What won the race: Fending off mid-race challenges from Blair Nothdurft, third-starting Chad Becker of Aberdeen, S.D., led all but the opening circuit to win Friday's 25-lap Big Buck Nationals opener in Repairable Vehicles.com Tri-State Late Model Series competition at Brown County Speedway. Becker's $1,000 payday is his second of the night in Tri-State action after winning $3,000 earlier in June 7's rain-postponed 35-lapper.

Quotable: “I seen (Blair Nothdurft’s) nose, they were signaling too, but I seen his nose. I didn’t want to come off (the top) cause it was good, but they definitely wore that bottom in down there where you could make ‘er stick,” Becker said. “I had a lot of momentum, so I knew (Nothdurft) wouldn’t get me, so I could get to the bottom. … It kinda got a little bottom dominant at the end, but a lot of racing on it tonight. But, I thought the track was awesome.”

Key notes: Becker notched his fifth series triumph of the season and the eighth of his career. He is now a perfect 4-for-4 in Tri-State action at his home track. ... Blair Nothdurft took second from Josh Skorczewski on lap seven and trailed Becker the final 19 laps, finishing 1.077 seconds back. Skorczewski led the opening lap from the pole before slipping to fourth. ... Travor Anderson grabbed third from Skorczewski on lap 23. ... Chase Alves took fifth from Corey Zeitner as they came to take the white flag, registering his fourth top-five result of the season. ... Jayson Good slipped by Zeitner for sixth on the final lap. ... The seventh-starting Zeitner, of Bellevue, Neb., ran as high as third in the opening laps before fading to seventh. ... Four incidents slowed the 25-lapper, the worst coming on lap three when fifth-running Eric Edwards flipped off the track in turn two, necessitating a 10-minute red flag for cleanup. Edwards was uninjured. ... The Big Buck Nationals opener lasted 29 minutes, with 17 drivers completing the distance. ... Both Tri-State Series features combined to last more than 70 minutes. ... Scott Ward and Kent Arment were among notable non-qualifiers.

On the move: Jaden Christ of Jamestown, N.D., started 24th and finished ninth.

Winner's sponsors: Becker’s MB Customs Race Car is powered by a KBS Power engine and sponsored by Aberdeen Wings, Nickeson Harvesting, PM Auto and Truck Repair, Grote Heating & Cooling, Martin’s Decorative Stone, Sylte Farms, Brad’s Auto Glass, Fastenal of Sioux Falls, RBL Design, Saddawg Motorsports, Mark Peterson, CMD Race Shocks and Ultimate Graphics.

Points chase: After Aberdeen Friday: 1. Blair Nothdurft (1,770); 2. Corey Zeitner (1,628); 3. Scott Ward (1,582); 4. Trevor Anderson (1,504); 5. Cody Martin (1,412).

Current weather: Clear, 64°F

Car count: 36

Polesitter: Josh Skorczewski

Heat race winners: Trevor Anderson, Thomas Weisgram, Corey Zeitner, Josh Skorczewski

Consolation race winners: Morgan Ward Grosz, Mike Greseth

Provisional starters: Terry McCarthy

Next series race: August 31, Brown County Speedway (Aberdeen, SD) $3,000