May 5, 2001; Jefferson, WI. - Mike Taylor of Stoughton claimed top honors in the 35 lap main event on Wisconsin's Action Track. Starting from the inside of row 3, Taylor was up to the 3rd spot when the first caution came, on lap 2, when a pair of cars slid into the turn 1 wall. On the restart Taylor moved under Eric Gerlach of Palmyra to close with the early leader, Matt Frey of Cambridge.
After a 2 lap battle, Taylor moved his Thunderbird to the point, and never looked back, guiding the field to the checkered flag. The race slowed for a second caution, on lap 23, for a brief rain shower. After drying the track, Taylor resumed his journey to the checkered flag, with Scott Nottestad of Stoughton close behind. At the stripe it was Taylor for the win followed by Nottestad, Randy Breunig of Columbus, Roger Behlke of Jefferson and Ron Bishofberger of Ft. Atkinson. Jason Erickson of Cambridge set the fast qualifying pace, with a 14.850 second tour of
the quarter mile. Luke Westenberg of Palmyra, again, won the "Best Looking Car"
contest. Breunig claimed victory in the 8 lap Dash-for-Cash. Claiming victories, in 10 lap
heat races were Bill Drefahl of Evansville, Butch Mierendorf of Waterloo and Jerry Parker
of Palmyra. In International class action Mark English of Janesville brought home the gold, in the 20 lap feature. Starting from the outside of row 2, English headed for the point as Tory Adams of Madison pulled out to the early lead. Adams held off English for 6 laps before surrendering the spot. As English drove under Adams for the lead, Mike Bingham of Jefferson followed to claim the 2nd spot. Bingham kept the pressure on English all the way to the checkered flag, racing side by side over the final laps. Although Bingham was able to get a nose ahead several times, he was unable to complete the pass. At the stripe it was English, by inches, over Bingham followed by Brent Nottestad of Cambridge, Ed Wolff III of Clyman and Darnell Mepham of Ft. Atkinson. Nottestad set the high mark in qualifying, with a 15.927 second circuit of the quarter mile, and won bragging rights in the "Best Looking Car" contest. Claiming victories, in 10 lap heat races, were Adams and English. In Sportsman division action Josh Weir of Cottage Grove notched his first career feature win, in the 25 lap main event. Starting from the outside of row 1, Weir grabbed the point at the wave of the green flag and never looked back. Weir opened up a strong lead, in the early going as the top runners worked their way through traffic, seeking the front. A spin, in turn 4, brought the first caution of the race, on lap 20, closing the field for the restart. On the restart Weir held off Mark Deporter of Ft. Atkinson, only to see the final caution, one lap later, for debris on the track. On the final restart Trent Erdman of Ft. Atkinson motored under Deporter, for 2nd, moving up to challenge Weir. Weir was up to the challenge taking the checkered just ahead of Erdman. Rounding out the top five were Dave Oswald of Cottage Grove, Deporter and Dale Padfield of Jefferson. Oswald set the fast mark in qualifying, with a 15.735 second orbit of the quarter mile speed plant. Faye Riedner of Waunakee won the "Best Looking Car" award, with the Riedner family wagon. Claiming victories, in 10 lap heat races, were Brian Ells of Janesville, Weir and Tod Goldade Of Stoughton. Moving to the Last Chance Race, from the 10 lap Consolation Race, were James Helmer of Fox Lake and Ells. Joining the feature lineup, from the 15 lap Last Chance race, were Jason Thoma of Jefferson, Judy Weir of Cottage Grove, Dustin Ward of Beaver Dam and Helmer. In Hobby Stock Action, Dennis Gaserude of Arena claimed victory in the 20 lap feature. Starting from the inside of row 2, Gaserude started toward the front, as Bill Bush of Johnson Creek pulled ahead to the early lead. Bush guided the field for 4 laps, before surrendering the point to Gaserude. The field slowed for a caution, on lap 6, for debris on the track and again on lap 11 for fire in a race car. Gaserude guided the way from the final restart to the checkered. Utter confusion
struck, on the final lap. A pair of cars, near the rear of the field, tangled coming to
the white flag, causing one to spread fluid around the racing groove in turns 3 & 4.
As the leaders were charging to the wire, they found the fluid slipping and sliding their
way around. A final lap incident, in which none of the victims are at fault, results in
scoring the white flag lap as final. As the adding machines stopped clicking, it was
Gaserude for the win, followed by Jim Pfeifer of Ft. Atkinson, Bush, Chuck Egli of
Waterloo and Nick Golich of Hebron. Joining the feature lineup, via the 12 lap Last Chance race, were Hartwig, Chad Lurvey of Dousman, Mike Manley of Ft. Atkinson and Jay Finnegan of Milton. The new Bandits division ran 2 exhibition heat races. The counter-clockwise (Turn Left) race went to Tim Seitz of Edgerton while the clockwise (Turn Right) race was won by Tade Swerig. Next week Jefferson Speedway hosts the first round of the One-on-One Street drags, along with a full racing program in all divisions. 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: #1 Jason Erickson (Cambridge): 14.850
FAST QUALIFIER: #25
Brent Nottestad (Cambridge): 15.927
FAST QUALIFIER: #31 Dave
Oswald (Cottage Grove): 15.735
FAST QUALIFIER: #11 Jim
Pfeifer (Ft. Atkinson): 16.735
1) Tim Seitz (Edgerton)
2) 3 Tade Swerig
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