What won the race: Fending off challenges from Ethan Dotson and Frank Heckenast Jr., Ryan Unzicker of El Paso, Ill., muscled through a rough-and-tumble Peoria Speedway on Saturday, leading the final 13 laps to capture his fourth straight Garry Swibold Memorial on the MARS Late Model Championship circuit. Unzicker crossed the line 2.884 seconds ahead of Heckenast, who led lap 27 after a brief exchange for the lead, to pocket the $5,098 payday.

Quotable: "I made some changes tonight that would’ve only worked in the rough and it paid off. I just can’t thank my crew enough," Unzicker said in victory lane. "It’s been a hard year already, just a lot of work things going on and fighting two cars, getting (son Brody) running. Just can’t thank my crew and my sponsors enough.”

Key notes: Unzicker assumes the early season points lead after his sixth special-event victory at Peoria since 2022, adding to last Sept. 27’s $5,000 Illinois State Championship, 2023-25's Swibold Memorial triumphs all worth $5,098 and the 2022 Illinois State Championship worth $7,500. ... It's his 17th career MARS victory, tying Tanner English for 10th on the tour's all-time win list. ... Ethan Dotson led the opening 13 laps but retired on lap 28 to finish 14th. ... Unzicker didn’t have it easy on his way to victory. He pulled alongside early leader Ethan Dotson exiting turn two on the third lap, but couldn’t make the move stick. When Dotson reached lapped traffic on lap eight, Unzicker rekindled his challenge four laps later, drawing alongside the ASD Motorsports driver before a caution slowed the action. Unzicker got the run he needed on the ensuing restart, sweeping around Dotson’s outside to take command. He led until lap 27, when he caught a rut wrong in turns three and four and pushed up the track, allowing Heckenast to briefly slip ahead. Unzicker regrouped the next lap, charging back around Heckenast’s outside on lap 28 right before a caution on lap 29. ... Six cautions slowed the feature, none bigger than a five-car pileup on lap 21 that collected seventh-running Mike Spatola, eighth-running Bob Gardner, 10th-running Jordan Bauer, 11th-running Zach Taylor and 18th-running Cole Swibold. The incident began when Spatola caught a rut in turns three and four, and lost control. The remaining five cautions: Mark Voigt and Taylor on lap nine; 14th-running Jake Little slowing on lap 12; Dylan Thornton’s spin out of 12th on lap 19; Kyle Hammer’s spin out of 12th on lap 21; Mike Mataragas's spin in turn two while Spatola simultaneously lost his left-rear wheel and axle in turn three on lap 29; and Tanner English cutting down a left-rear while running seventh on lap 34. ... The event honored Garry Swibold, the late father of racer Cole Swibold of Fairview, Ill., who passed away on Jan. 16, 2022. ... Thirteen drivers finished the feature that lasted 42 minutes.

On the move: Brayton Wallace of Peoria, Ill., started 18th and finished fifth.

Winner's sponsors: Unzicker’s Longhorn Chassis has a Pro Power Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from RJR Transportation, Brucker Farms, Low Voltage Solutions, Mosquito Hero, Fairbury Fastener & Supply, Larimer Cows & Calves, Absolute Home Repair & Remodeling, Gary Miller’s Classic Auto, El Paso Outdoor Center, Big City Automotive, Arkansas Septic Plumbing, Unzicker Equipment, Konstruction Services, Pro Tire and Automotive, Mackinaw Valley Powder Coating, Logan Smith Collectibles, Clean It Up Pressure Washing Professionals, A Solution HVAC & Construction, Bert by Budda Transmissions, DirtcarLift.com, Keyser Manufacturing, NAPA El Paso, Fuel Factory, Varsitee Screenprint, Bilstein Shocks and Fuel Factory.

Points chase: After Peoria: 1. Ryan Unzicker (132); 2. Frank Heckenast Jr. (130); 3. Dennis Erb Jr. (108); 4. Tanner English (104); 5. Jake Little (100).

Current weather: Clear, 63°F

Car count: 33

Fast qualifier: Frank Heckenast Jr.

Time: 12.727 seconds

Polesitter: Bob Gardner

Heat race winners: Jason Feger, Ryan Unzicker, Ethan Dotson, Bob Gardner

Consolation race winners: Daniel Adam, Brayton Wallace

Provisional starters: Zach Taylor, Jeffrey Ledford

Next series race: May 15, Quincy Raceway (Quincy, IL) $5,000