Key notes: Matt Cooper and Wil Herrington made contact in the first heat race, with Cooper's car briefly leaving the ground before slamming the turn-three wall. ... Herrington is entered in the Steve Lampley-owned No. 33 Rocket. ... Jeffrey Ledford (lap four) and Daniel Adam (lap seven) each had turn-two spins in the second heat, but avoided contact. ... Ryan Unzicker avoided contact after two turn-one spins in the third heat. ... The MARS Late Model Championship Series opens a tripleheader weekend with Friday’s 40-lap, $5,000-to-win debut at Benton Speedway. … Tanner English of Benton, Ky., finished runner-up to Billy Moyer in June 23’s DIRTcar Summer Nationals return to Benton Speedway en route to winning the 2026 Hell Tour title. … Moyer, of Batesville, Ark., picked up his 102nd career Summer Nationals win at Benton. … Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill., was among other MARS Series regulars who competed June 23 at Benton, finishing third. … Watch live on FloRacing.

Who to watch: Tanner English of Benton, Ky., looks for one spot better at Benton after finishing runner-up in June’s Summer Nationals stop.

Points chase: Before Benton: 1. Ryan Unzicker (782); 2. Jason Feger (699); 3. Dylan Thornton (670); 4. Daniel Adam (549); 5. Bob Gardner (543).

Current weather: Clear, 75°F

Car count: 23

Fast qualifier: Tanner English

Time: 13.716 seconds

Polesitter: Tanner English

Heat race winners: Tanner English, Billy Moyer, Jason Feger

Next series race: August 29, I-55 Federated Raceway Park (Pevely, MO) $5,000