What won the race: Using a series of sliders to pass early pacesetter Brian Shirley on lap 33 of 50, Ashton Winger of Hampton, Ga., topped Saturday's MARS Championship Series-sanctioned Illinois Dirt Shootout at Fairbury (Ill.) Speedway for the $10,000 payday. Winger, who led the final 18 laps, beat Jason Feger to the line by 0.397 seconds.

Quotable: "It's one of my favorite places. I hate we didn't come here for the PDC," Winger said in victory lane. "We've just been, you know, it's been a trying year. I can't seem to quit tearing stuff up, so we didn't get to come. Man, this place is awesome. I tell everybody, man, I'm from Georgia, but, man, if I could, I'd let Illinois adopt me. My car was really good there. I really don't know if I would have had a shot there, the racetrack for pretty close to one there around the time i got to the lead. Squirrel and a lapped car got together, and I seen it knocked his right door off."

Key notes: It's Winger's first victory at Fairbury and second career triumph on the MARS circuit. Series announcer Mike Norris told Winger in victory lane that he's the 200th different Late Model feature winner in Fairbury history. ... July’s Prairie Dirt Classic victor Brian Shirley appeared on his way toward another Fairbury triumph until lap 28 when he made hard contact with lapped car Mike Spatola, caving in his right-side door panel that seemingly slowed his pace. Shirley, who tried passing Spatola a groove off the cushion in turn two with Winger in hot pursuit, said that “I thought I showed my nose to him once, and then obviously the layover flag was displayed to him, so it is what it is.” Two laps later, Winger unleashed the first of three sliders that propelled him into the lead. … Three cautions slowed the 21-minute feature: Lap four for 22nd-running Mike Spatola, who slowed exiting turn two; lap 15 for eighth-running Mike Harrison, who stopped on the frontstretch and lap 24 for 13th-running Tony Jackson Jr., who slowed with a flat right-rear tire. … The MARS Late Model Championship Series continued its Labor Day weekend tripleheader with Saturday’s 50-lap, $10,000-to-win Illinois Dirt Shootout at Fairbury. … Ryan Unzicker of El Paso, Ill., outdueled Ashton Winger in Friday’s $5,000 opener at Farmer City (Ill.) Raceway, securing his fourth MARS win this season. … Sixteen cars finished on the lead lap of Saturday’s feature.

On the move: Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., started 12th and finished sixth.

Winner's sponsors: Winger’s Jeff Mathews Motorsports Rocket Chassis is powered by an Andy Durham Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from RV Select Inc., CURS, Super K Express, Keyser Manufacturing, Integra Shocks, Angry Elephant Tattoo and Piercing, FK Rod Ends, A-Plus Collision Center, Hoosier Tire, Simpson Race Products, Collins Signs, DirtCarLift.com, VP Race Fuels, CSR Aluminum Fabrication, Boswell Oil and WrapTech.

Points chase: After Fairbury: 1. Jason Feger (1,172); 2. Ryan Unzicker (1,107); 3. Shannon Babb (1,004); 4. Tony Jackson Jr. (993); 5. Justin Duty (906).

Current weather: Overcast, 61°F

Car count: 35

Fast qualifier: Jason Feger

Time: 12.791 seconds

Polesitter: Brian Shirley

Heat race winners: Ashton Winger, Myles Moos, Dennis Erb Jr., Brian Shirley

Consolation race winners: Jeff Herzog, Tony Jackson Jr.

Provisional starters: Brennon Willard, Mark Voigt

Next series race: August 31, Spoon River Speedway (Banner, IL) $5,000