What won the race: Winning his third straight series event at Sharon Speedway, series points leader Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., led all 40 laps of Friday's Battle at the Border opener for a $12,000 World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Model Series payday. The pole-starting Pierce notched his series-leading seventh victory of the season, cruising by the midpoint and taking the checkers 5.119 seconds ahead of Drake Troutman, who kept pace early but couldn't keep up after a dozen laps in a race slowed by a single caution.

Quotable: In his first visit to Sharon, "it was hard to get a good setup for it. I kind of struggled. It was a good track (and I) had to build a notebook and last year we came here and won both races; kind of took me by surprise," Pierce said. "Coming in I had a lot of pressure on myself to outperform that. The only way to do it is match it so, so far, started of the weekend off good. Hopefully we can do it again tomorrow."

Key notes: Driving a newly completed Longhorn Chassis, Bobby Pierce notched his 38th career WoO victory. ... He swept last year's two WoO races at Sharon. ... Seventh-starting Brian Shirley's third-place finish matched his best series performance of the season. ... The rear of Boom Briggs car briefly caught fire at the race's conclusion, but it was quickly doused. ... A single caution slowed the action on the third lap when front-row starter Jared Miley slowed (Miley pitted and returned but retired after 18 laps). ... The feature started at 10:05 p.m. and concluded at 10:18. ... The Battle at the Border weekend concludes Saturday with a $15,000-to-win event (when the schedule was announced last year, Sharon's finale was tentatively scheduled to pay $50,000-to-win).

On the move: Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., started 18th and finished sixth.

Winner's sponsors: Pierce’s Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Vic Hill Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from Low Voltage Solutions, Rio Grande Waste Services, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Oakwood Tire Center, Churchill Transport, Collins Brothers Towing, K1, Carnaghi Towing & Repair, Toyota of Danville, Floyd’s Waste Systems, PureMax Racing Oil, A Plus Vacuum, Leka Tree Service, Bert Transmissions by Budda, Ted Brown’s Quality Paint & Body Shop, VP Race Fuels, Swift Springs, Bilstein Shocks, Dirt Car Lift and Performance Bodies.

Points chase: Before Sharon Friday: 1. Bobby Pierce (3,254); 2. Nick Hoffman (3,204); 3. Ryan Gustin (3,142); 4. Drake Troutman (3,036); 5. Tim McCreadie (3,002); 6. Dennis Erb Jr. (2,978); 7. Brian Shirley (2,922); 8. Ethan Dotson (2,912); 9. Cody Overton (2,904); 10. Tanner English (2,898).

Current weather: Scattered Clouds, 79°F

Car count: 38

Fast qualifier: Nick Hoffman

Time: 17.300 seconds

Polesitter: Bobby Pierce

Heat race winners: Ryan Gustin, Jared Miley, Drake Troutman, Bobby Pierce

Consolation race winners: Jake Timm, Tim McCreadie

Provisional starters: Dustin Sorensen, Josh Ferry

Next series race: July 12, Sharon Speedway (Hartford, OH) $15,000