What won the race: Holding off early challenges from Kevin Eder then a late-race surge by Dave Mass, Cole Searing of Huron, S.D., earned a flag-to-flag victory in Thursday's 40-lap Structural Buildings WISSOTA Challenge Series four-race weekend opener at KRA Speedway. Searing beat Mass to the checkers by 0.330 of a second for the $3,000 payday and 10th tour triumph.

Quotable: “I’ve kinda been under the weather all day. I don’t know if I’m fighting a stomach bug, or what, but those (track surface) bumps didn’t help things,” Searing said. “I was so tight all night long, we tried to free ‘er up. (I’m) just off my game a little bit today, not been able to concentrate on what needs to be done, but it worked out for us. We’ll put ‘er together and see what tomorrow brings.”

Key notes: The pole-starting Searing secured his second WCS victory of the season and his third overall after topping an April 26 local show at Ogilvie (Minn.) Raceway. It's his second straight series win at KRA. ... Searing, the two-time and reigning series champ, lowered the track record in qualifying. Kevin Eder matched Searing's quickest lap, but did so after Searing. ... Third-starting Dave Mass slipped by Eder for second on lap 19 and cut Searing's advantage as low as 0.104 of a second as they raced under the white flag, before fading back on the final lap; Eder settled for third. ... Shane Sabraski finished fourth after a back-and-forth battle with Jeff Provinzino. ... Jordan Tollakson, a $2,100 Tri-State Series winner there in 2021, climbed five positions to round out the top 10. ... The race was slowed by three cautions, the final coming on lap 17 for Scott Lehn's spin. ... Joel Bennett slowed from eighth on the sixth lap, drawing the second yellow flag before retiring. ... An opening-lap incident eliminated Chase Alves and Jon Tollakson. ... The 40-lapper lasted just shy of 20 minutes with 13 starters completing the distance.

On the move: Devin Fouquette of St. Cloud, Minn., started 11th and finished sixth.

Winner's sponsors: Searing’s MB Customs Race Car has a Pro Power Racing Engine and sponsorship from Collins Brothers Towing of St. Cloud, Minnesota Truck Headquarters, Conkey Farms, Central Plains Construction, Jerry Kleinsasser Farms, Binger Cattle and Grain, Allied Climate Professionals, Farmers Union Insurance, Glade Cattle Company, Avail Wealth Management, Speedwerx Headers and Jig E Signs.

Points chase: After KRA Speedway: 1. Cole Searing (220); 2. Shane Sabraski (216); 3. Jeff Provinzino (211); 4. Dave Mass (206); 5. Zach Johnson (190).

Current weather: Clear, 61°F

Car count: 18

Fast qualifier: Cole Searing

Time: 15.966 seconds

Polesitter: Cole Searing

Heat race winners: Cole Searing, Dave Mass, Kevin Eder

Next series race: May 30, Fiesta City Speedway (Montevideo, MN) $3,000