What won the race: Fighting off mid-race challenges from Trent Ivey, outside front-row starter Chris Ferguson of Mount Holly, N.C., led all 50 laps of Saturday's $8,000 41st annual Stick Elliott Memorial at Cherokee Speedway. Ferguson beat Ivey by 0.833 of a second for his 18th career Carolina Clash Super Late Model Series victory.

Key notes: Ferguson notched his fourth career Stick Elliott Memorial victory and first series victory since May 27, 2018, also at Cherokee, worth $5,000. ... His last win of any kind was June 16, 2023, a Lucas Oil Series semifeature at Smoky Mountain Speedway in Maryville, Tenn. ... His last full-field win was March 5, 2023, in Cherokee's $20,000 Ginger Owens Memorial March Madness. ... Polesitter Trent Ivey traded second with Zack Mitchell in the opening laps before taking the spot for good on lap 24 then nearly took the lead from Ferguson a couple laps later, only to see Ferguson pull away late. Mitchell settled for third. ... Adam Yarbrough gained three spots on the opening lap and held fifth the entire way. ... Points leader Ben Watkins, last year's Stick Elliott Memorial winner, started 24th after failing to finish his heat race earlier in the evening, but was never a factor and placed 15th, the first starter one lap down. ... The race was slowed by two cautions, the first came when Ross Bailes retired on the eighth lap. ... The second and final yellow flag flew on lap 41, requiring a lengthy delay. ... The event honored Gene “Stick Elliott” Daves, one of the toughest competitors in the Carolinas with more than 400 career feature victories. Daves died Nov. 1, 1980, at the age of 46. ... The 50-lapper lasted 28 minutes with 14 starters completing the distance. ... Brad Basey scratched.

On the move: Steve Banal of Lincolnton, N.C., started 12th and finished eighth.

Winner's sponsors: Ferguson’s Stinger Race Car is sponsored by Live Oak Aesthetic and Family Dentistry, Spartan Transportation, Gentry Used Auto Parts & Recycling, Animal Care Clinic, Splitz Bowling, Carolina Roofing & Gutters, Spray Foam Technologies, Heckle’s Plumbing, New Point Lighting & Design, Rosewood Assisted Living, K&K Trucking, Schaeffer’s Racing Oil, Sweet Victory Apparel, Victory Seats and Big A’s Custom Graphics.

Points chase: After Cherokee: 1. Ben Watkins (972); 2. Dalton Peavy (836); 3. Donovan Jackson (835); 4. Christian Thomas (786); 5. Landen Zakalowski (713).

Current weather: Clear, 72°F

Car count: 25

Fast qualifier: Chris Ferguson

Time: 15.410 seconds

Polesitter: Trent Ivey

Heat race winners: Ross Bailes, Steve Banal

Next series race: September 27, Fayetteville Motor Speedway (Fayetteville, NC) $7,500