July 21, 2001; Jefferson, WI. - Jim Jarlsberg of Cambridge claimed top honors in the WFAW, Blackhawk 50, at Jefferson Speedway. Starting from the inside of row 7, Jarlsberg started the long drive to the front as Gene Olson Jr. of Jefferson pulled out to the early lead.

Photo Highlights

Midseason Championship winners, top drivers from July 14, Luke Westenberg (Late Model #16), Brent Nottestad (International #25), Bill Bush (Hobby Stock #17) and Josh Courtney (Sportsman #21). Jim Jarlsberg (#97) takes his bows in victory lane, following his last lap victory in the WFAW Blackhawk 50. The battle for the win, Jim Jarlsberg (#97) working the low side, under Gene Olson Jr. (#37).  Jarlsberg went on to win the race. Jay Kalbus (#27) takes his victory bows, following his win in the Sportsman feature. The battle for the top spot!  Chad Reimer (#19) tries to hold off Jay Kalbus (#27) in the Sportsman feature.  Tony Koepke (#32) is close behind.  After a hard battle, Kalbus pulled ahead and went on to win the race, while Reimer went on to a 3rd place finish. Division point leader, Brent Nottestad (#25) stops in victory lane, following his win in the International feature! Dennis Gaserude (#18), (the number is really on the windshield) takes his bows in victory lane, following the Hobby Stock feature.  Gaserude was the only driver to collect the WFAW/Krentz Auto Mart bonus money for winning both his heat race and the feature. Bill Reynolds (#38) is all smiles, in victory lane, following the Bandit feature.

On lap 30, Mike Taylor of Stoughton motored under Tom Dorn of Fort Atkinson for the 2nd spot, working to close the gap with Olson. As Taylor moved behind Olson, it was looking like an all Thunderbird top 2, as the two left the field far behind. As we all know in racing, "it's not over till the checkered flag". The only caution came, on lap 38, closing the field for the restart, with Jarlsberg up to the 4th spot.

On the restart Jarlsberg moved under John Ovadal Jr. of Johnson Creek to claim the 3rd spot, on lap 39. As Jarlsberg moved ahead of Ovadal, he moved under Taylor, battling for the 2nd spot. Taylor fought hard on the outside, holding the spot until lap 45. Securing 2nd, Jarlsberg set his sights on Olson, and the win. Moving to the inside Jarlsberg battled all the way to the finish, taking the white flag in the 2nd spot. Olson slipped, just a little, in turn 2, leaving Jarlsberg the small opening that he needed. As they flew past the checkered flag it was Jarlsberg for the win, followed by Olson, Taylor, Ovadal and Jason Erickson of Cambridge.

Jarlsberg set the fast pace in qualifying, with a 14.987 second tour of the quarter mile. Dan Chesmore of Janesville won the WFAW/Krentz Auto Mart, Dash for Cash. Claiming, 8 lap, heat race victories were Brian Sonnenberg of Cambridge, Randy Cusick of Fort Atkinson, Ken Olson of Fort Atkinson and Gene Olson Jr.

Moving to the Last Chance race, from the 10 lap Consolation race, were Butch Mierendorf of Waterloo and Sonnenberg.
Joining the feature lineup, from the 20 lap Last Chance race, were Cusick, Craig Olver of Deforest, Russ Goodwin of Beloit and Don Mattrisch of Whitewater.

In International class action Brent Nottestad of Cambridge was first to the checkered, in the 35 lap main event. Starting from the outside of row 5, Nottestad started his drive to the front as Scott Bryden of South Beloit pulled out to the early lead. Bryden held the point for 4 laps, as Nottestad worked his way through traffic. Nottestad claimed the point on lap 5, pulling ahead of the field, as he guided the way to the checkered flag. At the stripe it was Nottestad, by a half lap, over Ed Wolff III of Clyman, followed by Chris Quam of Stoughton, Mark English of Edgerton and Mike Dietzen of Milwaukee.

Wolff set the fast qualifying pace, with a 16.012 second tour of the quarter mile. Quam won the 6 lap Dash for Cash, while Mike Dixon of Omro and Mike Drays of Milton won 8 lap heat races.

In Sportsman division action, Jay Kalbus of Oconomowoc claimed top honors in the 30 lap feature. Starting from the inside of row 4, Kalbus headed to the front, as Tony Koepke grabbed the early lead. Koepke's lead lasted 1 lap, as Chad Reimer of Oconomowoc motored to the point. Reimer opened a strong lead as Kalbus made his way through traffic. Kalbus pulled ahead of Tony Koepke of Fort Atkinson, for 2nd, on lap 8, closing with Reimer. By lap 9, Kalbus had moved to the inside, launching his bid for the top spot.

Pulling ahead on lap 10, Kalbus cleared Reimer on lap 11, guiding the way from there to the checkers. Caution came on lap 18, for a spin in turn 1. Kalbus led the restart and showed the way to the finish. Jeff Kohlhoff of Watertown made his way to 4th, on lap 20, closing with Koepke for 3rd. Claiming 3rd on lap 21, Kohlhoff made his way under Reimer on lap 22, closing with Kalbus. Kohlhoff closed the gap, but it was too little and too late. At the stripe it was Kalbus for the win, followed by Kohlhoff, Reimer, Dale Padfield of Jefferson and Jason Thoma of Jefferson.

