CJ Speedway crowns season champions 

Hobby Stock, Modified, Northern SportMod, Results, Sport Compact, Stock Car

By Jerry Mackey

COLUMBUS JUNCTION, Iowa (Aug. 11, 2023) – Friday night, CJ Speedway held its final Friday night race of the 2023 season as Midwest Frame & Axle of Iowa City hosted the season championship races. 

The Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds had a season high of 24 drivers. Kyle Madden led the majority of the race from his outside front row start but a late caution brought the field to his rear bumper for the restart.

Madden was unable to hold off Jarrett Brown who came from a 12th position start to take the lead. The 88 team of Brown has had a terrific season at CJ and the win on Friday night earned him the 2023 season championship title. Madden ran second ahead of Brandon Banks and Kurt Kile. 

The IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars had another strong field of contenders. Norman Bean led the first couple laps before Matt Picray took over the top spot.

Picray, in search of his first win of the year at CJ, drove a flawless race in scoring an impressive win. Picray held back all contenders including the previous week’s winner, Jason See. Scott Jordan raced up front all race long in the feature before settling for third.

Dustin Griffiths completed his great season at CJ with a fourth place finish and the IMCA Stock Car track championship. 

The Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods saw a stout field of 20 drivers take the green. Kyle Harwood led several laps before mechanical issues sent the 15K to the pit area.

On the restart, Dylan VanWyk took over the top spot and sailed on to another feature win. VanWyk scored the impressive win over Tyler Heckart and Sean Wyett. The VanWyk team earned the track championship with the win. 

The IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks put on their usual action-packed main event.

Tom Killen Jr has been making the long tow from Des Moines to race weekly at CJ and scored his second win of the season by topping the season championship main. Killen advanced from a third row start to take the lead from Billy Standford in the early going and held off Luke Phillips and Andrew Burk for the win. 

Randy LaMar ran seventh, good enough to earn the 2023 track championship. 

And the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact Season Championship main event saw Darin Smith come all the way from a 12th position start to score the win and earn the 2023 point championship.

Smith raced several lines on the track to get to the front and take the lead from Alex Hayes. Kolby Sabin ran second ahead of Hayes. 

The rescheduled Louisa County Fair races billed as the Battle on the Levee will be the next event at the CJ Speedway and will be held on Saturday, Sept. 23. The special event will see the race purses greatly expanded along with several special activities on the grounds throughout the day. Watch for upcoming announcements as the race date gets closer.

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Banks breaks dry spell At CJ Speedway

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