What won the race: Passing majority race leader Tony Jackson Jr. in the entrance of turn one on the 24th lap, second-starting Ryan Gustin of Marshalltown, Iowa, paced the final seven circuits of Saturday's Midwest LateModel Racing Association debut at Farmington Empire Speedway. Gustin stretched his lead and beat Jackson by 3.351 seconds for the $5,000 triumph, his 14th career MLRA victory and third win of the season.

Quotable: “(Tony Jackson Jr.) was really good there early. It’s just you get marred back there behind anybody, really, even once we got past Tony there, I felt like I could run a lot harder and not mess up. It’s just so hard to see your line when (the track) is choppy like that,” Gustin said. “All in all, the track’s the same for everybody, just getting too fat and old to be doing this stuff, I guess, when it’s rough like that.”

Key notes: Gustin nabbed his first MLRA win since Oct. 10, 2024, a $7,000 payday at I-70 Speedway in Odessa, Mo. ... It's his second win of the weekend, adding to Friday's MARS Series victory at Brownstown (Ill.) Bullring and third win in the last nine days, including April 17's Marvin O'Neal Memorial at Paragon (Ind.) Speedway on the Northern Allstars Late Model tour. ... Gustin has earned more than $20,000 over that span. ... Points leader Tony Jackson Jr. led laps 3-23 before his car shut off getting into turn one on the 24th lap, handing control to Gustin. ... Third-starting Daryn Klein led the opening two laps before giving way to Jackson and engaged in a back-and-forth battle with Gustin between laps 9-10. Klein slowed from second on lap 16 for the race's second caution and was unable to continue, crediting him with 12th. … Gustin reassumed the runner-up spot on the lap-16 restart, lifting Billy Moyer to third and 10th-starting Aaron Marrant to fourth. ... Kayden Clatt brought out the other two yellow flags of the night with an opening lap spin before slowing from fifth and retiring on the 17th lap. Clatt appeared to pop a wheelie at the exit of turn two before slowing after his front end slammed back on the track surface; he was credited with 13th. ... The MLRA debut at Farmington Empire lasted 15 minutes with six starters completing 30 laps and 11 running at the checkers. ... The Farmington, Mo., 3/8-mile oval is slated to host the DIRTcar Summer Nationals on July 1 for another $5,000-to-win event.

On the move: Aaron Marrant of Richmond, Mo., started 10th and finished fourth.

Winner's sponsors: Gustin’s Todd Cooney-owned Infinity Race Car is powered by a Jay Dickens Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from Hoker Trucking, Alan’s Seamless Gutters, Karl Auto Group, May Properties, Murty Farms, Mark Hambelton Ford, Schaeffer’s Racing Oil, FK Rod Ends, Swift Springs, VP Race Fuels, Bilstein Shocks, Dynamic Drivelines and Performance Bodies.

Points chase: After Farmington Empire: 1. Tony Jackson Jr. (1,200); 2. Brennon Willard (975); 3. Aaron Marrant (965); 4. Jeff Herzog (935); 5. Matthew Larson (815).

Current weather: Clear, 75°F

Car count: 16

Fast qualifier: Tony Jackson Jr.

Time: 12.650 seconds

Polesitter: Tony Jackson Jr.

Heat race winners: Tony Jackson Jr., Ryan Gustin

Next series race: May 24, Springfield Raceway (Springfield, MO) $10,000