

2/3/2025
I-37 Speedway
Texas Showdown by Comanche Concrete @ I-37 Speedway 1/31-1/2/25
By JM Hallas
Pleasanton, TX., February 1st, 2025 The show must go on…..
It was finally time to start setting the fields in the IMCA Modifieds a Limited Modifieds with six drivers from each class automatically locking in to Sundays, yes Sun-day, Texas Showdown main events for the money. The Factory Stocks and Fireballs would run their full shows for the night, with the Factory Stocks returning Sunday for another shot at $1000 to win.
With mid-week rains pushing the dates back a day, it also made for tricky and rapidly changing tracks conditions after Fridays pretty much hammer-down, around the top, practice sessions for all three classes. The Friday practice was timed giving $200-$100-$50 to the three fastest in the IMCA Modifieds, Limited Modifieds and Factory Stocks. Saturday's show started off a bit dry and continued getting drier. The heats were pretty much one lane around the bottom. Some work at intermission made for some better conditions with drivers searching high and low in the qualifiers.
Could the three fastest continue their momentum? Would they be the top three finishers in Sundays big money races. Which had its own tri-fecta contest to pick the top 3(after tech), in order, to finish. 100 bucks is 100 bucks, right?
The first IMCA Modified qualifier saw Cody Thompson take off leaving Garrett Gregory, Chris Morris and Brenda Kirby scrapping for second. Morris got the spot followed by Kirby. The crowd roared as Kirby threw a slide job on her husband Morris for the spot. Morris would spin trying to return the favor. Thompson went on to the win with Gregory retaking second for the transfer spot.
IMCA Modified A-Qualifier 1(top 2 to Sunday A-main)
25c Cody Thompson, 77 Garrett Gregory, 9z Chris Zogg, 5b Brenda Kirby, 5r Ryan Doyon, 8jr Logan Dinsmore, 03 RC Whitewell, 11x Brian Harbison, b1 Jason Barnhill, 94 Chris Morris, 7m Daniel Miller, 82 Rick Green, 55 Rick Talley, 128 Keith Brown jr., 22 Talon Minten, 37 John Neal Reid, 17 Cody Tidwell---dns
So you like slide jobs? The second qualifier was filled with sliders, crossovers between Izac Mallicoat, Jordan Grabouski and Jeremy Mills. After falling back to third, Mallicoat found a hidden gem around the bottom then snuck up on Mills and Grabo to score the win. Grabouski would hold off Mills for second.
IMCA Modified A-Qualifier 2(top 2 to Sunday A-main)
11 Izac Mallicoat, 30 Jordan Grabouski, 10 Jeremy Mills, 82m Jared Maupin, 26 Dean Abbey, 89 Steven Whiteaker jr., 18 j Jake Huckaby, 9m Marcus Mikulecak, 154 Justin Ingalls, 48 Rob Slott, 61 Michael Ables, 87 John Webb, 48 Ryan Slott, 366 David Gibson, 711 Kade Ogle---dns, 8g Greg Dinsmore---dns
If you blinked during the third qualifier you could have easily missed it. Trevor Fitz and Cameron Starry got out front and it was all over but the fight for third on back in a race that covered the 15-lap in only four minutes.
IMCA Modified A-Qualifier 3(top 2 to A-main)
28 Trevor Fitz, 8js Cameron Starry, 14x Josh Landers, 24 Owen Barnhill, 60 William Gould, 5f Drake Finley, 7w Wesley Wise, 163 Hardy Henderson, 51 Eddie Martin, p1 Paul White, 12 Reed Payne, 3j Josh Cain, 749 Vince Ogle, 10p Wade Pistole jr., 73 Jacob Hortsch, 12s John Smelly
IMCA Modified heats
Heat 1; 77x Garrett Gregory, 25c Cody Thompson, 49 Ryan Slott, 163 Hardy Henderson, 14x Josh Landers, 749 Vince Ogle, 55 Rick Talley, 366 David Gibson, 8g Greg Dinsmore, 17 Cody Tidwell
Heat 2; 28 Trevor Fitz, 82m Jared Maupin, 5b Brenda Kirby, 9z Chris Zogg, 3j Josh Cain, 12 Reed Payne, 26 Dean Abbey, 48 Rob Slott, 51 Eddie Martin(dq--chip)
Heat 3; 8j Cameron Starry, 30 Jordan Grabouski, p1 Paul White, 5r Ryan Doyon, 61 Chris Ables , 11x Brian Harbison, 154 Justin Ingalls, 7m Daniel Miller, 12m John Smelly, 73 Jacob Hortsch
Heat 4; 11 Izac Millicoat, 7w Wesley Wise, 1b Jason Barnhill, b24 Owen Barnhill , 89 Steven Whiteaker, 9m Marcus Mikulencak,128 Keith Brown jr, 18j Jake Kuckaby, 82 Rick Green, 10p Wade Pistole jr.
