What won the race: Sliding by race-long leader Dennis Erb Jr. with four laps to go, pole-starting Garrett Alberson of Las Cruces, N.M., led the rest of Friday's 30-lap Iowa Corn State Nationals opener at Davenport Speedway. Mired in lapped traffic in the closing laps with a high-running Erb bearing down, Alberson pushed Steve Stultz across the finish line while sliding sideways and nipped Erb by 0.250 of a second to secure the $5,000 Lucas Oil Midwest LateModel Racing Association victory.

Quotable: “It was kind of a different race than I would’ve expected," Alberson said. "Usually you’d think it would be the other way around — I’d be up there burnin’ the top down and Dennis (Erb Jr.) would be on the bottom. It was a close race, it got a little wild with lapped cars there at the end, but everybody did their job."

Key notes: Alberson's first MLRA victory of the season was the third of his career and his first since Oct. 1, 2021, at Sycamore Speedway in Maple Park, Ill. ... Second-starting Dennis Erb Jr., back aboard his familiar Rocket Chassis after running a Barry Wright Race Car in recent weeks, led the opening 26 laps before Alberson used a turn-three slider to take control as they completed the 27th circuit. ... Frank Heckenast Jr. finished third for the second consecutive night in MLRA action. ... Tyler Erb, winner of Thursday's opener at Cedar County Raceway in Tipton, Iowa, improved five positions and placed sixth. ... The lone caution was for an opening-lap spin by Kayden Clatt. He continued but pulled off on lap 20. ... Davenport's Iowa Corn State Nationals concludes with Saturday's 40-lap, $10,000-to-win finale.

On the move: Tyler Erb of New Waverly, Texas, started 11th and finished sixth.

Winner's sponsors: Alberson's Roberts Motorsports Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and sponsored by Mesilla Valley Transportation, Done Right TV, Bill's Sport Shop, Roemer Machine & Welding, Sims Family Racing, Capitol Screen Company, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Mitchell Ranch, J. Craig's Tile, Arbor Autoworks, McGinley Construction, Browning Auto Parts, American Document Services, Sunoco Race Fuels, Fastshafts, Swift Springs, Bilstein Shocks and Midwest Sheet Metal.

Points chase: After Davenport Friday: 1. Chad Simpson (2,275); 2. Tony Jackson Jr. (2,110); 3. Chris Simpson (2,085); 4. Dillon McCowan (2,060); 5. Trevor Gundaker (1,835).

Current weather: Clear, 68°F

Car count: 34

Fast qualifier: Garrett Alberson

Time: 13.780 seconds

Polesitter: Garrett Alberson

Heat race winners: Garrett Alberson, Dillon McCowan, Dennis Erb Jr., Frank Heckenast Jr.

Consolation race winners: Chris Simpson, Steve Stultz

Provisional starters: Aaron Marrant, Jeff Herzog

Next series race: September 14, Davenport Speedway (Davenport, IA) $10,000