cjspeedway Archives

Brown, Ballard among Friday winners at CJ Speedway

By Jerry Mackey COLUMBUS JUNCTION, Iowa (May 12, 2023) – Fans were treated to a very exciting night of stock car racing Friday night with a very warm May evening at CJ Speedway on the Louisa County Fairgrounds. The Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature saw a pair of CJ regulars battle it out for the win on a very smooth and fast racing surface. Kurt Kile led for several laps before ninth starting Jarrett Brown closed in and set up a classic battle for the lead. Slide jobs and diamond moves off of the top side of turn one provided several lead changes before Brown was able to take control of the lead position and sail on to the feature win. Kile finished second ahead of eighth starting Ethan Braaksma. The IMCA Sunoco Stock Car main event saw Nathan Ballard score his third feature win in four nights of racing at CJ in 2023. Ballard drove his number 29 from the fourth row to take the lead from Matt Picray on lap eight of the [Read More]

CJ Speedway races beat the rain Friday night

By Jerry Mackey COLUMBUS JUNCTION, Iowa (May 5, 2023) – With Mother Nature threatening to spoil the fun, CJ Speedway was able to complete the racing program at 9:45 p.m. on Friday night just before rain moved into the area. The Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds put on a spectacular race with the lead changing hands several times in the early going. Jerry King led before Troy Cordes, looking to become a repeat winner, took over. Jarrett Brown started in the fourth row and steadily made his way to the front, securing the lead following a lap 10 restart. Brown went on to capture the win at his home track ahead of late race challenger Ethan Braaksma. King took third ahead of Dakota Simmons. The IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars came to the green with Leah Wroten taking command from the pole position. Wroten built a comfortable lead before a caution brought the field to her rear bumper. Nathan Ballard took over the point on the restart and went on to record the win. It was a [Read More]

Fast track provides exciting night of racing at CJ Speedway

By Jerry Mackey COLUMBUS JUNCTION, Iowa (April 28, 2023) – Friday night saw the second night of racing at the CJ Speedway located on the Louisa County Fairgrounds in Columbus Junction. A beautiful day gave way to a typical cool spring evening and the motors were humming on the super-fast 4/10-mile oval. The Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds main event took the green with veteran racer Troy Cordes taking the lead from his outside front row starting position. Cordes built a commanding lead as the race went green to checkers. Defending track champion Jarrett Brown moved into second as the race neared the midway point and set out to chase down leader Cordes, who had built a commanding lead. Lapped traffic came into play late in the race and Brown was able to use traffic to reel in Cordes. The two front runners split a slower car as the race off turn four to the checkers saw Cordes score the win by a bumper ahead of Brown. Kurt Kile ran third, ahead of Brandon Banks. Veteran [Read More]

CJ Speedway opens 2023 season with packed house

By Jerry Mackey COLUMBUS JUNCTION, Iowa (April 14, 2023) – The racing season at CJ Speedway opened Friday and 93 race teams competed in front of a large and enthusiastic crowd on a beautiful night for racing. The Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds took the green flag for their 20-lap main event with a strong field of 18 drivers taking the initial green flag. Steve Gustaf Sr. took the lead from the pole but his time at the front was short lived as Drew Janssen used the very fast high line of the track to take the lead. Janssen went on to pick up the win but it was anything but easy as Jarrett Brown applied pressure late in the race as lapped traffic came into play. Chris Zogg held off Kurt Kile late as these two talented drivers finished second and third, respectively. The IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, branded as The Class Too Tough To Tame, proved once again that when they hit the track, hang on because there will be excitement. Nathan Ballard drew the [Read More]

CJ Speedway takes green flag this Friday

By Jerry Mackey COLUMBUS JUNCTION, Iowa (April 11, 2023) – The forecast looks perfect for the first race of the 2023 racing season at CJ Speedway, located on the Louisa County Fairgrounds in Columbus Junction, Iowa. This Friday, April 14, the sweet sound of racing engines will be heard at the 4/10th mile dirt track. Racing action at CJ Speedway will again run under the sanctioning of the International Motor Contest Association which allows competitors to not only earn local but national, regional and state points and the recognition that can be earned. Sanctioned racing divisions include Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts. Hot laps are scheduled to get underway at 7 p.m. with racing to follow Friday night.

