I-35 Speedway 6-28-25 Recap

June 28, 2025 | by J.D. Green

Another action packed night at I-35 Speedway has come and gone. Tonight was the Mike Tanner Memorial night at the races, honoring the late Mike Tanner. For those who didn’t know Mike, he was a former track champion at I-35, while also winning races at dirt tracks all around the country.

Mike Tanner was known for helping other drivers any way he could in the pits, and is credited with giving Lucas Oil Late Model star driver Ricky Thorton Jr. his first shot in dirt racing. In honor of Mike and the entire Tanner family,over 40 Pure Stocks battled for $1,020, as well as multiple prize giveaways throughout the night with all proceeds going towards the Finish Strong Foundation.

Before we started the racing action, we had a very special guest sing our national anthem tonight, a granddaughter of the Tanner family that is only 3 years old! On track, over 130 total cars hit the track and put on a show all night. With no time wasted getting through heat racing, we moved right into feature racing.

First up was the Sport Compacts. Entering tonight, Brad Mick was a perfect 12/12 in feature races this season. That streak would come to an end tonight, as Mick’s great friend and teammate Ryan Hinkle was able to jump out to the lead early and never look back to take home the feature win. Mick would finish in 2nd, David Miller in 3rd, JR Curtis 4th and Samuel Moore earned a top-5 finish.

Next up was the Pure Stocks. With $1,020 on the line Jake Starmer gave everything he had to hold on and win the Mike Tanner Memorial race. Starmer had his hands full with a fast Mich Ross trying to find a way around him. Ross would finish 2nd after starting 14th. James Silkwood finished 3rd, Dylan Nelson 4th and Tyler Starmer finished in 5th.

In the USRA B-Mods, Darrion McLaughlin snagged his first feature win of the season at I-35. McLaughlin had to hold off multiple charges from Adam Dunwoodie, but McLaughlin held strong in the closing laps. Dunwoodie finished a respectable 2nd, Chris Wright 3rd, Ethan Isaacs in 4th and Casey Burnett rounded out the top-5.

In the USRA Stock Cars, Scott Brown found himself in the right place at the right time and took home the feature win. This was also the first feature win this season for Brown. Doug Keller passed 21 cars but would come up just one spot short and took home 2nd. Jayden Bears finished in 3rd, Justin Custer in 4th and Anthony Robertson in 5th.

Tyler Hibner took the lead on lap 1 and couldn’t be caught in the USRA A-mods, Hibner’s 4th feature win this season. Houston Johnson finished in 2nd, Steven Glenn in 3rd, Lee Hibner 4th and Jimmy Dowell collected a top-5 finish.

Robert Miller found himself in victory lane for the first time in the Jr. Sport Compacts. Bentley Long finished in a close 2nd, Dakota Phelps finished 3rd, Misty Teel 4th and Dylan Layton in 5th.

And last but certainly not least, the E-mod feature races had the bright 54L of Chris Dishong pull away early and take home his 6th feature win this season. Blake Hayes finished in 2nd, Aaron Jones 3rd, Nathon Hampton in 4th and Tony Layne in 5th.

Thank you to all the amazing race fans that came out and toughed through the summer heat at the track this past Saturday night and keeping the energy going all night long. Thank you to all our track officials and safety crew members for keeping every safe and providing an exciting night of racing. And one more big thanks to all the drivers and their crew members for bringing fast cars across all classes and your best to the track every Saturday night. We will see you all next Saturday for another action packed night of dirt track racing.