By Ben Deatherage
ELM MOTT, Texas (May 9, 2025) — P.J. Egbert’s first Baby Blue Harcrow Memorial win at Heart O’ Texas Speedway didn’t come easy, but the 2008 Friesen Performance IMCA Modified National champion rose to the occasion in the $3,015-to-win 30-lap Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature. Matt Guillaume, a three-time EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region titleholder, dominated the early laps after starting from the pole, while Egbert moved into second on lap 7 after slipping past reigning track champion Paul White. Guillaume built a comfortable lead but hit traffic shortly after, giving Egbert a chance to close in.
A series of mid-race cautions bunched the field, and on lap 20, Egbert muscled past Guillaume to lead on the backstretch. Reigning Baby Blue winner Cody Smith surged into second, with two-time defending Baby Blue winner Jeffrey Abbey rocketing to third after Guillaume drifted high. Abbey, the 2016 Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMod National champion, moved into the runner-up spot and stalked Egbert over the final five laps but couldn’t mount a successful challenge.
Egbert, from Copperas Cove, opened up just enough breathing room to seal the deal and earn his first win of the season in the EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region. Abbey crossed the line in second while Smith settled for third in the frantic final laps.
Jeffrey Abbey Roars from 11th to Claim Stock Car Main Event
The regularly scheduled $1,000-to-win Stock Car feature at HOT produced another epic battle as Rhome’s Jeffrey Abbey charged from 11th to score his first Southern Region win of 2025. Jason Batt, a three-time Texas State champ, led early after a lap-three pass on Blake Clark. Five-time track champion Batt kept the field at bay while 2013 Modified National champion William Gould and three-time Regional titleholder Westin Abbey battled for second.
The complexion of the race changed with seven laps remaining when Jeffrey Abbey made a stunning restart, slicing through the pack to grab second from Gould.
With five to go, Abbey slipped under Batt in turn two and took command. Batt regrouped and made a final push but couldn’t reclaim the top spot as Abbey motored to the win. Batt held on for a runner-up finish while Gould won a hotly contested three-car race for third.
Jeffrey Abbey emerges victorious after charging from 11th to take the $1,000-to-win Sunoco IMCA Stock Car main event at Heart O’ Texas Speedway. (Photo by Southern Sass Photography)
Cogburn Delivers Mother’s Day Gift with Southern SportMod Victory
Trevor Cogburn turned in a clutch performance to win the 20-lap Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMod feature at HOT, giving his mom a perfect early Mother’s Day gift in her first trip to the track in 20 years. Robinson’s Cogburn, the 2022 National Rookie of the Year, surged from 11th to challenge Landon Capps, who had overtaken Brook Mueller for the lead on lap two.
Cogburn made his move on lap 16, diving low in turn two to wrestle the lead from Capps. The two remained side-by-side as they came to the white flag, but Cogburn edged ahead to secure his fourth overall win of the season and his second 2025 victory at Heart O’ Texas. Capps settled for a hard-fought second, while Tyler Russell completed the podium in third.
Trevor Cogburn delivers a special Mother’s Day gift to his mom with a Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMod victory at Heart O’ Texas Speedway, his fourth overall win of the season. (Photo by Southern Sass Photography)
