What won the race: Blake Craft of Lavonia, Ga., led all 40 laps from the pole to win Saturday's $5,000 Vision Wheel Steel Block Bandits Dirt Late Model Challenge Series stop at Cherokee Speedway. Craft captured his first career Bandits victory and his third overall triumph of the season after topping the opening two rounds of the Southeastern Late Model Sportsman Series.

Quotable: “I was trying to bide my time and take care of my tires,” Craft said. “I was just trying not to use my right-rear as much as I could, trying not to use my right-front as much. I felt the right-rear going out, so I was trying to ride and make it to the end. We’ve been knocking on the door and finally got us one. They say they come easy after the first, maybe that’ll be true.”

Key notes: Craft's second win of the season at Cherokee doubles his race winnings and eclipses the five-figure mark. ... Third-starting Dustin Mitchell pressured Craft after the halfway point until Hunter Kohn slowed from 15th to draw the race's first caution on lap 32. Mitchell settled for the runner-up spot, 0.797 of a second back. ... Series points leader Russell Erwin ran as high as second in the opening laps before slipping to fourth. ... Robbie Emory took advantage of the lap-33 restart and rounded-out the top five. ... Dan Breuer improved six positions and placed eighth. ... Ninth-running Johnny Pursley blew a right-rear and brought out the final yellow on lap 35. ... Originally slated to start second, Michael Brown was forced to tag the field before taking the green. ... The feature lasted 20 minutes, with 13 competitors completing 40 laps and 18 running at the finish.

On the move: Michael Brown of Pageland, S.C., started 23rd and finished ninth.

Winner's sponsors: Craft’s Train Chassis is powered by a Vic Hill Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from Wiley Cattle, Peach State Auto Parts & Recycling, WB Curbow Construction, CTC Innovations, Precision Seal Coating & Striping, KRC Power Steering, Hardison Suspension Technologies, W.D.E. Motorsports, Penske Racing Shocks and A+ Plus Signs.

Points chase: After Cherokee: 1. Russell Erwin (268); 2. Tyler Bare (258); 3. Robbie Emory (226); 4. Dan Breuer (221); 5. Blake Craft (213).

Current weather: Overcast, 66°F

Car count: 26

Fast qualifier: Dustin Mitchell

Time: 15.999 seconds

Polesitter: Blake Craft

Heat race winners: Blake Craft, Michael Brown, Russell Erwin

Consolation race winners: Alex Hendren

Provisional starters: Dylan Watson, Doug Sanders, Timmy Blackwell, Michael Brown, Blake Sanderson

Next series race: May 31, Dixieland Speedway (Elizabeth City, NC) $4,000