What won the race: Prevailing after multiple back-and-forth physical slide jobs with Joseph Joiner, fourth-starting Ashton Winger of Hampton, Ga., took the lead for good on the 23rd lap and led the rest of Saturday's 50-lap Southern Thunder Super Dirt Series event at Southern Raceway. Winger survived numerous restarts and beat Dalton Cook to the checkers by 0.247 of a second for the $10,000 paycheck, his second straight series victory and third of his career.

Quotable: "The car was good. Shoutout to everybody at Hunt the Front man, this place raced really, really good. They’ve done a lot of work," Winger said before later adding, "I hope me and Joseph (Joiner) put on a show there for you guys. I was happy he grew a pulse and threw (a slide job) on me. That was fun racing, hope you guys enjoyed it."

Key notes: Winger led 44 of 50 laps (5-20, 23-50) for his eighth overall feature win of the season, his seventh since June 12. ... Winger's third career Southern Thunder victory moves him into second on the second-year tour's all-time list. ... Winger captured his first Southern Raceway special since a $5,000 unsanctioned victory in the fall of 2021. ... Hometown racer and polesitter Joseph Joiner led twice for six laps (1-4, 21-22) before Winger's physical turn-four slider gave him the lead for good at the completion of the 23rd lap; Joiner and Dalton Cook traded the runner-up spot five times over the race's second half, with Cook finishing second. ... Austin Bloodworth climbed three positions to finish fourth while Bubba Roling gained seven spots to round out the top five. ... Payton Stevenson overcame a lap-six spin to finish sixth. ... The night's program was delayed by a near three-hour rain delay with hot laps beginning shortly before 9 p.m. ... The race was slowed by 15 yellow flags, most notably when second-running Josh Putnam's engine expired on the 21st lap; Putnam earlier lowered Bo Slay's track record, the first lap under 14 seconds at the newly resurfaced oval. ... Billy Franklin slowed with apparent mechanical woes and retired on lap nine. ... Ninth-running Ryan Crane slowed and pulled off on the 35th lap. ... The 50-lapper lasted 57 minutes and ended at 1:15 a.m. with 14 starters completing the distance. ... Mark Whitener loaded up after heat race action and Chase Holland scratched after hot laps. ... Southern Raceway is slated to host the Southern Thunder Series for its Nov. 20-21 season-ending weekend paying $5,000- and $10,000-to-win.

On the move: Bo Slay of Milton, Fla., started 18th and finished seventh.

Winner's sponsors: Winger’s Jeff Mathews Motorsports Rocket Chassis is powered by an Andy Durham Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from RV Select Inc., CURS, Super K Express, Keyser Manufacturing, Integra Shocks, Angry Elephant Tattoo and Piercing, FK Rod Ends, A-Plus Collision Center, Hoosier Tire, Simpson Race Products, Collins Signs, DirtCarLift.com, VP Race Fuels, CSR Aluminum Fabrication, Boswell Oil and WrapTech.

Points chase: After Southern: 1. Ashton Winger (370); 2. Dalton Cook (346); 3. Mark Whitener (336); 4. Wil Herrington (330); 5. Josh Putnam (322).

Current weather: Clear, 73°F

Car count: 26

Fast qualifier: Josh Putnam

Time: 13.482 seconds

Polesitter: Joseph Joiner

Heat race winners: Joseph Joiner, Dalton Cook, Josh Putnam, Ashton Winger

Next series race: September 5, Winder-Barrow Speedway (Winder, GA) $5,000