What won the race: Surviving an opening-lap melee that forced a complete restart, second-starting Michael Chilton of Salvisa, Ky., went on to lead all 40 laps of Richmond Raceway’s 60th annual season opener Saturday on the Ultimate Heart of America Series for the $6,060 payday — his sixth career on tour. The home-state driver topped Trevor Landrum by 2.732 seconds.

Quotable: "That first start there was a little sketchy. Both of us just trying to get to that top, and, luckily, nobody else got tore up there when that happened," Chilton said in victory lane. "I was just glad that nobody got tore up, and then the second one, I got a little bit better jump there, and Camaron left me plenty of room. He left me more room that second time than he had to, and I appreciate that."

Key notes: Chilton’s sixth career Ultimate Heart of America Series victory makes him the tour’s all-time wins leader, breaking a tie with Zack Dohm and Josh Rice. ... Five of his six series wins have come at Richmond, his first since Oct. 14, 2023, a sweep of the two-day Bluegrass Nationals. ... Chilton's lone tour win away from Richmond came July 15, 2017, at Brownstown (Ind.) Speedway. … A four-car pileup on the opening lap — involving the second-starting Chilton, sixth-starting Dillard Hatchett, 13th-starting Richard Musick and 14th-starting Donnie Everman — forced a complete restart, allowing Chilton to regroup and power around the outside of polesitter Camaron Marlar for the lead. … Musick triggered the race’s second caution on lap 13. … Marlar retired from the feature on lap 19 with an apparent mechanical failure. Earlier in the feature, while pursuing Chilton for the lead, Marlar slammed the wall in turns three and four, causing noticeable damage to his rear deck and spoiler. ... Seven drivers finished on the lead lap in the 22-minute feature.

On the move: Larry Martin Jr. of Maysville, Ky., started 10th and finished seventh.

Winner's sponsors: Chilton’s Tim Logan Racing Rocket Chassis is sponsored by Caton Industrial Painting, Hatcher’s Auto Sales, Vision Cabinet Source, Parkview Home Center, Riverwood Self Storage, Rick Purvis Builders, STAKT Racing Products and 5150 Race Trailers.

Points chase: After Richmond: 1. Dillard Hatchett (90); 2. Cyle Forgy (79); 3. Larry Martin Jr. (68); 4. Daniel Shelton (67); 5. Richard Musick (58).

Current weather: Clear, 64°F

Car count: 14

Fast qualifier: Camaron Marlar

Time: 14.881 seconds

Polesitter: Camaron Marlar

Heat race winners: Camaron Marlar, Michael Chilton

Next series race: May 16, Montpelier Speedway (Montpelier, IN) $5,000