What won the race: Leading all 40 laps unchallenged, outside front-row starter Dustin Mitchell of Pine Level, N.C., cruised to win Friday's $5,000 Ultimate Southeast Series debut at Dixieland Speedway. Mitchell notched his first series victory of the season and the fifth of his career — his first since April 10, 2021, at Lake View Motor Speedway in Nichols, S.C.

Quotable: “There’s just something about this track, we always seem to come here and really run good,” Mitchell said. “I really like the Ultimate coming down here and giving us a few more races down here in my area. I actually slowed my entry up there and I could feel it starting to rubber a little bit there in the middle and I kept hitting the rubber patch like it was shooting me off the corner, I felt like we were really gaining on them off of (turn) two.”

Key notes: Mitchell captured his second feature win of the season at Dixieland and his third since last year's Steel Block Bandits stop, earning more than $14,000 there over that span. ... The track hosted its first-ever Super Late Model event. ... Mitchell's victory makes him the eighth winner through the first eight series events. ... Third-starting Willie Milliken grabbed second from pole-starting Gray Parton on the opening lap and trailed Mitchell the entire way, finishing 2.859 seconds back. ... Series points leader, Parton, of Rutherfordton, N.C., slipped to third. ... Eighth-starting Josh Pierce placed fourth. ... Michael Rouse rounded out the top five after taking fifth from Christian Thomas on lap 17. ... Friday's series debut was slowed by three red flags, two of which came in consecutive opening-turn incidents. The first stoppage lasted 15 minutes for a multicar tangle involving Josh Canipe, Derick Quade and Caleb Fulp. Fulp continued for one lap before pulling off, while Canipe and Quade were done for the night. ... The second red flag came on the ensuing restart attempt when fourth-starting Brent Robinson jumped the cushion and climbed the turn-one wall, coming to rest high-centered on the concrete barrier. It took track safety crews 10 minutes to remove Robinson's car from the wall. ... The fourth incident came on lap 19 and only necessitated a five-minute red flag after a three-car spin involving Joe Radford, Carl Vaughan and Sanders Overman. Radford continued to 11th, while Vaughan and Overman both retired. ... The 40-lapper was slowed by five incidents and lasted 50 minutes, with 12 competitors completing the distance.

On the move: Spencer Liggon of Lucama, N.C., started 15th and finished seventh; David Yandle of Monroe, N.C., started 16th and finished eighth.

Winner's sponsors: Mitchell’s Train Chassis is powered by a Power Source Racing Engine and sponsored by Donnie’s Body Shop, B&L Hauling, Colebrooke Custom Homes, Tyn-Co Concrete, Currin Construction, KW Locksmith, Mac Tools by Berry Daughtry, True Story Acres, FK Rod Ends, Schaeffer’s Specialized Lubricants, Willy’s Carbs, Swift Springs, Hardison Suspension Technologies and Three Aces Speed Shop.

Points chase: After Dixieland: 1. Gray Parton (246); 2. David Yandle (179); 3. Christian Thomas (170); 4. Ben Watkins (145); 5. Greg Clark (143).

Current weather: Few Clouds, 81°F

Car count: 21

Fast qualifier: Dustin Mitchell

Time: 17.454 seconds

Polesitter: Gray Parton

Next series race: August 17, Sumter Speedway (Sumter, SC) $5,000