Kohlhoff set the high mark in qualifying, with a 15.931 second circuit of the quarter mile speed plant. Thoma won the, 6 lap, Dash for Cash. Claiming victories, in 10 lap heat races, were Mike Landers of Johnson Creek, Dylan Schuyler of Dousman, Noel Ramge of Hellenville, and Ron Schmidt of Jackson.

Moving to the Last Chance race, from the 12 lap Consolation race, were Dustin Ward of Beaver Dam, Jim Pankow of Oregon and Joe Wendorf of Jefferson. Joining the feature lineup, from the 15 lap Last Chance race, were Noel Ramge of Hellenville, Craig Henning of Hellenville, Dan Schmidt of Watertown and Dylan Schuyler of Dousman.

In Hobby Stock action, Dennis Gaserude of Oregon became the only driver to claim the WFAW bonus money, for winning both his heat race, and the, 25 lap, feature. Starting from the inside of row 4, Gaserude started his drive to the front, as Randy Strasburg of Jefferson claimed the early lead. Strasburg's turn at the point ended on lap 2 as Chris Schoonover of Janesville assumed the top spot.

Gaserude claimed the 2nd spot, on lap 4, closing with Schoonover. Moving to the inside, on lap 5, Gaserude claimed the point on lap 6. The race slowed for on caution on lap 8, to remove a car that had ignored the Black Flag for 6 laps. Gaserude guided the way from the restart to the checkered flag, with Roger Stephenson, of Cambridge knocking on the door much of the way. Jim Pfeifer of Fort Atkinson moved up to make it a 3 way battle, but Gaserude proved up to the challenge. As they streaked past the checkered flag it was Gaserude for the win, followed by Stephenson, Pfeifer, Chuck Egli of Waterloo and Brent Moe of Deforest.

Dennis Schmidt of Watertown set the fast pace, in qualifying, with a 17.025 second loop of the quarter mile.
Stephenson won the, 6 lap, Dash for Cash. Claiming victory, in 8 lap heat races, were Jenny Weir of Cottage Grove, Dennis Gaserude of Arena and Stephenson.

Joining the feature lineup, via the 10 lap Last Chance race, were John Duessler of Marshall, Chris Schoonover of Janesville, Michael Bretl of Fort Atkinson and Russ Nicholson of Stoughton.

In Bandit division action, Bill Reynolds claimed top honors in the 10 lap feature, finishing inches ahead of Scott "Chico" Riedner of Waunakee. Reynolds also won the 8 lap heat race.

Rounding out the night's entertainment was the roll over contest, where Roy Pfeifer Jr. of Fort Atkinson won.

Next week Jefferson Speedway presents a full racing program, with the added attraction of the Bubble Gauntlet.
Gates open at 3:00, Qualifying at 5:00 and racing at 7:00 sharp. Jefferson Speedway is on Highway 18, between Jefferson and Cambridge Wisconsin.

FAST QUALIFIER: #97 Jim Jarlsberg (Cambridge): 14.978 seconds 60.09 MPH
FAST DASH: 8 Lap  -  27 Dan Chesmore (Janesville)
CONSI: 10 Lap  -   12 Butch Mierendorf (Waterloo), 10 Brian Sonnenberg (Cambridge)
LAST CHANCE: 20 Lap  -   25 Randy Cusick (Ft. Atkinson), 2 Craig Olver (Deforest), 11 Russ Goodwin (Beloit), 56 Don Mattrisch (Whitewater)
Heats: 10 lap:  (Winners Only)   1)     10 Brian Sonnenberg (Cambridge)               2)   25 Randy Cusick (Ft. Atkinson)
                                                           3)    68 Ken Olson (Ft. Atkinson)                           4)   37 Gene Olson Jr. (Jefferson)

FAST QUALIFIER: # 89 Ed Wolff III (Clyman): 16.012 seconds 56.21 MPH
FAST DASH: 6 Lap  -   4 Chris Quam (Stoughton)
Heats: 10 lap: 1)    1 Mike Dixon (Omro)                          2)   48 Mike Drays (Milton)

FAST QUALIFIER: # 98 Jeff Kohlhoff (Watertown): 15.931 seconds  56.49 MPH
FAST DASH: 6 Lap -    95 Jason Thoma (Jefferson)
CONSI: 12 lap  - 9 Dustin Ward (Beaver Dam), 23 Jim Pankow (Oregon), 3 Joe Wendorf (Jefferson)
LAST CHANCE: 15 lap  - 17 Noel Ramge (Hellenville), 94 Craig Henning (Hellenville), 19 Dan Schmidt (Watertown), 33 Dylan Schuyler (Dousman)
Heats: 10 lap: (Winners Only)  1)   8 Mike Landers (Johnson Creek)  2)   33 Dylan Schuyler (Dousman)
                                                         3)   17 Noel Ramge (Hellenville)               4)   6 Ron Schmidt (Jackson)

FAST QUALIFIER: #19 Dennis Schmidt (Watertown): 17.025 seconds 52.87 MPH
FAST DASH: 6 Lap  -  88 Roger Stephenson (Cambridge)     
LAST CHANCE: 10 lap  - 24 John Duessler (Marshall), 8 Chris Schoonover (Janesville),  26 Michael Bretl (Ft. Atkinson), 67 Russ Nicholson (Stoughton)
Heats: 8 lap: (Winners Only) 1)   68 Jenny Weir (Cottage Grove)         2)    18 Dennis Gaserude (Arena)
                                                     3)    88 Roger Stephenson (Cambridge)               

Heats: 8 lap: 1)   38 Bill Reynolds