What won the race: Sliding by early leader Bill Leighton Jr. on lap three then executing a perfect crossover move to maintain control on the 23rd lap, polesitter Jesse Sobbing of Malvern, Iowa, led all but two laps of Sunday's Malvern Bank West Series season opener at Stuart International Speedway. Sobbing beat Leighton by 0.498 of a second for the $3,000 top prize, his 12th career Malvern West triumph and second overall feature win of the season.

Quotable: “I didn’t know where to be. I was kinda moving around and then I catch a glimpse of Bill (Leighton Jr.) there,” Sobbing said. “Then he slide-jobbed me and I was like ‘Well I’m obviously not in the right spot,’ so then I started moving around. I don’t know if I was detouring him or blocking him, but I was trying to just figure out where I needed to be.”

Key notes: Sobbing, the reigning West champ, secured his first Malvern Bank-sponsored series win since last Aug. 23's Ray Houck Memorial at Adams County Speedway in Corning, Iowa, worth $4,000. ... It's his second overall feature win this season, adding to his April 10 IMCA Late Model triumph at Park Jefferson Speedway in Jefferson, S.D. ... Fast qualifier Bill Leighton Jr. led the opening two laps before giving way to Sobbing, but remained within striking distance and nearly retook control with a turn-four slider on lap 23, until Sobbing's crossover allowed him to maintain the lead by 0.096 of a second at the line. ... Third-finishing Tad Pospisil, winner of Saturday's Tri-State Series stop at Off Road Speedway in Nofolk, Neb., climbed from fifth-to-third between laps 22-27. ... Jake Neal used a last-lap pass by Lucas Oil Series regular Daniel Hilsabeck to finish fourth, nipping Hilsabeck by 0.082 of a second at the checkers. ... The lone stoppage came on lap eight when Darrel DeFrance and Paul Glendenning tangled in the second turn. ... The season opener lasted eight minutes with 17 starters completing 30 laps. ... Derek Daly scratched for the night after a rollover crash in hot laps; he was OK. ... Cody Thompson scratched after time trials.

On the move: Corey Zeitner of Bellevue, Neb., started 16th and finished 10th.

Winner's sponsors: Sobbing’s Karl Getzchman-owned Rocket Chassis is powered by a Pro Power Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from Karl Chevrolet, Karl Kustoms, All Makes Collision, Hertz Rental Car, Thrifty Car Rental, Dollar Car Rental, Sherwin-Williams Paint Store and Sobbing Enterprises.

Points chase: After Stuart: 1. Jesse Sobbing (200); 2. Bill Leighton Jr. (196); 3. Tad Pospisil (194); 4. Jake Neal (192); 5. Daniel Hilsabeck (190).

Current weather: Clear, 68°F

Car count: 23

Fast qualifier: Bill Leighton Jr.

Time: 13.187 seconds

Polesitter: Jesse Sobbing

Heat race winners: Andrew Kosiski, Jeff Tharp, Dylan Sillman

Next series race: May 29, Lakeside Speedway (Kansas City, KS) $3,000