What won the race: Quickly regaining the lead from fellow front-row starter Brody Smith on a lap-eight restart, long-traveling Rusty Schlenk of McClure, Ohio, led all but one lap Saturday at Blackwater Speedway for a $7,000 payday and his first career Ultimate Southeast Super Late Model Series victory. Schlenk took the checkers 2.708 seconds ahead of Joseph Joiner to cap a big weekend at the former Northwest Florida Speedway.

Quotable: "It was so tough on them restarts because the bottom fired better down here in (turn) four but the top rolled better in (turn) one. ... I needed to be on the bottom and then figure out how to get to the top, but my best choice was just to try to try to snooker them there on the starts and stay long enough beside them they're getting into one that I could that could hold off the slide job," Schlenk said. "(Brody Smith and Joseph Joiner) gave me a hell of a run there getting into one, so I had to drive my ass off to get around there. Joiner gave me all she had there on that last restart, so that was a tough one."

Key notes: Schlenk, a 12-race winner last season, won in his second start of 2026, lapping all but five competitors. ... He lowered the track record for the second straight night. ... Schlenk earned the pole for the 50-lapper but elected to start outside the front row. ... Runner up Joseph Joiner got into the wall on the final lap. ... Polesitter Brody Smith overtook Schlenk on the lap-seven restart, but Schlenk went right back ahead on the ensuing restart. ... Smith spun out of sixth on the 42nd lap in turn two, bringing out the last of four cautions. ... The other yellows appeared on the seventh lap for a slowing Steven Jernigan, on the eighth lap when Friday winner Mark Whitener lost power shortly after a restart and on the 14th lap when Tyler Thomason spun in turn four. ... The race capped perhaps of the biggest-ever weekend at the track formerly known as Northwest Florida Speedway. Former drag racer Ron Wolverton purchased the third-mile facility at the end of 2025 and has completed several upgrades, including a new clay surface, renovated concessions and pit area.

On the move: Tyler Thomason of Phenix City, Ala., started seventh and finished fifth.

Winner's sponsors: Schlenk’s Domination Race Car is powered by a Mullins Engine and sponsored by Buckeye Concrete Coatings, Blackwater Truss Systems, Tom Finch Automotive, TriState Pole Barns, Dominator Race Products, Integra Racing Shocks, Terry Henricks Auto Group, Velocita USA, Landrum Performance Springs, VP Racing Fuel and Lubricants, Vahlco Racing Wheels, Willy’s Carbs, ML Performance Allstar Performance, Wilwood Disc Brakes and KBC Graphix.

Points chase: Before Blackwater Saturday: 1. Jason Riggs (84); 2. David Yandle (72); 3. Jadon Frame (64); 4. Tanner English (35); 5. Mark Whitener (35).

Current weather: Clear, 59°F

Car count: 19

Fast qualifier: Rusty Schlenk

Time: 13.431 seconds

Polesitter: Brody Smith

Next series race: April 11, Greenville Speedway (Greenville, MS) $4,000