What won the race: Third-starting Ben Watkins of Rock Hill, S.C., earned a dominant flag-to-flag victory in Saturday's 35-lap ninth annual Red Rose Rumble, capturing the $5,000 Coltman Farms Racing Carolina Clash Super Late Model Series payday at Lancaster Motor Speedway. Watkins beat polesitter Jeremy Steele by 1.537 seconds for his 19th career Carolina Clash victory and sixth straight Red Rose Rumble triumph at Lancaster, which drew nine entries.

Quotable: “Obviously Jeremy (Steele) and Matthew (Nance) was really good. We’re a tick off from where we kinda wanted to be and where I felt kinda comfortable early,” Watkins said. “I knew the start was gonna be pretty crucial there, taking off and got a good fire there. I knew if I had a chance to get in clear air, I needed to do it pretty quick cause obviously those guys was gonna be pretty good.”

Key notes: Watkins, the three-time and reigning series champ, notched his first feature win of the season and 12th Lancaster victory since July of 2020, amassing more than $67,000 in winnings over that span. ... Five of his six consecutive Red Rose Rumble victories have come in Carolina Clash competition, the lone exception being last year's Southern Thunder Series-sanctioned triumph, worth $7,500. ... It's his first win since last Oct. 4's Carolina Clash-sanctioned Gibbons Memorial at Sumter (S.C.) Speedway, worth $5,007. ... Polesitter Jeremy Steele trailed Watkins all the way, but never truly challenged for the lead. ... Joey Whitaker slowed on lap 16, triggering the race's lone stoppage. ... The feature lasted 16 minutes with five drivers completing 35 laps.

On the move: Joey Whitaker of Rock Hill, S.C., started ninth and finished seventh.

Winner's sponsors: Watkins drives a Longhorn by Wesley Page powered by a Clements Racing Engine with sponsorship from Mega Plumbing of the Carolinas, Parks Heating & Cooling, Langley Collision Center, Coltman Farms Racing, Hoopaugh Grading, Sandwood Inc., WP Racing Shocks, Hoosier Tire South, VP Racing Fuels, Allstar Performance, STAKT Products, Craig Industries, Top Quality Siding & Windows and Indocil Arts.

Points chase: Before Lancaster: 1. Russell Erwin (125); 2. Dustin Mitchell (115); 3. Ben Watkins (110); 4. Matthew Bissette (105); 5. Jeff Parsons (100).

Current weather: Clear, 66°F

Car count: 9

Fast qualifier: Jeremy Steele

Time: 19.516 seconds

Polesitter: Jeremy Steele

Next series race: March 28, Friendship Motor Speedway (Elkin, NC) $5,000