By Ben Deatherage
WACO, Texas (Mar. 25, 2026) — A cherished Central Texas tradition returns in a big way as the 7th Annual Baby Blue Harcrow Memorial roars back to life on April 24 at Heart O’ Texas Speedway, bringing with it one of the richest Sunoco IMCA Stock Car paydays in the Lone Star State. The special event comes during a milestone season for the Waco oval, which celebrates 60 years of racing in 2026, and once again honors the life and legacy of “Baby Blue” Harcrow.
A $3,000 payday awaits the winner of the 25-car, $300-to-start feature, with additional bonuses including a $315 Brazos Roofing Hard Luck Award in tribute to Baby Blue’s iconic numbers 3 and 15, a $250 Hard Charger award, and a Fastest Lap bonus.
The Baby Blue Harcrow Memorial will also serve as a qualifier for the B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational, to be held during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s in September.
More than just a race, the event carries deep personal meaning for event promoter Markiss Harcrow and his family.
Named in honor of his mother, Ellade — affectionately known as “Baby Blue” — the memorial celebrates a woman who broke barriers in her era. At a time when women were often limited to powderpuff events, she chose instead to race head-to-head with the men.
“She never wanted to compete with the women, she wanted to compete with the men, and so she did,” said Harcrow. “She loved the races and loved singing the national anthem.”
Her presence at Heart O’ Texas Speedway extended far beyond her driving days. Even after retiring from competition in the mid-2000s, she remained a fixture at the track, often delivering the national anthem — sometimes dressed in formal attire — before Friday night races.
Her journey into racing began through her husband and Markiss’ father, Warren Harcrow, a lifelong racer who competed in the region before the current speedway was built in 1966 and continued into the late 2000s. Despite coming from a “city folk” background and initially facing family disapproval, Ellada embraced the sport, adopting the nickname “Baby Blue” in homage to her striking blue eyes — a name that became synonymous with her racing identity.
“This is a very special event to me and my family,” Harcrow added. “My job is to make sure the racers, the fans, and the race track at the end of the night get something out of it and have a great time.”
Since its inception, the Baby Blue Harcrow Memorial has produced a strong list of winners. G.W. Egbert IV captured the inaugural event in 2020, while Jeffrey Abbey has been the most successful driver in the race’s history with two victories coming in 2022 and 2024. Cody Smith added his name to the list in 2023, and most recently P.J. Egbert scored the 2025 triumph. The 2021 edition was rained out.
A full format breakdown for the 2026 event will be released soon on the Baby Blue Harcrow Memorial Facebook page. Sponsorship opportunities remain available for the event. Those interested can contact Markiss Harcrow at 254-855-7576.
Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds and Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMods will join the program, making for a full night of Speedway Motor IMCA Weekly-sanctioned action.
Fans unable to attend in person can catch every lap live on IMCA TV.
For the latest updates, visit the Heart O’ Texas Speedway website and follow both the track and event Facebook pages.
