What won the race: Repelling multiple late-race challenges from early leader Devin Moran, second-starting Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., led the final 19 laps to win Thursday's $10,000 Mason-Dixon 100 opener in the first race at Pennsboro Speedway since May 2002. Pierce and Moran made contact several times in the closing laps, including one final time off turn four as Pierce beat Moran to the checkers by 0.452 of a second.

Quotable: “I know he is sorry, it’s just we got to use our head. It’s too dangerous to be racing like that, it knocked the front end out,” Pierce said of the late-race contact with Devin Moran. “Luckily we finished the race ... it’s pretty crazy to race here, there’s nowhere that compares to this racetrack as far as the different corners and I don’t really know which corner is more sketchy, honestly, cause we’re hauling the mail (into turn one) and then you gotta lock it up (into three).”

Key notes: Pierce grabbed his fifth XR Super Series victory of the season and eighth of his career, further extending his advantage on the third-year tour's all-time win list. ... It was Pierce's 36th overall victory of the season and serves as his first career Jay's Automotive United Late Model Series triumph as part of the co-sanctioned event. ... Pole-starting Devin Moran led the opening six laps before giving way to Pierce on the lap-seven restart and pressuring him the rest of the way. Moran apologized to Pierce for the contact in his postrace interview. ... Nick Hoffman started and finished third. ... ULMS points leader Michael Lake held fourth the entire distance. ... Logan Zarin started and finished seventh, the final driver to complete 25 laps. ... James Dennis, winner of the night's earlier sport mod feature that was shortened to 13 laps — from 20 — after 35 minutes, improved two positions and finished 14th. ... Tyler Carpenter sustained heavy right-rear damage in the early going before pulling off from sixth on lap 20. ... The lone caution flew on lap seven when Moran made contact while trying to lap Ed Shuman, nearly sending Shuman spinning and triggering a quick yellow from race control. Shuman did not continue. ... The first race at Pennsboro in 22 years lasted 12 minutes, with 18 starters running at the finish. ... XR Events hurriedly finished its track revival project in recent weeks after cancelling other 2024 events scheduled for the egg-shaped track. ... Another 25-lap, $10,000-to-win prelim will be held Friday, preceding Saturday's 50-lap, $30,000-to-win Mason-Dixon 100 finale.

On the move: Eddie Carrier Jr. of Salt Rock, W.Va., started eighth and finished fifth; Mike Benedum of Salem, W.Va., started ninth and finished sixth.

Winner's sponsors: Pierce’s Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Vic Hill Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from Low Voltage Solutions, Rio Grande Waste Services, Hoker Trucking, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Oakwood Tire Center, Churchill Transport, Collins Brothers Towing, K1, Carnaghi Towing & Repair, Toyota of Danville, Floyd’s Waste Systems, PureMax Racing Oil, A Plus Vacuum, Leka Tree Service, Bert Transmissions by Budda, Ted Brown’s Quality Paint & Body Shop, VP Race Fuels, Swift Springs, Bilstein Shocks, Dirt Car Lift and Performance Bodies.

Points chase: ULMS before Pennsboro Thursday: 1. Michael Lake (451); 2. Logan Zarin (386); 3. Ryan Montgomery (334); 4. Dave Stamm (278); 5. Dylan Lewis (269). XRSS after Pennsboro Thursday: 1. Bobby Pierce (1,035); 2. Devin Moran (929); 3. Ryan Gustin (794); 4. Tyler Erb (628); 5. Mike Marlar (605).

Current weather: Clear, 54°F

Car count: 27

Fast qualifier: Devin Moran

Time: 19.918 seconds

Polesitter: Devin Moran

Heat race winners: Devin Moran, Bobby Pierce, Nick Hoffman

Consolation race winners: Clint Coffman

Provisional starters: George Klintworth, Dave Stamm

Next series race: October 25, Pennsboro Speedway (Pennsboro, WV) $10,000