CJ Speedway opens with large field of racers

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By Jerry Mackey

COLUMBUS JUNCTION, Iowa (May 6, 2022) – After three consecutive rain outs the 2022 IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Race season finally got underway at CJ Speedway on the Louisa County Fairgrounds. A large field of drivers took part in the season opener. 

The final checkered flag of the night flew when the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds completed their main event with Dunkerton, Iowa ace Troy Cordes, making the two hour drive to Columbus Junction pay off by recording the win. 

Cordes started in the seventh position and steadily worked his way to the front, taking over the top spot from Jarrett Brown. Cordes led half of the 16 laps and took the checkers ahead of a fast-closing Maguire DeJong, who had started in the sixth row. Brown held on to finish third ahead of Kyle Montgomery.  

The IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars never fail to delight the fans with great racing and the opening night feature was certainly no exception. Rookie Kaden Reynolds paced the field in the early going before a spin forced him to restart on the tail. 

David Brandies took over the top spot and led for several laps before Dustin Vis was able to move into the lead for good. Vis took the win by a slim margin over Corey Strothman and Brandies.  

The Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod feature saw a solid field of 21 drivers take the green flag for their “A” main event. Dylan VanWyk has raced three times this year and he has now parked his 117 in victory lane twice. VanWyk thanked promoter Larry Richardson for giving all of the drivers a place to race when several area tracks canceled again this week due to the wet conditions.

VanWyk led the feature flag to flag from his outside front row starting spot. Brayton Carter provided several challenges for the leader as the pair of Oskaloosa drivers battled it out for the lead. Colton Livezey drove all the way from the 15thstarting spot to take third at the checkers. 

Ryan Havel purchased an IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock from the Reynolds race team late in 2021 and has taken to the new class very well. Havel took the opening night win by besting veteran driver Randy LaMar. The two hot shoes raced wheel to wheel for the lead before Havel was able to move out to a comfortable lead in recording the win. LaMar took second at the finish ahead of John Irwin. 

The Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact main event saw the red flag come out for a hard roll over before one lap had been completed. Dustin Munn rode out a multi flip barrel role that caused some anxious moments. Munn exited his car unscathed and field re-aligned for their feature. Jason Staley may not have the prettiest car on the track but his no. 36 is fast. Staley held off a hard-charging Alex Hayes to score the opening night win. Christian Grady crossed under the checkers in third.  

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