What won the race: After letting a victory slip away two nights earlier, Payton Looney of Republic, Mo., took the lead on the second lap Friday at Salina Highbanks Speedway then cruised to win his first career Lucas Oil Midwest LateModel Racing Association victory. He earned $3,000 in outrunning Johnny Scott and Chad Simpson.

Quotable: "Man, it's about time. We have been doing this a long time and it just seems like we would always be in position and something would happen," Looney said. "We have ran second a lot, just more times than I wish to admit, but everything just fell our way tonight. I really thought I had one Wednesday night, that's my favorite place (Lucas Oil Speedway) and to lead the whole thing and get passed coming to the white was really heartbreaking, and I just didn't want that to happen again."

Key notes: Looney won by 0.921 seconds over Wednesday night's first-time winner with the MLRA, Johnny Scott. ... The 30-lap feature was slowed by a single caution when Mitch McGrath, Jesse Stovall and Joe Godsey tangled on the eighth lap. ... A light bank blew in turn three earlier in the evening, causing more than an hour delay in the night's program, following MLRA heats. ... Will Vaught, Jake Neal and Jeremy Conaway were among those suffering engine woes on the high-speed oval. ... The seventh annual ARMI Freedom Classic resumes with Saturday's $5,000-to-win finale.

On the move: Tony Jackson Jr. of Lebanon, Mo., started 18th and finished sixth.

Winner's sponsors: Looney’s Capital Race Car is powered by a Cornett engine and sponsored by Atnip Motorsports, Specialty Risk Insurance, Atnip Express, Duvall Electric, Penske Racing Shocks and Swift Springs.

Points chase: After Salina Highbanks Friday: 1. Chad Simpson (1,090); 2. 2. Payton Looney (1,085); 3. Tony Jackson Jr. (1,035); 4. Jeremiah Hurst (965); 5. Mitch McGrath (900).

Current weather: Clear, 75°F

Car count: 36

Fast qualifier: Payton Looney

Time: 14.198 seconds

Polesitter: Chad Simpson

Heat race winners: Chad Simpson, Logan Martin, Payton Looney, Johnny Scott

Consolation race winners: Austin Theiss, Tony Jackson Jr.

Provisional starters: Justin Duty, Jeremy Grady, Brennon Willard, Kaeden Cornell

Next series race: June 27, Salina Highbanks Speedway (Salina, OK) $5,000