Badgerland Battles Settled

JEFFERSON, WI (Saturday, August 20, 2016)           Wisconsin’s Action Track hosted the finale of the 2016 Badgerland Challenge Series on Saturday evening. The Series pits the best Late Model and Sportsman drivers from Jefferson Speedway, Slinger Super Speedway and Madison International Speedway in a three race series to determine which driver and track stand supreme. When the dust settled, it was Dale Nottestad of Cambridge taking top honors in the Late Models while Jefferson’s Jason Thoma owned the Sportsman. While Nottestad was busy putting the finishing touches on his Badgerland crown, Edgerton’s Casey Johnson was powering his way back into victory lane after winning the CR Construction 50 lap Late Model feature event.

Don Gaserude and Bruce Lee paced the field of 19 of the area’s best Late Model pilots to the green. Lee held the slight advantage as they crossed the stripe to complete the opening lap. Shaun Scheel tried to make it a three wide affair on lap two for the lead, but couldn’t quite make it work as Lee slipped out into control of the point on lap three. Luke Westenberg followed into second with Scheel in third when the first of three cautions waved on lap five for a wreck in turn three. Once racing resumed, Westenberg began to challenge Lee for the top spot. On lap ten, Westenberg slipped under Lee through turns three and four as they battled side by side. Westenberg took control on lap 12 as Michael Grueneberg moved up to third. Grueneberg followed Westenberg past Lee to claim second and immediately go to work on the new leader. The action was slowed on lap 19 for the second yellow flag period when Ryan Farrell spun in turn one. As racing resumed, Westenberg drifted high entering turn one allowing Grueneberg to slip underneath. On lap 20, slight contact between the two competitors resulted in Grueneberg sliding to the infield down the front stretch to force the final caution. As a result, both drivers were forced to restart from the back of the pack handing the lead over to Jason Erickson with Casey Johnson in second and Dale Nottestad in third. A great battle for second ensued once the green flag reappeared between Johnson and Nottestad. On lap 21, Nottestad dove under Johnson entering turn one. After a brief battle, Nottestad cleared for second on lap 24. But Johnson would not go away that easily. Johnson got back under Nottestad on lap 33, reclaiming second for himself a lap later. Johnson now set his sights on Erickson at the point as he began to reel in the leader. Johnson caught Erickson with just six laps remaining. On lap 44, Johnson powered under Erickson as they raced off turn two. Johnson drew even down the backstretch as they raced door to door for the lead. On lap 46, Johnson slid in front of Erickson to clear for the lead. Erickson tried to fight back on the low side, but Johnson fended off his advances to score the feature win. Erickson settled for second followed by Nottestad, Lee and John Ovadal Jr. As mentioned, Nottestad was crowned Badgerland Challenge Champ with Johnson finishing second and Ovadal in third.

In Sportsman action, Janesville’s Tony Ciano claimed the 30 lap feature event. Starting from the pole, Ciano took early command of the lead on lap one with Robert Hansberry Jr up to second. Several drivers slammed fenders behind the leaders as they jostled for position in the opening laps. The yellow flag slowed the pace on lap three. Ciano restarted on the point with Hansberry in second and Mark Deporter in third. As racing resumed, Jason Thoma entered the top five while Ciano tried to keep Hansberry at bay at the front. Hansberry spent the remainder of the race searching for a way to get by Ciano, but to no avail. Ciano remained strong on the point as he led every lap on his way to the victory. Hansberry finished second with Chris Chenoweth, Thoma and Deporter rounding out the top five. Thoma sealed the Badgerland Challenge Championship with his fourth place finish. Jay Kalbus was runner up with Bobby Selsing finishing third in the standings.

Mike Lambert of Fort Atkinson captured the 20 lap International feature event. Tim Petrie and Noah Pankow opened up the action on row one as they fought for control. Lap after lap, the duo raced side by side for the lead while Lambert, James Bell and Seth Reamer made their way forward. On lap nine, Petrie got a little loose allowing Pankow to claim the lead. But a multi car melee on lap 12 resulted in the sole caution of the race. Pankow and Bell led the field back to green with Bell firing into the lead on the restart. Lambert followed into second with Reamer up to third. Lambert quickly went to work on the new leader, diving under Bell as they raced into turn one. After a brief battle, Lambert moved out front with three laps to go. Lambert led the way to the checkers from there followed by Bell, Reamer, Neil Higgins and Jamie Kohn.

