By Nick Robbins
EDNA, Texas (Oct. 17, 2026) — The Southern Touring IMCA Modified Series presented by On Demand Shirts took the green flag for its 2026 season finale at Texana Raceway Park during the Lance and Martha Toler Last Call Racing Texana Clash. Two separate $1,500-to-win shows produced two different winners, with one grabbing his first victory of the season.
The first heat race went three-wide at the green flag, with Steven Whiteaker Jr. storming through the middle of the track to take the lead from fourth off turn two. Reigning series champion Jared Maupin got loose entering turn three, leaving Shawn Sandegren with nowhere to go as contact brought out the caution.
The second attempt saw polesitter Brian Machicek hold off a charge from Logan Dinsmore to lead the opening lap. Dinsmore took command on lap two and led through lap seven, but Whiteaker grabbed the lead off turn four coming to the white flag. Whiteaker held on to win, with Dinsmore second.
The second heat saw Cody Leonard walk away from the field while Garrett “G-Money” Gregory battled from the third row to finish second.
Johnny Torres drew the No. 1 pill in the redraw, putting him on the pole for the 20-lap, $1,500-to-win main event with Gregory alongside.
Torres led the field through the first set of corners, but a push entering turn three allowed Gregory to lead the opening lap. The caution flew before lap two was completed for Rob Sanderson and Rookie of the Year Steven Whiteaker III.
After a couple of attempts to resume racing, Gregory continued to show the way until a bobble in lapped traffic on lap 12 handed the lead to Torres in the No. 66.
Torres began pulling away through traffic until a lap 15 altercation between Sandegren and Whiteaker brought out another caution.
Torres held off the field over the remaining laps to take his first victory of 2026, with Gregory, Maupin, Ryan Doyon, and Leonard rounding out the top five.
Johnny Torres celebrates his $1,500 Southern Touring IMCA Modified Series victory with his team on Oct. 16, at Texana Raceway Park in Edna, Texas. Torres captured Friday’s 20-lap Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature during the Lance and Martha Toler Last Call Racing Texana Clash for his first GRT Race Cars South Central Region victory of the season. (Courtesy Photo)
Saturday’s finale brought everyone back to Texana Raceway Park for another full program with $1,500 on the line.
The first heat brought highs and lows for the Whiteaker Racing team, with Steven Whiteaker Jr. taking the victory over Doyon while Steven Whiteaker III lost an engine just after taking the white flag.
The second heat saw heartbreak before the green flag even dropped as Logan Dinsmore suffered an engine failure while lining up for the start. The struggles continued when Gregory retired before completing the opening lap.
Through all the drama, Brian Harbison ran away with the top spot while Cameron Dinsmore and Leonard fought tooth and nail for second, with Dinsmore ultimately claiming the position.
When the green flag dropped on the 20-lap main event, polesitter Leonard took the lead and held off a hard-charging Whiteaker until the caution flew on lap nine.
As the green came back out, Whiteaker, Leonard, and Maupin went three-wide into turn one. Whiteaker used his momentum on the high side to take the lead away from Leonard.
Another caution followed on lap 11 when Doyon and Cameron Dinsmore got together in turn three.
The remaining nine laps went caution-free, with no challenges for Whiteaker as he cruised to the $1,500 victory.
Friday’s triumph was Torres’ first GRT Race Cars South Central Region victory of 2026, while Saturday’s win marked Whiteaker’s sixth regional victory of the season.
Both Whiteaker and Torres earned eligibility to attempt to qualify for the 2027 Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational through their respective victories. The invitational will be held during next September’s Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s at Boone Speedway.
