What won the race: Regaining control from Josh Putnam on the seventh lap, polesitter Zack Mitchell of Enoree, S.C., paced the final 34 circuits unchallenged in winning Friday's $5,038 Jerry Goodwin Challenge at Talladega Short Track. Mitchell led 35 of 40 laps and beat Trey Mills to the checkers by 2.064 seconds for his first career Southern Thunder Super Dirt Series victory and 10th overall feature win of the season.

Quotable: "I love coming to this place and it's probably one of my favorite racetracks," Mitchell said, "so like I said, we'll go back and get this thing buttoned up and wrench on a little bit and see if we can do it again tomorrow."

Key notes: Mitchell, winner of last fall's Red Farmer Tribute in Hunt the Front Series action, is fresh off his richest career payday in Oct. 11's 35th annual Blue-Gray 100 at Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney, S.C., worth $35,000. ... Josh Putnam powered around Mitchell's outside and led laps 2-6 before fading to fourth. ... Sixth-starting Trey Mills, fresh off a sweep of April's Southern Thunder doubleheader, grabbed second from Putnam on a lap-35 restart but never had anything for Mitchell in last handful of laps. ... Points leader Dalton Cook moved from 18th and slipped by Putnam for third as they raced towards the white flag. ... Michael Page gained six spots to round out the top five. ... The race was slowed by three cautions, the final one coming on lap 35 when third-running Sam Seawright slowed and pulled off. He was credited with 17th. ... Jason Lively's flat left-rear tire sent him spinning on the 11th lap for the first slowdown. ... Debris drew the second stoppage on lap 21. ... The 40-lap weekend opener lasted 20 minutes with 16 starters completing the distance. ... The two-day show, being ran in conjunction with NASCAR weekend at the neighboring Talladega Superspeedway, concludes with Saturday's 50-lap, $10,097-to-win Red Farmer Tribute.

On the move: Dalton Cook of Smiths Station, Ala., started 18th and finished third.

Winner's sponsors: Mitchell's Brett Coltman-owned Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and sponsored by Coltman Farms Racing, Autism Awareness, Special Needs Schools of Gwinnett, MPM Marketing, SoCar Chemical, DirtCarLift.com, Boswell Oil, VP Racing Fuels, SRI Performance, Bayea Headers, Swift Springs and Bilstein Shocks.

Points chase: After Talladega Friday: 1. Dalton Cook (798); 2. Trey Mills (598); 3. Dillard Hatchett (592); 4. Zack Mitchell (528); 5. Beckham Malone (518).

Current weather: Clear, 70°F

Car count: 35

Fast qualifier: Josh Putnam

Time: 13.135 seconds

Polesitter: Zack Mitchell

Consolation race winners: Michael Page, Jackson Hise

Provisional starters: Buddy George, Todd Morrow

Next series race: October 18, Talladega Short Track (Eastaboga, AL) $10,097