Korey Bengsch of Fond du Lac scored his second feature win of the season after laying claim to the 25 lap Hobby Stock main event. Jeff LeFave and Bengsch paced the field to green as they battled wheel to wheel for the lead. On lap two, LeFave and Jim Robinson made contact as they raced through turns three and four resulting in LeFave spinning in front of the field to force a caution. Bengsch restarted on the point with Chuck Egli up to second. Egli began to pressure Bengsch until the second caution waved on lap nine. On the restart, Phil Wuesthoff dove under Egli looking to take second. But Egli mounted a run on the high side as he drew even with Bengsch at the front. The top eight competitors lined up side by side at the front of the field as Bengsch and Egli battled for control. The laps ticked away with Bengsch owning a slight advantage over Egli. Egli began to fade slightly with five laps remaining. Bengsch continued to fend off challenges while Egli now battled with Wuesthoff for second. At the checkers, it was Bengsch out front for the win with Wuesthoff nipping Egli at the line for second. AJ Lloyd finished fourth with Kenny Storkson rounding out the top five.

Fort Atkinson’s Chris Gottschalk picked up the clean sweep in the Road Warrior division by claiming fast time in qualifying, winning his heat race and claiming the 15 lap feature event. Craig Henning led lap one with Kenny Storkson up to second and Gottschalk in third. Gottschalk moved past Storkson for second on lap four as he pulled up behind Henning. On lap six, Gottschalk dove under Henning as they raced off turn two. After a three lap fight for the lead, Gottschalk slid out front on lap nine and drove off to the checkers to get the win. Henning was second followed by Storkson, Bill Reynolds and Bill Sweeney.

Whitewater’s Chad Olds picked up the win in the 20 lap Bandit feature event. Cade Watters led early with Bill Kohn up to second. The race was slowed on lap two for a caution with Watters and Kohn leading the field back to green. Kohn took the top spot away on lap three with Jeremy Bredeson in tow for second. Olds took to the high side as they charged up to third on lap five. Olds crossed over to the bottom of the racing surface as he drew even with Bredeson for second on lap seven. Olds cleared a lap later and set his sights on Kohn at the front. On lap ten, Olds drove to the outside of Kohn as they race side by side for the lead. Olds inched forward until he was out front alone on lap 13. Kohn fell back into a fight for second with Bredeson while Olds pulled away for the win. Bredeson finished second followed by Kohn, Ryan Ostenson and Nick Schmidt.

Marshall’s Karter Stark took top honors in the 8 lap Bandolero feature event. Chase Wangsness and Stark made up row one at the start with Wangsness taking the initial lead. But Stark raced under Wangsness down the backstretch on lap one, taking over the top spot through turns three and four. Robbie Rucks followed into second as he began to look to the high side of Stark. Stark stayed low while Rucks continued to work the outside lane. But Stark remained in control to see the checkers first with Rucks settling for second. Wangsness was third followed by Emma Huntstiger in fourth.

Next Friday, August 26, is another Jefferson Speedway Track Attack event starting at 7pm. Saturday, August 27, is Serenity Concepts night with racing in all six divisions. Time trials start at 5pm with racing at 7pm. 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) Casey Johnson, Edgerton  2) Jason Erickson, Fort Atkinson  3) Dale Nottestad, Cambridge  4) Bruce Lee, Cambridge  5) John Ovadal Jr, Watertown  6) Shaun Scheel, Lake Mills  7) Dylan Schuyler, Jefferson  8) Kevin Knuese, Waukesha  9) Stephen Scheel, Lake Mills  10) Trent Erdman, Fort Atkinson  11) Kyle Smith, Lake Mills  12) Luke Westenberg, Jefferson  13) Michael Grueneberg, Madison  14) Jerry Eckhardt, Johnson Creek  15) Scott Patrick, Dousman  16) Ryan Farrell, Big Bend  17) Jacob Vanoskey, Hartford  18) Kody Hubred, Utica  19) Don Gaserude, Fort Atkinson

Fast Qualifier- Dale Nottestad—14.199 seconds

Last Chance- Jerry Eckhardt, Kyle Smith, Scott Patrick, Ryan Farrell

Consi- Chuck Duncan, Mike Taylor

Heat Winners- 1) Tony Koepke  2) Kyle Smith  3) Casey Johnson

Badgerland Challenge Final Standings- 1) Dale Nottestad, 174  2) Casey Johnson, 125  3) John Ovadal Jr, 121  4) Shaun Scheel, 110  5) Ryan Farrell, 96  6) Kevin Knuese, 94  7) Stephen Scheel, 91  8) Jacob Vanoskey, 73

