What won the race: Mark Whitener of Middleburg, Fla., fired off from the outside pole and led all 30 laps in dominating fashion to capture Friday's Blackwater Classic prelim at the newly-reopened Blackwater Speedway, formerly known as Northwest Florida Speedway. Whitener repelled Ohio's Rusty Schlenk, beating him by 0.916 of a second for a $4,000 payday that marked third career Ultimate Southeast Series victory and first win of the 2026 season.

Quotable: “It’s a pretty cool little place,” Whitener said. “It was a little wet on the bottom when we started so I knew I had to give (Schlenk) a little room when we got in there, but all in all, the track moved around. I had to watch where them lapped cars was to kind of figure my line out there, but we kind of moved down as the night went on.”

Key notes: Whitener notched his third Ultimate Southeast victory in his third straight series start dating back to the last two races of 2025: Sept. 6 at Screven Motor Speedway and Sept. 26 at Golden Isles Speedway, both in the state of Georgia. ... Polesitter Rusty Schlenk trailed Whitener for all 30 laps after lowering the track record in time trials. … Homestate racer Brody Smith charged from fifth-to-third after a lap-15 restart and rounded out the podium finishers. ... Jadon Frame also took advantage of the lap-15 restart in finishing fifth. ... Joseph Joiner raced to a quiet ninth-place effort; he's plotting a tripleheader weekend including Sunday's Hunt the Front Series points-paying opener at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, Ala. ... The race was slowed by one caution for Kody Cook, who spun in turn four on the 15th lap; he continued to finish 15th. ... The race lasted 13 minutes with 11 starters completing 30 laps. ... Shay Miller (lap 14) and Jeremy Pate (lap 12) were the only starters who failed to finish. ... The Blackwater Classic concludes with Saturday's 50-lap, $7,000-to-win finale. ... Former drag racer Ron Wolverton purchased the third-mile facility at the end of 2025 and has completed several upgrades, including a new clay surface. It was the first major Late Model event of any kind there since July 30, 2016, when Taylor Jarvis of Pensacola, Fla., won an $800 Panhandle Crate Series stop.

On the move: Jason Riggs of College Grove, Tenn., started 13th and finished seventh.

Winner's sponsors: Whitener’s Cody Jett-owned Longhorn Chassis is powered by an H&R Racing Engine and sponsored by Southeast Ship Repair, Whitener’s Tractor Service, Johnny Doan Plumbing, Ocala Restaurant Supply, Jett Concrete Works, ML Motorsports, Angry Elephant Tattoo and Piercing, Baker Farms, RaceCar Engineering, ETG, Chad Tuten at Boswell Oil, VP Racing Fuels, FK Rod Ends, Penske Racing Shocks, Swift Springs and Hoosier Racing Tire.

Points chase: After Blackwater Friday: 1. Jason Riggs (84); 2. David Yandle (72); 3. Jadon Frame (64); 4. Tanner English (35); 5. Mark Whitener (35).

Current weather: Clear, 61°F

Car count: 18

Fast qualifier: Rusty Schlenk

Time: 13.546 seconds

Polesitter: Rusty Schlenk

Next series race: March 21, Blackwater Speedway (Baker, FL) $7,000