Heat 5; 94 Chris Morris, 10 Jeremy Mills, 711 Kade Ogle, 22 Talon Minten, 03 RC Whitwell, 8jr Logan Dinsmore, 5f Drake Finley, 60 William Gould, 87 John Webb, 37 John Neal Reid(dq)
Trent Beaver got by Johnny Torres early in the 15-lap Limited Modified qualifier. Torres tried to hang on, but broke a transmission ending his bid. JJ Jennings, Tanner Whitmire and Jason Gore had a good battle for second with Jennings eventually getting the spot.
Limited Modified Qualifier 1(top 2 to A-main)
14 Trent Beaver, 26g JJ Jennings, 101 Tanner Whitmire, 21 Dustin Mooney, 217 Jason Gore, 63 Shane Hoefling, 416 Chase Neill, 84 Justin Collins, 10 Earl Alsobrook, 15 Mike Terry, 17a Aaron Alley, 66 Johnny Torres, x88 Duane Biddle, 00 Oliver Billingsley, 28 Collin Hodges--dns
At the start it looked like Jared Maupin would take off and run away with the second qualifier while Mason Martin and Ryan Harris fought for second. Harris would have trouble and retire. A late caution bunched the field giving Martin a last shot at Maupin but he wasn't able to capitalize.
Limited Modified Qualifier 2(top 2 to A-main)
96 Jared Maupin, 31 Mason Martin, 14c James Cole, 88 Steven Whiteaker III, 211 Chase Hatton, bd1 Gilbert Perez, 44 Brandon Welker, 95 Sterling Tausch, 343 Justin Johnson, 10d Clint Everage, 199 Ryan Harris, 13m Benjamin Mikulencak, 58 Charles Flanagan, 164 Jason Downey---dns, 166 Sherrill Lewis---dns
Josh Cain, Cody Smith and Dean Abbey were three wide for the lead in the third qualifier. Cain got the spot but gave it up to Abbey early. Abbey, Smith and Cain continued to slug it out until they all found the top and Abbey inched ahead leaving Smith and Cain battling for second.
Limited Modified Qualifier 3(top 2 to A-main
7 Dean Abbey, 25 Cody Smith, 55 Josh Cain, 94 Allen Torres, 17e Eric Cegielski, 10c Colton Birmingham, 2h Hunter O'Keefe, 51w Wyatt McDonald, 58k James Kelly, 4164 AJ Daniels, 1* Jacon Martin, 3 Charles Riley, 11t Tom Grothues, 87 Nathan Titzman, 91 Adam Schach
Limited Modified heats
Heat 1; 96 Jared Maupin, 1* Jacob Martin, 17e Eric Ciegalski, 416 Chase Neill, x88 Duane Biddle, 15t Mike Terry, 166 Sherrill Lewis
Heat 2; 25c Cody Smith, 55 Josh Cain, 7 Dean Abbey, 88 Steven Whiteaker III, 13 Benjamin Mikulencak, 94 Allen Torres, 3 Charles Riley, 91 Adam Schach, 58k James Kelly
Heat 3; 66 Johnny Torres, 26g JJ Jennings, 21 Dustin Mooney, 211 Chase Hatton, 2h Hunter O'Keefe, 14c James Cole, 17a Aaron Alley, 10 Earl Alsobrook, 11t Tom Grothues
Heat 4; 14 Trent Beaver, 217 Jason Gore, 84 Justin Collins, 44x Brandon Welker, 343 Justin Johnson, 51w Wyatt McDonald, 63 Shane Hoefling, 164 Jason Downey, 58 Charles Flanagan(dq--spoiler)
Heat 5; 199 Ryan Harris, bd1 Gilbert Perez, 31 Mason Martin, 10c Colton Birmingham, 101 Tanner Whitemire, 4164 AJ Daniels, 95s Sterling Tausch, 10d Clint Everage, 28 Colin Hodges, 87 Nathan Titzman(dq--light)
Faulkner Flies to Factory Funds
As the Factory Stock feature took off it was two of the class top dogs, Dalton Faulkner and Justin Whitehead side by side until Faulkner got the spot trailed by Whitehead, Dustin Hurley, Paul Reyes and Rusty Head. Zach Taylor brought out and early caution. On the restart Whitehead tried Faulkner on top getting along side.
