By Jerry Mackey
COLUMBUS JUNCTION, Iowa (Apr. 24, 2026) — The 2026 racing season got underway Friday night at CJ Speedway, and the Wood family from Sigourney made racing history as the father-son duo of Nathan and Brayden each scored feature victories.
Nathan captured the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car main event, while Brayden topped the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock feature, making for a memorable opening night.
The first main event of the evening was the IMCA Hobby Stock feature. Brayden Wood, in only his second full year of racing, started from the outside front row and immediately took command, with accomplished racer Daniel Wauters in hot pursuit.
The two put on an entertaining battle, as Wauters pulled alongside Wood several times late in the race. The younger Wood showed that racing runs deep in his blood, holding strong to score his first win of the year in the B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region. Wauters finished second, while another talented youngster, Kyler Burmeister, ran a strong race to take third. Dalton Weepie and Austin Stadler completed the top five.
The Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars once again proved they will be a strong class in 2026. Kirk Kinsley led the field to green but was quickly overtaken by sixth-starting Dustin Griffiths. It appeared Griffiths would cruise to the win, but veteran Nathan Wood had other plans.
Wood reeled in Griffiths and mounted a late-race challenge, taking the lead as the white flag waved. He went on to score his first win of 2026 in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region, completing a special night for the Wood family. Griffiths settled for second ahead of Norman Bean. Kinsley was fourth, followed by Auston O’Donnell.
In Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod action, Dustin Griffiths is set to campaign two cars on Friday nights at CJ Speedway, including a joint effort entry with James Pilkington. Griffiths showed early speed, taking the lead and battling Tyler Heckart in the closing laps.
The two made slight contact with three laps remaining, sending Heckart spinning in turn three. Officials sent both drivers to the tail, opening the door for Cole VanDerwal, who capitalized and led the final laps to score his first win of the season. Griffiths rallied back to finish second, followed by Trey Rock. Justin Schroeder and Heckart rounded out the top five.
The night concluded with the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature. Troy Cordes made the long tow from Dunkerton and made it pay off in victory lane.
Cordes, one of Eastern Iowa’s most accomplished Modified drivers, got out front early and maintained the fast line to secure his first win of the 2026 season in the Razor Chassis North Central Region. Blaine Webster and Blaine Bryant completed the podium, with Dan Brockert and Adam Shelman finishing fourth and fifth.
