McDonald Edges Out Rivals in Electrifying CJ Speedway Hobby Stock Showdown

Hobby Stock, Modified, News, Northern SportMod, Results, Stock Car

Preston McDonald powers around CJ Speedway enroute to his second consecutive B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region victory. (Photo by Carroll Hoover Racing Photos)

By Jerry Mackey

COLUMBUS JUNCTION, Iowa (May 16, 2025) —  CJ Speedway hosted another action-packed night of racing Friday, with the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks delivering the most thrilling finish of the evening. Preston McDonald emerged victorious in a dramatic three-car battle off turn four, narrowly edging out Austin Stalder and Kyler Burmeister by less than a fender.

McDonald’s win, his second consecutive B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region victory, came after a hard-fought 15-lap main event that saw the trio swapping positions multiple times in the closing circuits. The margin of victory was razor-thin, as McDonald executed a perfect run off the final corner to beat Stalder and Burmeister to the line.

The Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars put on their usual greatness with Hedrick driver Dustin Griffiths topping a strong field of Stock Cars. Griffiths advanced to the front all the way from the tenth starting position and raced past defending track champion, John Oliver Jr. The two very strong competitors raced several laps side by side before Griffiths was able to secure the top spot to obtain his second EQ Cylinders Northern Region win of 2025. Griffiths crossed under the checkers two car lengths ahead of Oliver with Robert Barnes finishing a very close third.

Dylan VanWyk showed how well he can adapt to the racetrack on Friday night in the Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods. VanWyk took the win a week ago by racing the low line, this week the high line proved to be the place to be and VanWyk was able to handle the slick track and drove the top side to the front from a fifth row start. VanWyk took the lead from Trey Rock as the race moved past the halfway point. As the laps wound down Rock was able to close back in on the leader, but Rock ran out of laps as he settled for a very close second ahead of Tyler Heckart.

The Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds saw Logan Anderson put his “Herbie” no. 53 into victory lane for the second time in 2025. Anderson overtook early leader Kolton Osborn and went on to score the win ahead of the previous week’s winner, Kurt Kile. Anderson had picked up the win on opening night and mechanical woes had bitten the 53 team the last couple of weeks, but the new Performer Chassis liked the slick track on Friday night and Anderson drove a perfect race. It was his sixth Razor Chassis North Central Region triumph of the year. Kile ran second ahead of Troy Cordes.

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