Ovadal Owns Late Model Feature

CAMBRIDGE, WI (Saturday, September 1, 2018)               After coming up just short on several occasions in 2018, John Ovadal Jr finally captured the checkered flag at Jefferson Speedway on Saturday night. The Watertown pilot claimed the Culver’s of Johnson Creek 50 lap Late Model feature to secure his first win on the season while lightning filled the sky in the distance.

Andy Brocker and Josh Madell brought the field to green with Brocker taking the early lead on lap one. Seth Reamer charged under Brocker down the backstretch on lap two. After a brief battle, Reamer pulled into the lead with Dylan Schuyler following into second a lap later. Luke Westenberg moved past Brocker for third on lap nine as the leaders lined up single file. Just before the halfway point of the race, Westenberg experience a flat rear tire, forcing him to retire from the event and handing the third position to Ovadal. Ovadal pulled up behind Schuyler as he began to challenge for the second position. On lap 33, Reamer lost control of his mount, spinning on the exit of turn two to force the first of two cautions. Schuyler restarted on the point with Ovadal now in second and Shaun Scheel up to third. After another quick caution a lap later, Ovadal launched his bid for the top spot. After peeking to the inside of Schuyler on more than one occasion, Ovadal dove under the leader as they raced into turn three on lap 37. The duo raced side by side off turn four as the battle for the lead was on. After a three lap affair, Ovadal placed his machine out front, clearing for the lead with ten laps remaining. Shaun Scheel slipped past Schuyler on lap 42 and pulled up behind Ovadal at the front. But Ovadal remained in control in the closing laps, crossing under the checkers first to get the win. Scheel finished second followed by Riley Stenjem, Schuyler and Dale Nottestad.

Saturday night was the culmination of the three night Sportsman Challenge Series highlighted by twin 25 lap feature events. Jason Thoma and Mark Deporter battled for control of the lead in the opening laps of the first feature with Thoma taking command following a restart on lap four. While Deporter continued to use the high side in an attempt to get back alongside Thoma, Breunig snuck underneath and stole the second spot on lap 11. Breunig began to shadow the leader, Thoma, as the laps ticked away. With five laps to go, a caution slowed the pace, setting up a dash to the finish. Once racing resumed, Thoma remained out front as Breunig tried to find a lane around the leader. As the checkers flew, Thoma crossed the stripe first followed by Breunig, Chris Chenoweth, Deporter and Chris Jones. Following post race inspection, Thoma was forced to vacate his position, handing the win to Breunig of Columbus.

The second feature began with Stoughton’s, Jim Taylor firing into the lead on lap one as Tim Coley fell back into a battle for second with Deporter. Deporter grabbed the position on lap seven with Breunig following into third a few laps later. On lap 17, Deporter made his move, looking to take away the lead from Taylor. Deporter drew even with Taylor while Breunig watched closely from third. Taylor and Deporter raced wheel to wheel as the laps wound down. The pair of competitors flew past the white flag with nothing settled at the front. As they raced off turn four one final time, it was Taylor who owned the slight advantage, carrying it to the stripe to score the win. Deporter settled for second followed by Breunig, Chenoweth and Jones. Watertown’s Chris Chenoweth was crowned the overall Sportsman Challenge Series Champion with Breunig finishing a close second.

Edgerton’s Mark English got the win in the 15 lap International feature event. Joe Cross led lap one as they raced three wide behind him for second. English emerged with the position as he continued forward next to Cross. English cleared for the top spot on lap two and quickly began to stretch his advantage. Neil Higgins followed past Cross for second on lap four, bringing Scott Hoeft along for third. English remained unchallenged on the point as he cruised to the checkers to claim the win. Higgins hung on for second followed by Hoeft, Mike Lambert and Cross.

Bill Sweeney of Lake Mills grabbed the win in the 15 lap Road Warrior feature event. AJ Accardi led early from the front row as Bill Reynolds moved up to second bringing Sweeney along for third on lap two. Reynolds dove under Accardi on lap four as Sweeny joined the battle as well. On lap seven, Sweeney drove up the middle, making it a three wide fight for first. Sweeney and Accardi emerged side by side on lap eight. But a spinning Reynolds brought the caution, slowing the pace and setting up a shootout to the finish. Accardi and Sweeney brought the pack back to green as Sweeney fired into the lead on the restart. Jordan Lamb followed into second, but Sweeney was already on his way to the checkers to grab the win. Lamb finished second with Mark Dewey, Reynolds and Chris Gottschalk rounding out the top five.

On season championship night for the Legends division, it was West Bend’s Aaron Moyer sealing his title by claiming the 20 lap feature event. Tony Moyer drove into the lead on lap one as Dillon Schwanbeck and Aaron Moyer charged into the top three on lap two. Schwanbeck slid under Tony Moyer on lap three, grabbing the lead while Aaron Moyer followed in his tracks to second. On lap five, Aaron Moyer dove under Schwanbeck as they raced into turn one. Moyer cleared a lap later while Schwanbeck tried to come back strong on the low side. But Moyer fended off Schwanbeck’s challenge until a caution on lap 16 slowed the pace. Moyer and Schwanbeck led the field back to green as Moyer once again took control of the top spot. Moyer held the lead all the way to the checkers to secure the win with Schwanbeck, Noah Eisenhouer, Cole Grey and Mike Storkson completing the top five. Aaron Moyer was crowned the 2018 Legends champion, his second title in as many years at Jefferson Speedway.

Alex Hartwig of Portage captured the 25 lap Bandolero season championship feature. Tyler Muller and Carter NIlson battled for the early lead as Michel Guderski charged up to join the fight on lap two. Muller grabbed control on lap three as Guderski followed past Nilson for second. Guderski continued forward, driving under Muller to secure the lead.  Hartwig moved into third on lap five. Hartwig went to the outside of Muller, taking away second and setting his sights on the new leader. On lap nine, Hartwig went to the high side of Guderski, drawing even in a battle for the lead. But lapped traffic forced Hartwig to fall back in line behind Guderski on lap 12. Two laps later, Hartwig once again drove to the high side, pulling up next to Guderski. This time lapped traffic forced Guderski to check up slightly, allowing Hartwig to grab control of the top spot. Hartwig drove off to get the win with Guderski settling for second. Logan Taylor was third followed by Karter Stark and Jevin Guralski. Guralski was crowned the 2018 Bandolero season champion.

Next Saturday, Sept 8, is Season Championship Night presented by Griffin Ford of Fort Atkinson. 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 Races

Last Chance

Feature

Sportsman-

Qualifying

Heat Races

Feature #1

Feature #2

International-

Qualifying

Heat Races

Feature

Road Warrior-

Qualifying

Heat Races

Feature

Legends-

Qualifying

Heat Races

Feature

Bandolero-

Qualifying

Heat Races

Feature