What won the race: Overtaking race-long leader Kyle Courtney on the 27th lap, third-starting Skip Arp of Georgetown, Tenn., led the remainder of Friday's 40-lap sixth annual Lester Weeks Memorial at Smoky Mountain Speedway. The ageless Hall of Famer led the final 14 laps and took the checkers 1.189 seconds ahead of Courtney for the $4,222 Topless Outlaw Dirt Racing Series payday, his third Smoky Mountain feature victory of the season.

Key notes: The 63-year-old Arp earned his eighth career Topless Outlaws victory and first since Sept. 14, 2024, also at Smoky Mountain. ... It's his third Smoky Mountain triumph this season, adding to April 11 and May 2 victories, both in unsanctioned Limiteds. ... Second-starting Kyle Courtney fended off early pressure from Chase King and led the opening 26 laps before giving way to Arp and settling for second. ... The pole-starting King, who nearly took the lead from Courtney before a lap-three caution negated his pass, pitted from second under a lap-seven yellow before rallying to 10th. ... Seventh-starting John Ownbey marched through the field, taking fourth from his son, Hayden Ownbey, on lap 22 then third from Bobby Giffin on a lap-26 restart; Giffin and the younger Ownbey completed the top-five finishers. ... David Payne and Jed Emert each climbed four positions to finish eighth and ninth. ... Besides the lap-seven caution that sent King pitside, the race was slowed four other times, first for a lap-three melee that necessitated a 15-minute caution for cleanup; eighth-running Taylor Puckett, Brandon Williams and Bryan Hendrix were eliminated. ... Austin Horton, who relied on a series provisional, clinched the 2026 Topless Outlaws title after completing three laps before retiring and finishing 20th. ... Jason Trammell and Skylar Marlar appeared to tangle on lap 10 as they raced inside the top five; Trammell retired while Marlar completed a handful more laps before pulling off. ... Daniel Boles retired under the fifth and final caution on lap 26. ... The event, moved from Saturday because of the threat of wet weather, honors Lester Weeks of Friendsville, Tenn., the former racer and chassis builder who died in 2021 at the age of 67 after a battle with cancer. ... The 40-lapper lasted nearly 37 minutes with 13 starters completing the distance and 14 running at the finish. ... Andy Picklesimer and Layne Clifton scratched.

On the move: Jason Manley of Loudon, Tenn., started 14th and finished sixth.

Winner's sponsors: Arp’s Capital Race Car is sponsored by Trane Heating & Air Conditioning Equipment, Federated Auto Parts, Stanley Best Heating & Air, Tyler Brothers Farm Equipment, American Racer Tire South and Allstar Performance Parts.

Points chase: 2026 final: 1. Austin Horton (564); 2. Rusty Ballenger (541); 3. Chase King (536); 4. Layne Clifton (531); 5. Bryan Hendrix (496).

Current weather: Overcast, 66°F

Car count: 35

Fast qualifier: Bobby Giffin

Time: 14.216 seconds

Polesitter: Chase King

Heat race winners: Chase King, Skip Arp, Kyle Courtney, Skylar Marlar

Consolation race winners: Brady Lee, Brandon Williams

Provisional starters: Austin Horton, Layne Clifton, Heath Hindman