Key notes: Garrett Smith and Dale McDowell made contact in the first heat race, sending McDowell spinning and flattening his left-rear tire; Smith won the prelim handily while McDowell rallied to finish third after pitting. ... The Schaeffer’s Southern Nationals concludes its points-paying events with Saturday’s 53-lap, $10,053-to-win finale at Tazewell Speedway. … Tazewell hosts the season finale for the 22nd straight season. … The Southern-based tour offers more than $300,000 in total purse money, a $23,000 loyalty program paid to the top-five point earners, with $1,000 being awarded to rookie of the year. … Donald McIntosh of Dawsonville, Ga., enters Saturday with a 14-point advantage over Joseph Joiner in search of the $10,053 points title. McIntosh picked up a $4,400 Fall Nationals victory there in 2020. … McDowell, of Chickamauga, Ga., has seven Tazewell specials since 2019, including four Southern Nationals victories, combining to collect more than $100,000 over that span. … Mike Benedum of Salem, W.Va., topped last year’s $10,053 Southern Nationals season finale. … Watch live on FloRacing.

Who to watch: Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., eyes his fifth career Southern Nationals victory at Tazewell.

Points chase: Before Tazewell: 1. Donald McIntosh (1,346); 2. Joseph Joiner (1,332); 3. Allen Styck (1,274); 4. Garrett Smith (1,264); 5. Stacy Boles (1,176).

Current weather: Overcast Light Rain, 75°F

Car count: 22

Fast qualifier: Garrett Smith

Time: 11.198 seconds

Polesitter: Garrett Smith

Heat race winners: Garrett Smith, Luke Morey, David Payne