What won the race: Battling his way by mid-race leader Garrett Smith on lap 29, third-starting Ross Bailes of Clover, S.C., led the remainder of Friday night's 53-lap Schaeffer's Southern Nationals season opener at Beckley Motor Speedway. Bailes beat Chris Ferguson to the checkers by 0.521 of a second for the $10,053 payday and his first feature victory of the 2025 season.

Quotable: “I knew when I got behind lapped traffic (in the closing laps), I slowed way down. I just couldn’t charge the corner as hard and Brian (Nuttall) was telling me they were pretty close,” Bailes said. “I knew I better hit my marks and try to get around (the lapped cars) as fast as I could.”

Key notes: Bailes, making only his second start aboard Brian Nuttall's No. 16 machine, earned his third career Southern Nationals victory and his first since July 4, 2021, also worth $10,053 at Georgia's Screven Motor Speedway. ... Bailes appeared to make contact with Garrett Smith as they battled for the lead, leaving Smith slowing with a flat left-rear tire a few laps later. Smith, who led laps 26-28, changed the flat but settled for 16th after getting lapped by Bailes in the final stages. ... Zack Dohm rebounded to third after getting collected in the race's first incident on the 16th lap when Layton Sullivan and Jensen Ford tangled as they battled for 19th. Dohm was allowed to retain his fourth position as officials deemed he spun to avoid contact; Sullivan retired, while Ford continued to finish 13th. ... Second-starting Luke Morey led the opening 25 laps before settling for fourth. ... Jimmy Owens started 11th and finished fifth aboard Auggie Burtram's No. 58 Big Frog Motorsports Rocket. ... Ten additional points races are scheduled over 15 days. ... The Southern Nationals champion picks up $10,053 (a driver's best nine finishes count in the points), while the series will pay out more than $310,000 in purse and points monies. ... Jamison McBride pulled off on lap 11 as the first retiree. ... The 53-lapper lasted 24 minutes, with 15 starters completing the distance.

On the move: Henry Hornsby III of Bradley, W.Va., started 17th and finished 10th.

Winner's sponsors: Bailes won in Brian Nuttall's Double Nickel Race Car, which is powered by a Cornett Racing Engine and sponsored by Elite Marine Team, Bailes Construction, Shamrock Visual Solutions and American Racer tires

Points chase: After Beckley: 1. Ross Bailes (200); 2. Chris Ferguson (196); 3. Zack Dohm (194); 4. Luke Morey (192); 5. Jimmy Owens (190).

Current weather: Overcast, 73°F

Car count: 26

Fast qualifier: Garrett Smith

Time: 13.423 seconds

Polesitter: Garrett Smith

Heat race winners: Garrett Smith, Luke Morey, Ross Bailes

Consolation race winners: Jensen Ford

Next series race: July 12, Wythe Raceway (Rural Retreat, VA) $10,053