and placed fifth, securing his second straight top-five result after earning runner-up honors in Friday's opener at Stuart. ... Jason Hahne finished sixth, recording his second top 10 of the weekend. ... Friday's winner Dylan Thornton spun while battling Chris Spieker for seventh on lap 21, bringing out the race's second and final caution. Thornton continued and settled for 17th. ... Andrew Kosiski slowed from 12th to cause the first stoppage on lap 17. He was unable to continue. ... Friday's third-place finisher Tad Pospisil pulled off on lap eight and was the first retiree. ... Saturday's Tribute to Legends main event — aimed to honor Iowa racing legends Glen Martin, Red Dralle, Greg Hunter — lasted 12 minutes, with 19 drivers completing the distance and 22 running at the finish.

On the move: Matt Ryan of Davenport, Iowa, started 21st and finished ninth.

Winner's sponsors: Holladay’s Longhorn Chassis has a Shepherd Engine Development powerplant with sponsorship from Ellsworth Trucking, Honts Construction, Driven Racing Oil, Holladay Trucking, Mav and Jess Erwin, Bilstein Shocks, Swift Springs, Hoosier Tire and Monster Graphix.

Points chase: After Independence: 1. Chad Holladay (390); 2. Blair Nothdurft (386); 3. Andy Eckrich (384); 4. Jason Hahne (380); 5. Chris Spieker (370).

Current weather: Clear, 70°F

Car count: 32

Fast qualifier: Chad Holladay

Time: 13.931 seconds

Polesitter: Derrick Stewart

Heat race winners: Blair Nothdurft, Dave Eckrich, Luke Pestka, Dylan Thornton

Consolation race winners: Charlie McKenna, Zach Less

Provisional starters: Matt Ryan, Curt Schroeder, Darrel DeFrance, Curtis Glover

Next series race: May 24, Davenport Speedway (Davenport, IA) $3,000