Key notes: The Coltman Farms Racing Carolina Clash Super Late Model Series concludes its doubleheader weekend with Saturday’s $5,000-to-win 42nd annual Stick Elliott Memorial at Cherokee Speedway. … The event honors Gene “Stick Elliott” Daves, one of the toughest competitors in the Carolinas with more than 400 career feature victories; Daves died on Nov. 1, 1980, at the age of 46. … Max McLaughlin of Mooresville, N.C., inherited the lead and paced the final two circuits of Friday’s 54th annual Gaston County Shrine Race at Carolina Speedway in Gastonia, N.C., worth $4,000. … Ross Bailes of Clover, S.C., led 20 laps Friday before retiring from the lead with a couple laps to go, opening the door for McLaughlin. Bailes has 17 Cherokee specials to his credit since 2011, amassing more than $118,000 over that span. … Points leader and reigning champ Ben Watkins of Rock Hill, S.C., has three major wins since 2018 at Cherokee, including back-to-back Stick Elliott Memorials in 2023-’24, worth more than $12,000. … Trent Ivey of Union, S.C., has seven Cherokee majors since 2017, including 2019’s Stick Elliott Memorial, combining to collect more than $72,000. … Michael Brown of Pageland, S.C., picked up a $10,000 WoO-Xtreme DIRTcar co-sanctioned victory there in March 2022. … Benji Hicks of Mount Airy, N.C., captured his first career Carolina Clash victory in 2018, worth $5,000. … Jeff Cooke and Freddy Crawford are among Legends of Cherokee drivers who will participate in an autograph session. … Modifieds, pure stocks, thunder bombers, extreme 4s and Crown Vics are on the undercard. … Gates open at 4 p.m. with hot laps at 7.

Who to watch: Ben Watkins of Rock Hill, S.C., seeks his third career Stick Elliott Memorial victory at Cherokee.

Points chase: Before Carolina Friday: 1. Ben Watkins (808); 2. Jeremy Steele (579); 3. Willie Milliken (402); 4. Spencer Liggon (369); 5. Christian Thomas (351).

Expected entrants: Ben Watkins, Tyler Carpenter, Trent Ivey, Michael Brown, Benji Hicks, Ross Bailes, Jeremy Steele, Adam Yarbrough, Layton Sullivan, Jordan Koehler, Beckham Malone, Christian Thomas, Anthony Sanders, Gray Parton, Matthew Nance, Braden Jones, Donovan Jackson, Jamison McBride, Max McLaughlin, Steve Banal, Evan Koehler, Hunter Kohn, Michael Marlowe, Doug Sanders and others.

Next series race: September 5, Lake View Motor Speedway (Nichols, SC) $12,000