What won the race: Leading all 25 laps for his first series victory, Nick Marolf of Moscow, Iowa, earned a $3,000 Malvern Bank East Series victory Friday at C.J. Speedway. The polesitter took the checkers 0.757 of a second ahead of Andrew Kosiski at the 4/10-mile oval.

Quotable: "We've worked our ass off to get this one. I mean, we've literally lost these Malvern races every way possible, so, I'm just happy," Marolf said. "I can't thank my dad, my uncle, my wife, and my kids enough. It's pretty awesome. All the sponsors on this car. it's kind of a homecoming for me. I graduated from high school here 30 some years ago almost now, so, it's good to see, see familiar faces, and we've got a lot of laps around this place."

Key notes: Marolf was the champion on the Karl Chevrolet Pro Late Model Tour last season. ... Two cautions slowed the action, the second on the 22nd lap when second-running Charlie McKenna slowed with a broken crank trigger. ... Fifth-running C.J. Horn spun for a lap-18 caution. ... The Malvern East tour visited the 4/10-mile oval for the sixth time.

On the move: Jesse Sobbing of Malvern, Iowa, started eighth and finished fourth.

Winner's sponsors: Marolf's Sniper Chassis is sponsored by Honts Construction, Hoffmann Trucking, Arty's Burgers & Ice Cream, GMC Welding, Gronewold Tiling and GTE RV Repair, Penn Ave Farms, Keith Stanley, Stewart Trucking, Don Frank Floors, J&C Properties and JR Motorsports.

Points chase: After Columbus Junction: 1. Chad Simpson (978); 2. Dylan Thornton (960); T3. Dallon Murty (956); T3. Jesse Sobbing (956); 5. Andrew Kosiski (894).

Current weather: Few Clouds, 64°F

Car count: 26

Fast qualifier: Chad Simpson

Time: 18.829 seconds

Polesitter: Nick Marolf

Heat race winners: Jeff Tharp, Bill Leighton Jr., Brian Kosiski

Consolation race winners: Andy Eckrich

Provisional starters: Darrel DeFrance, Dave Hammond, Curt Schroeder

Next series race: May 31, Lee County Speedway (Donnellson, IA) $3,000