What won the race: Chad Simpson of Mount Vernon, Iowa, led 18 of 22 laps Saturday at Knoxville Raceway, pulling away late for a $4,900 payday in the Malvern Bank East-West Series invitational at the half-mile oval. The outside front-row starter took the checkers 2.641 seconds ahead of third-starting Dylan Thornton while fast qualifier Dallon Murty improved three spots in finishing third.

Quotable: "I knew when (Jason Hahne) passed me, I just kept missing the top the way I needed to and I kept hitting the slick spots and sliding across the middle," Simpson said. "I just had to get up in that moisture and keep the right front pinned, and then I could drive right around there. I just knew I wasn't going to be as good around the bottom, so I just kept charging it down there up around the top and it paid off."

Key notes: Chad Simpson has eight career Malvern East victories and six on the Malvern West circuit. ... He won for the second time at Knoxville; his first victory came in 2015 in Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series action. ... Polesitter Jason Hahne slipped under Simpson to lead laps 5-8, but Simpson went back ahead on the ninth lap after leading the first four circuits. Hahne ended up fifth. ... The lone caution appeared on the 17th lap for a slowing Corey Zeitner and Jeff Tharp in different parts of the track. ... The 11-minute feature ended about 8:48 p.m. ... Dylan Sillman scratched for the night after losing an engine in hot laps. ... The event was on the undercard to the 21st annual Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals.

On the move: Jacob Hobschiedt of Plattsmouth, Neb., started 16th and finished fourth.

Winner's sponsors: Simpson's Longhorn Chassis has a Pro Power Racing Engine and sponsorship from Randy Davidson Trucking, Moeller Farms, RTL Equipment, Johnson Holding Company, Burich Trucking, Stewart & Sons, Midwest Sheet Metal, Swift Springs and Bilstein Shocks.

Points chase: East Series after Knoxville: 1. Dylan Thornton (3,114); 2. Chad Simpson (3,032); 3. Dallon Murty (3,026); 4. Jesse Sobbing (3,004); 5. Jason Hahne (2,808). West Series after Knoxville: 1. Jesse Sobbing (3,060); 2. Tad Pospisil (2,970); 3. Bill Leighton Jr. (2,882); 4. Corey Zeitner (2,844); 5. Jacob Hobscheidt (2,832).

Current weather: Overcast, 66°F

Car count: 23

Fast qualifier: Dallon Murty

Time: 17.979 seconds

Polesitter: Jason Hahne

Heat race winners: Dylan Thornton, Andy Eckrich, Jason Hahne

Next series race: October 4, Adams County Speedway (Corning, IA) $5,000