By Nick Robbins
CLEVELAND, Texas (Apr. 25, 2026) — The Southern Touring IMCA Modified Series presented by On Demand Shirts made its series debut at 105 Speedway for race number five of 2026. Nineteen Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds signed in for the $1,000-to-win, 20-lap feature. It was the first visit for several drivers and the first in a while for the rest. The stands were packed, the fans were ready, and the pressure was on.
DIY Equipment Sales and Rental heat one went to New Waverly, Texas racer Rob Slott. Sundowner Performance Diesel heat two was all Cody Leonard. 3-D Landscaping and Irrigation heat three belonged to Logan Dinsmore.
The crowd was filled with anticipation when the feature rolled out—and for good reason. The top three in points all started outside the top five.
Rob Slott jumped out to the early lead as the green dropped and stretched out an advantage over the field, while Leonard and Torres, who started sixth, battled hard for second. The caution flew on lap eight for Steven Whiteaker III after he looped his No. 88 machine in turn four.
Slott brought the field back to green with twelve laps to go. Torres used the outside to get around Leonard for second entering turn one. Whiteaker Jr. used the top of turns one and two in a dramatic three-wide run down the backstretch to move into the top five from his ninth starting spot. The yellow waved again on lap 10 for J.T. DeWitt.
Slott once again brought the field to life in the Rush Racegear by Austin Witt Restart Zone with 10 laps to go. Johnny Torres and Trent Beaver immediately went to battle for the runner-up spot, allowing Whiteaker Jr.’s No. 89 to close the gap over the next four laps.
The fans were on their feet on lap 14 when Whiteaker split the uprights off turn two to pass both Beaver and Torres and take second. The trio did it again down the front stretch, with Whiteaker second, Beaver third, and Torres fourth.
Another caution slowed the field on lap 16 for Brandon Sanderson’s No. 141B. Slott held off Whiteaker on the restart, but the field slowed again just after the white flag—once more for Sanderson—setting up a dramatic green, white, checkered finish.
On the restart, Slott went to the bottom of turn one for the first time, and that was enough for Whiteaker to skate by on the outside. Torres used the inside of turn one on the final lap to slip into second.
It was Whiteaker’s second STIMS victory of 2026 and third overall this season in the GRT Race Cars South Central Region. Torres finished second, Slott third, Dinsmore fourth, and Trevor Egbert rounded out the top five.
The race was a Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational qualifier for the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Whiteaker was already on the eligibility list to try and qualify following his March 14 win at Texana Raceway Park with the STIMS Series and his January 10 victory at I-37 Speedway.
