What won the race: Repelling a late-race challenge from Cody Overton, pole-starting Joseph Brown of Columbus, Ga., led all 50 laps to win Saturday's $10,000 13th annual Early Bird 50 in Rogers-Dabbs Crate Racin' USA Series action at Needmore Speedway. Brown beat Overton to the line by 0.551 of a second for his fourth career Early Bird triumph (2018-'20).

Quotable: “I knew I had got to rolling around that bottom so slow, if (Cody Overton) was gonna beat me, he was gonna have to drive around me on the top and if he did, I was gonna give him all the credit in the world,” Brown said. “I have never won a damn (CRUSA) race and anybody in the Southeast, you win you a (CRUSA) race and you a pretty badass race car driver.”

Key notes: Seventh-starting Cody Overton grabbed second on the lap-28 restart and pressured Brown over the remainder of the distance. ... Mark Whitener followed Overton by Trent Ivey on the lap-28 restart and rounded out the podium finishers. ... The fourth-starting Ivey, of Union, S.C., settled for fourth after pursuing Brown from lap 21-27. ... Corey Neil Jr. trailed Brown for the opening 20 circuits before fading to 10th. ... The race was slowed by two cautions, both for Tim Dixon (a lap-28 spin from 17th before slowing with a flat left-rear tire and pulling off on lap 35). ... Matt Henderson and Tyler Thomason nearly made contact as they both slowed and pulled off under green on lap 41. ... Jesse Sobbing pulled off on lap 23 and was credited with 23rd in his first start since July 13 after undergoing triple fusion back surgery. ... The feature lasted 21 minutes with 18 drivers completing 50 laps.

On the move: Mark Whitener of Middleburg, Fla., started 10th and finished third.

Winner's sponsors: Brown's Rocket Chassis is powered by a Bobby Thomas Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from Thomas Trucking, Brown Heating & Air Conditioning, Harrod Logging, Knotts Paint & Body, Aide Trucking, Terminal Maintenance Construction, Scotty's Muffler, Benton's Paint & Body, JWC Roofing, Fox Factory Racing Shox, SRI Performance and 4Boyz Racing.

Points chase: After Needmore: 1. Jimmy Thomas (1,332); 2. Matt Dooley (1,276); 3. Bubba Roling (1,248); 4. Matt Henderson (1,232); 5. Mario Gresham (1,216).

Current weather: Clear, 46°F

Car count: 32

Fast qualifier: Joseph Brown

Time: 15.642 seconds

Polesitter: Joseph Brown

Heat race winners: Corey Neil Jr., Bubba Roling, Joseph Brown

Consolation race winners: Josh Ray

Provisional starters: Mario Gresham, Jared Delk

Next series race: November 29, Swainsboro Raceway (Swainsboro, GA) $10,000