2015 Champions Crowned
JEFFERSON, WI (Saturday, September 12, 2015) Edgerton’s Casey Johnson put the finishing touches on his third Late Model track championship on Saturday night at Wisconsin’s Action Track, Jefferson Speedway. While Johnson wrapped up the title, it was Jefferson’s Luke Westenberg who captured the Havill Spoerl Fort Atkinson 60 lap Late Model feature. The win was Westenberg’s first feature victory of the season as regular point racing came to a close for 2015.
Kyle Taylor and Craig Phillips paced the 20 car field to green with Taylor holding a slight advantage as they completed lap one. Taylor cleared for sole possession of the lead on lap two with Bruce Lee moving up to challenge Phillips for the second position. Lee moved past Phillips on lap four with Kyle Smith following in his tracks a couple laps later. The first of five cautions waved on lap eight. As racing resumed, Lee began to peek to the low side of Taylor looking to lead. Taylor held Lee at bay until caution number two flew on lap 19 when Phillips and Dale Nottestad made contact resulting in Phillips spinning. Taylor led the field back to green followed by Lee and Shaun Scheel. On lap 23, Lee got very loose exiting turn four as he spun to the infield collecting Scheel along the way to force the third caution. Taylor led the field back to green once again, this time with Smith in second and Westenberg up to third. Westenberg quickly began to challenge Smith for second, using the high side to draw even and make the pass on lap 24. Westenberg continued forward, moving up next to Taylor and stealing the top spot away on lap 28. At the same time, Jason Erickson got past Smith for the third position with Michael Grueneberg and Casey Johnson in his tracks. After another caution on lap 37, Erickson got by Taylor to claim second with Grueneberg and Johnson following his move into third and fourth respectively. Johnson slipped by Grueneberg on lap 47 just before the final caution period slowed the pace. Once racing resumed, Johnson went to work on Erickson allowing Westenberg to move out to a comfortable lead. Johnson completed the pass for second with seven laps to go as he looked to close in on Westenberg. But Westenberg stayed strong out front as he saw the checkers first for the win. Johnson finished second followed by Erickson, Dale Nottestad and Grueneberg. Johnson capped of a strong season in which he won four features and set many fast times with his third championship in the last six seasons.
Jay Kalbus of Whitewater finished his season on a high note by claiming the 35 lap Sportsman feature as well as clinching his third track championship in the division. Ed Jackson and Russ Nicholson led the field to green as they battled wheel to wheel for the lead. Nicholson claimed the initial lead before the first of two cautions waved on lap two. As racing resumed, Nicholson showed the way with Jim Taylor in second and Tim Coley third. The second caution waved on lap three when Tony Ciano stalled on the front stretch. Once racing restarted, Taylor went to work searching for a way around Nicholson. Taylor got under the leader on lap four, clearing for the top spot and bringing Jim Tate Jr along for second on lap six. Tate quickly began to challenge the new leader, drawing even with Taylor on lap nine. While they fought for first, Kalbus moved into the third spot and pulled up behind the leaders. Tate finally cleared for sole possession of the lead on lap 14 with Kalbus trying to follow. After a brief battle, Kalbus took second from Taylor on lap 22 and began to close in on Tate. Kalbus got to the inside of Tate on lap 30, drawing even and clearing for the lead as they raced out of turn four. Kalbus hung on from there to cross the stripe first to seal his championship with the win. Tate was second with Taylor, Terry Wangsness and Robert Hansberry Jr rounding out the top five.
Beaver Dam’s Seth Reamer sealed his 2015 International track championship by winning the 25 lap feature event for his division. Keith Bell led early, with Jason Uttech up to second and Tom Pfeifer in third. Uttech drove under Bell on lap four with Pfeifer watching for third and Merek Pankow in fourth. On lap five, Pfeifer dropped to the inside and drew even with Uttech and Bell looking to lead. Pfeifer and Uttech emerged side by side for the top spot with Reamer moving up to battle Bell for third. On lap eight, Reamer used the bottom groove to make it a three wide fight for first alongside Pfeifer and Uttech. Contact on the exit of turn four between Pfeifer and Uttech allowed Reamer to fire into command. Pankow moved up to claim second from Uttech on lap 13, but Reamer was already well on his way to picking up the win. Pankow was second followed by Mike Lambert, Neil Higgins and Mark English.
