What won the race: Regaining the lead from polesitter Ryan Unzicker on the 24th lap, Brandon Sheppard dove low in turn one to take command and led the rest of Sunday's caution-free MARS Championship Series debut at tiny Coles County Speedway. The third-starting Sheppard, who edged past Unzicker initially on laps 16-17, pulled away in the final 10 laps, winning by 3.719 seconds over Unzicker with Tanner English third.

Quotable: "I'm glad it did go caution-free," Sheppard said, "because it really let us be in lap traffic a bunch and let me feel my car around and really see what I needed to do and what I was doing wrong and what I needed to do better.”

Key notes: Sheppard, driving his family-owned No. B5, won for the eighth time in his MARS career. ... Despite the close quarters racing on one of the smallest tracks for Super Late Models in the country, the 40-lapper ran without a yellow flag as Sheppard lapped all but 10 competitors. ... Ryan Unzicker got too high exiting turn two when Sheppard took command amid traffic. ... Sheppard had given Unzicker's car a couple of shots to the rear in trying to find a way past. ... Unzicker, who lengthened his points lead, led laps 1-15 and laps 18-23. ... The Mission 40 was presented by Rural King lasted eight minutes and concluded at 8:28 p.m. ... Mitch McGrath's fast time lowered the track's Super Late Model record. ... Reigning series champ Jason Feger tattered his car's rear decking as the slowest qualifier; he finished ninth in the feature. ... Mike Spatola, a $10,000 winner at Coles County last season, wasn't a factor in finishing 12th.

On the move: Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill., started 15th and finished ninth.

Winner's sponsors: Sheppard’s family-owned Rocket Chassis is powered by a Pro Power Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from Valvoline, Sheppard Auto Sales & Salvage, Realtee, Pee Wee’s Wrecker Service, Guse’s Pub & Eatery, Paulson Rock Products & Stussy Construction, Busch Light, Dennis G. Woodworth, attorney at law, American Racing Wheels, Fox Racing Shox, Sunoco, Corrigan Race FuelsNight Owl Design and BSheppGear.com.

Points chase: After Coles County: 1. Ryan Unzicker (267); 2. Dylan Thornton (216); 3. Tanner English (214); 4. Caden McWhorter (199); 5. Austin Howes (198).

Current weather: Clear, 79°F

Car count: 18

Fast qualifier: Mitch McGrath

Time: 10.103 seconds

Polesitter: Ryan Unzicker

Heat race winners: Tanner English, Brandon Sheppard, Ryan Unzicker

Next series race: May 22, Davenport Speedway (Davenport, IA) $5,000