Janssen Shines on Opening Night of Sparkling City Classic Modifieds

Feature, Modified, News, Stock Car

Drew Janssen of Pella, Iowa, celebrates in victory lane after winning the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature on opening night of the Sparkling City Classic at South Texas Race Ranch in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Dec. 11. (Photo by Tim Aylwin Photography)

By Ben Deatherage

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (Dec. 11, 2025) — Drew Janssen powered to victory in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified 20-lap main event on opening night of the inaugural Sparkling City Classic at South Texas Race Ranch. The Pella, Iowa, driver wheeled the Kyle Wisdom-owned no. 91 to the $1,000 triumph in the first night of action for the new event. The win also placed Janssen on the eligibility list for the 2026 Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational to be held during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s.

Janssen got to the point on the opening circuit and quickly settled into a strong rhythm, building a comfortable advantage as green-flag laps clicked off. Once the race found its flow, three-time Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMod National champion Dean Abbey closed the gap and began applying heavy pressure to the leader. A caution with ten laps remaining reset the field, and on the restart, 2012 Super Nationals Modified champion Jeff Taylor surged past Abbey to take over second.

Janssen again pulled away until a late yellow with three laps to go erased his margin. Taylor took one final shot on the restart, but Janssen was sharp when it mattered most, holding his line and driving away to seal the win. Taylor finished second, with Abbey third. 2012 Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock B&B Racing Chassis Southern Region champion Chase Neill crossed in fourth, followed by 2008 IMCA Modified National champion P.J. Egbert in fifth.

Starry Tops Stock Car Field

Cameron Starry opened the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car portion of the Sparkling City Classic with a commanding performance, topping a 34-car field to capture the $1,000-to-win, 20-lap feature. The Corpus Christi native, a 2024 Dakota Classic Tour champion and former IMCA Modified track champion at South Texas Race Ranch in 2022, led early and never relinquished control.

Starry checked out from the field before cautions at the midpoint and again on lap 12 tightened things up. Boone Evans powered past Mike “Wahoo” Albertsen on a restart to briefly challenge for second, but Starry was flawless up front, pulling away once more to secure the opening-night victory. 2023 Lone Star Stock Car Tour champion Cody Smith finished second over Albertsen, while 13th-starting 2016 Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMod National champion Jeffrey Abbey and Evans completed the top five.

The win earned Starry eligibility for the 2026 B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational at the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s.

The event was broadcast live on IMCA TV. Catch every lap again with the IMCA TV Replay Subscription, available for just $24.99/month. And don’t miss Season 2 of the Boone Docuseries, now streaming exclusively on IMCA TV.

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