What won the race: Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill., repelled multiple midrace challenges from Jason Feger, then a last-ditch challenge from Shannon Babb on Sunday at Spoon River Speedway for a $5,000 MARS Championship Series victory. Erb, who took the lead from Ryan Unzicker on the 10th lap, took the checkers 0.273 of a second ahead of fast qualifier Shannon Babb, who led only the 37th lap, with Unzicker and Feger in third and fourth.

Quotable: "The car was working good around the top there. I seen a nose down there at the end, but I knew we had to pick it up a little bit and it all just worked out for us," said the second-starting Erb, a World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Model Series regular. "You get back home here and race with a group of guys here we grew up racing with and they're tough. ... we had it dialed in here tonight."

Key notes: Fielding a nearly brand new Rocket Chassis, the 51-year-old Dennis Erb Jr. grabbed his first victory since Sept. 21, 2024, at Peoria (Ill.) Speedway's Illinois State Championship. ... He notched his eighth career MARS victory. ... At Spoon River, Erb and Jason Feger ran much of the race in grooves opposite from usual: Erb on the top, Feger on the bottom. ... Erb led the third lap and then laps 10-36 and 38-40. ... Ryan Unzicker led the second lap and laps 4-10 but slipped back after losing the lead to Erb; brake problems hampered his No. 24. ... Polesitter Brian Shirley led the opening lap but slowed at the flagstand with a broken right-rear shock. ... Besides the caution for Shirley, three other yellow flags appeared. ... Rich Bell, McKay Wenger and Steve Stultz tangled in turn two on the second lap. ... Jake Little slowed for a lap-13 yellow and Stultz slowed on lap 27 with a flat right-rear tire. ... Ninth-running Jeff Herzog spun on the lap-27 restart. ... Spoon River capped a holiday weekend with Ashton Winger winning at Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Ill., and Feger winning at Fairbury (Ill.) Speedway.

On the move: Justin Duty of Molalla, Ore., started 14th and finished ninth.

Winner's sponsors: Erb’s Rocket Chassis is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and sponsored by McBride Mack, VolMac Truck Sales and Service, Mark Tutor Racing, Keyser Manufacturing, Fox Racing Shox, Collins Signs, Hoosier Racing Tire, VP Racing Fuels and Performance Rod & Custom.

Points chase: After Spoon River: 1. Jason Feger (552); 2. Ryan Unzicker (531); 3. Shannon Babb (506); 4. Tony Jackson Jr. (502); 5. McKay Wenger (447).

Current weather: Overcast, 63°F

Car count: 33

Fast qualifier: Shannon Babb

Time: 13.054 seconds

Polesitter: Brian Shirley

Heat race winners: Shannon Babb, Brian Shirley, Dennis Erb Jr., Ryan Unzicker

Consolation race winners: Allen Weisser, Jeff Herzog

Provisional starters: Steve Stultz, Brennon Willard

Next series race: May 30, La Salle Speedway (La Salle, IL) $5,000