A last lap pass in the 30 lap Hobby Stock main event netted AJ Lloyd of Machesney Park, IL, the victory. Brandon DeLacy and Jon Benninger opened the action on the front row. Benninger took control of the point on lap two with Jeff LeFave up to second and Jamie Tate in third. Wayne Buchs joined the leader on lap five, taking third from Tate on the high side. Buchs slid up next to LeFave on lap seven. Buchs continued to move forward as cleared for second and dove under Benninger on lap nine. Buchs cleared for the lead a lap later with Tate in tow for second. Tate quickly charged alongside the new leader as they battle door to door. A caution on lap 14 slowed the field. Tate held the advantage before the yellow, so she led the field back to green followed by Buchs and Dustin Ward. As racing resumed, Ward drove into the outside lane, pulling even with Buchs for second. Ward continued forward next to Tate on lap 15. Ward took over the top spot on lap 17 and began to stretch his advantage. Meanwhile Lloyd was making his way through the top five behind Phil Wuesthoff. Lloyd drove to the outside of Wuesthoff looking for second with five laps remaining. A caution on lap 27 erased Ward’s large lead and set up a three lap shootout to the finish. Ward led the field back to green with Lloyd filling his rear view mirror. Ward tried to protect the bottom lane forcing Lloyd to go to the high side. Lloyd stuck his nose outside Ward as they raced past the white flag. Lloyd managed to draw even with Ward as they flew thorough turns three and four one final time. At the stripe, it was Lloyd by inches to claim the win over Ward. Wuesthoff was third followed by Buchs and Jared Vike. Waterloo’s Dustin Ward capped off a strong season by claiming his first career Hobby Stock track championship.
Jefferson’s Chris Gottschalk captured the 25 lap Road Warrior feature event. Anthony Accardi led early with Bill Reynolds up to second on lap two. Reynolds continued forward next to Accardi as Craig Henning joined the battle for the lead. Reynolds cleared for first on lap four with Henning in tow for second. Henning drove under Reynolds on lap six. After a brief battle, Henning took over the top spot with Gottschalk trying to follow past Reynolds. Gottschalk claimed second on lap eight as he began to shadow Henning for the lead. On lap 12, Gottschalk got a good run on the low side of Henning as they entered turn three. Gottschalk drew even with Henning and completed the pass for the lead on lap 15. Bill Sweeney tried to follow past Henning as Gottschalk raced away to pick up the win. At the checkers, it was Gottschalk out front with Henning hanging on to second. Sweeney was third followed by Bryan Gottschalk and Kenny Storkson. With his third place finish, Bill Sweeney of Aztalan claimed the 2015 Road Warrior track championship.
Brody Chilvers of Milton got out front and stayed there to claim the 25 lap Bandit feature event. DJ Hill led lap one from the pole with Chilvers up to battle Lyle Phillips for second. Chilvers claimed the position on lap two and set his sights on the early leader, Hill. Chilvers drove under Hill on lap four, clearing for the lead before the completion of the lap. Dalton Jones followed into second with Nick Schmidt on his heels for third. The top five ran the remainder of the race mostly in single file. At the checkers, it was Chilvers for the win. Following post-race inspection, Jones was forced to vacate his second place finish. Rounding out the top five were Schmidt, Dustin Yanke, Chad Olds and Josh Rusch. Madison’s Jamie Kohn was crowned the 2015 Bandit track champion.
Next weekend, September 18-20, Jefferson Speedway plays host to the 35th annual Wisconsin State Championships. Friday night, September 18, will be the first night with time trials at 5pm followed by qualifier races, preview features and the race of champions. Racing begins at 7pm on Saturday, September 19 with last chance races and double features in all divisions. Sunday, September 20, the TUNDRA Super Late Model Series returns to Jefferson Speedway with a 75 lap feature to determine the series champion. The American Ethanol Super Truck Series will race as well as the Vintage Series, Legends, Bandoleros and the Midwest 4 Cylinder Cars. Time trials on Sunday begin at 12:30 with racing at 2pm. Jefferson Speedway is located halfway between Jefferson and Cambridge on Hwy 18. Please visit www.jeffersonspeedway.com for more information.
