By Nick Robbins
PAIGE, Texas (July 25, 2026) — The Southern Touring IMCA Modified Series presented by On Demand Shirts returned to Cotton Bowl Speedway, where 19 Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds signed in for the 20-lap main event. A hard-fought battle for the lead triggered the race’s biggest incident, and it was the driver who started sixth who was left standing at the end.
DIY Equipment Sales and Rental Heat One was won by Cody Leonard, Sundowner Performance Diesel Heat Two went to Johnny Torres, and 3-D Landscaping and Irrigation Heat Three was captured by Cody Tidwell.
Torres carried his heat win into the feature and jumped to the point from the inside of the front row, with Leonard alongside him and Tidwell in tow. The first caution flew on lap three for a tangle involving John Owens, Wyatt Bruce, and Brandon Sanderson, and the field slowed again on lap eight when Talon Minten got out of shape. Both incidents allowed the field to bunch back up behind Torres.
The night’s turning point came on lap nine. Racing Torres hard for the lead, Tidwell made contact with the No. 66 entering turn three and sent Torres hard into the wall, ending his night. Leonard and Whiteaker Jr. were also collected in the incident but were able to continue. Leonard inherited the point on the restart, but Maupin made a move in turn one on the next lap to take over the top spot.
Maupin held on over the final laps to earn his fourth Southern Touring IMCA Modified Series presented by On Demand Shirts victory of the season and his fifth GRT Race Cars South Central Region win of 2026. The feature also served as a Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational qualifier, with Maupin already on the eligibility list to attempt to qualify for the event at the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s.
Leonard crossed the line second, but a post-race inspection penalty cost him two positions, promoting Whiteaker Jr. to the runner-up spot and elevating G.W. Egbert IV to third. Whiteaker Jr.’s march from ninth on the grid to second at the line was good enough to earn him the Mike Terry Motorsports Hard Charger Award. Leonard was scored fourth after the penalty, with Logan Dinsmore rounding out the top five.
The Southern Touring IMCA Modified Series presented by On Demand Shirts returns to action Saturday, Aug. 8, at Texana Raceway Park in Edna, Texas.
