What won the race: Deftly handling traffic and keeping a pair of series veterans in check, leading MARS Championship Series rookie Dylan Thornton of Orcutt, Calif., raced to a flag-to-flag victory Saturday at Highland Speedway for a $5,000 payday and his third series win of the season. Thornton, who races out of Iowa, took the checkers 3.288 seconds ahead of series points leader Ryan Unzicker and lapped all but four competitors in a dominating performance at the quarter-mile fairgrounds oval.

Quotable: "I guess I do like the small tracks. It's kind (like) in California where I'm from, but, yeah, that was awesome," Thornton said. "I did not think it was going to get racy like that through lapped traffic. I've never been to this place — much like any of the other places we go to — and hats off to them. It was pretty cool. The cushion got pretty sketchy there and luckily my signal guy moved me up at the right time."

Key notes: The high-flying Dylan Thornton's previous MARS victories came last month at Macon (Ill.) Speedway and Belle-Clair Speedway in Belleville, Ill. ... Crew chief Tyson Gheer missed the race because of an unspecified injury. ... Runner-up Ryan Unzicker and Jason Feger swapped the second spot multiple times and challenged Thornton early, but weren't in striking distance late. ... Two cautions slowed Highland's 40-lapper both before there was a completed lap. The first came on for a turn-two scramble involving Ethan Boomsma, Tony Wolfe, Daniel Jacober and Doug Tye, the second when Boomsma, Wolf and Jimmy Miller tangled in turn three and required a cleanup of several minutes. ... Boomsma was making his Super Late Model debut. ... The 17-minute feature concluded at 8:40 p.m. ... Highland filled an open spot on the series schedule after the closure of Peoria Speedway. ... Friday's MARS event at Kankakee County Speedway in Kankakee, Ill., rained out.

On the move: Chad Zobrist of Highland, Ill., started 11th and finished sixth.

Winner's sponsors: Thornton’s Ricky and Brenda Kay-owned Longhorn Chassis is powered by a HalaBuilt Competition Engine and carries sponsorship from Petersen Insurance, Salty’s BBQ and Catering, Kay Farms Elevator Trucking, Hoker Trucking, Pit Crew BBQ, Malvern Bank, Drake Excavating & Aggregates, Tyler Matzen Trucking, Vander Heiden Hauling & Farming, Wheatland Auto Body, Bilstein Shocks, Hyperco, Wyffels Hybrids, Performance Bodies, Dynamic Drivelines and Capital Race Decals.

Points chase: Before Highland: 1. Ryan Unzicker (1,097); 2. Jason Feger (1,020); 3. Dylan Thornton (944); 4. Bob Gardner (796); 5. Daniel Adam (784).

Current weather: Clear, 81°F

Car count: 22

Fast qualifier: Daryn Klein

Time: 12.808 seconds

Polesitter: Dylan Thornton

Heat race winners: Ryan Unzicker, Jason Feger, Dylan Thompson

Next series race: October 2, Fairbury Speedway (Fairbury, IL) $5,000