By J.M. Hallas
PLEASANTON, Texas (Jan. 10, 2026) — The $2,000-to-win, 30-lap Texas Showdown IMCA Modified finale at I-37 Speedway started with Steven Whiteaker Jr. and Cody Laney on the front row. With the track sweep bonus already busted, the only remaining bonus was for the best combined finish by the ODS/Southern Touring IMCA Modified Series, setting up a winner-take-all showdown between the two front starters. When the green waved, Laney shot to the bottom first into turn one, but Whiteaker powered off the top to lead lap one ahead of Laney, Brenda Kirby-Morris, Jordan Grabouski in the Johnny Torres-owned no. 66, and Dean Abbey.
Grabouski worked past Kirby-Morris for third and then battled Laney in a classic high-low duel before a lap-seven caution slowed the field. On the restart, Whiteaker, Laney, and Friday night winner Grabouski went three-wide into turn one, with Abbey sneaking past Laney for third and then taking second before another tangle brought out the yellow. When racing resumed, Grabouski briefly nosed ahead from the bottom, but Whiteaker again surged off the top to keep control.
Just as Whiteaker began inching away, another caution flew on lap 14. At halfway it was Whiteaker leading Grabouski, Abbey, Laney, and Spencer Hartwick, but Grabouski was soon forced to pull off with brake problems, opening a gap between Whiteaker and the Abbey-Laney fight for second. Another yellow followed on lap 19, and Abbey’s failed challenge on the restart sent him sliding across the front stretch with steering issues, allowing Whiteaker to escape again.
Jared Maupin then moved past Hartwick for third, bringing Thursday night winner Izac Mallicoat along into fourth, while Whiteaker maintained a few-car-length cushion over Laney with five laps to go, both running the top.
In the closing laps, Whiteaker, from Robstown, maintained the gap, negotiated a slower car, and scored the win — his first of the season in the GRT Race Cars South Central Region — making it four different winners in as many nights. The win also placed Whiteaker on the eligibility list to try and qualify for the 2026 Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational, to be run at the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s in September.
Laney finished second in the Mike Kirby-provided no. 5K, with Maupin third. Mallicoat and Hartwick rounded out the top five in fourth and fifth.
Williams, Take Three in Stock Cars
At the start of the $1,500-to-win, 25-lap Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature, it was Cody Smith first into turn one, but Shelby Williams powered off the top to lead at the line. Smith fell into second ahead of Mason Martin, Shawn Graham, and Jacob Slough. Martin gave the top a try — a foreshadowing of things to come — before returning to the bottom.
Martin went to the top and passed Smith for second on the restart before Alsobrook’s second loop slowed the field again. Martin stayed on the top with Wednesday night winner Cameron Starry slipping past Graham for fourth. Smith followed Martin to the top and got a close look as Martin just kissed the front-stretch wall. Starry then pulled alongside Smith for third. Martin was closing on Williams for the lead at the halfway point, with Smith, Starry, and Graham completing the top five.
Martin made a strong run at Williams, but a spun car on lap 15 brought out the yellow. Williams got a couple of car lengths on the restart, with Smith and Graham side by side for third. Martin again closed on Williams until he jumped the turn-four cushion with five to go.
That gave the Bonham driver breathing room, and Martin eventually spun off turn four coming to the white flag, leaving Williams to cruise to his third win of the weekend in EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region competition for 2026.
Smith and Starry finished second and third, with Graham fourth and Slough fifth.
