What won the race: Rallying from the fifth row, Frank Heckenast Jr. of Frankfort, Ill., went under a high-running Bobby Pierce on the 25th lap and led the rest of Thursday's MARS opener at Davenport Speedway for a $5,000 victory. Allen Weisser finished second while Pierce, who slipped over the banking trying to catch Heckenast, ended up sixth.

Quotable: “We started pretty deep, but the car was really good,” Heckenast said. “We got to judge off other cars, so a lot of times that plays out, and tonight it did."

Key notes: Heckenast won his first MARS feature and first in Iowa. ... He broke into the top five early in the race and took command on lap 25. ... Heckenast's previous victory came Aug. 31, 2019, in American Ethanol Late Model Tour competition in Fairbury, Ill. ... Bobby Pierce showed smoke in hot laps and limped to the infield with engine problems; he went to a backup car and promptly won his heat race to earn a front-row starting spot for the feature. ... Time trials were scrapped because of timing and scoring problems. ... New series owner Tony Izzo Jr. took the series to northern Illinois (it's previously been based in Kentucky, Tennessee and Missouri; it was originally founded in Arkansas). ... The series is presented by Rip It Energy Fuel. … Justin Kay swept a pair of IMCA Late Model features on the undercard.

On the move: Winner Frank Heckenast Jr. started ninth; Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill., started 11th and finished third.

Winner's sponsors: Heckenast’s Rocket Chassis has a Pro Power Racing Engine and sponsorship from JR Hauling, Storage Squares, Petroff Towing, Jim Weber Motorsports, Jay Morris Construction, Allstar Performance, Penske Shocks, Swift Springs, DirtOval66.com, Chase Decals and Dragon Racing Fuels.

Points chase: The tripleheader weekend opens the season.

Current weather: Clear, 81°F

Car count: 21

Polesitter: Jonathan Brauns

Heat race winners: Allen Weisser, Bobby Pierce, Spencer Diercks

Next series race: June 26, Pepsi Lee County Speedway (Donnellson, IA) $5,000