As the leaders battled, Frank Lackey had his car spit out the drive shaft, but the flagman had his headset go down unable to here the call from race control for yellow. Drivers could hear the call on their racecievers, some slowed with others going by the green light. Once explained, drivers seemed to take it all in stride and revert to their position when transponders were stopped.
On the restart Faulkner got a good jump with Hurley taking second from Whitehead and Allen Torres getting fourth from Ryan Doyon. Whitehead retook the spot leaving Hurley side by side with Torres. At the crossed flags it was Faulkner, Whitehead, Torres, Hurley and Doyon. As the lead duo crept away, Torres, Hurley and Doyon battled for third. That came to head when it was three wide around a lapped car with Hurley getting turned head on into the front stretch wall.
Once back to green Faulkner got out by several car lengths on Whitehead with Head side by side with Kasey Krauss and Dillon Gaither looking to make it three wide. Faulkner(Cut and Shoot) was able to hold the margin and take the win in his John Lieta Farms, CRS Suspension, Star Septic Solutions, Supreme Vinyl & Graphics, Dirt Defender, PRC, VK DAF Chassis.
Factory Stocks
27 Dalton Faulker, 36 Justin Whitehead, 94 Allen Torres, 5r Ryan Doyon, 41 Dillon Gaither, 55 Rusty Head, 53k Kasey Krauss, 717 GW Egbert, 55m Dustin Mooney, 8c Cameron Dinsmore, 44k Muchael Keylich, 27a Zach Freeman, 2k Keihl VanBlarcum, 4d Dustin Hurley, 10 Scott Jerkins, 24 Paul Reyes, 7 Johnny Walker Brown, 757 Stephanie Green, 329af Marcus Buckley, 141 Frank Lackey, 199 Zach Taylor, 21g Steve Grantz
Factory Stock heats
Heat 1; 27 Dalton Falkner, 94 Allen Torres, 55r Rusty Head, 55m Dustin Mooney, 2k Keihl VanBlarcum, 27a Zach Freeman, 757 Stephanie Green, 8c Cameron Dinsmore
Heat 2; 24 Paul Reyes, 4d Dustin Hurley, 41d Dillon Gaither, 53k Kasey Krauss, 717 GW Egbert, 329fa Marcus Buckley, 7 Johnny Walker Brown---dq(did not tech)
Heat 3; 36j Justin Whitehead, 5r Ryan Doyon, 141 Frank Lackey, 21g Steve Grantz, 199 Zach Taylor, 44 Michael Keylich, 10 Scott Jerkins
Dear Dashes to Fireball Dollars
After a sketchy first try to start the feature, the second saw Howie Marcx get the advantage follower by AJ Dancer, Blaine Markgraf, Jarrett Payton and James Dear. Dancer began challenging Marcx with the two side by side for the lead. Dear was able to move to third purring Markgraf and Payton back spots. At halfway it was Marcx and Dancer still battling, J. Dear, Markgraf and Payton in the top five with Daniel Lopez spinning for a caution.
Back to green Dancer slipped high giving Marcx the opening to retake the lead while Payton got past Markgraf for fourth. Again Marcx and Dancer went at it for the lead with J. Dear and Payton side by side for third. The lead battle took a turn in the final lap when Dancer got sideways, stacking up the pack giving J. Dear(Corpus Christi) the opportunity to sneak by and take the victory in the C-King Enterprise, Chevy.
Fireballs
15 James Dear, 52 AJ Dancer, 13 Howie Marcx, 18s Jarrett Payton, 86 Sammy Smith, 8s Charles Earnhart III, 41 Blaine Markgraf, 93 Daniel Lopez, 44 Michael Keylich, 18m Joseph Montemayor, 64 Danny Dear
Fireball Heats
Heat 1 ; 52 AJ Dancer,18s Jarrett Payton, 93 Daniel Lopez, 64 Danny Dear, 86 Sammy Smith, 8s Charles Earnhart III
Heat 2; 13 Howie Marcx, 41 Blaine Markgraf, 15d James Dear, 44 Michael Keylich,18m Joseph Montemayor
Article Credit: Jay Hallas, Rebs Race Reports
Submitted By: Kammie Peterson