What won the race: Storming by mid-race pacesetter Scott Ward with an inside move out of turn two, sixth-starting Blair Nothdurft of Renner, S.D., led the final seven laps to win Friday's Bill Kirk Memorial at Park Jefferson Speedway. Nothdurft's $1,586 victory is his first of the season and his ninth of his career on the Repairable Vehicles.com Tri-State Late Model Series, moving him into a tie for third on the tour's all-time list.

Quotable: “It was fun .. wish I would’ve gotten to first sooner,” Nothdurft said. “It was fun racing with (Scott) Ward there and just trying to find a line, what suited my car the best. I tried the bottom a better part of the race and it just wasn’t working, so I decided to go to old faithful in the cushion and give ‘er a whirl and it paid off, honestly.”

Key notes: The triumph is Nothdurft's first win of any kind since Aug. 25, 2023, his last Tri-State Series victory at Fairmont (Minn.) Raceway. ... Series points leader, Ward, of Watertown, S.D., led laps 13-18 before giving way to Nothdurft and taking the checkers 1.206 seconds back. ... Cody Martin paced the opening 12 circuits from the pole before slipping to fourth. ... Eighth-starting Corey Zeitner grabbed third from Martin on lap 22 and rounded out the podium. ... Dyllan Ricks slowed from seventh with severe left-front damage to draw the race's second caution on lap 13. He did not continue. ... The event honored Bill Kirk, a former racer who is being inducted into the 2024 Iowa Hall of Fame and Racing Museum for his distinguished career. ... The 25-lapper was slowed by three stoppages and lasted 20 minutes, with 11 drivers completing the distance. ... Chase Alves is done for the weekend after a bent lift arm caused a broken driveshaft in his heat. Shane DeMey also scratched from the feature lineup.

On the move: Trevor Anderson of Watertown, S.D., started 16th and finished seventh.

Winner's sponsors: Nothdurft’s Bargain Barn Motorsports Rocket Chassis is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and sponsored by Bargain Barn Tire Center, Western Provisions, Glanzer Trucking, Katie Day-Maloney Real Estate, Asphalt Pros, Howe Heating & Plumbing, Grandpa Ben’s Ranch, VP Racing Fuels, and Slicker Graphics.

Points chase: Before Park Jefferson: 1. Scott Ward (713); 2. Corey Zeitner (689); 3. Trevor Anderson (649); 4. Chase Alves (641); 5. Blair Nothdurft (628).

Current weather: Clear, 81°F

Car count: 26

Polesitter: Cody Martin

Heat race winners: Scott Ward, Gary Brown Jr., Dyllan Ricks, Cody Martin

Next series race: August 3, Wagner Speedway (Wagner, SD) $1,500