Abbey Charges Late to Mid-America Stock Car Championship Win at Batesville

Feature, Modified, News, Stock Car

Jeffrey Abbey of Rhome, Texas, earned his first Mid-America Stock Car Championship win on Sept. 27 at Batesville Motor Speedway, collecting $7,500 plus a $500 Schoenfeld Headers bonus. (Track Photo)

By Ben Deatherage

LOCUST GROVE, Ark. (Sept. 27, 2025) — The $7,500-to-win Mid-America Stock Car Championship produced a thriller Saturday night at Batesville Motor Speedway, with Jeffrey Abbey of Rhome, Texas, charging late to capture his first-ever win in the marquee event. Abbey also pocketed a $500 bonus for displaying a Schoenfeld Headers logo on his car, bringing his total payday to $8,000.

Peyton Taylor paced the opening circuits in the Brandon & Jodi Simon-owned no. 20PT, building a three-second advantage before a lap-16 caution erased his lead. Taylor pulled away again on the restart, but Iowa’s Dallon Murty, a two-time Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s winner, closed in from second.

After another restart on lap 30, Murty worked the high side to take over the top spot on lap 33. Taylor refused to back down, and the pair traded the lead until Taylor nosed back ahead on lap 38 and began to build an edge. Meanwhile, Curtis Cook, piloting the Jayson and Tonya Hefley no. 82, pressured Murty for second, allowing Taylor some breathing room.

Cook claimed the runner-up spot on lap 44, but Taylor’s hopes ended with a flat right-rear tire with five laps remaining. On the ensuing restart, Murty and Cook battled for the lead when Abbey found acres of room on the top side. He roared into the lead on lap 47 and pulled away for the $7,500 victory.

Patrick Linn stormed from 15th to finish second, with Murty third. Cook crossed in fourth after starting 12th, and 2022 Arkansas State Stock Car champion Haydan Hartwick rallied 18th-to-fifth in an impressive drive.

Abbey is now automatically qualified for the 2026 B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational to be ran at next year’s Super Nationals.

35 IMCA Stock Cars made the trip to the event.

Hartwick Hustles to Modified Domination

In Friesen Performance IMCA Modified action, Quitman’s Spencer Hartwick charged to the front and never looked back, taking the 20-lap main event.

Dillon Knight of Tennessee led the opening seven laps before a caution slowed the pace. Hartwick seized the opportunity on the restart, driving to the front and checking out on the field.

Knight held on for second, while two-time reigning track champion Adam Maples claimed third after a spirited battle for the runner-up spot. Brandon Smith advanced from 11th to finish fourth, and 2023 Arkansas State champion Ashton Wilkey rounded out the top five.

The entire night of racing was broadcast live on IMCA TV. Replay every lap with the IMCA TV Replay Subscription, available now for just $24.99/month. And don’t miss Season 2 of the Boone Docuseries, now streaming exclusively on IMCA TV.

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