What won the race: Taking command on the second lap as McKay Wenger got stuck in the turn-one cushion, pole-starting Ryan Unzicker of El Paso, Ill., cruised to win Friday's 40-lap MARS Late Model Championship Series debut at Sycamore Speedway. Unzicker raced to the $5,000 victory, marking his ninth-career on the MARS Series and his second of the season — his first since April 26's season opener at Peoria (Ill.) Speedway.

Quotable: “It feels great (to win), the season started off terrible and we’re starting to build some momentum, you know this is what’s making racing fun” Unzicker said. “It’s a team effort and takes a lot of money to go up and down the road, so (I) just appreciate everyone (who) sponsor me. It takes a lot, we appreciate them all and feels really good to be right here.”

Key notes: Mike Spatola traded the runner-up spot with Jason Feger multiple times before prevailing with six laps remaining, finishing 2.151 seconds back at the line. ... Feger, of Bloomington, Ill., finished third with a broken left-front suspension after suffering damage just before the race's lone caution on lap 16. ... Wenger, of Fairbury, Ill., led the opening lap from the outside front row before fading to sixth. ... Frank Heckenast Jr. ran as high as third on the lap-16 restart before giving way to Feger and settling for fourth. ... Unzicker made inadvertent contact while lapping Mark Voigt, sending him spinning to bring out the race's only stoppage on lap 16. Voigt pitted before continuing to an 18th-place result, the last driver running at the finish. ... Friday's series debut at Sycamore lasted 15 minutes, with 13 drivers completing 40 laps. ... The tripleheader weekend continues with Saturday's $10,000-to-win debut at Macon (Ill.) Speedway's fifth-mile bullring.

On the move: Chad Simpson of Mount Vernon, Iowa, started 10th and finished fifth; Allen Weisser of Peoria, Ill., started 14th and finished ninth.

Winner's sponsors: Unzicker’s MB Customs Race Car has a Pro Power Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from RJR Transportation, Brucker Farms, Low Voltage Solutions, Mosquito Hero, Fairbury Fastener & Supply, Larimer Cows & Calves, Absolute Home Repair & Remodeling, Gary Miller’s Classic Auto, El Paso Outdoor Center, Big City Automotive, Arkansas Septic Plumbing, Unzicker Equipment, Konstruction Services, Pro Tire and Automotive, Mackinaw Valley Powder Coating, Logan Smith Collectibles, Clean It Up Pressure Washing Professionals, A Solution HVAC & Construction, Bert by Budda Transmissions, DirtcarLift.com, Keyser Manufacturing, NAPA El Paso, Fuel Factory, Varsitee Screenprint and Aftershock Decals & Design.

Points chase: After Sycamore: 1. Jason Feger (508); 2. Ryan Unzicker (466); 3. Allen Weisser (426); 4. Bob Gardner (406); 5. Justin Duty (390).

Current weather: Clear, 59°F

Car count: 27

Fast qualifier: Jason Feger

Time: 14.507 seconds

Polesitter: Ryan Unzicker

Heat race winners: Jason Feger, Mike Spatola, Daniel Adam

Consolation race winners: Mark Voigt

Provisional starters: Jake Little, Terry Bolin

Next series race: August 10, Macon Speedway (Macon, IL) $10,000