August 11, 2001; Jefferson, WI. - Roger Behlke of Jefferson claimed his first feature of the 2001 season, in the UAW Local 95, 50 lap feature, on Wisconsin's Action track. Starting from the outside of row 6, Behlke started the long drive to the front, as Beau Sanden of Janesville pulled out to the early lead.

Photo Highlights

Roger Behlke (#44), makes his first trip to victory lane, for the 2001 season, following the UAW Local 95, 50 lapper for the Late Models. Trouble on a restart!  Ron Bishofberger (#76), finds himself facing oncoming traffic during the Late Model feature.   Also shown are Bret Strelka (#52), Eric Gerlach (#55) and Dan Chesmore (#27). The pass for the win!  Roger Behlke (#44) moves under Beau Sanden (#11) for the lead, in the UAW Local 95, 50 lap feature. Behlke is on his way to the win, while Sanden would finish third. Brent Nottestad (#25) pauses in victory lane, following another win, in the International feature. Kevin Thompson (#99), takes his bows, in victory lane, following the first feature win, of his career, in the sportsman division. Terry Wangsness (#55), scored the first feature win, of his career, in the Hobby Stock division. Demo action stopped, temporarily, for this one.  The competitors were removed from the, piggy back, cars before allowing the action to resume. Jasper Gronert would win the event.

Caution came on lap 15, when a spinning car, in turn 3, sent nearly half the field spinning to avoid the crash. On the restart it was Sanden at the point with Randy Breunig of Columbus running 2nd and Behlke up to the 5th spot. By lap 17, the battle for 3rd, between Mike Taylor of Stoughton and Jason Erickson of Cambridge was raging, with the position changing hands, nearly every lap, until lap 22. The battle ended as the two got together, going into the first turn, launching Erickson into the air, off Taylor's rear tire and bringing the 2nd caution of the race. Erickson's evening was finished, and Taylor had to restart at the rear of the field.

On the restart, Behlke moved to the outside of Breunig, claiming the 2nd spot by lap 25. Once in 2nd, Behlke closed with Sanden, launching his bid for the top spot. A pair of cars tangled, in turn 2, on lap 26, bringing the final caution of the race. Sanden led the restart, with Behlke in hot pursuit. Behlke kept the pressure on Sanden, looking to the inside, lap after lap. Moving to the inside on lap 35, Behlke claimed the top spot on lap 38, guiding the field form there to the checkered flag. At the stripe it was Behlke for the win, followed by Dan Chesmore of Janesville, Sanden, Breunig and Eric Gerlach of Palmyra.

Luke Westenberg of Palmyra set the fast pace, in qualifying, with a 14.877 second tour of the quarter mile. Gerlach claimed victory in the 8 lap Dash for Cash, sponsored by Mead Nursery and Wales Lawn & Garden. Claiming victories, in 10 lap heat races, were Scott Hatton of Waterloo, Andy Tomlinson of Pardeville, Sanden and Tim Noble of Janesville. Moving to the Last Chance race, from the 10 lap Consolation race, were Dan Lensing of Rockford IL and Scott Hatton of Waterloo.
Joining the feature lineup, from the 20 lap Last Chance race, were Rick Coppernoll of Marshall, Ken Olson of Ft. Atkinson, Greg Bowers of Waterloo and Tomlinson.

In International class action, Brent Nottestad of Cambridge claimed top honors, in the 20 lap main event. Starting from the outside of row 6, Nottestad headed toward the point, as Charles Dixon of Waukesha pulled out to the early lead. Dixon guided the way for 6 lap s before surrendering the point to Mike Bingham of Jefferson.

As Bingham claimed the point Nottestad was battling Mark English of Edgerton for the 6th spot. Nottestad made his way to 3rd, by lap 10, closing with Mike Drays of Milton for 2nd. Motoring under Drays, on lap 13, Nottestad moved under Bingham. Claiming the point, on lap 14, Nottestad guided the field to the checkered flag. At the stripe it was Nottestad, followed by Bingham, Drays, English and Chris Quam of Stoughton.

Ed Wolff III of Clyman set the high mark, in qualifying, with a 16.020 second circuit of the quarter mile. Claiming victories, in 10 lap heat races, were Mike Dietzen of Milwaukee and Bingham. Joining the feature lineup, via the 8 lap Last Chance race, were Dietzen, Scott Hoeft of Watertown, Derrick Bettenhausen of Cambridge and Mike Dixon of Omro.

In Sportsman division action, Kevin Thompson of Palmyra iced the first feature of his career, in the 25 lap main event. Starting from the outside of row 2, Thompson took the point on lap 1 and never looked back, guiding the field all the way to the checkered flag. The journey to the checkered flag was interrupted by on caution, on lap 17, when a pair of cars collided, between turns 3 and 4, bringing out the only caution of the race. Thompson guided the field from the restart to the checkered, followed by Dylan Schuyler of Dousman, Trent Erdman of Fort Atkinson, Bret Schmidt of Watertown and Jay Kalbus of Oconomowoc.

