What won the race: Powering around early leader Shay Miller with a third-to-first move on the 11th lap, seventh-starting Billy Franklin of Calera, Ala., led the remainder of Friday night's 40-lap Rumble in the Sandbox opener at West Alabama Speedway. Franklin beat Miller to the checkers by 2.173 seconds for the $4,000 payday and his second career Southern All Stars victory.

Quotable: “This car has been good ever since we put it together. I can’t thank Mark Richards and them (at Rocket) enough,” Franklin said. “I told everybody when I won one outright that I was gonna nose it into the wall and blow it up. But I’m gonna be honest with you, this car’s so dang good, I don’t wanna tear it up. I don’t care how much money you got in the world — when you come to run one of these Super Late Models, it’s hard. It’s hard to win, and I’m proud of everybody.”

Key notes: Franklin secured his first SAS triumph and first win of any kind since March 10, 2023, a $3,000 Bash at the Beach prelim at Southern Raceway in Milton, Fla. ... Franklin inherited the win that night after apparent winner Ashton Winger was light at the scales in postrace technical inspection. ... Second-starting Shay Miller led the opening 10 laps before giving way to Franklin and settling for second. ... Eleventh-starting Seth McCormack rounded out the podium finishers after grabbing third on a lap-26 restart. ... National Dirt Late Model Hall of Famer Ronnie Johnson ran as high as fourth before pitting with a flat left-rear under the lap-26 caution. He could only rebound to finish seventh. ... Travis Kress slowed from fourth, drawing the race's sixth and final caution on lap 28. ... Brayden Skinner slowed from 10th on lap 26 and retired. ... Pole-starting Brad Skinner spun from third on lap 12, making contact with Jason Milam. Skinner did not continue. ... Kendall Franklin, son of the race winner, spun from fourth on the eighth lap and collected Brandon Carpenter, nearly sending Carpenter's car upside down. Neither driver continued. ... Touted as the biggest Late Model event in track history, the 40-lap feature lasted 30 minutes with eight starters completing the distance. ... Dillon Tidmore and Tim Armstrong both scratched following hot laps. ... The Yellowhammer State doubleheader concludes with Saturday’s $5,000-to-win visit to Tuscumbia’s North Alabama Speedway.

On the move: Josh Henry of Newport, Tenn., started 14th and finished fourth.

Winner's sponsors: Franklin’s Rocket Chassis is powered by an Andy Durham Racing Engine and sponsored by Franklin Enterprises, Showtime Properties, Zippy Autos LLC, Skinner Body Shop, Brown Auto & Alignment, Milford Plumbing, VP Racing Fuels and Fox Racing Shox.

Points chase: After West Alabama: 1. Billy Franklin (1,156); 2. Ronnie Johnson (1,096); 3. Joe Denby (1,088); 4. Kendall Franklin (1,078); 5. Michael Luna (1,026).

Current weather: Clear, 79°F

Car count: 24

Fast qualifier: Brad Skinner

Time: 15.077 seconds

Polesitter: Brad Skinner

Consolation race winners: Seth McCormack, Sam Norman

Next series race: May 17, North Alabama Speedway (Tuscumbia, AL) $5,000