What won the race: Taking the lead with an inside move when race-long leader Drake Troutman hit the turn-two wall on lap 26, pole-starting Gordy Gundaker of St. Charles, Mo., led the final 15 laps at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55, winning Saturday's $5,000 inaugural Tribute to Ed Dixon. Collecting an additional $750 for laps led, Gundaker’s first MARS Championship Series victory ended a three-year winless drought.

Quotable: “It’s emotional. Man I said today that I really, really wanted to win this race,” Gundaker said. “I haven’t won a race since 2020 and we’ve been busting our ass and man, it’s all paid off. Seeing all the Dixon family, you know my dad (Kevin Gundaker) and Ed (Dixon), you know they raced their asses off here for a long time. To win this race means a lot.”

Key notes: Gundaker's previous victory came July 11, 2020, in DIRTcar Summer Nationals action at Fairbury, Ill. ... At I-55, eighth-starting Ryan Unzicker moved into the runner-up position when Troutman faltered and finished 2.095 seconds behind Gundaker. ... Jason Feger, Friday's MARS winner in Jacksonville, Ill., escaped major damage in a first-lap pileup and ran as high as second before finishing third. ... Hall of Famer Billy Moyer was fourth while Troutman faded to finish fifth after leading 25 laps; Troutman collected $1,250 in lap money. ... It took 20 minutes before the race's first lap was completed after fourth-starting Frank Heckenast Jr. slowed on the initial start. ... On the ensuing restart, a frontstretch pileup required a 15-minute red flag cleanup. It appeared Jason Feger slowed abruptly with a flat tire, causing a pileup that saw the cars of Mark Voigt and Aaron Marrant get upside down, partially atop Feger's machine. Clay Stuckey was knocked out of the race along with Voigt and Marrant; no injuries were reported. … The race honored Ed Dixon, the three-time UMP (now DIRTcar) weekly champion who won more than 600 main events along with multiple track championships; Dixon died in October after a lengthy bout with cancer. ... Saturday's 40-lap feature was slowed by five incidents, including the 15-minute red flag, lasting nearly 40 minutes with 11 competitors completing the entire distance and 14 running at the finish.

On the move: Bob Gardner of Washington, Ill., started 21st and finished seventh.

Winner's sponsors: Gundaker’s Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and sponsored by McKay NAPA Auto Parts, Lucas Oil, J&C Properties, Spartan Transportation LLC, Keyser Manufacturing, High Caliber Graphics, Hoker Trucking, Nightowl Design, Cometic Gasket, K1 RaceGear, Jerico Performance Products, Lovelace Custom Services, Vexil, Ted Brown’s Quality Paint & Body, Advanced Racing Suspensions, Hoosier Tire and Midwest Sheet Metal.

Points chase: After Federated I-55: 1. Jason Feger (690); 2. Ryan Unzicker (668); 3. Mike Harrison (571); 4. Bob Gardner (506); 5. Tommy Sheppard Jr. (461).

Current weather: Clear, 79°F

Car count: 33

Fast qualifier: Frank Heckenast Jr.

Time: 13.119 seconds

Polesitter: Gordy Gundaker

Heat race winners: Frank Heckenast Jr., Mike Harrison, Gordy Gundaker, Drake Troutman

Consolation race winners: Austin Howes, Daryn Klein

Provisional starters: Bob Gardner, Jake Little

Next series race: July 25, Davenport Speedway (Davenport, IA) $10,000