Cherokee Speedway

The second-starting Cooper, of Woodruff, S.C., fired off from the outside pole and never looked back, leading all 25 laps to claim Saturday's $1,500 GM Performance 602 season opener. ... Third-starting John Ruggiero Jr. trailed Cooper for the final 15 laps and challenged him in the closing stages, finishing 1.290 seconds back. ... Teenager Beckham Malone improved eight positions and rounded-out the top five. ... Jeff Robinson topped the 14-car field in qualifying. ... Saturday's feature lasted 15 minutes, with eight drivers running at the finish.