What won the race: Making his first laps at Merritville Speedway, fast qualifier Max Blair of Centerville, Pa., cruised to a 6.561-second RUSH touring victory. He led all but the first four laps en route to a $2,000 payday over early leader Phil Potts and Brian Knowles.

Quotable: "Now that was a race track — that’s what race tracks are supposed to be like,” said Blair. “That’s one of the top three race tracks I’ve ever been on in my life. It was beautiful. I’m telling you I don’t know if I’ve had that much fun in the last few years."

Key notes: Tenth-starting Bryce Davis climbed to third by the middle stages of the 30-lapper before being slowed by a flat tire. ... John Waters and Paul Grigsby did not start the feature. ... The three-division program was completed in under two and half hours with the RUSH feature taking the checkered flag at 8:40 p.m. ... Blair's fast qualifying time was .664 seconds better than his closest competition. ... RUSH competitors made their first appearance at Merrittville, which became the third Canadian track to host the series.

On the move: Colton Ledingham of Port Colborne, Ontario, advanced 10 spots to complete the top five.

Winner's sponsors: Blair's Rocket Chassis is sponsored by R&J Poultry, Moody & Sons Welding, D.I. Anderson and Genesis Shocks.

Points chase: The Crate Late Model tour has divided its events into northern and southern schedules for 2015. The top point-getter on both the Insinger Performance Sunoco Race Fuels Northern Series and the Bazell Sunoco Race Fuels Southern Series will earn $4,000, with the driver earning the most points overall receiving an additional $2,000. Monday's race was the first of the season for the northern tour.

Car count: 18

Fast qualifier: Max Blair

Time: 15.734 seconds

Polesitter: Phil Potts

Dash winner: Phil Potts

Heat race winners: Max Blair, Randy Hall

Next series race: June 5, Freedom Motorsports Park (Delevan, NY) $1,200