What won the race: Overcoming a last-lap slide job from Don Shaw and executing a perfect crossover move out of turn two, pole-starting Kevin Burdick of Proctor, Minn., beat Shaw to the line by 0.179 of a second to win Friday's $3,000 Structrual Buildings WISSOTA Challenge Series season opener at I-94 EMR Speedway. Burdick officially led the final 19 laps for his first win of the season and second career WISSOTA Challenge victory after earning his first $3,000 series win last Aug. 30 at Grand Rapids (Minn.) Speedway.

Quotable: “That was a pretty gnarly racetrack. It was a blast man, I can’t believe it,” Burdick said. “It was a very racy track I thought, could throw a lot of sliders. Makes it interesting for the fans, sure as hell makes it interesting for the drivers when you don’t know what’s gonna happen,” Burdick continued. “I kinda figured (a last-lap slider was incoming), I’ve been watching Don Shaw for a while. I figured (I’d) be waiting for a slider from someone, so I was ready for it.”

Key notes: Second-starting Don Shaw led the opening 18 laps before giving way to Shane Sabraski and slipping as low as third before getting back by Sabraski on lap 23. ... The race's third and final yellow flag flew on lap 32 when eighth-starting Sammy Mars attempted a turn-three slider on Shaw, landing on Shaw's nose and sending him spinning out of turn four. Mars was charged for the caution and opted not to continue. ... Shaw was given his spot back in second and pressured Burdick in the closing laps. ... Jeff Provinzino inherited third on the lap-32 restart and rounded out the podium. ... Sabraski, of Rice, Minn., settled for fourth after leading three laps (19-21). ... Reigning series champ Cole Searing tangled with Todd Frank on lap three, sending them both spinning. Frank did not continue, while Searing restarted 14th before rebounding to fifth. ... Jordan Tollakson spun on lap four, collecting Zach Johnson and Travis Robertson. Tollakson retired, while Johnson recovered to finish seventh and Robertson in 10th. ... Third-running Cole Schill retired on the 13th lap. ... Tyler Peterson utilized a series provisional after slapping the turn-four wall on the opening lap of his heat race and pulling off. ... Ryan Mikkelson had a rollover crash as he came to take the checkers, dropping him to 17th in the final rundown; he was OK. ... The season opener lasted 26 minutes, with 11 starters completing 40 laps.

On the move: Tyler Peterson of Hickson, N.D., started 23rd and finished eighth.

Winner's sponsors: Burdick's MB Customs Race Car is powered by and Adams Automotive Engine and sponsored by Mohawk's Salvage, Genesis Attachments, On-Site Vending, Mike's Place, Stamp Signs and Jimmy's Nuts & Bolts.

Points chase: After I-94: 1. Kevin Burdick (58); 2. Don Shaw (55); T3. Jeff Provinzino (54); T3. Shane Sabraski (54); 5. Cole Searing (51).

Current weather: Clear, 61°F

Car count: 37

Fast qualifier: Pat Doar

Time: 16.236 seconds

Polesitter: Kevin Burdick

Heat race winners: Jordan Tollakson, Shane Sabraski, Kevin Burdick, Cole Schill

Consolation race winners: Travis Saurer, Cody Lee

Provisional starters: Tyler Peterson, Kevin Eder, Scott Lehn

Next series race: May 10, Viking Speedway (Alexandria, MN) $3,000