What won the race: Turning the page after a tough-luck Georgia-Florida Speedweeks, pole-starting Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill., executed a flawless flag-to-flag victory in Friday's 30-lap MLRA Throwback prelim at Springfield Raceway, taking the checkers 1.751 seconds ahead of Dillon McCowan for a $5,036 payday and his first victory of the 2025 season.

Quotable: “(I’m) just happy for my team, my guys, you know they’ve been working their butt off,” Shirley said. “Obviously everybody knows how tough Speedweeks was for us … these guys have been through the wringer with me over the last month, with ups and downs and gotta thank my wife, my kids, my dad, everybody back home and the fans that come out to support us.”

Key notes: Brian Shirley secured his first win of any kind since sweeping last fall's FALS Frenzy at Fairbury (Ill.) Speedway, earning more than $17,000. ... Fourth-starting Dillon McCowan, winner of last fall's Turkey Bowl at Springfield, took second from Clay Stuckey on lap 20, but never truly challenged Shirley over the final 10 circuits. ... Tony Jackson Jr. used a last-lap pass by Stuckey for third. ... Hall of Famer Billy Moyer trailed Shirley from laps 5-13 before slipping to fifth. ... Sawyer Crigler, a four-time 4 State Series winner last year at Springfield, improved four spots and placed eighth. ... Dustin Tiger finished 11th in his first Late Model feature after failing to qualify for last fall's Turkey Bowl aboard his brother-in-law's backup. ... The two-day event honors Ken Essary and Randy Mooneyham, founders of the now defunct Midwest LateModel Racing Association; Essary, of Cape Fair, Mo., was also a Hall of Fame driver and won the first two MLRA titles. ... The race's first caution came on lap five when Kylan Garner slowed. He continued for a few more laps before retiring. ... The second yellow flag flew on lap 14 when Jon Kirby spun from seventh in turn three. He rebounded to finish 12th. ... The 30-lap weekend opener lasted 11 minutes, with 14 starters completing the distance. ... Jacob Magee was unable to transfer through the consolation after fighting mechanical issues for much of the evening. ... Logan Martin, piloting Austin Vincent's backup car, lost an engine in hot laps and scratched. ... The same drivers will chase a $10,036 payday Saturday at Springfield.

On the move: Mason Oberkramer of Broseley, Mo., started 19th and finished ninth.

Winner's sponsors: Shirley’s Bob Cullen Racing Longhorn Chassis is powered by an Andy Durham Racing Engine and sponsored by Thomason Express, Hoker Trucking, J&J Ventures Gaming, Kid’s Castle Learning Center, KBC Graphics, Cheap Cars, Bass Livestock Nutrition, Allgaier Performance Parts, East Central Coin, Cheers, Ted Brown Auto Body, Race Ranch and Bilstein Shocks.

Current weather: Clear, 61°F

Car count: 28

Fast qualifier: Brian Shirley

Time: 12.041 seconds

Polesitter: Brian Shirley

Heat race winners: Brian Shirley, Tony Jackson Jr., Clay Stuckey, Dillon McCowan

Consolation race winners: Justin Wells