What won the race: Taking control when Wil Herrington spun on a lap-19 restart attempt, fifth-starting Jordy Nipper of Gray, Ga., led the remainder of Saturday's 40-lap sixth annual Gene Maine Memorial at Needmore Speedway. Nipper beat Herrington by 0.577 of a second for the $5,000 payday and his first victory on the first-year Southern Thunder Super Dirt Series.

Quotable: “Well, I mean, I felt like I got (into turn one) hot,” Nipper explained of his lap-19 contact with Wil Herrington. “I got in there hot, I didn’t cut him enough slack at all. (The incident) was all on me, I felt like.”

Key notes: Nipper's contact sent Wil Herrington spinning from the lead on lap 19, with Dalton Cook spinning to avoid. Herrington restarted sixth and rebounded to second on a lap-39 restart before pressuring Nipper on the final lap. ... Nipper notched his third feature victory this season and his first special event triumph since Sept. 16, 2023, a $10,000 Southern All Star Series stop at Cochran (Ga.) Motor Speedway. ... Steven Roberts led the opening six laps after polesitter Dalton Cook spun to draw the race's opening caution after contact with Herrington; Cook returned to the race 17 laps down and was credited with seventh. ... Matt Dooley slowed from fourth for the initial lap-19 caution before retiring. ... Adam Bedenbaugh slowed for the race's fourth and final stoppage on lap 39 after appearing to lose an engine. It took track officials several minutes to cleanup the residual oil mess. ... Third-running Russell Brown Jr. retired under the lap-39 yellow. ... The event honored “Gentleman Gene” Maine, the late driver of the No. 201 Late Model, one of the region's most successful dirt racers. ... The race lasted 40 minutes, with four starters completing the distance. ... Morrie West scratched.

On the move: Race winner Jordy Nipper of Gray, Ga., started fifth.

Winner's sponsors: Nipper’s Longhorn by Wesley Page is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and sponsored by Scotty’s Muffler, T&C Diesel Truck & Trailer Repair, T&C Transport by Clay, Joseph Brown at Brown’s Heating & Air, M&S Concrete, NRI Machining, VP Racing Fuels by Scotty’s, WP Racing Shocks and Ahlsome Design Concepts.

Points chase: Before Needmore: 1. Zack Mitchell (340); 2. Beckham Malone (294); 3. Dalton Cook (266); 4. Michael Brown (264); 5. Trey Mills (240).

Current weather: Clear, 84°F

Car count: 11

Fast qualifier: Dalton Cook

Time: 15.121 seconds

Polesitter: Dalton Cook

Next series race: July 25, Penton Raceway (Penton, AL) $10,000