What won the race: Prevailing after multiple back-and-forth physical slide jobs with Joseph Joiner, fourth-starting Ashton Winger of Hampton, Ga., took the lead for good on the 23rd lap and led the rest of Saturday's 50-lap Back to School Bash at Southern Raceway. Winger survived numerous restarts and beat Dalton Cook to the checkers by 0.247 of a second for the $10,000 paycheck, his second straight Southern Thunder Super Dirt Series victory and third of his career.

Key notes: Winger led 44 of 50 laps (5-20, 23-50) for his eighth overall feature win of the season, his seventh since a sweep of the June 12-13 Hunt the Front Series-sanctioned Clash at the Mag at Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, Miss. ... It was his second straight Southern Thunder victory and first since the last tour race on May 16 at Georgia's Needmore Speedway. ... Winger's third career series victory moves him into second on the second-year tour's all-time list. ... Hometown racer and polesitter Joseph Joiner led twice for six laps (1-4, 21-22) before Winger's physical turn-four slider gave him the lead for good at the completion of the 23rd lap; Joiner and Dalton Cook traded the runner-up spot five times over the race's second half, with Cook prevailing and Joiner settling for third. ... Austin Bloodworth climbed three positions to finish fourth while Bubba Roling gained seven spots to round out the top-five finishers. ... Payton Stevenson overcame a lap-six spin to finish sixth. ... Matthew Brocato continued after incidents on lap three and a lap-14 spin to place ninth. ... The night's program was delayed by a near three-hour rain delay before hot laps began shortly before 9 p.m. ... The race was slowed by 15 yellow flags, most notably when second-running Josh Puntam's engine expired on the 21st lap. ... Billy Franklin slowed with apparent mechanical woes and retired on lap nine. ... Ninth-running Ryan Crane slowed and pulled off on the 35th lap. ... The 50-lapper lasted 57 minutes and ended at 1:15 a.m. with 14 starters completing the distance. ... Mark Whitener loaded up after heat race action and Chase Holland scratched after hot laps.

On the move: Bo Slay of Milton, Fla., started 18th and finished seventh.

Winner's sponsors: Winger’s Jeff Mathews Motorsports Rocket Chassis is powered by an Andy Durham Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from RV Select Inc., CURS, Super K Express, Keyser Manufacturing, Integra Shocks, Angry Elephant Tattoo and Piercing, FK Rod Ends, A-Plus Collision Center, Hoosier Tire, Simpson Race Products, Collins Signs, DirtCarLift.com, VP Race Fuels, CSR Aluminum Fabrication, Boswell Oil and WrapTech.

Points chase: Before Southern: 1. Mark Whitener (288); 2. Ashton Winger (270); 3. Josh Putnam (266); 4. Wil Herrington (264); 5. Dalton Cook (252).

Current weather: Clear, 73°F

Car count: 26

Fast qualifier: Josh Putnam

Time: 13.482 seconds

Polesitter: Joseph Joiner

Heat race winners: Joseph Joiner, Dalton Cook, Josh Putnam, Ashton Winger

Next series race: September 5, Winder-Barrow Speedway (Winder, GA) $5,000