JEFFERSON SPEEDWAY RACE SUMMARY
Late Model-
Feature Results- 1) Luke Westenberg, Jefferson 2) Casey Johnson, Edgerton 3) Jason Erickson, Fort Atkinson 4) Dale Nottestad, Cambridge 5) Michael Grueneberg, Madison 6) Kyle Taylor, Deerfield 7) Stephen Scheel, Lake Mills 8) Dylan Schuyler, Jefferson 9) Shaun Scheel, Lake Mills 10) Noel Ramge, Helenville 11) Brandon Pendleton, Helenville 12) Chris Quam, Stoughton 13) Kyle Chwala, Lake Mills 14) Craig Phillips, Edgerton 15) John Ovadal Jr, Watertown 16) Kyle Smith, Lake Mills 17) Andy Brocker, Jefferson 18) Bruce Lee, Cambridge 19) Jerry Eckhardt, Johnson Creek 20) Trent Erdman, Fort Atkinson
Fast Qualifier- Dale Nottestad—14.066 seconds
Last Chance- Noel Ramge, John Ovadal Jr, Kyle Chwala, Andy Brocker
Heat Winners- 1) Kyle Taylor 2) Kyle Smith 3) Shaun Scheel
Sportsman-
Feature Results- 1) Jay Kalbus, Whitewater 2) Jim Tate Jr, Doylestown 3) Jim Taylor, Stoughton 4) Terry Wangsness, Jefferson 5) Robert Hansberry Jr, Beloit 6) Jason Thoma, Jefferson 7) Mark Deporter, Fort Atkinson 8) Chris Chenoweth, Watertown 9) Russ Nicholson, Stoughton 10) Mike Winters, Sun Prairie 11) Ed Jackson, Madison 12) Scott Hoeft, Watertown 13) Tony Ciano, Janesville 14) Steve Anderson, Madison 15) Jason Kubicz, Whitewater 16) Bobby Selsing Jr, Johnson Creek 17) Tim Coley, Madison 18) Tim Belz, Sun Prairie 19) Brett Carson, Fort Atkinson
Fast Qualifier- Jason Thoma—14.945 seconds
Heat Winners- 1) Tony Ciano 2) Mark Deporter 3) Jason Thoma
International-
Feature Results- 1) Seth Reamer, Beaver Dam 2) Merek Pankow, Jefferson 3) Mike Lambert, Fort Atkinson 4) Neil Higgins, Watertown 5) Mark English, Edgerton 6) Keith Bell, Brodhead 7) Joe Cross, Sun Prairie 8) Jason Uttech, Watertown 9) Brandon DeLacy, Fort Atkinson 10) Nick Schmidt, Watertown 11) Noah Pankow, Jefferson 12) Tom Pfeifer, Fort Atkinson
Fast Qualifier- Seth Reamer—16.217 seconds
Heat Winners- 1) Joe Cross 2) Tom Pfeifer
Hobby Stock-
Feature Results- 1) AJ Lloyd, Machesney Park (IL) 2) Dustin Ward, Waterloo 3) Phil Wuesthoff, Beaver Dam 4) Wayne Buchs, Mazomanie 5) Jared Vike, Deforest 6) Jeff LeFave, Fort Atkinson 7) Tom Dorn, Fort Atkinson 8) Boyd Eichelkraut, Stoughton 9) Dylan Buckingham, Whitewater 10) Jon Benninger, Windsor 11) Lucas Buckingham, Whitewater 12) Jamie Tate, Doylestown 13) Gary Paulick, Union Grove 14) Brandon DeLacy, Fort Atkinson 15) Jim Wolf, Watertown
Fast Qualifier- AJ Lloyd—15.725 seconds
Heat Winners- 1) Boyd Eichelkraut 2) Phil Wuesthoff
Road Warrior-
Feature Results- 1) Chris Gottschalk, Jefferson 2) Craig Henning, Helenville 3) Bill Sweeney, Aztalan 4) Bryan Gottschalk, Jefferson 5) Kenny Storkson, Indianford 6) Bill Reynolds, Watertown 7) Anthony Accardi, Watertown 8) Rodger Stephenson, Cambridge 9) Lucas Stevenson, Beloit 10) Charles Novotny, Fort Atkinson 11) Mike Storkson, Evansville
Fast Qualifier- Craig Henning—16.524 seconds
Heat Winners- 1) Bill Reynolds 2) Bill Sweeney
Bandit-
Feature Results- 1) Brody Chilvers, Milton 2) Nick Schmidt, Watertown 3) Dustin Yanke, Jefferson 4) Chad Olds, Whitewater 5) Josh Rusch, Fort Atkinson 6) Jeremy Bredeson, Deforest 7) Bill Kohn, Madison 8) Jamie Kohn, Madison 9) Dylan Brown, Jefferson 10) Tara Belz, Sun Prairie 11) Lyle Phillips, Edgerton 12) DJ Hill, Watertown 13) Adam Schook, Palmyra 14) Josh Marx, Dousman 15) Dalton Jones, Deforest
Fast Qualifier- Chad Olds—17.137 seconds
Heat Winners- 1) Nick Schmidt 2) Adam Schook
