What won the race: Using a late-race restart to pull away from Mike Marlar, second-starting Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., scored a flag-to-flag victory in Saturday's 48th annual Spring 50 at Florence Speedway. Thornton earned $10,000 for his fourth career feature win at Florence and his second Spring 50 triumph after topping 2021's event. It was also his first career Northern Allstars Late Model Series victory on the newly-resurrected Midwest tour.

Quotable: “Thank you (James Essex) for putting this whole deal on,” Thornton said, praising the Lucas Oil Series announcer who has brought back the NALMS. “I thought the track was pretty good. I really didn’t know if the bottom (line) was going to clean up again, or not, but we got to race there for a little bit. I thought the track was pretty awesome. There was a couple small holes, but nothing crazy.”

Key notes: Thornton tallied his fourth overall victory of 2024. ... The third-starting Marlar closed to within a car length of Thornton just before the third and final caution flew on lap 44 when Brad Rickels spun; Marlar was unable to pressure Thornton after the restart, however, and finished 1.202 seconds back in the runner-up spot. ... Reigning series champion Josh Rice trailed Thornton for the opening 14 laps before giving way to Marlar on a lap-15 restart and settling for third. ... Tyler Erb also advanced on the lap-15 restart and finished fourth. ... Ninth-starting Jason Jameson traded fifth place with his Justin Rattliff Racing teammate, Daulton Wilson, several times before prevailing to round out the top five. ... Tyler Carpenter gained seven spots and finished ninth. ... Kody Evans started 23rd and finished 11th. ... Michael Chilton slowed from eighth with an apparent mechanical failure on lap 14. ... Austin Lay failed to complete a full lap after slowing to draw the race's first stoppage on lap one. ... Saturday's feature lasted 22 minutes, with 16 competitors completing the distance and 18 running at the finish.

On the move: Kody Evans of Camden, Ohio, started 23rd and finished 11th.

Winner's sponsors: Thornton’s SSI Motorsports Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from Dyno One, Hoker Trucking LLC, Coltman Farms Racing, Sub-Surface of Indiana, Big River Steel, Murty Farms, High Performance Lubricants, West Side Tractor Sales, Bilstein, Sunoco Race Fuels, FK Rod Ends, Allstar Performance, Dirt Car Lift, Midwest Sheet Metal and EMD Wraps.

Points chase: It was the tour's season opener.

Current weather: Broken Clouds, 61°F

Car count: 32

Fast qualifier: Robby Hensley

Time: 17.594 seconds

Polesitter: Josh Rice

Heat race winners: Josh Rice, Ricky Thornton Jr., Mike Marlar

Consolation race winners: Robby Hensley

Next series race: April 6, Brownstown Speedway (Brownstown, IN) $5,000