Jeff Kohlhoff of Watertown set the fast qualifying pace, with a 15.947 second tour of the quarter mile. Claiming victories, in 10 lap heat races, were Faye Riedner of Waunakee, Mike Landers of Johnson Creek, Andy Bartelt of Merrill and Curt Thompson of Palmyra. Moving to the Last Chance race, from 2, 10 lap, Consolation races, were Pete Olson of Fort Atkinson, Jim Pankow of Oregon, Kyle Jarlsberg of Cambridge and Kurt Kleven of Cambridge. Moving to the feature, from the 15 lap Last Chance race, were Nike Berge of Janesville, Jeremy Hayton of Whitewater, Chad Reimer of Oconomowoc and Jordan McBride of Janesville.

In Hobby Stock action, Terry Wangsness of Delavan notched the first feature win of his career, in the 20 lap main event. Starting from the inside of row 2, Wangsness headed to the front, as Mike Cusick of Edgerton claimed the early lead.

Wangsness was battling Cusick for the top spot, on lap 4, when Cusick suffered a flat tire, pulling from the track and leaving the point to Wangsness. Wangsness opened a strong lead, as Dennis Gaserude of Arena moved into the 2nd spot, chasing the leader. As they flew past the checkered flag, it was Wangsness for the win, followed by Josh Weir of Cottage Grove, Brent Moe of Deforest, Gaserude and Roger Stephenson of Cambridge.

Nick Golich of Hebron set the fast qualifying pace, with a 16.979 second lap, of the quarter mile. Jeremy Hartwig of Cottage Grove and Gaserude each won a, 10 lap, heat race. Joining the feature lineup, from the 10 lap Last Chance race, were Jason Thom of Fort Atkinson, Russ Nicholson of Stoughton, Mike Bretl of Fort Atkinson and T. J. Rivera of Edgerton.

Rounding out the night's entertainment was the Demolition Derby, won by Jasper Gronert of Jefferson.

Next week, at Jefferson Speedway, WFAW radio, and Voss Sentry Foods present the 2001 Winners Circle Challenge. This event pits winning drivers, from all season, in a race for cash and bragging rights. This and a full racing program, guaranteed to thrill race fans.

Gates open at 3:00 p.m., Qualifying at 5:00 p.m. and racing at 7:00 p.m. sharp. Jefferson Speedway is on Highway 18, between Jefferson and Cambridge Wisconsin.

FAST QUALIFIER: #16 Luke Westenberg (Palmyra): 14.877,  60.50 MPH
FAST DASH: 8 Lap -  55 Eric Gerlach (Palmyra)
CONSI: 10 lap   - 18 Dan Lensing (Rockford IL), 51 Scott Hatton (Waterloo)
LAST CHANCE: 20 Lap  -   75 Rick Coppernoll (Marshall), 68 Ken Olson (Ft. Atkinson), 12 Greg Bowers (Waterloo), 31 Andy Tomlinson (Pardeville)
Heats: 10 lap: 1)    51 Scott Hatton (Waterloo)      2)    31 Andy Tomlinson (Pardeville)
                       3)    11 Beau Sanden (Janesville)   4)   71 Tim Noble (Janesville)

FAST QUALIFIER: #89 Ed Wolff III (Clyman): 16.020 seconds,  56.18 MPH
LAST CHANCE: 8 lap  - 21 Mike Dietzen (Milwaukee), 00 Scott Hoeft (Watertown), 10 Derrick Bettenhausen (Cambridge), 23 Mike Dixon (Omro)
Heats: 10 lap: 1)    21 Mike Dietzen (Milwaukee) 2)   17 Mike Bingham (Jefferson) 

FAST QUALIFIER: #98 Jeff Kohlhoff (Watertown): 15.947 seconds, 56.44 MPH
CONSI: 10 lap  - 24 Pete Olsen (Ft. Atkinson), 23 Jim Pankow (Oregon)
CONSI: 10 lap   - 87 Kyle Jarlsberg (Cambridge), 15 Kurt Kleven (Cambridge)
LAST CHANCE: 10 lap   - 37 Nick Berge (Janesville), 81 Jeremy Hayton (Whitewater), 19 Chad Reimer (Oconomowoc), 2 Jordan McBride (Janesville)
Heats: 10 lap: 1)    26 Faye Riedner (Waunakee) 2)   8 Mike Landers (Johnson Creek)
                       3)   05 Andy Bartelt (Merrill)               4)    6 Curt Thompson (Palmyra) 

FAST QUALIFIER: #66 Nick Golich (Hebron): 16.979 seconds, 53.01 MPH
LAST CHANCE: 10 lap  - 1 Jason Thom (Ft. Atkinson),  67 Russ Nicholson (Stoughton), 26  Mike Bretl (Ft. Atkinson),  28 T. J. Rivera (Edgerton)
Heats: 8 lap: 1)   6 Jeremy Hartwig (Cottage Grove)           2)   18 Dennis Gaserude (Arena)