What won the race: Shep Lucas of McKenzie, Ala., won a heat race to start his 2014 Barry Wright Race Cars entry from the pole in a 17-car field, then outdueled fellow front-row starter Josh Huss to lead every circuit in a 25-lapper that served as the third round of the NeSmith Chevrolet-backed Panhandle Challenge Series. It marked his second start in the machine, after a 10-year stint in a different brand.

Quotable: "The car drives on the front wheels rather than the right rear," Lucas said. "I'm real happy with it, and it'll definitely turn when you get it into the corner, but it's gonna take me some time to become familiar with it. Bringing it here to one of my home tracks really helped, because it drives different, feels different and reacts different. I've named it Lucy because it can be temperamental like a woman, but I'm real happy with the car. It's just gonna take me some time getting used to it."

Key notes: A 17-car field was the biggest in three events held so far on the series, which also frequents Southern Raceway in Milton, Fla. and Northwest Florida Speedway in Blackman. … Chris O'Connor lowered the track record in time trials. … A rain shower delayed the program during support division heat races, but the wet weather passed, and the entire program was completed. … Six yellows slowed the feature, including an opening-lap spin involving Joseph Joiner, who was allowed to restart from his original sixth-place starting spot because a lap wasn't completed. He rebounded to finish third. … Richie Beasley, a former asphalt competitor, started racing Crate Late Models on dirt last season after a seven-year layoff from racing. Beasley finished as the runner-up in a car backed by Donny and Debra Brusso's AAA Custom Cabinets. Beasley currently lives in Byram, Miss., near Jackson Motor Speedway. "When I race there at a weekly show, it takes me longer to load the car than it does to drive to the track," he said.

Winner's sponsors: Lucas drives a Barry Wright Race Cars sponsored by Store All Buildings, Blackwater Canoe Rentals, Panama City Cycles and Xtreme Graphics.

Car count: 17

Fast qualifier: Chris O'Connor

Polesitter: Shep Lucas

Heat race winners: Shep Lucas, Josh Huss

Next series race: May 30, Northwest Florida Speedway (Blackman, FL) $800