Sportsman-

Feature Results- 1) Tony Ciano, Janesville  2) Robert Hansberry Jr, Beloit  3) Chris Chenoweth, Watertown  4) Jason Thoma, Jefferson  5) Mark Deporter, Fort Atkinson  6) Jay Kalbus, Watertown  7) Jim Tate Jr, Doylestown  8) Terry Wangsness, Jefferson  9) Bobby Selsing, Johnson Creek  10) Josh Madell, Mayville  11) Jim Taylor, Stoughton  12) Cody Houseweart, Machesney Park (IL)  13) Ed Jackson, Madison

Fast Qualifier- Jason Thoma—14.887 seconds

Heat Winners- 1) Tony Ciano  2) Terry Wangsness

Badgerland Challenge Final Standings- 1) Jason Thoma, 182  2) Jay Kalbus, 159  3) Bobby Selsing, 153  4) Terry Wangsness, 149

International-

Feature Results- 1) Mike Lambert, Fort Atkinson  2) James Bell, Janesville  3) Seth Reamer, Beaver Dam  4) Neil Higgins, Watertown  5) Jamie Kohn, Madison  6) Noah Pankow, Jefferson  7) Mark English, Edgerton  8) Jason Uttech, Watertown  9) Joe Cross, Sun Prairie  10) Josh Marx, Dousman  11) Scott Crawford, Cambridge  12) Tim Petrie, Whitewater  13) Eric Connell, Janesville  14) Nick Schmidt, Watertown  15) Merek Pankow, Jefferson  16) Keith Bell, Brodhead

Fast Qualifier- Seth Reamer—15.845 seconds NEW TRACK RECORD

Heat Winners- 1) Nick Schmidt  2) Jamie Kohn

Hobby Stock-

Feature Results- 1) Korey Bengsch, Fond du Lac  2) Phil Wuesthoff, Beaver Dam  3) Chuck Egli, Stoughton  4) AJ Lloyd, Loves Park (IL)  5) Kenny Storkson, Edgerton  6) Dan Snyder, Stoughton  7) Dustin Ward, Waterloo  8) Chester Williams, Waukesha  9) Cody Buchs, Mazomanie  10) Jim Robinson, Beloit  11) Jon Benninger, Windsor  12) Jim Wolf, Watertown  13) Jamie Tate, Doylestown  14) Brandon DeLacy, Fort Atkinson  15) Kris Chwala, Johnson Creek  16) Eric Bennett, Beloit  17) Jeff LeFave, Fort Atkinson  18) Jared Vike, Sussex

Fast Qualifier- AJ Lloyd—15.840 seconds

Heat Winners- 1) Kris Chwala  2) Kenny Storkson

Road Warrior-

Feature Results- 1) Chris Gottschalk, Fort Atkinson  2) Craig Henning, Helenville  3) Kenny Storkson, Edgerton  4) Bill Reynolds, Watertown  5) Bill Sweeney, Aztalan  6) Bryan Gottschalk, Jefferson  7) Mark Dewey, Janesville  8) David Pautsch Jr, Roscoe (IL)  9) Sheen Marsh, Palmyra

Fast Qualifier- Chris Gottschalk—16.504 seconds

Heat Winner- Chris Gottschalk

Bandit-

Feature Results- 1) Chad Olds, Whitewater  2) Jeremy Bredeson, Deforest  3) Bill Kohn, Madison  4) Ryan Ostenson, Beloit  5) Nick Schmidt, Watertown  6) Cade Watters, Sun Prairie  7) Jared Deming, Jackson  8) Brody Chilvers, Milton  9) Tyler Deporter, Fort Atkinson  10) CJ Hemiller, Watertown  11) Kevin Lentz, Horicon  12) Jared Pinnow, Jefferson  13) Dave Lembke, Germantown  14) Duane Lounsbury, Beloit

Fast Qualifier- Chad Olds—14.001 seconds NEW TRACK RECORD

Heat Winners- 1) Jared Pinnow  2) Bill Kohn

Bandoleros-

Feature Results- 1) Karter Stark, Marshall  2) Robbie Rucks, Deerfield  3) Chase Wangsness, Jefferson  4) Emma Huntstiger, Helenville

Fast Qualifier- Robbie Rucks—16.117 seconds

Heat Winner- Karter Stark