Casey Johnson Returns Triumphant

CAMBRIDGE, WI (Saturday, August 11, 2018)      Three time Late Model champion, Casey Johnson of Edgerton, has been missing in action at Jefferson Speedway since he dominated last season’s Wisconsin State Championships. Johnson returned to Wisconsin’s Acton Track on Saturday night and picked up right where he left off last season. Johnson charged to the front of the IBEW Local 159 Late Model feature event and captured the win after 50 laps of hot and heavy racing intensity.

Steven Sauer and Don Gaserude paced the field to green with Gaserude leading at the line to complete lap one. Back in the pack, the action was intense with several three wide battles taking place simultaneously. One such battle forced the first of three caution periods after contact between Shaun Scheel and Jason Erickson caused a slight melee. Gaserude led the field back to green with Sauer in second and Eddie May riding in third. On lap four, Sauer and May got together in turn one as the second yellow flag appeared in the opening laps. Luke Westenberg moved up to second behind Gaserude for the restart with Michael Grueneberg in third. Racing resumed with Westenberg immediately applying pressure to Gaserude for the top spot. Westenberg tried the inside lane several times, finally making it stick on lap nine. Westenberg moved out front, bringing Grueneberg along for second. Dale Nottestad followed into third on lap 12 with Stephen Scheel in his tracks for fourth. The final caution slowed the pace on lap 13 when Gaserude spun on the front stretch, coming to a stop at the entrance to turn one. Once racing resumed, it was Grueneberg’s turn to pressure Westenberg at the front. While Westenberg tried to hold off Grueneberg’s advances, Nottestad also began to pressure for the runner up position. On lap 26, Nottestad muscled under Grueneberg to take away the second spot with Casey Johnson in tow for third. Nottestad continued to move forward, diving under Westenberg entering turn one  on lap 34. Nottestad cleared for the point a lap later while Johnson followed past Westenberg into second. Johnson quickly began to size up the new leader, slipping under Nottestad on lap 38. A lap later, Johnson was on the point and pulling away while Nottestad tried to hold off Grueneberg for second. Grueneberg ground his way past Nottestad to take back second, but Johnson was already on cruise control. At the checkers, it was Johnson for the win followed by Grueneberg, Nottestad, Riley Stenjem and Westenberg.

Round two of the Sportsman Challenge set up twin 25 lap feature events for the competitors in that division. Chris Chenoweth of Watertown and Jason Thoma of Jefferson scored wins in the respective features. Chenoweth took control of the first feature from the outside of row one while Jim Taylor and Thoma battled for second. Dan Harris joined the fight for second on lap eight as they raced three wide for the position. Some contact resulted in Thoma being forced to check up in turns one and two while Harris grabbed control of the second spot. Randy Breunig followed into third and quickly began to search for a lane around Harris to second. Using the high side, Breunig drew even with Harris on lap 16. After a brief battle, Breunig took over the second spot with Robert Hansberry Jr trying to follow into third. Hansberry eventually made the pass but Chenoweth remained in control to see the checkers first. Breunig finished second followed by Hansberry, Harris and Taylor.

The second Sportsman feature got under way with Mark Deporter taking the early lead while Thoma and Chris Jones battled for second behind him. Thoma took the position on lap six with Hansberry already up to third. After a caution on lap 16, Thoma began to apply heavy pressure on the leader while Hansberry watched from third. Thoma drew even with Deporter with four laps remaining in the race. After a two lap battle, Thoma moved out front with Hansberry following into second. Hansberry made a last lap attempt to get by Thoma, but Thoma kept him at bay to cross the stripe first. Hansberry settled for second with Chenoweth, Deporter and Jones rounding out the top five.

