What won the race: Becoming the third leader on the 16th lap, outside front-row starter Ryan Unzicker of El Paso, Ill., led the rest of Friday's FALS Frenzy 40-lapper for his fifth MARS Championship Series victory of the season. Unzicker pocketed $5,000 in the first of two weekend events, taking the checkers 2.746 seconds ahead of runner-up Chris Simpson with series champ Jason Feger in third.

Quotable: "This Longhorn really hasn't been liking the bottom all year long," Unzicker said, "and I've been winning a lot of races up top, which is very abnormal for me, but tonight we've made a few changes and it liked that bottom again tonight."

Key notes: Unzicker, who has recently taken over operations at his family's RJR Transportation, notched his 16th career MARS victory. ... Third-place finisher Shannon Babb struggled with a loss of a cylinder. ... Polesitting rookie Caden McWhorter led the first four laps and settled for seventh. ... Third-starting Travis Stemler, a 14-time winner this season in his native Michigan, led laps 5-15, the first time he's led at Fairbury. ... A single caution slowed the 40-lapper for a slowing Mike Spatola on the 17th lap. ... Fourteen drivers completed 40 laps. ... The 12-minute feature ended at 10:38 p.m. ... Billy Hough was uninjured after a wild rollover crash down the backstretch during the night's first consolation. .... Saturday's weekend finale caps the MARS season with a $12,000-to-win feature.

On the move: Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., started seventh and finished third.

Winner's sponsors: Unzicker’s Longhorn Chassis has a Pro Power Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from RJR Transportation, Brucker Farms, Low Voltage Solutions, Mosquito Hero, Fairbury Fastener & Supply, Larimer Cows & Calves, Absolute Home Repair & Remodeling, Gary Miller’s Classic Auto, El Paso Outdoor Center, Big City Automotive, Arkansas Septic Plumbing, Unzicker Equipment, Konstruction Services, Pro Tire and Automotive, Mackinaw Valley Powder Coating, Logan Smith Collectibles, Clean It Up Pressure Washing Professionals, A Solution HVAC & Construction, Bert by Budda Transmissions, DirtcarLift.com, Keyser Manufacturing, NAPA El Paso, Fuel Factory, Varsitee Screenprint, Bilstein Shocks and Fuel Factory.

Points chase: After Fairbury Friday: 1. Jason Feger* (1,597); 2. Ryan Unzicker (1,461); 3. Shannon Babb (1,339); 4. Tony Jackson Jr. (1,265); 5. Justin Duty (1,185). *Clinched series title.

Current weather: Clear, 72°F

Car count: 45

Fast qualifier: Travis Stemler

Time: 12.809 seconds

Polesitter: Caden McWhorter

Heat race winners: Caden McWhorter, Ryan Unzicker, Travis Stemler, Jason Feger

Consolation race winners: Sammy Mars, Jake Little

Provisional starters: Daryn Klein, Brennon Willard

Next series race: October 4, Fairbury Speedway (Fairbury, IL) $12,000