What won the race: Sliding by early leader Chad Simpson on the fifth lap, third-starting Dylan Thornton of Orcutt, Calif., commanded the rest of Saturday night's 40-lap third annual Rallen Zeitner Memorial at Shelby County Speedway. Thornton paced the final 36 circuits for the most lucrative victory of his career, worth $10,076, co-sanctioned between the Malvern Bank East and West Series.

Quotable: “It was deja vu to last year. We took the lead on like lap five last year, I think and a bunch of yellows (slowed) the end of the race, we ended up running seventh,” Thornton said. “That was all that was going through my mind, I was like ‘man if we can just keep this thing green, I feel pretty good.’ The last couple yellows I don’t know if I blistered my tire, if it’s going down or what, but it wouldn’t really fire (off) at the end. I was a little nervous and definitely was hoping for no more yellows after that last one.”

Key notes: Thornton earned more than $13,000 on the night, including $2,736 in laps led ($76/lap) along with a $200 halfway leader bonus. ... Thornton notched his eighth overall win of the season and his fifth on the Malvern Bank-sponsored sister tours. ... It's his sixth career East Series victory and second on the West Series. ... Jesse Sobbing, Dallon Murty and Tim Ward raced three-wide for second in the closing laps, with sixth-starting Sobbing edging Murty, who nipped Ward for third at the line. ... Ward improved 16 positions after transferring through the night's second B-main. ... Polesitter Chad Simpson could only recover to 10th after slowing from third and pitting with a flat right-rear tire on lap 19. He led three of the first four laps before giving way to Thornton. ... Bill Leighton Jr. also overcame a flat right rear on the 14th lap, finishing 13th. ... The 40-lapper was slowed by nine incidents, most notably on lap 17 when Tad Pospisil and Andy Eckrich made contact while battling for fourth, sending Eckrich spinning in front of the field and eliminating Zach Zeitner. ... Jake Neal slowed for a lap-32 caution before Kyle Berck and Jeff Tharp tangled a few laps later, collecting Dylan Sillman. ... The event honored Rallen “Rallie” Zeitner, founder of Zeitner & Sons Trucking who died on Aug. 24, 2022, at the age of 86. Zeitner, is the grandfather of racers Justin and Corey Zeitner. ... Justin battled Simpson early and led the second lap before backstretch contact between the two ended his night on lap 10. ... Corey Zeitner soldiered to a 16th-place finish. ... The race lasted 36 minutes, with 20 starters completing 40 laps. ... Curt Schroeder and Charlie McKenna were among eight provisional starters.

On the move: Charlie McKenna of Ames, Iowa, started 28th and finished eighth.

Winner's sponsors: Thornton’s Ricky and Brenda Kay-owned Longhorn Chassis is powered by a HalaBuilt Competition Engine and carries sponsorship from Petersen Insurance, Salty’s BBQ and Catering, Kay Farms Elevator Trucking, Hoker Trucking, Pit Crew BBQ, Malvern Bank, Drake Excavating & Aggregates, Tyler Matzen Trucking, Vander Heiden Hauling & Farming, Wheatland Auto Body, Bilstein Shocks, Hyperco, Wyffels Hybrids, Performance Bodies, Dynamic Drivelines and Capital Race Decals.

Points chase: East Series after Shelby County: 1. Dylan Thornton (1,944); 2. Chad Simpson (1,942); 3. Dallon Murty (1,910); 4. Jesse Sobbing (1,872); 5. Jason Hahne (1,800). West Series after Shelby County: 1. Jesse Sobbing (772); 2. Tad Pospisil (760); 3. Corey Zeitner (736); 4. Charlie McKenna (722); 5. Dylan Sillman (720).

Current weather: Clear, 68°F

Car count: 41

Fast qualifier: Jesse Sobbing

Time: 14.401 seconds

Polesitter: Chad Simpson

Heat race winners: Dallon Murty, Brett Hopp, Bill Leighton Jr., Dylan Thornton, Kyle Berck

Consolation race winners: Shane DeMey, Jeff Tharp

Provisional starters: Dylan Sillman, Andrew Kosiski, J.C. Wyman, Dave Eckrich, Zach Zeitner, Allan Hopp

Next series race: July 24, Hamilton County Speedway (Webster City, IA) $3,000