By Jerry Mackey
COLUMBUS JUNCTION, Iowa (July 30, 2026) — Nathan Wood outdueled Dustin Griffiths in a thrilling 20-lap Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature Thursday night at CJ Speedway, earning the $1,000 top prize during the annual Louisa County Fair program.
The pair traded slide jobs and swapped the lead numerous times before Wood found momentum against the extreme high groove in the closing laps to secure the victory.
The Sigourney driver recorded his ninth EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region victory of the season, with eight of those wins coming at CJ Speedway. The feature also served as a B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational qualifier, making Wood eligible to attempt to qualify for the invitational during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s in September.
Griffiths settled for second after the memorable duel, Jordan Miles finished third, Adam Bell crossed the stripe fourth, and Jason See charged from 18th to complete the top five while earning hard charger honors.
Herrera Impresses in Deep SportMod Field
A talented field of 19 Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods took the green, featuring multiple national champions and track titleholders.
Seventeen-year-old Payce Herrera, visiting from Price, Utah, as part of his preparation for the IMCA Super Nationals, raced to an impressive victory despite making his first-ever appearance at the 4/10-mile oval.
Herrera spent much of the race battling Dylan VanWyk before a late mistake by VanWyk allowed Colton Livezey to move into second.
The victory was Herrera’s 12th of the 2026 season and his first at CJ Speedway this year.
Livezey finished second after advancing from 10th, VanWyk was third, Brayton Carter finished fourth, and Cole VanderWal rounded out the top five. Livezey earned hard charger honors with a gain of eight positions.
Brown Wins Modified Feature and Banks Captures July 3rd Makeup
The Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds completed their rain-delayed July 3 feature before running the regularly scheduled Louisa County Fair main event.
When the makeup resumed with four laps already complete, Brandon Banks and Spencer Diercks staged an entertaining duel over the remaining distance, swapping the lead several times before Banks claimed the $1,000 victory.
Banks’ victory was his second Razor Chassis North Central Region win of the season, with both coming at CJ Speedway. The July 3 makeup feature also served as a Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational qualifier, making Banks eligible to attempt to qualify for the invitational during the IMCA Super Nationals.
Diercks finished second, Adam Shelman was third, Troy Cordes advanced from 10th to fourth to earn hard charger honors, and Blaine Webster completed the top five.
The regularly scheduled feature belonged to Jarrett Brown, driving Doug Eckrich’s Modified. Brown emerged from an early three-wide battle to take command and drove away to the victory after starting fourth.
The victory was Brown’s first Razor Chassis North Central Region triumph of 2026.
Logan Anderson finished second, Banks rallied from 12th to third to earn hard charger honors, Dan Brockert crossed the stripe fourth, and Troy Cordes completed the top five.
Richardson Continues Hot Streak
Tucker Richardson continued his recent success in the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks.
Starting from the pole, Richardson raced to an early advantage and was never challenged while collecting another feature victory.
Richardson earned his fifth B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region victory of the season, with four of those wins coming at CJ Speedway.
Billy Stanford finished second, Brayden Wood advanced from eighth to third to earn hard charger honors, Nathan DeRagon was fourth, and Dalton Weepie completed the top five.
Raffurty Survives Wild Mod Lite Main
The Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites brought 26 competitors to the Louisa County Fair in pursuit of a $1,000 winner’s prize.
Before the opening lap could be completed, a mechanical failure triggered a chain-reaction accident involving eight cars, with four machines rolling over. Fortunately, none of the drivers were injured despite extensive damage to several entries.
Once racing resumed, Kansas City, Missouri’s Dillon Raffurty paced the field to the checkered flag for his 26th win of the 2026 season and his first at CJ Speedway.
Jaedon McDowell finished second, Austin Gray crossed the stripe third, Randy Bryan advanced from eighth to fourth to earn hard charger honors, and Ben George completed the top five.
