May 29, 1999; Jefferson, WI. - Eric Gerlach of Palmyra powered from the outside of the front row, to the checkered flag, notching his first feature win of the 1999 season, in the Kearns Motor Cars 50, at Jefferson Speedway. As Gerlach claimed the point, rookie driver Randy Breunig of Columbus moved into second, with Bill Leindecker of Janesville close behind.
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Eric Gerlach (#55) following his first Late Model feature win of 1999. To pick up the evenings victory he had to hold off some strong late race challenges from Bill Leindecker. |
Leindecker claimed the second
spot on lap 9, falling in behind Gerlach as they opened up a healthy lead over the field. The lead vaporized on lap 19, as a spin in turn 2,
brought out the second caution of the race. On
the restart Gerlach pulled ahead, as Mike Taylor of Stoughton moved ahead from the 4th
spot. Taylor claimed 3rd on lap 22, with Scott Null of Lake Mills close behind for 4th. A pair of cars tangled on the back stretch,
bringing out the final caution of the race, on lap 41.
On the restart Leindecker made his bid for the lead, but Gerlach proved up to the
task as the top 4 battled nose to tail, and side by side, over the final 9 laps. At the stripe it was Gerlach for the win, followed
by Leindecker, Taylor, Null and Ron Bishofberger of Ft. Atkinson.
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Defending Late Model kingpin, Andy Wendt (#18) stands in victory lane, with a representative of Kearns Motor Cars, following his victory in the Late Model Fast Dash. |
Bishofberger set the fast qualifying
pace, with a 14.926 second orbit of the quarter mile speed plant.
Defending track champion Andy Wendt of
Watertown claimed the trophy in the, Kearns Motor Cars, Fast Dash.
Claiming, 10 lap heat race, victories
were Butch Mierendorf of Waterloo, Scott Bleeker of Jefferson, Dan Chesmore of Janesville
and Taylor.
Transferring to the Last Chance race,
via the 12 lap Consolation Race were Brian Schneidewent of Palmyra and James Gleesing of
Whitewater.
Moving to the feature lineup, through
the 20 lap Last Chance race were J.C. Stanelle of Milton, Terry Morgan of Delafield, Jon
Hornby of Sun Prairie and Bleeker.
In International class action, defending track champion Justin Nottestad of Cambridge filled his Clean Sweep with his victory in the 20 lap main event. Starting from the outside of row 6, Nottestad powered through the field, claiming the 5th spot by lap 4, as Scott Uttech of Beaver Dam pulled out in the early lead.
| Justin Nottestad (#15) following his International Class feature win. Nottestad had a strong performance this evening winning the feature and his heat race after setting fast time honors. | ![]() |
Nottestad caught Uttech by lap 5,
pulling to the inside to make his bid for the lead. Uttech
surrendered the position on lap 6, only to find himself battling Charles Dixon of Waukesha
for second. Aaron Rude of Cambridge pulled up
to join the battle, moving under Uttech and Dixon to claim 2nd on lap 9. As they streaked passed the checkered flag it was
Nottestad for the win, followed by Rude, Dixon, Mike Drays of Milton and Matt Frey of
Cambridge.
Nottestad set the fast pace in
qualifying with a 15.976 second tour of Wisconsins Action Track.
Claiming victory in 10 lap heat races
were Mark English of Edgerton and Nottestad.
Transferring to the main event, via the
10 lap Last Chance race were Brent Nottestad of Cambridge, English, Mark Balis of
Edgerton, Ken Edmundson of Whitewater and Jason Uttech of Watertown.
In Sportsman division action Chris Purdy of Milton ground his way to the front of the 25 lap main event. Starting from the inside of row 5, Purdy began his drive to the front, as Dave Quale of Ft. Atkinson and Rich Titus of Jefferson battled for the early lead. Quale pulled ahead by lap 2, with Purdy up to the 4th spot. Purdy pulled into second on lap 9, closing with Quale on lap 11 and working to the inside.
