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CJ Speedway sees two more first time winners
By Dana Royer/CJ Speedway
COLUMBUS JUNCTION, IA (August 21) - Two more racers made it to victory lane
this week for the first time this season. Daniel Guss (mod lites), Moline,
Illinois and John Whalen, (4 cylinder), Ainsworth, both were first to take
the checkered flag in their divisions. Also getting wins on Friday, August
21 were Blaine Dopler (hobby stocks), Wapello, Steve Stewart (modifieds),
Burlington, Travis Finke (IMCA Stock cars), Columbus Junction.
With just two more point races remaining in the 2009 season the
championships are on the line. In three of the five classes five points is
the most that separate the top two with two of the classes seeing one point
differences. The largest point spread is in the hobby modified division with
18 points separating the top two.
Blaine Dopler, Wapello, won his second straight hobby stock feature at CJ
Speedway last Friday passing Billy Faler, Columbus Junction with just three
laps to go. Dopler took the early lead only to give it up to Faler on lap
two following a caution. Faler and Dopler raced bumper to bumper for several
laps. On lap eight of the ten lap race Faler got too high in turn three and
Dopler slipped under for the lead and went on to take the checkered flag. In
the points race Lane Kauffman, Muscatine, holds a fourteen point lead over
Jason Hartman, Muscatine 309 to 295.
Dan Guss, Moline, Il, took the lead at the drop of the green and went on to
win his first Mod Lite feature at CJ Speedway this year. With Guss in the
lead Robert Guss, moved into the second spot with his sights set on the
leader, but first he had to work to hold off Troy Phillpott. On the final
lap the top three, Dan Guss, Robert Guss and Phillpott headed for the
checkered flag with a cars length separating each. Dan Guss would hold his
lead and took the checkered flag. The point races is a tight one for the mod
lites with Robert Guss holding a narrow one point lead over Todd Hansen.
In the 4 cylinder division itšs a battle for the championship in the Whalen
family. John Whalen, Ainsworth, moved closer to the title after winning his
first 4 cylinder feature at the 4/10 mile. Three time winner, Geoff Theobald
took the lead on lap two in the twelve car field. Theobald led the field for
the next four laps before John Whalen would pass Theobald in turn four for
the lead after a restart. Whalen and Theobald put on a show racing bumper to
bumper and side by side. On the final lap they were side by side on the back
stretch. As the two passed the grandstands Theobald pulled up along side of
Whalen again but couldnšt complete the move as Whalen got the narrow
victory. But the real story here is the point battles between the Whalen
family. Brothers Bill Whalen and John Whalen see only one point separating
the two (359-358) with Billšs son Tyler following six points behind John
(352).
Burlingtonšs Steve Stewart won his second straight and fourth modified
feature of the year topping the eleven car field. Stewart battled Mark
Winkel, Letts, early on as they raced bumper to bumper, side by side for the
first four laps. Wapellošs Alex Buffington passed Winkel on lap five but
Stewart was pulling away from the field. With Stewart in the lead and
Buffington holding a comfortable second, the battle for third was raging
behind them. Todd Hansen, Bruce Hanford and Larry Herring would put on a
show for the crowd. But before the race was over, Adam Bell had joined the
battle and moved into the third spot. Stewart went on to an easy win
followed by Buffington, Bell and Hansen. Hanford currently leads the point
standings with 349 followed by Bell with 331.
The IMCA Stock Cars capped off the night with Travis Finke, Columbus
Junction getting his second feature win this year. Finke took the lead on
lap three from Phillip Beard and would pull away from the field. Darrin
Ealey would follow in second battling Aaron Summy early on. As Finke took
the checkered flag in the fourteen car field, Ealey was able to hold off
Summy for second and Tad Payne moved into third
Coming up
Point race action continues this Friday, August 28 for all classes with the
season championship set for Friday, Sept. 4. Also, mark you calendars for
Saturday, Sept. 5 when the Ideal Ready Mix Sprint Invaders return to CJ
Speedway.
CJ SPEEDWAY RESULTS FROM FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2009
HOBBY STOCK
FEATURE: 1. Blaine Dopler, Wapello, 2. Billy Faler, Columbus Junction, 3.
Jason Hartman, Muscatine, 4. Lane Kauffman, Muscatine. HEAT WINNER: Dopler.
MOD LITE
FEATURE: 1. Daniel Guss, Milan, Il., 2. Robert Guss, Moline, Il., 3. Troy
Phillpott, Muscatine, 4. Evan Epperson, Muscatine, 5. Jeff Miller,
Davenport, 6. Rob Conklin, Davenport, 7. Dick Parsons, New Albany, MS, 8.
Todd Hansen, Muscatine. HEAT WINNER: D. Guss.
4 CYLINDER
FEATURE: 1. John Whalen, Ainsworth, 2. Geoff Theobald, Wapello, 3. Darrin
Smith, Wapello, 4. Travis Yakle, Wapello, 5. Tyler Whalen, Riverside, 6.
Bill Whalen, Riverside, 7. Phil Anderson, 8. Cory Sheetz, Washington, 9.
Andrew Theobald, Wapello, 10. Justin Banks, West Chester, 11. Kim Yakle,
Wapello, 12. Jordan Tipps, Wapello. HEAT WINNERS: J. Whalen, Smith.
MODIFIED
FEATURE: 1. Steve Stewart, Burlington, 2. Alex Buffington, Wapello, 3. Adam
Bell, Kalona, 4. Todd Hansen, Muscatine, 5. Bruce Hanford, Davenport, 6.
Larry Herring. Lone Tree, 7. Mark Winkel, Letts, 8. Clayton Jensen, Iowa
City, 9. Tim Sands, 10. Dave Brandies, 11. Todd Dykema. HEAT WINNERS:
Buffington, Stewart.
IMCA STOCK CAR
FEATURE: 1. Travis Finke, Columbus Jct., 2. Darrin Ealey, Wapello, 3. Aaron
Summy, Illinois City, Il., 4. Tad Payne, Muscatine, 5. Randy Phillips,
Muscatine, 6. Trent Vrchoticky, Fredonia, 7. David Hemsted, Lone Tree, 8.
Kevin Harsch, Keota, 9. Brian Holmes, Wapello, 10. John Perez, Muscatine,
11. Jeremy Tompkins, Conesville, 12. Shelly Mizell, Muscatine, 13. Brandon
Jay, Columbus Junction, 14. Phillip Beard, Crawfordsville. HEAT WINNERS:
Finke, Harsch.
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