What won the race: Taking control when race-long pacesetter Montana Dudley made contact with a lapped car, 11th-starting Dalton Cook of Smiths Station, Ala., led the final nine circuits to win Saturday's $10,000 Jimmy Thomas Memorial at East Alabama Motor Speedway. Cook pulled away in the closing laps, winning by 5.191 seconds ahead of Larry Harrod for his second victory of the season following his $8,000 Hunt the Front Super Dirt Series score on March 28 at Whynot Motorsports Park in Meridian, Miss.

Quotable: “I hate the misfortune for my good friend Montana (Dudley), he was doing everything right,” Cook said. “That was a really, really fortunate break, ya know … It (means a lot), my grandaddy told me stories about Jimmy (Thomas), how he used to help out the racers and do everything with the racing community here. It’s an honor to win something like that. This ain’t the biggest win, money-wise, but it is 100% the biggest win of my whole career.”

Key notes: Cook notched his second career EAMS victory and his first since Sept. 23, 2018, a $5,000 Alabama State Championship triumph on the National Late Model Super Car Series. … Montana Dudley, who inherited the pole-starting position after J.R. Moseley scratched, led the opening 41 laps before tangling with sixth-running Bo Slay while attempting to lap him on the 42nd circuit. Dudley’s right-rear quarter panel sent Slay off the track in turn two, causing Slay to flip several times and necessitating a 10-minute red flag for cleanup; Slay was OK. … Track officials pinned the lap-42 caution on Dudley, requiring him to tag the field, but Dudley showed his displeasure and opted to call it a night. He was credited with sixth. ... Fifth-starting Larry Harrod reclaimed second on the lap-42 restart but never challenged Cook in the closing laps. ... Rucker Orr finished fifth, one lap down. He was the final starter running at the checkers. ... Dylan Knowles slowed from fifth and pulled off on lap 34. … Wil Herrington, winner of March's $10,000 EAMS season opener, slowed from second to draw the race’s first caution on lap four. … Jade Luzenberg nearly spun from sixth on the ensuing restart, collecting Michael Leach and ending their race. … Hadley Greene drew two yellow flags (lap 18 and lap 26) before retiring. … Forrest Trent, who ran as high as third in the opening laps, slowed from fifth on a lap-26 restart attempt. ... The 50-lapper was slowed by seven separate incidents and lasted 38 minutes. ... Zack Mitchell and Payton Freeman opted to save their equipment, scratching earlier in the night's program, while Allen Styck joined Moseley in scratching from the feature.

On the move: Kyle Bryant of Navarre, Fla., started 16th and finished fourth.

Winner's sponsors: Cook’s Rocket Chassis is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and sponsored by Riverside, River Side Window & Door, Cook’s Heating & Air, Parker’s Towing, Mars Hill Truck Sales, C&S Auto Electric, Sanders Logging, T&T Utilities, Hoosier Tire South, WrapTech and CP Diesel Performance.

Points chase: EAMS points after Saturday: 1. Dalton Cook (292); T2. Wil Herrington (276); T2. Montana Dudley (276); 4. Dylan Knowles (258); 5. Bo Slay (252).

Current weather: Clear, 59°F

Car count: 19

Fast qualifier: Larry Harrod

Time: 14.345 seconds

Polesitter: J.R. Moseley

Heat race winners: J.R. Moseley, Montana Dudley