What won the race: Making a bold fifth-to-second move then overtaking mid-race leader Caden McWhorter a lap later, 13th-starting Ryan Unzicker of El Paso, Ill., paced the final 15 circuits to win Saturday's 70th annual Illinois State Championship at Peoria Speedway. Unzicker beat Jason Feger by 2.264 seconds for the $5,000 DIRTcar Late Model victory and his fifth overall feature win of the season.

Key notes: Unzicker captured his second Peoria victory this season, adding to April's MARS-sanctioned Garry Swibold Memorial, worth $5,098. ... It's his eighth career Peoria special dating back to May 14, 2016, earning more than $42,000 over that span. ... He last won the Illinois State Championship in 2022, worth $7,500. ... Jason Feger followed Unzicker through the field, making a sixth-to-third move on lap 41, then taking second from Caden McWhorter a couple laps later, but never had anything for Unzicker in the late going. ... The teenaged McWhorter, of Fairbury, Ill., led laps 11-35 before slipping to third. ... Mike Spatola led laps 2-10 before settling for fourth. ... Jason Wagner climbed three spots to finish fifth, clinching the 2025 Peoria track title by six points over 13th-finishing Cody Maguire. ... Jake Little led the opening lap from the pole before fading to sixth. ... The feature was slowed by one caution and lasted just shy of 14 minutes with 11 starters completing 50 laps. ... The race was originally scheduled for Sept. 20 on the MARS Championship Series before rain pushed it back a week; MARS dropped its sanction, reverting the event to non-touring DIRTcar action.

On the move: Runner up Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill., started 17th.

Winner's sponsors: Unzicker’s Longhorn Chassis has a Pro Power Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from RJR Transportation, Brucker Farms, Low Voltage Solutions, Mosquito Hero, Fairbury Fastener & Supply, Larimer Cows & Calves, Absolute Home Repair & Remodeling, Gary Miller’s Classic Auto, El Paso Outdoor Center, Big City Automotive, Arkansas Septic Plumbing, Unzicker Equipment, Konstruction Services, Pro Tire and Automotive, Mackinaw Valley Powder Coating, Logan Smith Collectibles, Clean It Up Pressure Washing Professionals, A Solution HVAC & Construction, Bert by Budda Transmissions, DirtcarLift.com, Keyser Manufacturing, NAPA El Paso, Fuel Factory, Varsitee Screenprint, Bilstein Shocks and Fuel Factory.

Points chase: Peoria 2025 final: 1. Jason Wagner (506); 2. Cody Maguire (500); 3. Cole Swibold (434); 4. Brayton Wallace (424); 5. Robbie Bauman Jr. (387).

Current weather: Clear, 72°F

Car count: 26

Fast qualifier: Jake Little

Time: 12.115 seconds

Polesitter: Jake Little

Heat race winners: Jake Little, Mike Spatola, Caden McWhorter

Consolation race winners: James Carmondy

Provisional starters: Robbie Bauman Jr., Colby Sheppard