What won the race: Hayden Cardwell of Knoxville, Tenn., fired off from the outside pole and led all 75 laps en route to winning Saturday night's $12,037 ninth annual Dylan Kennedy Memorial at Wartburg Speedway. Cardwell crossed the line 0.530 of a second ahead of Drew Kennedy, brother of Dylan (whom the race honors) for the most lucrative victory of his career.

Quotable: “We fired off really good there. But as the race went on, I like seeing the cautions, but every time the caution came out I could see Drew (Kennedy) on my inside, so I knew he was coming,” Cardwell said. “I definitely seen (Kennedy) there when we caught lapped traffic at the end, I knew I had to get down. I was trying my best not to catch the lapped guys at the end there, but (I) just kinda sucked up on them."

Key notes: Cardwell captured his fourth overall feature victory of the season, his first away from Tennessee's I-75 Raceway. ... It's his second career five-figure payday, his first since Sept. 3, 2023's Alabama State Championship at East Alabama Motor Speedway ($10,000). ... Cardwell won his last special event April 13, 2024, a $5,000 American Crate All-Star Series stop at Kentucky's Lake Cumberland Speedway. ... Eighth-starting Drew Kennedy took second from Anthony White Jr. on lap 22, but never truly challenged Cardwell over the final 54 laps. Drew's younger brother Dylan Kennedy died on July 26, 2016, at the age of 22; Drew was chasing his second career event victory after earning $5,037 in 2020. ... White Jr., back-to-back defending event winner, faded to finish fourth after Jed Emert slipped by for third on a lap-56 restart. Emert earned $11,137 in topping 2022's Kennedy Memorial. ... Anthony White overcame a lap-48 spin to finish ninth. ... Kyle Courtney's flat left-rear tire drew the race's fourth and final caution on lap 56. He ended up two laps down in 14th after pitting to change the flat. ... John Ownbey retired from 11th under the lap-56 yellow. ... The largest incident necessitated a 15-minute red flag after Eddie King Jr. spun on the second lap, collecting Jason Trammell, with resulting contact pushing King's car up and over, landing on his roof at the entrance to turn three; King was OK. ... The 75-lapper lasted 41 minutes, with 10 starters completing the distance.

On the move: Anthony White of Clinton, Tenn., started 18th and finished ninth.

Winner's sponsors: Cardwell’s Sammie Russell Motorsports CVR Race Car is powered by a Custom Race Engine and sponsored by Vonore Quick Lube & Car Wash, Mason Furniture & Appliances, Stella Carburetors, Matt Henderson Racing and Hoosier Racing Tire South.

Points chase: Wartburg before Saturday: 1. Cody Courtney (410); 2. Anthony White Jr. (260); 3. Michael Carroll (240); 4. Mike Weeks (235); 5. Drew Kennedy (230).

Current weather: Overcast, 73°F

Car count: 30

Fast qualifier: Cody Courtney

Time: 11.876 seconds

Polesitter: Cody Courtney

Dash winner: Cody Courtney

Heat race winners: Jed Emert, Drew Kennedy, Kyle Courtney

Consolation race winners: Chad Alley

Provisional starters: Jason Trammell