TUSCUMBIA, Ala. — Jimmy Thomas drove the Scorpion Race Cars Special to a Night 1 victory in the King of the Crate 40 for the Newsome Raceway Parts Crate Racin’ USA Dirt Late Model Series on Friday night at North Alabama Speedway.

Thomas took the lead on the opening lap and went wire-to-wire for 40 caution-free laps.

“If you would have asked me earlier tonight if I thought I could win this race, I would have had my doubts, but I have to thank my Dad and my crew for giving me a fast car tonight,” Thomas said. “We might be able to find some more speed out of it for tomorrow night, but we check everything over and put it in the box. It’s good!”

Thomas showed patience in heavy lapped traffic and was able to maintain a big lead throughout the race. Thomas took a 2.549-second margin of victory over the defending King of the Crate Champion Jeremy Shaw in the Bud Coley Trucking Special.

Josh Putnam L moved from fifth to third in the closing laps of the race in the Jippy Auto Sales Special. Putnam’s late race charge earned him the VP Racing Lubricants Slick Move of the Race Award. Newsome Raceway Parts Crate Racin’ USA Dirt Late Model Series point leader Wil Herrington was fourth in the 5m Construction Rocket.

Chase Walls took the fifth spot in the Powers Machine Special.

The finish:

Jimmy Thomas, Jeremy Shaw, Josh Putnam, Wil Herrington, Chase Walls, Oakley Gillespie, Bryan Marsh, Corey Dunn, Matt Cooper, Tyler Wood, Cruz Skinner, Oakley Johns, Parker Martin, Jordan Hedger, Cale Finley, Justin Litchford, T.J. Brittain, Billy Flannagan Jr., Shay Knight, Matthew Brocato, Jody Knowles, Ben Brocato, Shane Stephens, Troy Dixon, Jadon Frame, Trynt Lloyd.