What won the race: Reclaiming the lead from Dillon Tidmore on a lap-14 restart, pole-starting Cory Hedgecock of Loudon, Tenn., paced the remaining distance to win Friday's 40-lap Southern All Star Series-sanctioned Sammy Cooper Classic at Penton Raceway. Hedgecock took the checkers 2.103 seconds ahead of Tidmore to pocket a $7,000 payday in the event coined as the biggest in track history.

Quotable: “We was just a little too tight and (Dillon Tidmore) was kinda able to bend around that bottom (line) and it was kinda still just a little wet for me,” Hedgecock said. “Hopefully the racetrack would kinda clean back up and thankfully it did, appreciate him racing me clean. Good night here, been probably seven or eight years since I’ve been here. Place has improved a bunch, definitely want to come back.”

Key notes: Runner-up Tidmore dove underneath Hedgecock entering turn one to take command on the third circuit and led 10 laps before eventually relinquishing the position back to Hedgecock. ... Michael Leach started and finished third. ... Wil Herrigton advanced five positions to finish fourth aboard Bruce Kane's No. 15k Rocket. ... Oliver Gentry, whose daughter, Olivia, won the track's 20-lap 602 Sportsman feature earlier in the night, rallied from 18th-to-sixth. ... Jordy Nipper recovered to finish seventh following a solo spin on lap 15 while running fourth. ... Shay Miller pulled off the track with mechanical woes on the 29th lap. ... Matt Dooley retired after nearly flipping due to contact with a spinning Bo Slay. ... Ryan Crane of Panama City, Fla., lowered the track record in time trials with a lap of 13.165 seconds. He finished 17th after retiring with mechanical issues on lap 13. ... The 40-lapper was slowed by five cautions and lasted 26 minutes.

On the move: Oliver Gentry of Newnan, Ga., started 18th and finished sixth.

Winner's sponsors: Hedgecock’s BMF Race Car is powered by an Eagle Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from Best Plumber, K&P Used Cars, Base Fuels, Integra Racing Shocks, Keyser Manufacturing, SFP Performance, Currin Construction, Circle H Services, CH Enterprises, Pro-Fabrication, Viper Motorsports, Arizona Sportswear, CDE Electric, Majestic Mobile Detail, Hoosier Tire, Winters Performance, Quickcar Racing Products, Brucebilt Performance and Schaeffer's Racing Oil.

Points chase: After Penton: 1. Billy Franklin (770); 2. Joe Denby (742); 3. Kendall Franklin (736); 4. Ronnie Johnson (730); 5. Michael Luna (688).

Car count: 20

Fast qualifier: Ryan Crane

Time: 13.165 seconds

Polesitter: Cory Hedgecock

Next series race: May 16, West Alabama Speedway (Winfield, AL) $4,000