What won the race: Bolting into the lead from his pole starting position, Jeff Aikey of Cedar Falls, Iowa, went on to win Thursday’s Yankee Dirt Classic opener at 300 Raceway. Aikey finished 0.681 ahead of runner-up Tyler Bruening in earning $5,000 in the 25-lap Malvern Bank Super Late Model Series feature.

Key notes: Thursday kicked off the 42nd annual Yankee Dirt Classic, the opener of a two-day weekend for the Malvern Bank tour at 300 Raceway. … The Nebraska-based series sanctions the event for the first time as the tour makes its first-ever visit to Farley. ... With neither Thursday or Friday points events, series leader Kyle Berck of Marquette, Neb., was not in attendance. … The race was sanctioned by the IMCA Deery Brothers Summer Series from 2012-’17. … The 2018 event was rained out. … The series has a points race Saturday at Nebraska’s Junction Motor Speedway.

On the move: Ryan Griffith of Webster City, Iowa, started 22nd and finished 15th.

Winner's sponsors: Aikey's Rick Dralle-owned Rocket Chassis is sponsored by Code Red Repair, Rick's Detail and Overland Trucking.

Points chase: Kyle Berck (1,476 points) of Marquette, Neb., leads Ben Schaller (1,406), Bill Leighton (1,398), Josh Leonard (1,344) and Jason O’Brien (1,326).

Current weather: Clear, 63°F

Car count: 49

Fast qualifier: Tyler Bruening

Time: 16.422 seconds

Polesitter: Jeff Aikey

Heat race winners: Bill Leighton Jr., John Emerson, Andrew Kosiski, Jason O'Brien, Ryan Griffith, Corey Zeitner

Consolation race winners: Matt Ryan, Josh Leonard

Provisional starters: Brian Kosiski, Andrew Kosiski

Next series race: August 23, 300 Raceway (Farley, IA) $12,000