What won the race: Slipping under race-long leader Dylan Thornton as they completed the 30th lap, fifth-starting Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., paced the final 11 circuits of Friday's 40-lap FALS Frenzy prelim at Fairbury Speedway. The hub-hugging Babb pulled away in the closing laps to beat Thornton by 1.436 seconds for the $5,000 payday, his fourth MARS victory of the season and 15th of his career.

Quotable: "Fairbury had the racetrack amazing tonight, it had a top and a bottom and a middle (groove)," Babb said. "When Dylan (Thornton) took off with (Mike Spatola) and they was gone (running) up top. I thought ‘Man, I better get up there and join them guys,’ so I did that for a little bit and let the track burn in a little bit until the bottom got really good."

Key notes: Babb bagged his sixth overall feature win of the season and third at Fairbury, adding to a MARS victory on Sept. 5 and a June 13 DIRTcar Summer Nationals triumph. ... Polesitter Dylan Thornton stuck primarily to Fairbury's cushion until Babb, who was running the bottom, closed in with 15 laps to go. Thornton moved down in an attempt to thwart Babb's progress, but Babb slipped by on the inside down the frontstretch as they completed the 30th lap. Thornton jumped back to the cushion, but faded in the closing laps and settled for second after leading 29 laps. ... Sixth-starting Dennis Erb Jr. took third from Jeffrey Ledford on the final lap. ... Tanner English overtook Mike Spatola for fifth on lap 29, leaving Spatola to settle for sixth. ... Points contenders Jason Feger and Ryan Unzicker were surprising non-factors in finishing 10th and 11th. ... Austin Howes slowed with a flat left-front tire on the eighth lap for the race's lone caution; he finished 13th after pitting. ... Daniel Adam finished 18th in a backup car after engine issues in hot laps. ... The race lasted 12 minutes with 16 starters completing 40 laps. ... Trey Mills failed to qualify after fighting battery issues during hot laps. ... The two-day FALS Frenzy wraps up with Saturday's 50-lap, $10,000-to-win finale. ... Watch live on FloRacing.

On the move: Kyle Hammer of Clinton, Ill., started 13th and finished seventh.

Winner's sponsors: Babb’s Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and sponsored by Petroff Towing, Dynagro Seed, Nutrien Ag Solutions, CJI Piping & Fabrication, Donley Trucking, Getty Landscaping, Douglas Dodge Ram, Kuebler Ultra Oil, VP Racing Fuels and Penske Racing Shocks.

Points chase: After Fairbury Friday: 1. Ryan Unzicker (1,208); 2. Jason Feger (1,128); 3. Dylan Thornton (1,089); 4. Daniel Adam (855); 5. Bob Gardner (842).

Current weather: Clear, 54°F

Car count: 42

Fast qualifier: Ryan Unzicker

Time: 12.505 seconds

Polesitter: Dylan Thornton

Heat race winners: Dylan Thornton, Tanner English, Mike Spatola, Aaron Marrant

Consolation race winners: Chase Osterhoff, Austin Howes

Provisional starters: Daniel Adam, Bob Gardner

Next series race: October 3, Fairbury Speedway (Fairbury, IL) $10,000