By Jerry Mackey
COLUMBUS JUNCTION, Iowa (June 18) – On a warm sultry night, racing action went on at the CJ Speedway with a quick racing program being run just before rains moved in at the Louisa County Fairgrounds.
The headliner of the night was the 20-lap IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature and on Friday night it belonged to Corey Strothman.
The C4 of Strothman started on the front row and was never seriously challenged as he raced to the win. The action behind Strothman was hot and heavy as several drivers took their turns racing in the second position. When the checkers flew it was Adam Bell crossing under the checkers in second ahead of Kirk Kinsley and Shane Richardson.
Strothman stated in victory lane, “We are finally caught up on the farm so it is now time to start racing.”
Brandon Banks chased down early leader Kyle Madden and took the lead in the 20-lap IMCA Modified feature and went on to score his second feature win in a row at CJ Speedway. Once Banks cleared Madden, he went on to score an impressive win in the caution-free main event. Jarrett Brown got by Madden late to take second with Madden running third.
The Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod feature saw a first-time visitor to the CJ Speedway victory lane for the season.
Young Tyler Heckart makes the tow from Ottumwa on Friday nights to race CJ and the ride home on Friday would have been enjoyable following his feature win. Heckart shot to the front in the early going and went on to hold off CJ hotshoe Logan Anderson for the win.
Cody Staley came from deep in the field in the Mach-1 Sport Compacts and scored the 12-lap feature win. Staley was able to move by race leader Alex Hayes late in the race to capture the win. Hayes finished second ahead of Christian Grady.
The IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock main event saw current national point leader Daniel Wauters pad his lead with another win. Wauters had to move by his team partner Dan Kessler in route to the win. Wauters used a high line pass in turns three and four to garner the lead and cruise on to the win. Kessler ran second ahead of Jared Miller.
Racing will continue at the CJ Speedway with another action packed night of racing in all five classes on Friday, June 25. The hot lap session will hit the track at 7:15 p.m. with racing to follow.