By Ben Deatherage
WACO, Texas (Mar. 20, 2026) — Claud Estes III capitalized on a late-race opportunity to score an emotional victory in the RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car feature at the 10th annual Gene Adamcik Memorial at Heart O’ Texas Speedway.
Louisianan Thomas Johnson, the reigning 105 Motor Speedway track champion, jumped to the lead at the drop of the green and held off an early charge from Estes. The Mannsville driver briefly took command on lap three, only for Johnson to edge back ahead at the stripe and begin building a solid advantage.
Johnson encountered lapped traffic on lap eight, but continued to maintain control until a critical moment on lap 11. After hopping over the cushion in turn four, Johnson lost momentum, allowing Estes to pounce and reclaim the lead.
From there, the 2024 track champion pulled away and never looked back, scoring his first win of the season. Daniel Estes Jr. finished second, while Landon Valenzuela came home third. Mark Zoeller earned hard charger honors with a fourth-place finish, and Johnson recovered to round out the top five.
Morris Masters Modified Field for South Central Score
Chris Morris delivered a dominant performance in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature, racing from fifth to the lead on the opening lap and never relinquishing command.
Morris powered around early leader Charles Meveney out of turn two and quickly established himself at the front of the field alongside Trevor Egbert. The two distanced themselves from the pack before an early caution slowed the pace on lap three.
On the restart, Morris again surged ahead and rebuilt his advantage. Additional cautions did little to slow his momentum, as the Thorndale driver consistently checked out from the field.
Despite encountering lapped traffic in the closing circuits, Morris remained untouchable to secure his first GRT Race Cars South Central Region victory of the season.
Egbert, the 2004 National Rookie of the Year, finished second. Paul White, the 1995 track champion, won a spirited battle for third. 2013 National champion and eight-time reigning South Central Region titlist William Gould charged from 12th to fourth to earn hard charger honors in the Kenny Fryar Motorsports no. 60 entry, while son David completed the top five.
Abbey Outduels White in Stock Car Showdown
Westin Abbey prevailed in a hard-fought Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature, battling past Paul White to claim his first EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region victory of the season.
White, pulling double duty and the 2024 IMCA Stock Car track champion, led the opening lap from the high side before an early caution reset the field.
Abbey, the two-time reigning track champion and three-time Southern Region king, stayed glued to White on the restart. The pair traded sliders in an intense duel before Abbey secured the lead for good on lap five.
From there, the Comanche driver built a comfortable margin and maintained control through the remainder of the race.
White finished second, while Doug Lorenz edged Jason Batt at the line by just 0.046 seconds in a thrilling battle for third. Batt, a five-time track champion and three-time Texas State champion, settled for fourth, and Thomas Hall Jr. completed the top five.
Cogburn Cruises to SportMod Victory
Trevor Cogburn dominated the Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMod feature, leading from the outset to earn his second win of the 2026 campaign and first at Heart O’ Texas Speedway this season.
Cogburn, the defending track champion and 2022 National Rookie of the Year, jumped to the early lead and quickly distanced himself from the field. A caution on lap three briefly halted his momentum, but the Robinson driver was strong on the restart.
Michael Bowles moved into second following the restart, while Dustin Mooney — the reigning Southern Region, Texas State, and Cotton Bowl Speedway IMCA Stock Car champion — worked his way into contention using the bottom groove.
Another caution on lap 11 regrouped the field, and Mooney capitalized with a slider to take over second. Behind them, 15-year-old Ryder Egbert battled Bowles for third as the leaders pulled away.
Cogburn remained in control throughout, pulling away once again after the restart to secure the victory. Mooney finished second after starting seventh, Bowles held on for third, Egbert was fourth, and Scooter Bates rounded out the top five.
Billy Gould Jr. earned the hard charger award, advancing from 16th to sixth.
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, streaming exclusively on IMCA TV.
