What won the race: Taking control when Dustin Mitchell retired on lap 16, sixth-starting Ben Watkins of Rock Hill, S.C., led the rest of Saturday's 40-lap Howard Jones Memorial at Fayetteville Motor Speedway. Watkins was never seriously challenged over the closing laps, capturing the $5,000 payday by 0.953 of a second ahead of Christian Thomas for his 16th career Carolina Clash Super Late Model Series victory.

Quotable: “I hate it for Dustin (Mitchell), obviously he was pretty good. I was trying to save there behind him, thinking maybe I could capitalize on lapped traffic, or just trying to save something there at the end and, man, he broke just like down at County Line,” Watkins said. “At the end of the race, I was struggling a little bit, getting into (turn) one had some character there and I had my hands full. ... awesome night, first time since the reconfiguration at Fayetteville, to be in victory lane (is) just an awesome feeling.”

Key notes: Watkins secured his second straight Carolina Clash triumph and his third overall victory of the season, all of them coming since March 8 and totaling more than $17,000. ... Fourth-starting Christian Thomas took second from Dalton Peavy on a lap-32 restart and chased Watkins the final nine laps. ... Second-starting Peavy, of Mooresboro, N.C., led the opening two laps before settling for third. ... Ethan Wilson improved four positions to finish fourth at his home track. ... Teenager Beckham Malone started 18th and finished eighth. ... Dustin Mitchell paced laps 3-15 before retiring during the race's first caution on lap 16; he was credited with 18th. ... Jamison McBride, Joe Radford and Kevin Godwin also called it a night during the lap-16 stoppage. ... Anthony Sanders pulled off on lap five as the first retiree. ... The 40-lapper was slowed by three incidents and lasted 30 minutes, with 14 starters completing the distance.

On the move: Brent Robinson of Smithfield, Va., started 20th and finished ninth.

Winner's sponsors: Watkins drives a Longhorn by Wesley Page powered by a Clements Racing Engine with sponsorship from Mega Plumbing of the Carolinas, Parks Heating & Cooling, Langley Collision Center, Sandwood Company, Bilstein, WP Racing Shocks, Hoosier Tire South, VP Racing Fuels, Allstar Performance, STAKT Products, Craig Industries, Top Quality Siding & Windows and Indocil Arts.

Points chase: After Fayetteville: 1. Ben Watkins (240); 2. Christian Thomas (221); T3. Dalton Peavy (220); T3. Ethan Wilson (220); 5. Adam Yarbrough (218).

Current weather: Few Clouds, 75°F

Car count: 27

Fast qualifier: Dustin Mitchell

Time: 14.695 seconds

Polesitter: Dustin Mitchell

Consolation race winners: Adam Yarbrough, Layton Sullivan

Provisional starters: Brad Basey, Doug Sanders

Next series race: May 17, County Line Raceway (Elm City, NC) $5,000