What won the race: Enduring several mid-race restarts, Tyler Erb of New Waverly, Texas, led all 40 laps from the pole to capture Friday's $5,000 opening night of the 19th annual Gumbo Nationals at Greenville Speedway. Erb beat Spencer Hughes by 4.475 seconds for his eighth career Mississippi State Championship Challenge Series victory and 11th overall win of the season.

Key notes: Tyler Erb captured his first MSCCS victory since last Oct. 5 in last year's $10,000 Gumbo Nationals finale at Greenville. ... He'll be seeking his third straight event triumph and second five-figure payday in Saturday's $10,000-to-win finale. ... Spencer Hughes, driving Randy Thompson's No. K3 Longhorn entry, grabbed second from Mike Palasini Jr. on the final lap, nipping him by 0.005 of a second for runner-up honors. ... Palasini, who swept 2023's Gumbo Nationals, trailed Erb from laps 7-39 before giving way to Hughes as they raced towards the checkers. ... Eleventh-starting Matthew Brocato slipped by Cam Harris for fourth on lap 23, relegating Harris to fifth. ... Reigning MSCCS champ Chad Thrash worked his way as high as third on a lap-14 restart before slipping to sixth. ... Points leader Brandon Carpenter soldiered to a 14th-place result and enters Saturday's season finale with a 10-point lead over Thrash. ... The race was slowed by four cautions, most notably when 11th-running Payton Freeman retired after 22 laps. ... Jon Mitchell pulled off from 12th a few laps earlier. ... Neil Baggett drew a lap-14 yellow. ... The Gumbo Nationals opener lasted nearly 29 minutes with 11 starters completing 40 laps. ... Jeremy Broadus and Derrick Nichols scratched.

On the move: Shane Stephens of Arlington, Tenn., started 17th and finished seventh.

Winner's sponsors: Erb’s winning Best Performance Motorsports Rocket Chassis is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from Langenfelder Mechanical Contractors, Bulk Material Lift, First Class Septic, Roberts Bee Company, Anthony’s Pizza, JRR Trucking, Base Racing Fuel, Base Oil, Sani-Weld, Inc., Keyser Manufacturing, Integra Racing Shocks, Go Lithium Batteries, Midwest Sheet Metal, Terbo Threads and KBC Graphix.

Points chase: After Greenville Friday: 1. Brandon Carpenter (1,760); 2. Chad Thrash (1,750); 3. Jeremy Broadus (1,300); 4. Mike Palasini Jr. (1,170); 5. Dean Carpenter (1,105).

Current weather: Clear, 72°F

Car count: 26

Fast qualifier: Tyler Erb

Time: 14.889 seconds

Polesitter: Tyler Erb

Heat race winners: Tyler Erb, Payton Freeman, Mike Palasini Jr.

Next series race: October 4, Greenville Speedway (Greenville, MS) $10,000