Watertown’s Scott Hoeft hung on to claim the 20 lap International feature. Dakota Smith led lap one from the front row with Joe Cross up to second. On the second lap Hoeft, Neil Higgins and Cross drove three wide fighting for position. Hoeft and Higgins emerged side by side for second with Smith continuing to lead. On lap seven, Hoeft slid forward alongside Smith, grabbing the lead. Smith dropped back into a three way battle for second with Mark English and Higgins, English took over second as he pulled up behind the new leader, Hoeft. Lap after lap, English attempted to pull alongside Hoeft. But each time, Hoeft would hold him off to remain out front. At the checkers, it was Hoeft for the win followed by English, Mike Lambert, Devon Dixon and Ashley Gottschalk.

Jim Tate Jr of Doylestown was scored the winner in the 25 lap Hobby Stock main event. Christian Janssen took the initial lead on lap one with Brandon Angileri quickly up to second. Angileri slipped under Janssen on lap five as they battled wheel to wheel for the top spot. Angileri eventually cleared for the position on lap ten. Angileri began to stretch his advantage while the battle for second raged behind him. Janssen fought to hang on to the spot, giving it up to Tate in the closing laps. Meanwhile, Angileri was out front cruising to cross under the checkers first. Following post-race inspection, Angileri was forced to vacate his finishing position. This handed the win to Tate with Brandon Riedner, Chester Williams, Jared Vike and Janssen completing the top five.

Watertown’s Nick Schmidt claimed the 15 lap Bandit feature event. Tyler Deschaine led lap one from the pole. Bill Kohn moved up to second with Chad Olds getting to third on lap five. A lap later, Olds drove to the high side of Kohn looking to grab second. Schmidt joined the battle, driving right up the middle to move into second on lap eight. Schmidt took to the outside of Deschaine, stealing the top spot for himself on lap nine. Schmidt drove away from there to secure the win. Chad Olds was scored in second followed by Jeremy Bredeson, Deschaine and DJ Hill.

Markesan’s Michael Guderski captured his first career feature win at Jefferson Speedway by winning the 20 lap Bandolero feature event. Keegan Kehoe and Emma Hunstiger brought the field to green as they battled side by side for the lead. Kehoe moved out front alone on lap three with Chase Wangsness in tow for second. Wangsness got around Kehoe on lap four to grab the top spot just before the first of three cautions slowed the pace. Wangsness and Anna Price led the pack back to green with Wangsness reclaiming the top spot. Wangsness held the lead through another yellow on lap seven while Alex Hartwig moved up to battle Guderski for second. Using the low line, Guderski slid up alongside Wangsness on lap 12. One lap later, Guderski was out front while Hartwig followed under Wangsness to take over second. The final caution appeared on lap 14 setting up a six lap shootout to the finish. Guderski and Hartwig brought the field back to green with Guderski moving back out front on the restart. Hartwig tried to pressure Guderski into making a mistake in the closing laps, but Guderski was up to the challenge as he crossed the stripe first to get the win. Hartwig finished second followed by Jevin Guralski, Wangsness and Karter Stark.

Next Saturday, August 18, is a full program of racing presented by Cost Cutters. It’s also Scout Night with special admission prices for all Scouts in uniform and their families. There will be Stock Car Rids for the kids plus Big Wheel Races. And it’s Bike Night, with each child having a shot at going home with a brand new bike. Gates open at 2pm with Time Trials at 4pm. Kids Rides are at 6pm with racing beginning at 7pm. Jefferson Speedway is located halfway between Jefferson and Cambridge on Hwy 18. Please visit jeffersonspeedway.com for more information.

JEFFERSON SPEEDWAY RACE SUMMARY

Late Model-

Qualifying

Heat Races

Last Chance

Feature

Sportsman-

Qualifying

Heat Races

Last Chance

Feature #1

Feature #2

International-

Qualifying

Heat Races

Feature

Hobby Stock-

Qualifying

Heat Races

Last Chance

Feature

Bandit-

Qualifying

Heat Race

Feature

Bandolero-

Qualifying

Heat Races

Last Chance

Feature