What won the race: Going around polesitter Drake Troutman on the fourth lap, Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., led the rest of Friday's 40-lap MARS feature at 34 Raceway for a $5,000 victory. Pierce took the checkers 0.806 of a second ahead of Dennis Erb Jr. in winning the Slocum 50 preliminary.

Quotable: "I think that the car was much more comfortable just letting it momentum up there (in the high groove)," Pierce said. "(In turns one and two), I wasn't terrible, but turn three there was a slimy spot that — I don't know if I was just too tight or if I was hitting that slimy spot — but I could not get turned. The one time I really got it turned and pinched the corner, I know (Dennis) Erb was down there. He must've been able to rotate a lot better than me getting in the corner."

Key notes: The high-flying Pierce, who allowed a challenge from Dennis Erb Jr. when he briefly dropped to the inside groove after the lap-28 caution, notched his 19th career MARS victory and third of the season. ... The previous night's MARS winner at Cedar County, Brandon Sheppard started fifth and finished sixth. ... Drake Troutman, who led the first three laps from the pole, was running third on the 22nd lap when his car showed smoke and he rolled to the infield to draw a caution. ... The first of five cautions appeared when Justin Reed spun inside the backstretch on the seventh lap. ... McKay Wenger slowed on lap 17 with a flat right-rear tire. ... On lap 19, Wenger and Jeff Herzog tangled in turn two. ... A lap-28 yellow appeared for a slowing Bob Gardner (Tanner English also dropped to the infield with a flat left-rear tire). ... MARS wraps up a tripleheader weekend with Saturday's $10,555-to-win Slocum 50 finale; Pierce will be going for his fifth victory in the event. ... The race honors Brent Slocum, a 28-year-old track champ who died as a result of a pit accident at 34 Raceway 20 years ago. ... Watch live on FloRacing.

On the move: Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., started 14th and finished fifth.

Winner's sponsors: Pierce’s Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Vic Hill Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from Low Voltage Solutions, Rio Grande Waste Services, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Oakwood Tire Center, Churchill Transport, Collins Brothers Towing, K1, Carnaghi Towing & Repair, Toyota of Danville, Floyd’s Waste Systems, PureMax Racing Oil, A Plus Vacuum, Leka Tree Service, Bert Transmissions by Budda, Ted Brown’s Quality Paint & Body Shop, VP Race Fuels, Swift Springs, Bilstein Shocks, Dirt Car Lift and Performance Bodies.

Points chase: After 34 Raceway Friday: 1. Bobby Pierce (295); 2. Brandon Sheppard (248); 3. Brian Shirley (247); 4. Dennis Erb Jr. (208); 5. Tanner English (184).

Current weather: Broken Clouds, 55°F

Car count: 39

Fast qualifier: Garrett Alberson

Time: 15.053 seconds

Polesitter: Drake Troutman

Heat race winners: Drake Troutman, Bobby Pierce, Brian Shirley, Dennis Erb Jr.

Consolation race winners: Justin Duty, McKay Wenger

Provisional starters: Tony Jackson Jr., Bob Gardner

Next series race: April 25, Brownstown Bullring (Brownstown, IL) $5,000