Behlke Notches first of year – Erdman earns career first at Jefferson Speedway!
By Jeanne & Larry Starr
July 17, 1999; Jefferson, WI. – Racing veteran Roger Behlke of Jefferson claimed his first feature of the 1999 season in the 35 lap main event at Jefferson Speedway. Starting from the outside of row 5 Behlke started the hard journey to the front, as Rex Weston of Lake Mills pulled out to the early lead. Behlke moved up to the 4th spot by lap 3, behind the battle for 2nd between Bruce Clark of Watertown and Scott Null of Lake Mills.
On lap 7 Clark and Null slowed going into the 3rd turn as Behlke displayed remarkable reflexes, braking sharply and diving to the inside to claim the 3rd spot from Null and closing with Clark. Clark fought hard to hang on to 2nd, with Weston still at the point.
After 10 laps of side-by-side racing Clark slipped enough for Behlke to claim the 2nd spot and close with Weston for the lead. Weston put up a good fight, holding off Behlke for 3 laps before surrendering the point. As Behlke claimed the top spot, defending track champion Andy Wendt of Watertown was up to the 3rd spot, battling with Weston.
Weston found himself hung out on the outside as Wendt and others motored past on the inside. At the stripe it was Behlke for the win, followed by Wendt, Dan Chesmore of Janesville, Ron Bishofberger of Ft. Atkinson and Weston.
Wendt set the fast qualifying pace, with a 14.908 second tour of the quarter mile speed plant.
Behlke claimed the trophy and money in the 8 lap WSLD Fast Dash.
Claiming victory in 10 lap Heat races were Duane Deppe of Waterloo, Scott Bleeker of Jefferson and Bart Reinen of Jefferson.
Moving to the feature lineup through the 20 lap Last Chance race were Terry Morgan of Delafield, Bart Reinen of Jefferson, Gene Olson Jr. of Jefferson and Luke Westenberg of Palmyra.
In International class action it was Brent Nottestad cruising ahead of brother Justin to claim another feature win, in the 20 lap main event. Starting from the outside of row 6 Nottestad started his drive to the front, as Mike Hoppe of Milwaukee took the early lead. Caution came, on lap 4, for a spin in the 2nd turn, with Hoppe still guiding the way.
On the restart Aaron Rude of Cambridge moved to the inside of Hoppe, claiming the lead by lap 6 as Nottestad moved up to 3rd. The Nottestad brothers drove under Hoppe, with Brent claiming 2nd and closing with Rude, as Justin claimed 3rd. Brent Nottestad took the inside line, with Rude fighting hard on the outside. The pair battled side by side for many laps before Brent Nottestad pulled ahead on lap 10.
Justin Nottestad moved under Rude for 2nd, before the final caution of the race on lap 12. On the restart Brent Nottestad pulled ahead, guiding the way to the checkered flag, as Justin fought to stay ahead of the battle for 3rd. At the stripe it was Brent Nottestad claiming the checkered, followed by Justin Nottestad, Rude, Darnell Mepham of Ft. Atkinson and Chris Quam of Stoughton.
Brent Nottestad set the fast qualifying pace with a 15.932 second tour of the quarter mile.
Claiming victory, in 10 lap heat races, were Bobby Moore of Madison and Mike Drays of Milton.
In Sportsman division action defending track champion Dave Oswald found his way back to victory lane, in the 25 lap feature. Starting from the inside of row 7, Oswald began his long drive to the front, as Roger Stephenson of Cambridge pulled out to the early lead. Stephenson guided the way for 3 laps before being overtaken by Josh Courtney of Janesville, with Oswald up to the 4th spot.
As Courtney pulled ahead and started opening up a healthy lead Oswald was battling with Chris Purdy of Milton for the 3rd spot. Oswald managed to edge ahead of Purdy before the final caution of the race, on lap 11, closing up behind Tony Koepke of Ft. Atkinson as Courtney lead the field back to the restart. On the restart Oswald moved under Koepke, making his bid for 2nd. Koepke fought hard, holding off Oswald for 3 laps, before slipping to 3rd, as Oswald closed with Courtney.
Oswald moved under Courtney for the lead on lap 17, with Chad “Squirt” Stevens close behind to claim 2nd. Stevens made several attemts to the inside but Oswald was up to the challenge, guiding the field to the checkered flag. At the stripe it was Oswald for the win, followed by Stevens, Purdy, Courtney and Jeff Kohlhoff of Watertown.
Stevens set the fast qualifying pace with a 15.653 second orbit of the quarter mile.
Claiming victory, in 10 lap heat races, were Dale Padfield of Jefferson, Chris Ehrhart of Deerfield and Purdy.
