Key notes: East Alabama Motor Speedway hosts the 54th annual Alabama State Championships, a multiday event featuring three types of Late Models among nine divisions of racing action. … Unsanctioned Limited Late Models contest a 40-lap, $7,500-to-win feature Saturday night after Friday’s time trials and heat races. … The five-day event unofficially began with Thursday’s practice. … Mark Whitener of Middleburg, Fla., has 13 career EAMS specials since 2016, including Alabama State Championships in 2017, ’19, ’21-’22 and ’24, earning more than $65,000 over that span. … Austin Horton of Whitesburg, Ga., is a six-time major event winner there since 2019, including last year’s Alabama State Championship in Limited Late Model action. … Barrett Lowe of Fletcher, N.C., topped May’s Topless Outlaw Series stop, worth $4,000. … Dusty Jones of LaGrange, Ga., won 2023’s National 100 undercard after winning that year’s Alabama State Championship in unsanctioned Limiteds, combining for more than $12,500. … Montana Dudley has six East Alabama specials since 2015 at his home track, including last year’s $10,000 Alabama State Championship payday in Crate Racin’ USA 604 action. … 604 Crate Late Models and 602 Crate Sportsman contest time trials and heat races Saturday with factory stocks and hot shots running features on the undercard. … Pits open at noon and grandstands open at 5 p.m. with hot laps at 6:30 for Friday’s prelims; pits open at 8 a.m. Saturday-Sunday; grandstands open at 10 a.m. Saturday then 9 for Sunday’s finale; hot laps start at 11 a.m. Saturday then 10 Sunday. … Watch live on Crate Racin’ USA TV. … Practice was Thursday night.

Who to watch: Mark Whitener of Middleburg, Fla., seeks his seventh career Alabama State Championship and second in Limited Late Model action.

Expected entrants: Mark Whitener, Austin Horton, Dusty Jones, Barrett Lowe, Montana Dudley, Blake Craft, Tyler Thomason, Chad Tuten, Bobby Mills, Jake Traylor, Travis Pennington, Terrance Nowell and others.

Current weather: Clear, 90°F