What won the race: Sliding by early pacesetter Jeff Provinzino on lap 16, fifth-starting Cole Searing of Huron, S.D., never looked back en route to winning Friday's 40-lap XR Northern Storm third round at Gondik Law Speedway. Searing's $2,500 victory is his fifth of the season on the Structural Buildings WISSOTA Challenge Series and his second at Gondik Law after winning July 19's second Twin Ports feature.

Quotable: “We’ve been riding the struggle bus, or the unlucky bus, ya know we wrecked this car at Cedar Lake .. had to get a rear clip and fought a bunch of brake issues ever since then,” Searing said. “(We) rebuilt everything yesterday and still had (brake) issues .. changed everything again today, all the master cylinders, all the calipers. Fought some oil pump issues, got that fixed, feels like we’ve been working on this thing nonstop, just gremlins. I hope we’re squared away, I hope this puts us in a good shot for the $20,444 tomorrow.

Key notes: The pole-starting Provinzino, of Hibbing, Minn., led the opening 15 laps before giving way to Searing and slipping to sixth. ... Ashley Anderson charged from 19th to take second from Pat Doar on lap 36 and reduced Searing's 3.049-second lead to 0.839 of a second at the checkers. Doar finished third. ... Kevin Burdick improved eight positions and finished eighth. ... Tyler Peterson finished 14th after winning the opening two rounds of Northern Storm competition. He holds a slim 5-point advantage over Searing entering Saturday's $20,444-to-win miniseries finale at ABC Raceway in Ashland, Wis. ... Friday's green-to-checkered feature lasted just 13 minutes, with 17 competitors completing 40 laps and 23 running at the finish.

On the move: Runner-up finisher Ashley Anderson of Elk Mound, Wis., started 19th.

Winner's sponsors: Searing’s MB Customs Race Car has a Pro Power Racing Engine and sponsorship from Collins Brothers Towing of St. Cloud, Minnesota Truck Headquarters, Conkey Farms, Central Plains Construction, Jerry Kleinsasser Farms, Binger Cattle and Grain, Allied Climate Professionals, Farmers Union Insurance, Glade Cattle Company, Avail Wealth Management, Speedwerx Headers and Jig E Signs.

Points chase: After Gondik Law: 1. Tyler Peterson (1,303); 2. Cole Searing (1,298); 3. Shane Sabraski (1,220); 4. Ryan Mikkelson (1,146); 5. Jeff Provinzino (1,141).

Current weather: Overcast, 61°F

Car count: 36

Fast qualifier: Pat Doar

Time: 15.434 seconds

Polesitter: Jeff Provinzino

Heat race winners: Cole Searing, Shane Sabraski, James Giossi, Jeff Provinzino

Consolation race winners: Travis Budisalovich, Dave Flynn

Provisional starters: Adam Ayotte, Pat Kelley, Kevin Eder, Jake Redetzke

Next series race: August 10, ABC Raceway (Ashland, WI) $20,444