Moving to the feature lineup, via the 10 lap Last Chance race were Randy Padfield of Stoughton, Brian Jensen of Tigerton, Ehrhart and Dale Padfield.
In Hobby Stock action Trent Erdman of Ft. Atkinson notched his career first feature victory in the 20 lap main event. Starting from the inside of row 2, Erdman pulled into 2nd, behind Ernie Witte of Watertown at the green flag. Caution came, on lap 2, with Erdman still running 2nd. On the restart Erdman moved under Witte, making his bid for the lead.
Witte held on until lap 11, when caution found Erdman at the point with Nick Golich of Hebron running 2nd. On the restart Erdman pulled ahead, holding off all comers on his way to his first checkered flag. At the stripe it was Erdman for the win, followed by Chuck Egli of Waterloo, Golich, Lincoln Keeser of Milton and Jim Williams of Milton.
Egli set the fast qualifying pace, with a 17.324 second circuit of the quarter mile.
Claiming victory in 8 lap heat races were Williams and Golich.
Rounding out the nights’ entertainment were the One-on-One Street Drags. Brian Pillar of Watertown claimed bragging rights in the 4 cylinder division. Wayne Ninnemann of Ft. Atkinson came out on top, in the 6 cylinder division. The 8 cylinder car went to Bobb Radke of Lake Mills and the 8 Cylinder truck went to Reihart Hunt of Madison.
Next week Jefferson Speedway presents the WFAW/Blackhawk 50 and the rollover contest.
Gates open at 3:30, qualifying at 5:30 and racing at 7:30 sharp. Jefferson Speedway is located between Cambridge and Jefferson on Highway 18.
Late Model Division
35 Lap Feature Event
1. #44 Roger Behlke Jefferson
2. #18 Andy Wendt Watertown
3. #27 Dan Chesmore Janesville
4. #76 Ron Bishofberger Fort Atkinson
5. #35 Rex Weston Lake Mills
6. #62 Scott Null Lake Mills
7. #43 Denny Stair Sullivan
8. # 7 Bill Leindecker Janesville
9. #41 Mike Taylor Stoughton
10. #11 Russ Goodwin Beloit
11. # 2 Jerry Parker Palmyra
12. # 6 Bart Reinen Jefferson
13. #37 Gene Olson Jr. Jefferson
14. #27 J.C. Stanelle Milton
15. #16 Luke Westenberg Palmyra
16. # 5 Terry Morgan Delafield
17. # 7 Bruce Clark Watertown
18. #46 Nick Wendt Watertown
20 Lap Last Chance:
1.) Terry Morgan
2.) Bart Reinen
3.) Gene Olson, Jr.
4.) Luke Westenberg
First 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Duane Deppe
Second 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Scott Bleeker
Third 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Bart Reinen
Dash:
1.) Roger Behlke
Fast Qualifier: #18 Andy Wendt, Watertown,……..14.908 Seconds
Internationals
20 Lap Feature Event
1. #25 Brent Nottestad Cambridge
2. #15 Justin Nottestad Cambridge
3. # 9 Aaron Rude Cambridge
4. #12 Darnell Mepham Fort Atkinson
5. # 4 Chris Quam Stoughton
6. #48 Mike Drays Milton
First 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Bobby Moore
Second 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Mike Drays
Fast Qualifier: #25 Brent Nottestad, Cambridge,………15.932 Seconds
Sportsman
25 Lap Feature Event
1. #31 Dave Oswald Cottage Grove
2. #82 Chad Stevens Beloit
3. # 7 Chris Purdy Milton
4. #21 Josh Courtney Janesville
5. #98 Jeff Kohloff Watertown
6. #32 Tony Koepke Fort Atkinson
15 Lap Last Chance:
1.) Randy Padfield
2.) Brian Jensen
3.) Chris Erhardt
4.) Dale Padfield
First 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Dale Padfield
Second 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Chris Erhardt
Third 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Chris Purdy
Fast Qualifier: #82 Chad Stevens, Beloit,……..15.653 Seconds
Hobby Stocks
20 Lap Feature Event
1. #11 Trent Erdman Fort Atkinson
2. #22 Chuck Egli Waterloo
3. #66 Nick Golich Hebron
4. #99 Lincoln Keeser Milton
5. #J10 Jim Williams Milton
6. #93 Jim Blucher Madison
First 8 Lap Heat:
1.) Jim Williams
Second 8 Lap Heat:
1.) Nick Golich
Fast Qualifier: #22 Chuck Egli, Waterloo,……….17.324 Seconds
One-On-One Street Drags:
4 Cylinder: – Brian Pillar – Watertown
6 Cylinder: – Wayne Ninneman – Fort Atkinson
8 Cylinder- Car : – Bobb Radtke – Lake Mills
8 Cylinder- Truck: – Reihart Hunt – Madison
