What won the race: Pole-starting Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., led from flag-to-flag to capture Friday's 53-lap Schaeffer's Spring Nationals-sanctioned Finn Watson Memorial at Ponderosa Speedway. Marlar's $10,000 top prize marked his seventh career Spring Nationals triumph — his first since April 28, 2017, at Bulls Gap, Tenn.'s Volunteer Speedway, and his second series win at Ponderosa after prevailing in 2014’s series debut.

Key notes: Marlar’s triumph was his fifth overall of 2024 but first in nearly two months. He had last reached victory lane on April 6-7 when he registered a $42,000 sweep of the XR Super Series-sanctioned Spring Thaw at Volunteer Speedway. … The feature field also included Marlar’s two brothers: Camaron finished seventh while Skylar placed 11th. The Marlar siblings’ father, David, was also in action Friday in the 4-cylinder division. … Garrett Smith started and finished second while Brandon Sheppard took the green flag from the third spot and finished there. … Some of the lights on the track’s frontstretch went out just before the feature rolled onto the racetrack. The race finally started after a delay of nearly 50 minutes during which track officials briefly cut all the power in the frontstretch area to repair a severed electrical line. … The race honored Thurman “Finn” Watson of Campbellsville, Ky., the father of track champion Jeff Watson and a former Kentucky racer who amassed more than 300 victories in a career that spanned 38 years. He died in 2013 at the age of 66.

On the move: Jason Jameson of Lawrenceburg, Ind., started sixth and finished fourth.

Winner's sponsors: Marlar’s Skyline Motorsports Longhorn Chassis carries sponsorship from Bruening Rock Products, Skyline Materials, Truck Country, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Olson Explosives, Bennett Explosives, Petroff Towing, Can-Am Auto Salvage, Brown’s Heavy Equipment, VP Racing Fuels, Bilstein and Capital Signs.

Points chase: Donald McIntosh was crowned champion following May 26’s points finale at Duck River Raceway Park, becoming the first three-time series champ.

Current weather: Clear, 75°F

Car count: 14

Fast qualifier: Mike Marlar

Time: 12.791 seconds

Polesitter: Mike Marlar

Heat race winners: Mike Marlar, Garrett Smith

Next series race: June 1, Lake Cumberland Speedway (Burnside, KY) $10,000