What won the race: Second-starting Kyle Hardy of Stephens City, Va., recorded his seventh Pace Performance RUSH Racing Series victory of the season in Friday’s Bill Hendren Memorial opener at Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Motor Speedway. He finished 2.614 seconds ahead of runner-up Daryl Charlier to claim $3,000.

Quotable: “If you had a camera or mirror on me you’d have seen how freaked out I was just trying to get where I needed to be to win this thing,” Hardy said. “What a race. It was super fun out there. I can’t thank my crew to get this car so good to where I could steer across the middle of the race track. What a car we’ve had all year.

Key notes: Hardy has 30 victories in Late Model-style cars in 2021. ... Thirteen of the 25 starters completed 30 laps. ... The 11th annual RUSH Dirt Late Model Series-sanctioned Bill Hendren Memorial wraps up Saturday with another $3,000-to-win program for the Crate Late Model tour. ... Philip Bubeck of Colliers, W.Va., won the fourth annual One to Remember non-winners race paying $1,200-to-win. … The event is held in conjunction with the Saturday's Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned 33rd annual Pittsburgher 100.

On the move: Bud Watson of Conneaut, Ohio, started 18th and finished seventh.

Winner's sponsors: Hardy's Rocket Chassis is sponsored by Ingram Race Engines, Sommey Lacey Racing, American Paint Co., Cline Construction, Anthony's Pizza, Auto Glass Experts, Xceptional Wildlife and Cluster Communication.

Points chase: Before PPMS Friday: 1. Kyle Hardy (1,340); 2. Joe Martin (1,282); 3. Jeremy Wonderling (1,271); 4: Michael Duritsky Jr. (1,206); 5. John Waters (1,107).

Current weather: Clear, 54°F

Car count: 35

Fast qualifier: Joe Martin

Time: 19.284 seconds

Polesitter: Garret Paugh

Dash winner: Garret Paugh

Heat race winners: Joe Martin, Garret Paugh, Logan Zarin, Zach Morrow

Consolation race winners: Mike Reft, Ray Love

Next series race: October 2, Pittsburgh Pa. Motor Speedway (Imperial, PA) $3,000