What won the race: Inheriting the lead when a dominating Shane Sabraski slowed with a flat tire on the 36th lap, Scott Ward of Watertown, S.D., led the rest of the way Saturday at Madison Speedway for his seventh career Structural Buildings WISSOTA Challenge Series victory. The third-starting Ward took the checkers 0.397 of a second ahead of ninth-starting Jeff Provinzino for a $3,000 payday in the 40-lapper.

Quotable: "Not bad for an old bastard, huh?" the 55-year-old Ward said. "Too bad for Shane having a flat tire you know. In the heat race I kind of (wore out) my right rear ... and my crew chief says be easy on the right rear and so I did. It was just those damn last five laps took forever."

Key notes: Scott Ward's previous series victory came June 9, 2024, at his hometown Casino Speedway. ... Outside front-row starter Shane Sabraski was dominating the second half of the race when he slowed with a lap-36 flat. ... Sabraski had won the previous night at Fiesta City Speedway in Montevideo, Minn. ... Six cautions slowed the action, the first on the 21st lap when fourth-running Don Shaw's car went up in smoke, forcing him to the infield. ... A lap-27 yellow appeared for a slowing Josh Zimpel. ... Third-running Tyler Peterson retired on the 31st lap. ... Two yellows appeared on lap 37, the first for slowing polesitter Devin Fouquette, who led the first lap and swapped the lead with Sabraski on the 15th circuit but didn't officially lead another lap. ... A turn-two tangle on the restart brought out another lap-37 caution. ... Todd Frank and Cory Tammen scratched from the feature ... Two-time and reigning series champ Cole Searing of Huron, S.D., winner of Thursday’s $3,000 opener at KRA Speedway in Willmar, Minn., underwent an emergency appendectomy early Saturday at Montevideo, Minn., hospital after finishing eighth in Friday's event at Montevideo's Fiesta City Speedway. WCS regulars voted to grant Searing hardship points for Madison and Sunday's race at Casino.

On the move: Runner-up Jeff Provinzino of Hibbing, Minn., started ninth.

Winner's sponsors: Ward’s Longhorn Chassis carries sponsorship from Badlands Ranch & Rodeo Equipment, Lift Gator, #1 Welding, Dakota Appliance, Boldt Construction, Jesse Vincent Construction, George’s Sanitation, Lone Pine Bar & Grill, Cloud 9 Bar & Casino, Grangaard Construction, Nickerson Harvesting, Weelborg Insurance, Wehrs Machine and Performance Parts and Cain Designs & Wraps.

Points chase: After Madison: 1. Shane Sabraski (319); 2. Dave Mass (315); 3. Jeff Provinzino (304); 4. Cole Searing (292); 5. Zach Johnson (283).

Current weather: Clear, 81°F

Car count: 26

Fast qualifier: Matt Gilbertson

Time: 14.931 seconds

Polesitter: Devin Fouquette

Heat race winners: Scott Ward, Shane Sabraski, Don Shaw

Next series race: June 1, Casino Speedway (Watertown, SD) $3,000