What won the race: Taking control when race-long pacesetter Austin Mintz retired on the 17th lap, fourth-starting Ben Watkins of Rock Hill, S.C., led the rest of Saturday's caution-plagued 40-lap Ultimate Southeast Series feature at Sumter Speedway. Watkins overcame several restarts to beat Jamison McBride by 2.449 seconds for the $4,000 paycheck, his fifth career Ultimate Southeast victory and third overall feature win of the 2026 season.

Key notes: Watkins notched his second career Sumter victory, adding to last fall's Slick Gibbons Memorial, worth $5,007 on the Carolina Clash Super Late Model Series. ... His other two wins this season came March 14 at Lancaster (S.C.) Motor Speedway and March 28 at Friendship Motor Speedway in Elkin, N.C., also on the Clash tour. ... It's his first Ultimate Southeast victory since July 13, 2024's Shrine Race at Lancaster, worth $5,000. ... Austin Mintz led the opening 16 laps from the pole before retiring under a lengthy lap-17 caution along with Fletcher Wulff. ... Josh Henry pitted under the lap-17 stoppage and restarted 11th before rallying to finish third. ... Points leader Jason Riggs improved four positions to finish fourth. ... Second-starting Michael Marlowe had trouble on the race's initial start, dropping him to 12th in the running order, before climbing back to complete the top five. ... Twelfth-starting David Yandle worked his way as high as third on lap 18 before slowing and pitting during a lap-23 caution, then continued and placed sixth. ... William Russell retired from third under the race's ninth and final caution on lap 37. ... The 40-lap feature lasted more than an hour with nine starters completing the distance. ... Banks Johnson scratched.

On the move: David Yandle of Monroe, N.C., started 12th and finished sixth; Blake Sanderson of Dillon, S.C., started 14th and finished eighth.

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 Sumter: 1. Jason Riggs (175); 2. David Yandle (138); 3. Jadon Frame (132); 4. Dillon Tidmore (71); 5. Rusty Schlenk (69).

Current weather: Scattered Clouds, 95°F

Car count: 14

Fast qualifier: Austin Mintz

Time: 14.721 seconds

Polesitter: Austin Mintz

Next series race: June 26, Oak Level Raceway (Bassett, VA) $4,000