CJ Speedway Hosts Two Outstanding Nights Of Special Races
SLMR Late Models Derrick Stewart-Ainsworth
Stewart Rides High Side to Governor’s Cup Glory
By Anthony Ainslie
9/23/23
Derrick Stewart won big in front of his home crowd for the second time this year, this time to win Saturday’s Iowa Governor’s Cup for the Haulin’ with Hoker Trucking Super Late Models East Series.
Round 21 of the season saw the high-banked 4/10 mile at the Louisa County Fairgrounds play host to the East Series for the 2023 Iowa Governor’s Cup. The race was the third to last night of racing for the year for the East Series.
Points Leader Chad Holladay sat the fastest time in qualifying when he stopped the clock at 18.713 seconds. Later in the evening, Jeff Aikey, Matt Ryan and Ron Boyse all took victory in the heat races.
When the drivers came back out, it was Derrick Stewart sitting on pole position for the 35-lap Iowa Governor’s Cup main event. Stewart hit his marks on the initial takeoff, and from there, the Ainsworth, Iowa driver would do everything he could to stay up front while also keeping enough equipment fresh to make it to the end.
Chad Simpson proved to be a contender to take Stewart’s lead away. Simpson, who had won three times on the tour this year, kept cutting into Stewart’s advantage.
Simpson’s hopes for a fourth victory would come to an end when he shredded his right-rear tire while running in second. He would pull off the track finishing in 17th.
The race went on, and Stewart continued to show the way. Meanwhile, Chris Spieker and Chad Holladay did everything they could to track him down. Holladay was able to make a pass on Spieker for second and then set his sights on Stewart for the lead.
Holladay tried to get one last run on the final lap, but he would run out of time, and Derrick Stewart would become the newest winner of the Iowa Governor’s Cup. It was Stewart’s third win on the season, his second East Series victory, and pulling off the sweep at C J Speedway after he won the Tony Stewart Tribute back in June.
Holladay would take second while Spieker finished third. Andy Eckrich and Jeff Tharp rounded out the top five.
Running in support of the SLMR Late Models on Saturday night were the IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars, Sportmods and Hobby Stocks. Following the Late Model feature and a 45 minute rain delay the Stewart and Sons Fuel IMCA Modifeds ran their main event with New Liberty’s Chris Zogg besting a strong field of drivers. Zogg scored his first ever CJ Speedway win in ten trips to the Louisa County Fairgrounds. Local hotshoe Kurt Kile ran second on Saturday night ahead of Dakota Simmons.
The Mincer Ford IMCA Stock Car feature win went to John Oliver Jr. Oliver led flag to flag in scoring the win ahead of Johnny Spaw and Miciah Hidlebaugh. The Huston brothers Trucking Sportmod main event win wen t to Dylan Van Wyk who scored a clean sweep of the two days of racing action. The Saturday checkers for Van Wyk were scored by getting to the stripe ahead of Shane Paris and Shaun Slaughter. The CJ Auto Parts/NAPA Stores Hobby Stock win went to Joren Fisher. Second went to Shane Richardson crossing the finish line ahead of Tom Killen JR.
The “Battle on the Levee” was contested on Friday night with a talented field of 86 rivers taking part in the racing action.
26 Stewart & Sons Fuel IMCA Modifieds took the green, a stellar field of drivers battled it out for 20 laps for their main event. When the checkers flew it was Spencer Diercks scoring a hard fought win ahead of CJ Track Champion Jarrett Brown. Drew Jansssen took third ahead of Todd Schute.
The Friday night Mincer Ford IMCA Stock Car feature win went to Damon Murty. The 99D of Murty led flag to flag earning the win ahead of Jason See and John Oliver Jr.
The Huston Brothers Trucking Sportmod main event on Friday night saw the 23 CJ Speedway Track Champion Dylan VanWyk continue his dominance of the Sportmod class by taking he win ahead of Logan Anderson and Shane Paris.
The CJ Auto Parts/NAPA Stores Hobby Stock feature win on Friday night went to Calvin Dhondt from Kellogg. The win was Dhondt’s second win in as many appearances at the CJ Speedway in 23. Second went to Corey VanDerwilt ahead of Luke Phillips.
The Midwest Restoration Sport Compact win on Friday night went to the divisions 22 Track Champion, Christian Grady from Cedar Rapids. Despite being a past Champion, the win was Grady’s first at the CJ Speedway. Alex Hayes took second ahead of Darin Smith.
An announcement will be made soon regarding the 2023 CJ Speedway date for the annual awards banquet.
Saturday September 23 Governors Cup CJ Speedway
SLMR Late Models
- 43 Derrick Stewart-Ainsworth
- 32C Chad Holladay-Muscatine
- 56S Chris Spieker-Massena
- 56 Andy Eckrich-Oxford
- 10T Jeff Tharp-Sherril
Stewart & Sons Fuel IMCA Modifieds
- 9Z Chris Zogg-New Liberty
- 77 Kurt Kile-Nichols
- 40 Dakota Simmons-Douds
- 32 Kyle Madden-Oxford
- 88 Jarrett Brown-AInsworth
Mincer Ford Stock Cars
- 05 John Oliver Jr.-West Burlington
- 00 Johnny Spaw-Cedar Rapids
- 72 Miciah Hidlebaugh-Menlo
- 79S Jason See-Albia
- 22 Tanner Allen-Springville
Huston Brothers Trucking Sportmods
- 117 Dylan VanWyk-Oskaloosa
- 7V Shane Paris-Muscatine
- 00 Shaun Slaughter-Iowa City
- 42 Tyler Heckart-Ottumwa
- 12S Sean Wyett-Danville
CJ Auto Parts/NAPA Stores Hobby Stocks
- 52x Joren Fisher-Garrison
- 25 Shane Richardson-Wapello
- 1K Tom Killen-Des Moines
- 11b Solomon Bennett-Minburn
- 28 Tucker Richardson-Morning Sun
Friday, September 22nd “Battle on the Levee”
Stewart & Sons Fuel IMCA Modifieds
- 21 Spencer Diercks-Davenport
- 88- Brown
- 12J Drew Janssen-Pella
- 5 Todd Schute-Norwalk
- 77 Kile
Mincer Ford IMCA Stock Cars
- 99D Damon Murty-Chelsea
- 79S See
- 05 Oliver
- 1 Michael Sheen-Lamesa, TX
- 12 Chad Krogmeier-Burlington
Huston Brothers Trucking Sportmods
- 117 VanWyk-Oskaloosa
- 53 Logan Anderson-Eddyville
- 7V Paris
- 15K Kyle Harwood-New Sharon
- 55 John Oliver Jr.-Danville
CJ Auto Parts/NAPA Stores Hobby Stocks
- 69 Calvin Dhondt-Kellogg
- 55X Corey VanDerwilt-Lynnville
- 33 Luke Phillips-Wapello
- 28 Richardson
- 0 Ryan Havel-Lone Tree
Midwest Restoration Sport Compacts
- 89 Christian Grady-Cedar Rapids
- 23H Alex Hayes-Lone Tree
- 17 Darin Smith-Wapello
- 20 C Caleb Giese-Morning Sun
- 746 Garrett Porter-Libertyville
Category: Iowa
