Whitmire is Saturday winner at I-37

Results

Tanner Whitmire scored the Saturday night Friesen Performance IMCA Modified victory at I-37 Speedway. (Photo by Rebs Racing Photos)

By J.M. Hallas

PLEASANTON, Texas (April 30, 2022) – After a two week hiatus, it was time to fire up the engines on the ¼ mile semi-banked I-37 Speedway dirt oval Saturday and Tanner Whitmire was back in victory lane after a lengthy hiatus of his own.

At the start of the 20-lap Friesen Performance IMCA Modified main it was Rick Green with the lead chased by Jared Maupin, Whitmire, Ryan Doyon and Chris Morris. Robert Liese spun to infield and collected Marlin Samford as he tried to pull back on track. On the restart, Maupin tried the high side on Green with Whitmire looking to go three-wide for the lead. 

Whitmire took second and began to look low on Green while Morris got by Maupin for third. Whitmire then tried the high side on Green and got a good run down the back stretch, taking the point on lap nine. At the crossed flags it was Whitmire, Green, Morris, Maupin and Jamie Campbell in the top five.

As Green tried to make the bottom work, Morris closed in for second. While Green and Morris battled, Whitmire was able to slowly creep away. Morris was able to get second from Green with three to go. Whitmire had about an eight-car length advantage on Morris as he scored the victory.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been up here,” said Whitmire. “I think the last time I was here we rained out and I was worried I was bringing the rain again tonight.”  

“I stuck my nose down low and knew Green saw me and he started to change his line up a little bit. I knew I was going to have move him or change my line, and I don’t drive like that,” he continued. “So I changed my line to the top and hoped to make it work in (turns) 1-2. I was able to keep the momentum up and go around on the outside.”

“I’ve been out of Modifieds for 15 years or so and it’s my fifth race back into it. We won one a couple weeks ago and had a couple seconds. To be able to come out tonight and with a stout field definitely feels good. I picked up this car in January, Zane (DeVilbiss) has been top notch in help. I wouldn’t be here in victory lane without him.”

Related Articles

Feature

Dinsmore dominant in STIMS scramble

PLEASANTON, Texas (April 27, 2024) – Logan Dinsmore made back-to-back visits to victory lane when the South Texas IMCA Modified Series returned to I-37 Speedway on Saturday night. Twenty Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds lined up for the four-wide salute before taking the green. Raymond McSpadden led the pack into turn one, but Cody Tidwell got a run up top to snag the lead pursued by Chris Morris, McSpadden, Rick Green and John Hortch. Yellows waved on laps three and four and on the second restart, Dinsmore rocketed to the high side, sailing past Morris and Tidwell for the lead. The top three would break away while Jared Maupin worked his way to fourth. Dinsmore was inching away at the crossed flags and had half a straightaway on his closest competition before another yellow, on lap 16. With a clean track ahead, Dinsmore had to hold off Morris and Maupin as the top three got away while Green, Carroll and McSpadden were three wide for fourth. Dinsmore inched out to a couple car lengths to grab [Read More]

Results

Sunday win at I-37 goes to Minten

By J.M. Hallas PLEASANTON, Texas (April 22) – Talon Minten outlasted the field to take home Sunday’s IMCA Modified main event at I-37 Speedway. Minten got the lead from early point man Chris Morris, who drives with only hand controls, then outpaced the remaining field for the win. “We had a good car,” said Minten. “With the wrecks and cautions I’m glad I started up front and stayed clear of it all. The track wasn’t too bad for our feature, I felt like the top line was dominant so whoever got up there first would likely stay out front.” Dillon Tindall was second and Morris ended his night in third. The scheduled Saturday show at Pleasanton was rescheduled because of inclement weather and wet pit conditions.

Feature

Morris is magnificent in IMCA Modified feature win at I-37

By J.M. Hallas PLEASANTON, Texas (April 6) – Everyone loves a first-time winner and when that person overcomes a physical challenge, even his competitors show their respect.  Using only hand controls, Chris Morris dominated the IMCA Modified 20-lapper Saturday at I-37 Speedway and grabbed the victory much to the excitement of the crowd. There was hardly a dry eye in the place.  Morris, who started ninth, saw the bottom open up on green and quickly moved up behind leader Jamie Campbell, Bill Pittaway, and defending track champ Rick Green. He picked off third from Green then got by Pittaway for second. Using the bottom, Morris pulled alongside Campbell on lap three and had the top spot on lap four, bringing Green along to second. From there, he began to stretch out his advantage.  Cody Leonard, who denied Morris his first-ever win in the season opener, was on the charge moving up to fourth. Stretching out his lead to a full straightaway, Morris only had slower traffic to contend with. Even that didn’t deter him as [Read More]