Two of five features won only by inches at CJ Speedway

By Dana Royer/CJ Speedway

COLUMBUS JUNCTION, IA (6/4/10) – Two of the five feature races at CJ Speedway Friday, June 4 were won only by inches in the tracks third race of the season. Getting wins Friday night were Bill Whalen, Riverside (4 cylinders), Jason Hartman, Muscatine (hobby stocks), Adam Bell, Kalona (modifieds), Greg Rossell, Knoxville, Il (mod lites) and Nathan Wood, Keswick (IMCA stock cars). Point races will continue Friday, June 11 on Holmes Concrete Night for all five classes.

The hobby stock feature was small but could still provide an exciting finish for the fans. Jason Hartman and Lane Kaufman, both of Muscatine, battled back and fourth for the lead early on with Hartman working to hold off Kaufman. But moving into second on lap seven was Alex Buffington, Wapello. Buffington tried to pass Hartman in turn three but couldn’t complete the move. Hartman led Buffington and Kaufman down the front stretch, all three running bumper to bumper. As the passed the finish line, Buffington had pulled up along side of Hartman but Hartman was able to cross the finish line first for his first win ever.

Adam Bell, Kalona, took the checkered flag first in the modified feature winning by a large margin. Daniel Brockert would finish second followed by Steve Stewart who finished third.

Wapello’s Geoff Theobald looked to be on his way to a second straight 4 cylinder feature win after taking the lead from Cory Sheets on lap two of the ten lap feature. Theobald would begin to pull away from the field till lap six when he pulled into the pits with a flat tire. Bill Whalen, then took over the lead and went on to take the checkered flag. John Whalen would finish second and Tyler Whalen would edge out Cory Sheetz to finish third.

Greg Rossell, Knoxville, Il would cruise to a mod lite feature win topping the twelve car field. Rossell took the lead from the drop of the green and would pull away from the field. But a caution on lap twelve would make for a green, white, checkered finish closing the field. Rossell kept his form and pulled away at the end for the win followed by Daniel Brockert, Grandview and Robert Guss, Moline, Il., third.

The evening was capped off with a IMCA Stock Car thriller. Sixteen cars started the feature race with Billy Faler and David Shreier on the front row. Faler took the early lead battling Sky Griffith and Cole Simmons early only. It was bumper to bumper racing for the top six for several laps. Then on lap seven, Faler would get sideways causing a small pileup. When racing resumed, Griffith would be in the lead with Wood in second. Again it was bumper to bumper, side by side racing for the next five laps for the top four cars. With Griffith leading the field down the front stretch on the final lap Wood would pull up along side as they crossed the finish line take a slight lead by only inches as the crossed the wire. Griffith finished second followed by Travis Fink, Darrin Ealey and Kirk Kinsley, rounding out the top five.



4 CYLINDERS
FEATURE: 1. Bill Whalen, Riverside, 2. John Whalen, Ainsworth, 3. Tyler Whalen, Riverside, 4. Cory Sheetz, Washington, 5. Nick Wilkerson, Morning Sun, 6. Shaun Tipps, Wapello, 7. Josh Mohror, 8. Geoff Theobald, Wapello. HEAT WINNER: Theobald.

HOBBY STOCKS
FEATURE: 1. Jason Hartman, Muscatine, 2. Alex Buffington, Wapello, 3. Lane Kauffman, Muscatine, 4. Brodie Dopler, Wapello. HEAT WINNER: Hartman.

MODIFIEDS
FEATURE: 1. Adam Bell, Kalona, 2. Daniel Brockert, Grandview, 3. Steve Stewart, Burlington, 4. Doug Pratt, Kalona, 5. Clayton Jensen, Iowa City, 6. Cody Layman, Ainsworth, 7. Mike Forke, Washington, 8. Todd Hansen, Muscatine. HEAT WINNER: Brockert.

MOD LITES
FEATURE: 1. Greg Rossell, Knoxville, Il., 2. Troy Phillpott, Muscatine, 3. Robert Guss, Moline, Il., 4. Justin Buchholz, Pleasant Hill, Il., 5. Todd Hansen, Muscatine, 6. Michael Dominguez, Lone Tree, 7. Duane Rees, Columbus Junction, 8. Chris DePoorter, Coal Valley, Il., 9. Todd Thornburg, Mt. Pleasant, 10. Jeff Miller, Davenport, 11. Daniel Guss, Milan, Il., 12. Mark Winkel, Letts, 13. Dustin Schram, Sterling, Il., 14. Rob Conklin, Davenport. HEAT WINNERS: Philpott, Rossell.

IMCA STOCK CARS
FEATURE: 1. Nathan Wood, Keswick, 2. Sky Griffith, Wapello, 3. Travis Finke, Columbus Jct., 4. Darrin Ealey, Wapello, 5. Kirk Kinsley, Wapello, 6. Brian Holmes, Wapello, 7. Devon Timmerman, Wapello, 8. Blaine Dopler, Wapello, 9. David Hemsted, Kalona, 12. Cole Simmons, Morning Sun, 13. Tad Payne, Muscatine, 14. Cory Griffin, Columbus Junction, 15. Jeremy Tompkins, Conesville, 16. David Schrier. HEAT WINNERS: Faler, Griffith.