By J.M. Hallas
PLEASANTON, Texas (Jan. 9, 2026) — The 25-lap, $1,500-to-win IMCA Modified main for night three of the Texas Showdown at I-37 came to green with Jordan Grabouski and Dean Abbey staying wheel to wheel into turn one. Steven Whiteaker Jr. had a big run coming off the very top, but it was Grabouski leading lap one, chased by Whiteaker, Abbey, Cody Laney, and Jeff Taylor in the top five. Abbey used the bottom to take second from Whiteaker on lap two, with Taylor grabbing third a lap later.
The yellow waved on lap six, and when things got back under green, Grabouski got away while Laney tried the high side and fell back, and G.W. Egbert IV moved into the top five. Halfway through, Grabouski had built a half-straightaway advantage over Abbey, Taylor, Whiteaker, and Egbert.
With five to go, Abbey was closing slightly as Grabouski encountered traffic. Each lap, Abbey picked up a car length or so, while Grabouski worked through slower cars, all of which were running the bottom. With two laps to go, Abbey was on Grabouski’s bumper as they both got hung up behind a slower car. The Beatrice, Nebraska racer was able to hold off Abbey to score the victory in the Johnny Torres-owned No. 66 entry.
The win was Grabouski’s first of the season in the GRT Race Cars South Central Region and earned him a spot on the eligibility list to try and qualify for the 2026 Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational at this year’s Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. He also became the third different winner in as many nights at the event.
Abbey finished second with Taylor in third. Whiteaker and Egbert rounded out the top five in fourth and fifth.
Another Stock Car Win for Williams
The two previous night’s winners, Shelby Williams and Cameron Starry, started on the front row for the $1,000-to-win, 20-lap Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature. Williams was first into turn one, grabbing the point ahead of Starry, while Dan Mackenthun, Cody Leonard, and Mason Martin went three-wide for third. As Williams quickly crept away, Leonard tried the top while battling Mackenthun and Johnny Torres for fourth.
At the crossed flags, it was Williams, Starry, Martin, Leonard, and Mackenthun in the top five. Mackenthun retook fourth from Leonard, with Torres following him into fifth. Williams caught the back of the field on lap 15 while still holding a comfortable lead, but that advantage disappeared when a late caution set up a green-white-checkered finish.
The single-file restart was clean, with everyone hugging the bottom, and Williams, from Bonham, parked his mount in victory lane for the second straight night in EQ Cylinder Heads competition.
Starry completed the night in second, with Martin rounding out the podium in third. Mackenthun and Torres were credited with fourth and fifth.
