What won the race: Winning for the second time in his third visit to Paragon Speedway, outside front-row starter Ryan Gustin of Marshalltown, Iowa, led all 50 laps Friday for a $10,071 victory on the Northern Allstars Late Model Series. Gustin took the checkers ahead of Brandon Sheppard in the Marvin O'Neal Memorial for his first career NALMS victory and first win of the 2026 season.

Quotable: "It's a heck of a racetrack, man. It's a cool event. Thank obviously (the Northern Allstars) and the O'Neal family, and all these fans for coming out," Gustin said, thanking his sponsors and later adding that "I felt like you could race all over (the track). It's kind of top dominant, but the same for everybody, you know. It was a fun racy little joint."

Key notes: Ryan Gustin's shifter linkage broke shortly after the race and his car needed assistance from the scales to victory lane. ... Gustin notched his first victory since Oct. 11, 2025's World of Outlaws-sanctioned Bayou Classic, worth $50,000. ... He previously won at Paragon in his debut at the spring-car stronghold on the Ultimate Heart of America tour in 2023. ... Runner up Brandon Sheppard and Tyler Erb swapped the second spot on multiple restarts. ... Jason Jameson ran fifth much of the first half of the race, but slowed with a flat tire for a lap-29 caution. ... Seven other cautions slowed the action, including on the second lap when Tucker Chastain made an infield foray. ... On the ninth lap, Cody Bauer also spun to the infield. ... Tyler Collins spun in turn two on the 15th lap. ... A David Webb spin in turn four collected Derek Groomer on the 23rd lap. ... Chastain drew another caution on lap 24. ... On the 40th lap, fifth-running Hudson O'Neal spun in turn two. ... Hall of Famer Don O'Neal rallied from 17th to sixth but retired after 38 laps when he hit the wall. ... The event honored Marvin O’Neal, a Martinsville-area business owner and father of Don O’Neal; Marvin died on Dec. 26, 2023, at the age of 82. ... Cash bonuses of $710 went to fast qualifier, hard charger, most laps led and more; bonuses were courtesy of MasterSbilt Race Cars, Professional Concrete Cutting & Drilling, Tri-State Timber, Arnold Tire Center, Pete Pottoff Garage Doors, Alan Acuff Concrete Construction and O’Neal’s Salvage & Recycling. ... Saturday's Northern Allstars event at Brownstown (Ind.) Speedway rained out.

On the move: Josh Rice of Crittenden, Ky., started seventh and finished fourth.

Winner's sponsors: Gustin’s Todd Cooney-owned Infinity Race Car is powered by a Jay Dickens Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from Alan’s Seamless Gutters, Karl Auto Group, May Properties, Murty Farms, Mark Hambelton Ford, Schaeffer’s Racing Oil, FK Rod Ends, Swift Springs, VP Race Fuels, Bilstein Shocks, Dynamic Drivelines and Performance Bodies.

Points chase: Before Paragon: 1. Cody Mahoney (552); 2. Jason Jameson (550); 3. Trevor Landrum (548); 4. Devin Gilpin (524); 5. David Webb (512).

Current weather: Clear, 75°F

Car count: 28

Fast qualifier: Tyler Erb

Time: 15.051 seconds

Polesitter: Tyler Erb

Heat race winners: Tyler Erb, Ryan Gustin, Jason Jameson, Brandon Sheppard

Consolation race winners: Don O'Neal

Provisional starters: Shelby Miles, Jake Leitzman

Next series race: May 29, Bloomington Speedway (Bloomington, IN) $10,000