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Chris Purdy (#7) racing on the inside of Dave Quale (#67) in the Sportsman feature. Purdy went on to claim victory. Quale would finish a close second. |
Quale battled hard, on the outside,
fighting side by side until lap 23, when Purdy managed to pull ahead. At the stripe it was Purdy claiming the checkered
flag, followed by Quale, defending track champion Dave Oswald of Cottage Grove, Rick
Coppernoll of Madison, Kyle Munro of Ft. Atkinson and Chad Stevens of Beloit.
Quale subsequently failed the post race
technical inspection, moving the finishing order, from 2nd back, up one position.
Oswald set the fast qualifying pace,
with a 15.651 second circuit of the quarter mile.
Claiming victories, in 10 lap heat
races, were Scotty Johnson of Deforest, Noel Ramge of Hellenville, Randy Padfield of
Stoughton and Quale.
Making the Last Chance race via the 10
lap Consi were Brian Jensen of Tigerton and Johnson.
Kevin Thompson of Palmyra, Ben Hallock of Ft. Atkinson, Tom Collins of lake
Mills and Alan McBride of Janesville moved through the 10 lap Last Chance race into the
feature lineup.
In Hobby Stock action Jim Pfeifer of Ft. Atkinson moved from his 12th place start to catch early leader Jason Ayers of Stoughton by lap 24 in the 25 lap main event. Ayers held on to the 2nd spot as they bore down on the checkered flag. Pfeifer claimed the win followed by Ayers, Lincoln Keeser of Jefferson, Jim Williams of Milton and Trent Erdman of Ft. Atkinson.
| Jim Pfeifer (#58) visits the Jefferson Speedway winner circle following the Hobby Stock feature victory. Pfiefer is the current point leader in the division and he took tonight's win after taking the lead on the final lap of the feature race. | ![]() |
Pfeifer set the pace, in qualifying,
with a 17.286 second loop of the quarter mile.
Bart DiMattina of Milton and Dennis
Gaserude of Oregon claimed victories in 8 lap heat races.
Rounding out the night's entertainment
was the Bubble Gauntlet," where 18 4 cylinder compact cars brought to and end
the long winning streak of the gauntlet team of Terry Tucker and John Kamenick. The full sized 4 door surrendered the event, at
6.5 laps into the 8 lap event.
Next week Jefferson Speedway presents
the first rollover contest of the 1999 season, rounding out a full racing program in the
Late Model, International, Sportsman and Hobby Stock divisions.
Gates open at 3:30, qualifying at 5:30
and racing at 7:30 sharp! Jefferson Speedway
is located half way between Jefferson and Cambridge, on highway 18.
Late Model Division
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12 Lap Consolation: 1.) Brian Schneidewent;
2.) James Gleesing
20 Lap Last Chance: 1.) Stanelle; 2.) Terry Morgan; 3.) Chesmore; 4.) Taylor
First 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Butch Mierendorf
Second 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Scott Bleeker
Third 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Dan Chesmore
Fourth 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Mike Taylor
Dash: 1.) Andy Wendt
Fast Qualifier: #76 Ron Bishofberger, Fort
Atkinson,..........14.926 Seconds
Internationals
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10 Lap Last Chance: 1.) Brent Nottestad;
2.) Mark English; 3.) Mark Balis; 4.) Ken Endmundson; 5.) Jason Uttech
First 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Mark English
Second 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Justin Nottestad
Fast Qualifier: #15 Justin Nottestad, Cambridge,........15.976
Seconds
Sportsman
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10 Lap Consolation: 1.) Brian Jensen; 2.)
Scotty Johnson
15 Lap Last Chance: 1.) Kevin Thompson; 2.) Ben Hallock; 3.) Tom Collins;
4.) Alan McBride
First 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Scotty Johnson
Second 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Noel Ramge
Third 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Randy Padfield
Fourth 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Dave Quale
Fast Qualifier: #31 Dave Oswald, Cottage Grove,.........15.651
Seconds
Hobby Stocks
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First 8 Lap Heat: 1.) Bart DiMattina
Second 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Dennis Gaserude
Fast Qualifier: #58 Jim Pfiefer, Fort Atkinson,.......17.286
Seconds
Bubble Gunatlet Results: 18 compact 4 cylinder cars brought to an end the winning streak of Terry Tucker and John Kamenick at 6.5 laps into the 8 lap event.