What won the race: Series rookie Dylan Thornton of Orcutt, Calif., repelled early challenges from Ryan Unzicker and late pressure from Jason Feger to control all 50 laps of Saturday's 12th annual KerbyStrong at Macon Speedway. Thornton beat Feger by 0.259 of a second for the $10,000 payday, his first feature win of the season and first on the MARS Late Model Championship Series.

Quotable: "This place is cool, it’s kinda like what I grew up on, little bullrings back home. Started on the pole and you kinda just run around the bottom the whole time, it was really hard," Thornton said before later adding, "honestly, we didn’t even think we’d be running as good as we have, so to finally get the first win out of the way and a pretty good payday too, we’re stoked about that."

Key notes: Thornton stuck primarily to Macon's hub en route to his first career MARS victory and first in an unrestricted Super Late Model. ... It's his first win since Sept. 27, 2025, at Davenport (Iowa) Speedway in unsanctioned Limiteds. ... Points leader Ryan Unzicker, winner of Friday's weekend opener at nearby Sycamore Speedway in Maple Park, Ill., pressured Thornton early until fading to finish fourth. ... Second-starting Jason Feger slipped as low as fifth near the race's halfway mark then marched to take second on lap 37, but never could pull alongside Thornton. ... Fourth-starting Mike Spatola rode the high line in the late going, taking fourth from Bob Gardner on lap 43 then overtaking Unzicker for third a couple laps later; Gardner settled for fifth. ... Jake Little blasted Macon's cushion in the first half, working his way as high as third before slipping to finish seventh. ... The race was slowed by three cautions, two of them for debris (lap 12 for a tractor tire and lap 38 for a restart cone). ... Rockett Bennett slowed from 11th for the second yellow flag on lap 34 then retired. ... The event honored Kerby Damery, of Macon, Ill., a former Macon track champion; Damery fought appendix cancer before dying on Feb. 8, 2015, at the age of 49. The KerbyStrong Foundation was opened in Damery’s memory and raises money for the Decatur Memorial Foundation, supporting Macon County locals. ... The 50-lap feature lasted 19 minutes with 13 starters completing the distance.

On the move: Rusty Griffaw of Festus, Mo., started 16th and finished eighth.

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 Macon: 1. Ryan Unzicker (702); 2. Jason Feger (609); 3. Dylan Thornton (575); 4. Daniel Adam (491); 5. Bob Gardner (466).

Current weather: Clear, 82°F

Car count: 18

Fast qualifier: Dylan Thornton

Time: 10.872 seconds

Polesitter: Dylan Thornton

Heat race winners: Dylan Thornton, Jason Feger

Next series race: August 14, La Salle Speedway (La Salle, IL) $5,000