The 2016 racing season also marks the 10th anniversary of, not only the racing world in Northeast Missouri, Southeast Iowa, and West Central Illinois loosing a GREAT guy. But myself loosing a fellow racing partner. Many of you got to knew him and many I wish you had the privilege of having met him, because he always looked out for the racers and sponsors who supported the sport. His name was Ed Sheckler. In April of 2006, just before the racing season was about to kick-off, Ed was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Despite taking chemo treatments Ed, when he felt good, and myself still traveled every Saturday night to the Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, MO. This is the track where Ed worked at marketing and a hole lot more. Unfortunately despite his hard fight, Ed would loose his battle with cancer in December of 2006.
Thanks to Ed I was able to learn a lot of things on how to take care of both the sponsors and the drivers that continue to support this great sport. I hope to use many of these tools for the 2016 racing season at the CJ Speedway in Columbus Junction, IA. And I know he will be looking down on me to help point me in the right direction. So for me I hope to make Ed proud, as I put to work all the things he has taught me through the years we had together.
Both the Louisa County Fair Association and myself are very excited about what this racing season will bring. A lot of the past years sponsors, along with several new sponsors, have stepped up to show how much they support the CJ Speedway. Thanks to theses fine sponsors more than $700 has been added to the weekly payouts, which features racing in the Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, SportMods, Mod Lites, IMCA Sport Compacts, and CJ Mini Haulers. For many years the CJ Speedway has had three different payouts, one payout for this many cars, another payout for this many cars, and another for this many cars. But for 2016 I was able to eliminate one of those payouts to only have two. The goal going forward to to eliminate the other payout and just have one. But in order for that to happen I need all the support I can get from all the great racers and fans we have in and around the communities of Columbus Junction, Iowa. I have also talked to several drivers about racing at the CJ Speedway in 2016, and they are very excited about showing their support.
One thing that drivers might not know about the CJ Speedway, is that it's one of a very few tracks around that I know of that offers a year end points fund payout in all 6 classes. There are three things that a driver must do though to be eligible for that points fund, and those are they must race a minimum of 75% of the races at the track, they needed to pay their track registration fee, and finally they have to attend the awards banquet. But we want drivers to know that you DO NOT have to pay the track registration fee to race at CJ, that is unless you are racing for the points fund payback at the end of the year. However there is two savings we offer that comes with the registration. The first is you can save $5 off your registration if turned in on or before April 17th, as the registration fee will go up to $30 after that date. And the second you can save $5 on your pit pass each time you race at CJ. This year pit passes are $25, but if you are a non member driver then pit passes are $30.
The season is set to kick off with a car show and test - n - tune day on Sunday, April 17th. The car show will be held in front of the Economart located at 113 East Walnut Street in Columbus Junction, Iowa from 12 PM (noon) until 2 PM. Then from 2:30 PM until whenever, a test - n - tune will be held over at the track. For every driver who brings their race car to the car show will receive a FREE pit pass to be used for the test - n - tune event only. Another thing that was just worked out is a parade (for those who want to fire up their race cars and drive it over to the track) from the car show to the track for the test - n - tune event. Then the following Friday, April 22nd will be the first points night, with April 29th, May 13th, May 27th, June 17th, June 24th, July 22nd, and August 19th all weekly regular points night.
On Friday May 6th and Thursday, July 28th, during the Louisa County Fair, we will be holding a Modified special that pays $750 to win and $100 to start. Then on Friday, June 10th will be the 4th Annual Tim Sands Memorial, with the Modifieds going for $555 to win. This years "Firecracker 25" on July 8th will be featuring the IMCA Stock Cars going for $750 to win and $100 to start. That same payout will be used for the IMCA Stock Cars again on August 12th. $600 will be up for grabs for the SportMods on May 20th, and again on July 15th. The IMCA Sport Compacts will be the featured class on June 3rd. Then on July 1st the 305 Sprint Cars will join the weekly racing classes. I believe it has been 3 years since the Sprint Cars have raced at the CJ Speedway. On August 5th the Late Models (IMCA type rules) will return to the track after a one year hiatus. I am still looking at running a Mod Lite special this year. And possibly a CJ Mini Hauler special, depending on how much support the class generates in 2016. Personally I believe this class will surprise me in the turn out we will get this season.
The 2016 points season at the CJ Speedway will come to a close on Friday, August 26th. All six track champions will be crowned on this night, but will not be honored until the banquet on Saturday, November 12th. A fall special is NOT ruled out at this time, as plans are in the works to run at least one more event in late September or early October. So stay tuned as the season progresses.
Fans don't worry we didn't forget about you! Not only have we put together some special events to bring in Sprint Cars and Late Models. We have also put together some specials that will highlight all our weekly class, which will also bring in some outside drivers to the track in 2016. But most importantly on Friday, June 3rd we will be hosting a $5 Fan Appreciation Night, where all of our fans get into the grandstands for just $5. With a GREAT turn out, we hope to have another one later in the season. For the kids, Becky Kirk is once again going to run the CJ Speedway Junior Fan Club at the track. She does a lot of GREAT things for the kids, and 2016 will be no different. As always kids 10 and under get into the grandstands at CJ Speedway for FREE! For those who would like to help support Beck and her efforts with the Junior Fan Club, she is having a fundraiser potluck on Saturday, April 9th. The event will be held at Max's on Highway 70 in Conesville, Iowa from 5 PM until ?, with all the proceeds benefiting the Junoir Fan Club at the CJ Speedway. Plus make sure you go and like the CJ Speedway Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CJSpeedway, as you will have a chance to win grandstands tickets to each of our race nights. You can also stay up to date on what is happening at the track by checking out their website at www.cjspeedway.com. And don't forget to sign up for the text messaging system at www.rainedout.net/team_page.php?a=396c7e795f4f4200956f.
I want to let the people who take the time to read my posts on this blog, that can be found on www.postivelyracing.com, know that I will still continue to cover races at other tracks in the area as my schedule allows. The plan was to attended the Spring Nationals this past weekend at the Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, MO. But mother nature prevented that from happening, with cold temperatures forecasted for the weekend the event was cancelled. Hopefully mother nature will co-operate this coming weekend, Friday, March 25th and Saturday, March 26th, as the Lee County Speedway hosts their Spring Extravaganza. I am ready to bring on the 2016 RACING SEASON!!!!
A special announce, that hasn't until now been released, for the Modifieds who might or are thinking about racing at the CJ Speedway in Columbus Junction, Iowa in 2016. We have had an anonymous sponsor step up to make any night when there are more then 15 Modifieds show up, the purse from 16th - 24th will be $70 to start the feature!
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