What won the race: Powering off the turn-two cushion and sliding by Garrett Smith in turn three on the 10th lap, polesitter Zack Mitchell of Enoree, S.C., led the rest of Thursday's 40-lap Schaeffer's Southern Nationals season finale at Toccoa Raceway that drew seven starters. Mitchell beat Smith to the checkers by 1.486 seconds for the $7,571 payday, his first Southern Nationals victory of the season and fifth of his career.

Quotable: "It felt like it was a 40-lap heat race. I’m about outta breath," Mitchell said. "I’m glad I got this first one for (new car owners) G.R. and Stacey (Smith), we really needed it to boost our morale. It’s been a trying last few weeks for us, just had a lotta bad luck man. We put ourselves in position to win and just hadn’t capitalized, but I really gotta thank them for taking a chance on me."

Key notes: Mitchell, capturing his first win for new team owner G.R. Smith, nabbed his third straight Southern Nationals victory at Toccoa (2023, '25) after 2024's scheduled visit rained out. ... It's his third overall win of the season. ... Mitchell led by nearly five seconds over Garrett Smith after the race's halfway mark but Smith closed the gap late as Mitchell opted not to force his way by backmarker Brent Dixon. ... Smith, the Spring Nationals champ, led the opening nine laps from the outside front row until giving way to Mitchell, then held off Tucker Anderson's challenges for a handful of laps before settling in second. ... Anderson finished third, nearly three seconds behind Smith. ... Daniel Wilson held fourth all the way while Dixon rounded out the top five as the final starter to complete 40 laps. ... David McCoy, an 11-time major event winner at Toccoa (lap five) and Alex Vance (lap three) both retired under green. ... The non-points season finale was originally scheduled July 19 before getting rain-postponed to Thursday. ... The 10-minute feature celebrated Toccoa's 71st year of competition and was slowed by one caution after the opening start was called back.

Winner's sponsors: Mitchell‘s Team 22 Inc. Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Vic Hill Racing Engine and sponsored by Victory Circle Auto Sales, Gambler Transport, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Brick House Tavern, LakeHouse Bar & Grill, Unified Electrical Services, SJK Construction, VG Performance, Bilstein Shocks, VP Racing Fuels, STAKT Racing Products and Dirt King Apparel.

Points chase: Donald McIntosh was crowned the 2026 Southern Nationals champion.

Current weather: Clear, 82°F

Car count: 7

Fast qualifier: Zack Mitchell

Time: 11.983 seconds

Polesitter: Zack Mitchell