What won the race: Sliding by race-long leader Chad Simpson on lap 12, fifth-starting Dylan Thornton of Orcutt, Calif., repelled a late-race surge by Simpson to win Friday's 30-lap Malvern Bank East Series season opener at Scotland County Speedway. Thornton pulled away in the closing laps, beating Simpson to the line by 1.487 seconds for the $3,000 payday and his third career Malvern East Series triumph.

Quotable: “This place was badass tonight. I was here a month ago and (track promoter) Mike (Van Genderen) was working on it pretty hard, he said it was gonna be really good for tonight and it was,” Thornton said. “(Chad Simpson’s stick) signal was showing me he was getting pretty close and man, these things are really hard to drive behind other cars, so as I kept getting closer to the lapped cars, I kinda had to move around and stuff like that … (I) was kinda getting the signal that it’s time to go, so I just kinda had to start sliding them and hopefully clear ‘em and I guess that ended up being the winning move.”

Key notes: Thornton secured his second straight Malvern East season opener and his first series win since June 21, 2024, a $3,000 stop at Lafayette County Speedway in Darlington, Wis. ... Thornton notched his fourth overall victory of the season after winning three Early Thaw events at Central Arizona Raceway in Casa Grande. ... Chad Simpson led the opening 11 laps from the pole before Thornton took control with a lap-12 slider in turn three. Simpson cut Thornton's lead as low as 0.357 of a second on lap 27 before fading in the final laps. ... Dallon Murty used a fifth-to-third move on lap 13 and rounded out the podium finishers in his series debut. ... Jesse Sobbing slid by Andrew Kosiski on lap 24 and finished fourth; Kosiski slipped to sixth. ... Charlie McKenna improved five positions to place seventh. ... Tim Ward started and finished ninth in his Late Model debut. ... Jacob Hobscheidt finished 12th in his first Late Model start since June 12, 2020. ... Reigning series champ Andy Eckrich was the race's first retiree after pulling off on lap five. ... The 30-lap series debut at Scotland County was completed without incident and lasted just shy of 10 minutes, with 12 starters completing the distance. ... Derrick Stewart scratched.

On the move: Dallon Murty of Chelsea, Iowa, started 10th and finished third.

Winner's sponsors: Thornton’s Ricky and Brenda Kay-owned Longhorn Chassis is powered by a HalaBuilt Competition Engine and carries sponsorship from Petersen Insurance, Salty’s BBQ and Catering, Kay Farms Elevator Trucking, Hoker Trucking, Pit Crew BBQ, Malvern Bank, Drake Excavating & Aggregates, Tyler Matzen Trucking, Vander Heiden Hauling & Farming, Wheatland Auto Body, Bilstein Shocks, Hyperco, Wyffels Hybrids, Performance Bodies, Dynamic Drivelines and Capital Race Decals.

Points chase: After Scotland County: 1. Dylan Thornton (200); 2. Chad Simpson (196); 3. Dallon Murty (194); 4. Jesse Sobbing (192); 5. Jake Neal (190).

Current weather: Overcast, 55°F

Car count: 25

Fast qualifier: Dylan Thornton

Time: 17.628 seconds

Polesitter: Chad Simpson

Heat race winners: Dallon Murty, Shane DeMey, Andrew Kosiski

Consolation race winners: Jacob Hobscheidt

Provisional starters: Darrel DeFrance, Curt Schroeder, Fred Remley

Next series race: May 10, Independence Motor Speedway (Independence, IA) $3,000