Muscatine Mall to host pre-season race car show

By Jerry Mackey MUSCATINE, Iowa (March 13, 2023) – The 2023 racing season In Eastern Iowa is just around the corner and the Muscatine Mall will be hosting a pre-season race car show to rev up the enthusiasm for the season in our area. Drivers from around the area will have their shiny new 2023 race cars on display in the Muscatine Mall starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 18. Race fans of all ages will have the opportunity to see the cars up close and will meet the drivers and crews and can ask all about their race teams and get autographs. In addition to over 20 race cars on display, several racing go karts will also be on display. Area race tracks will be represented and have schedules and special event information available. Race tracks represented will include The CJ Speedway, located on the Louisa County Fairgrounds in Columbus Junction, the Davenport Speedway, located on the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds in Davenport and the West Liberty Raceway located on the Muscatine County Fairgrounds [Read More]

Kile, Griffiths among IMCA winners at Louisa County Fair races

By Jerry Mackey COLUMBUS JUNCTION, Iowa (July 29) – A great crowd turned out on a beautiful night for racing at the 130th annual Louisa County Fair on Friday night. Larry Richardson gave the 88 race teams in attendance a great racing surface to race on, not only did the drivers use every inch of the CJ Speedway oval, they raced on the lower part of the levee on several occasions. The Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature ran caution-free. Row two starter Kurt Kile moved out front early as he raced away from Derek Walker. The race was on for second as Mitch Way and Jarrett Brown both worked to the front and waged a battle for second. Kile scored the impressive $1,000, Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligible win as Way edged out Brown for second. The IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars provide great racing every Friday and the Fair race was no different as the 20 drivers in attendance provided the fans with an outstanding feature race. Scott Jordan led early as Jason Cook made [Read More]

CJ checkers fly for McDaniel, Roth

By Jerry Mackey COLUMBUS JUNCTION, Iowa (July 22, 2022) – Friday night racing action at the CJ Speedway saw two more drivers add their names to the first time winners list in 2022 at the Louisa County Fairgrounds oval. Jason McDaniel has raced on and off at CJ Speedway but had not won a race on the 4/10th mile dirt track since the 2018 season. McDaniel led the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature flag to flag en route to the win. The feature went under caution late and the restart saw the top five positions shuffled as Kirk Kinsley took advantage of the restart and raced into second and was closing in on McDaniel as the checkers waved. Rod Staats crossed the finish line third ahead of Corey Strothman. Jason Roth had a little something to prove in making a return trip to Columbus Junction. Roth, from Hazel Green, Wis., had raced at CJ a few weeks ago and finished second only to be DQ’d for an illegal gear. Roth proved on Friday night it wasn’t [Read More]

California Kid scores big win at CJ Speedway

By Jerry Mackey COLUMBUS JUNCTION, Iowa (July 15, 2022) – Racing action returned to the CJ Speedway on the Louisa County Fairgrounds in Columbus Junction following two consecutive rainouts. The wet conditions on the grounds made for a very high speed racing surface on Friday night. The fans were treated to a very nice Fireworks display courtesy of Patriot Fireworks following the racing action. The Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod feature ran as the headliner of the night with a strong field of 20 drivers taking the initial green flag for the main event. Matt Mayo from Bakersfield, Calif., is spending time in Southeast Iowa racing out of the Shane Paris shop in Muscatine. Mayo took the lead from Matt Lundry and went on to score his first victory since arriving in the Hawkeye State. The feature was only slowed for one minor caution after lap one was completed. The race then restarted with Mayo making the pass for the lead on lap four and Mayo went on to score a comfortable win ahead of [Read More]

Jared makes it Miller Time at CJ Speedway

COLUMBUS JUNCTION, Iowa (June 24, 2022) – Jared Miller has seen his motor luck go from bad to worse so far this season, but still had a good feeling going into his IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock main event Friday night at CJ Speedway. Those positive vibes became reality after the West Branch driver drew the pole start and held off heavy hitters Randy LaMar and John Irwin following a late restart for the checkers. The win was his career second in the IMCA class and first since 2010 at then-hometown Marshalltown Speedway. “We’ve blown up four engines so far this year, including one leading the feature here at Columbus Junction a couple weeks ago,” said Miller. “But I had a good feeling about tonight. I thought if I made it through the heat race and everything stayed together I had a good chance to win.” He had started the night by winning his heat, then went to the top side, held his line and outran all challengers following that late yellow. “The caution came out [Read More]