By Ben Deatherage
LOCUST GROVE, Ark. (Mar. 28, 2026) — Peyton Taylor capitalized on early misfortune and never looked back in winning the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature at the Wimp Reed Memorial Arkansas Spring Nationals. The 25-lap, $1,500-to-win main event served as a qualifier for the B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational to be held during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s, placing Taylor on the eligibility list to attempt to qualify.
Taylor assumed command just a few laps into the race after early leader Curtis Cook, who had grabbed the point on the opening circuit from the bottom, suffered mechanical issues and was forced to retire. Once out front, Taylor — wheeling the Cadillac Chassis house car no. 11T for car owner Jack Sullivan — quickly built a sizeable advantage.
Behind him, a spirited battle for second developed between 2024 Natural State Nationals winner Hayden Linn and T.J. Herndon, the winner of the final night of the 2024 Arkansas Spring Nationals. Herndon initially secured the runner-up spot before a caution on lap five reset the field.
On the restart, Linn wrestled second away, only to have his father, 2022 Arkansas State champion Patrick Linn, join the fight. Patrick worked past his son on lap seven as the Linn duo traded positions in an entertaining exchange over the next several circuits.
While the battle for second intensified, Taylor maintained a commanding lead until a caution near the halfway point bunched the field. Patrick Linn eventually secured second and set his sights on the leader, but Taylor continued to hit his marks on the bottom.
Late cautions with four and three laps remaining set up a pair of tense restarts, but Taylor executed both flawlessly, mastering the low groove to keep his challengers at bay and score his first EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region victory of the season.
Patrick Linn finished second, while Herndon completed the podium in third. Neil Kemp, in the Tommy New-owned no. 20, advanced from 12th to finish fourth, and Dale Nelson rounded out the top five. Kemp and Tommy New each passed the most cars, with New charging from 17th to ninth.
Wallace Powers to Modified Triumph
Wendell Wallace overcame an early challenge and controlled the closing laps to capture the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature at Batesville Motor Speedway. The $1,500-to-win main event served as a Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational qualifier for the IMCA Super Nationals, with Wallace already on the eligibility list after winning the opening leg of last year’s Race For Hope 71.
Grayson Moore led the opening lap after edging Wallace at the line following a hard-fought battle at the start. Moore, who started on the front row, quickly established a strong pace and began to pull away.
Wallace, the 2023 Race for Hope 71 winner, methodically reeled in the leader as the pair worked through lapped traffic. Moore maintained the advantage until Wallace closed in and nearly made the pass on lap 16.
Two laps later, Wallace’s patience paid off as he slipped underneath Moore and beat him to the stripe on lap 18 to take over the top spot. Shortly after, Moore encountered a lapped car, allowing Wallace to stretch his advantage while Moore came under pressure from 2001 track champion Richie Tosh.
With clean air ahead, Wallace flexed his muscles over the final laps and drove away in dominant fashion to score his first Jet Racing Central Region victory of the season.
Moore held on to finish second at the line, just ahead of Tosh in third. Reigning state and track champion Brandon Smith placed fourth, while Adam Maple completed the top five. Defending event winner and 2023 Arkansas State champion Ashton Wilkey earned hard charger honors, advancing from 20th to 11th.
The event was broadcast live on IMCA TV. Catch every lap again with the IMCA TV Replay Subscription, available for just $24.99/month. And don’t miss Season 2 of the Boone Docuseries, streaming exclusively on IMCA TV.
