What won the race: Fending off a late-race surge from Ben Watkins, pole-starting Christian Thomas of Wake Forest, N.C., led all 40 laps to win Saturday's $5,000 Southeastern Late Model Showcase at Lake View Motor Speedway. Thomas beat Watkins to the checkers by 0.575 of a second to win the Ultimate Southeast Series season opener, his first victory of any kind since June 10, 2023, a $5,000 series visit to Sumter (S.C.) Speedway.

Quotable: “It’s been a long time since we stood on this fronstretch and we had a really good piece,” Thomas said. “To come down here and beat some of these guys, we probably didn’t have the best car, but we had track position. We’re chugging along for what we got and we do what we can, but I don’t know, it’s rewarding to be back in here after all the hard work.”

Key notes: Christian Thomas registered his third career Ultimate SE victory and his second at Lake View after leading all 40 laps to win $5,000 on May 13, 2023. ... Fourth-starting Ben Watkins grabbed second from Willie Milliken on the second lap, but never truly challenged Thomas for the lead. Milliken settled for fifth. ... Michael Rouse gained six spots and finished seventh. ... Anthony Sanders limped across the line in ninth with a flat right rear. ... Jordan Yawn ran as high as third from laps 5-28 before slowing from fourth on the final lap with apparent engine woes. She was credited with 10th. ... The race's initial slowdown came on lap 23 for a spin by Hunter Kohn. He continued and finished 11th. ... Colby Jenerette spun from 12th for the final yellow flag on lap 28. He continued and placed 13th. ... The season opener lasted 22 minutes, with nine starters completing 40 laps.

On the move: Brent Robinson of Smithfield, Va., started ninth and finished third.

Winner's sponsors: Thomas drives a Longhorn Chassis powered by an Andy Durham Racing Engine and sponsored by J.S. Sewell LLC, Cox & Son’s Plumbing, Rustic Oak, Integrous Risk Solutions, Victory Lane Quick Oil Change, Smoke Show Rifle Company, Currin Construction, SRI Performance, K1 Speed and Racing For Heroes.

Points chase: After Lake View: 1. Christian Thomas (35); 2. Ben Watkins (34); 3. Brent Robinson (33); 4. Adam Yarbrough (32); 5. Willie Milliken (31).

Current weather: Overcast, 59°F

Car count: 16

Fast qualifier: Christian Thomas

Time: 15.477 seconds

Polesitter: Christian Thomas

Next series race: May 24, Lancaster Motor Speedway (Lancaster, SC) $5,000