Grueneberg Grabs Benninger Concrete Feature

JEFFERSON, WI (Saturday, June 9, 2018)              Michael Grueneberg of Wisconsin Dells parked his mount in victory lane at Jefferson Speedway following the running of the Benninger Concrete and Construction 50 lap Late Model feature. A late race tangle between the leaders helped clear the way for Grueneberg to make his return to victory lane and give him his first feature win of the season.

Josh Madell and Jerry Eckhardt brought the field of 18 pilots to the drop of the green flag. The duo spent the opening six laps battling for control until Madell grabbed the lead for himself on lap seven. Shaun Scheel followed into second with Stephen Scheel in his brother’s tracks for third. The leaders lined up single file with Shaun peeking under Madell from time to time to no avail. On lap 17, Stephen got a run and slipped past Shaun for second. Stephen pulled up behind Madell and began to apply heavy pressure to the leader. Scheel got good looks to the inside of Madell, but each time Josh would hold him off and remain in control of the top spot. But, on lap 39, contact between the pair of drivers as they raced into turn one resulted in Madell spinning to force the first of two cautions. Both drivers were sent to the rear of the field for the restart, handing the point over to Shaun Scheel with Grueneberg now in second and John Ovadal Jr in third. After racing resumed, Grueneberg began searching for an avenue around the new leader. On lap 42, Grueneberg slid up under Scheel as they raced off turn two. A lap later, Grueneberg was out front alone. Grueneberg survived a late restart following the second yellow flag of the race as he drove off to get the win. Ovadal made a late race pass to net the second position with Shaun Scheel, Dale Nottestad and Luke Westenberg rounding out the top five.

Fort Atkinson’s Mark Deporter survived a great 30 lap Sportsman feature to come home with the win. Tom Bleecker and Dan Harris brought the field to green with Harris taking the early lead on lap one. The second circuit saw the first of two cautions when a three wide incident involving Bleecker, Jake Biever and Chris Jones ended with a melee in turn one. Harris brought the field back to green with Bryce Miller behind him in second and Deporter already up to third. Jason Thoma joined the three leaders as racing resumed making it a four way fight for first. On lap nine, Miller drove to the low side of Harris, drawing even as they raced for control. Miller pulled out front on lap 11 with Deporter trying to follow under Harris for second. Miller slipped up slightly on lap 15, allowing Harris to fire back to his outside. After a brief battle, Harris reassumed the lead as Deporter took to the outside of Miller looking for second. On lap 21, Deporter got by Miller and set his sights on Harris at the front. Deporter began stalking Harris as the leaders tiptoed through lapped traffic. With three laps to go, Deporter got under Harris as they raced wheel to wheel for the lead. But a caution slowed the action when Miller experienced problems with his machine as he slowed on the speedway. Deporter was scored the leader, and such, led the pack back to green with three laps left. Thoma took a shot at getting by Harris for second in the final laps, but it was Deporter out front to secure the win. Harris hung on for second followed by Thoma, Chris Chenoweth and Tim Coley.

Watertown’s Nick Schmidt claimed the 20 lap International feature event. Ashley Gottschalk took the initial lead on lap one with Schmidt already up to second by lap two. Schmidt drove under Gottschalk on lap four, grabbing control of the point two laps later. Josh Marx followed up to second on lap 11 with Gary Stark in tow. But contact between the two led to the first of two cautions on lap 16. Schmidt and Gottschalk led the field back to green. One more caution slowed the restart, but once racing resumed, Schmidt and Gottschalk began to battle for the top spot as the laps ticked away. Schmidt finally gained the advantage on the final lap with Scott Hoeft trying to follow past Gottschalk for second. At the checkers, it was Schmidt for the win with Hoeft nipping Gottschalk at the line for second. Mike Lambert was fourth with Noah Pankow rounding out the top five.

Waunakee’s Scott Riedner returned to Jefferson Speedway victory lane following his win in the 25 lap Hobby Stock main event. After an early caution on lap two, Chuck Egli led the field back to green with Kolton Guralski in second and Jordy Egli in third. Riedner slipped past Jordy Egli on lap four and closed up behind Chuck Egli and Guralski who were fighting for the lead. Riedner watched closely from third while Egli and Guralski battled for control. Finally, on lap 17, Riedner got tired of waiting as he dove to the low side of Guralski as they raced out of turn two. The three wide fight ended with Egli checked up to avoid a collision and Riedner assumed the top spot. Philip Wuesthoff drove up to second on lap 21 just before a final caution with four laps to go. As racing resumed, Wuesthoff began to pressure Riedner at the front with Jim Tate Jr joining the fight. But Riedner kept everyone at bay to cross the stripe first and score the win. Wuesthoff finished second followed by Tate, Guralski and Jordy Egli.

Tyler Deschaine of Loves Park, IL, picked up the win in the 20 lap Bandit feature event. Chase Munns led lap one with Deschaine up to second. On lap two, Deschaine drove to the high side of Munns, stealing the top spot for himself a lap later. Deschaine began to stretch his advantage while Nick Schmidt made his way up to second as the laps ticked away. Schmidt tried to close the gap on the leader, but Deschaine remained strong out front to secure the win. Schmidt was second with Jeremy Bredeson, Chad Olds and Tyler Edmundson completing the top five.

Karter Stark of Marshall hung on to capture the 20 lap Bandolero feature event. Chase Wangsness took the lead on lap one from the outside of row one with Zachary Konop in second and Jevin Guralski in third. Guralski got by Konop for second and drove up under Wangsness looking to lead. Guralski took over the top spot on lap three while Stark drove up to watch the battle for second between Konop and Wangsness. Stark powered by the pair of drivers to claim the second position on lap four. Stark set his sight on Guralski, trying to reel in the leader. On lap 12, Stark dove under Guralski entering turn one. A lap later, Stark was out front as they duo battled heavy lapped traffic. But Stark remained in control through the checkered flag with Guralski close behind in second. Alex Hartwig finished third followed by Logan Taylor and Konop.

Next Saturday, June 16, is a full program of racing highlighted by the return of the Badgerland Challenge. Time trials begin at 5pm with racing 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 Race Results-

Last Chance-

50 lap Feature Results-

Sportsman-

Qualifying-

Heat Race Results-

30 lap Feature Results-

International-

Qualifying-

Heat Race Results-

20  lap Feature Results-

Hobby Stock-

Qualifying-

Heat Race Results-

25 lap Feature Results-

Bandit-

Qualifying-

Heat Race Results-

20 lap Feature Results-

Bandolero-

Qualifying-

Heat Race Results-

Last Chance-

20 lap Feature Results-