What won the race: Fending off a late challenge from seventh-starting Josh Putnam, fast qualifier Jensen Ford of Johnson City, Tenn., rolled to his second career Valvoline Iron-Man Southern Series victory in Friday’s Deep Fried 75 opener at Duck River Raceway Park. He earned $5,000.

Quotable: “I caught a lapped car kind of wrong … not the way I wanted to and it is stuck me in the middle (of the track) and and it went and I said, ‘Man, I can go right here,’” said Ford. “I think (runner-up) Josh (Putnam) had a softer tire on. We went with 1600 (compound), so really them last five laps was probably way better for us than it was for him, especially after that middle cleaned up right there. Then the last few laps, we picked up a lot.”

Key notes: Ford finished 2.482 seconds ahead of Putnam after turning back his late charge. The win was his first of the season in the McCarter Brothers Racing entry. … Putnam slid ahead of Sam Seawright for second on lap 14 and closed within a half-second margin of Ford in the final 10 circuits but was never able to overtake the race-long pacesetter. … Third-starting Scott Cook of Shelbyville, Tenn., retired on the eighth circuit. … Saturday’s 45-lap finale pays $10,000 to the winner. … Gates open at 1 p.m. on Saturday with hot laps scheduled for 6 p.m.

On the move: Michael Chilton of Salvisa, Ky., started 10th and finished fourth.

Winner's sponsors: Ford's McCarter Brothers Racing MasterSbilt Race Car is sponsored by Beeman Lumber, West End Package Store, Tennessee Homemade Wines, McCarter Farms, and Parkway Liquor Store.

Points chase: Before Duck River: 1. Michael Chilton (1,245); 2. Eli Beets (834); 3. Stacy Boles (575); 4. Camaron Marlar (570); 5. Austin Lay (493).

Current weather: 64°F

Car count: 29

Fast qualifier: Jensen Ford

Time: 12.681 seconds

Polesitter: Jensen Ford

Consolation race winners: Grayson Brewer, Brad Skinner

Next series race: November 6, Duck River Raceway Park (Wheel, TN) $10,000