Key notes: Kyle Strickler had a massive flip in the night's fourth heat race after he and Ethan Dotson made contact while battling for the lead, sending Strickler spinning in front of the field and collecting Dennis Erb Jr.; Erb slammed into Strickler's car at the exit of turn four, sending him rolling over several times before coming to rest on his roof at the start of the frontsretch. All drivers were OK. ... Forrest Trent spun on the opening start after contact with Dotson at the entrance of turn one. ... Fifth-starting Ryan Gustin won the 22-minute heat. ... Ricky Thornton Jr. overcame an early restart and led all eight laps in winning the first heat. He'll draw for his starting spot along with Camaron Marlar, who finished 1.807 seconds behind Thornton. ... Mike Marlar staved off a last-lap slider attempt by Bobby Pierce to win the second heat by 1.067 seconds. Pierce executed a perfect crossover by Nick Hoffman's opening lap slider. ... Chris Madden cruised to win heat three by 2.217 seconds over Daulton Wilson. Madden, a WoO winner there in 2007, topped last July’s Schaeffer’s Southern Nationals Series visit. ... Garrett Smith had a hard crash in time trials and scratched for the night. ... The World of Outlaws Late Model Series kicks off a Volunteer State weekend doubleheader with Friday’s 40-lap, $12,000-to-win Rocky Top Tumble at Volunteer Speedway. … Brandon Sheppard won the last World of Outlaws visit to Volunteer in 2021, worth $10,000. … Zack Mitchell earned his lone series victory there in June of 2020, worth $10,000. … Dale McDowell is expected to make his first start since successful eye surgery; he won 2024’s Volunteer 50, worth $50,050. … Jimmy Owens is expected to compete aboard a Vic Hill-owned No. 20 CVR Race Car. Hill won last fall’s Southern All Star Series visit, his first feature victory in more than seven years. … 602 Crate Sportsman are on the undercard. … Watch live on DIRTVision. ... The weekend concludes with Saturday’s 50-lap, $20,000-to-win Tennessee Tipoff at nearby Smoky Mountain Speedway in Maryville, Tenn.

Who to watch: Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C., eyes his second WoO victory at Volunteer and second overall win of the season.

Points chase: Before Volunteer: 1. Nick Hoffman (1,043); 2. Bobby Pierce (1,033); 3. Tim McCreadie (1,010); 4. Tyler Erb (1,004); 5. Drake Troutman (998); 6. Ryan Gustin (986); 7. Dustin Sorensen (981); 8. Ethan Dotson (968); 9. Dennis Erb Jr. (964); 10. Daulton Wilson (949).

Current weather: Broken Clouds, 52°F

Car count: 35

Fast qualifier: Chris Madden

Time: 12.398 seconds

Polesitter: Ricky Thornton Jr.

Heat race winners: Ricky Thornton Jr., Mike Marlar, Chris Madden, Ryan Gustin

Consolation race winners: Jake Timm, Carson Ferguson

Provisional starters: Drake Troutman, Dustin Sorensen, Ethan Dotson, Dennis Erb Jr.

Next series race: March 14, Smoky Mountain Speedway (Maryville, TN) $20,000