May 19, 2001; Jefferson, WI. - Jason Erickson of Cambridge claimed top honors in the 35 lap, Armed Forces Night, Late Model feature at Jefferson Speedway. Starting from the outside of row 5, Erickson began his trek to the checkers, as Kenny Olson of Ft. Atkinson pulled out to the early lead.

Photo Highlights

Jason Erickson (#1) takes his turn in victory lane, following the feature win in Late Model action at Jefferson Speedway. Tight action in Late Model heats!   Russ Goodwin (#11) leading the way out of turn 2, with Scott Nottestad (#14) and Beau Sanden (#11) close behind.  Tom Dorn (#2) is on the outside of Ken Olson (#68).   Nottestad went on to win this one. Luke Westenberg (#16) battling inside of Randy Breunig (#76) in the late model feature.  Close behind are Scott Nottestad (#14), and Jason Erickson (#1).  Erickson went on to win. Mark English (#57) leads the way in International class action, he led to the checkered scoring a feature victory. Curt Thompson (#6) leading the way, with Trent Erdman (#11) and Dale Padfield (#27), contesting the 2nd spot.  Thompson was still out front at the finish, of the Sportsman feature. Chuck Egli (#22) takes his bows, following his first career feature win in the Hobby Stock division. On his way to his first win!  Chuck Egli (#22) works his way under Jim Pfeifer (#11) and Nick Golich (#66), in the hobby stock feature.  Egli went on to win the race.

Olson opened a strong lead, in the early going, as the battles raged behind him. Olson's lead vaporized, on lap 13, when a pair of cars tangled in turn 1, bringing out the only caution of the race. On the restart, Randy Breunig of Columbus motored past Matt Frey of Cambridge for the 2nd spot. Breunig found his way to the front, on lap 17, leaving Olson to battle Erickson for the 2nd spot. Erickson moved under Olson on lap 18, claiming 2nd on lap 19 as he closed with Breunig.

Erickson moved to the inside, on lap 21, battling for 5 laps before claiming the point on lap 26. As Erickson claimed the lead, Ron Bishofberger of Ft. Atkinson followed for the 2nd spot. Erickson guided the way over the closing laps, taking the checkered ahead of Bishofberger. Rounding out the top five were Breunig, Scott Nottestad of Stoughton and Jim Jarlsberg of Cambridge. Bishofberger set the fast qualifying pace, with a 14.965 second circuit of the quarter mile.
Erickson started his winning ways early, winning the 8 lap Dash-For-Cash.

Claiming victories, in 10 lap heat races, were Rick Coppernoll of Marshall, Tim Noble of Janesville, Nottestad and Jarlsberg. Moving to the Last Chance Race, from the 12 lap Consolation race, were Bart Reinen of Jefferson and Ken Piotrowski of Milton. Joining the feature lineup, from the 20 lap Last Chance Race, were Don Mattrisch of Whitewater, Brent Knight of Watertown, Steve Dobbratz of Rio and Tim Noble of Janesville.

In International class action, Mark English of Janesville claimed top honors in the 20 lap main event. Starting from the outside of row 2, English motored past Derrick Bettenhausen of Cambridge on lap 2 and never looked back. The field closed up following a caution, on lap 8, for debris on the track. On the restart, Ed Wolff III of Clyman made his way through the field, claiming 2nd by lap 15. Wolff closed with English, but it was too little, too late. At the stripe it was English for the win, followed by Wolff, Mike Bingham of Jefferson, Darnell Mepham of Ft. Atkinson and Brent Nottestad of Cambridge.

Wolf turned in the best qualifying effort, with a 15.942 second tour of the quarter mile speed plant. Charles Dixon of Waukesha and English each won an 8 lap heat race.

In the Sportsman division, Curt Thompson of Palmyra claimed victory in the 25 lap feature. Starting from the outside of row 3, Thompson began his journey to the checkered, as Jay Kalbus of Oconomowoc drove to the early lead. As Kalbus battled with Dylan Schuyler for the top spot, Thompson made his way past Dale Padfield of Jefferson for 3rd. On lap 6, contact and a blown tire brought out the first caution of the race, taking both Kalbus and Schuyler from the front. On the restart it was Thompson at the point.

Thompson's drive to the checkered flag slowed, on lap 19, when a spin in turn 4 brought the final caution. On the restart Trent Erdman of Ft. Atkinson motored past Padfield for 2nd, and closed with Thompson. By lap 18, defending track champion Dave Oswald of Cottage grove joined the battle for the lead, making it a 3 way battle. Tonight Thompson was up to the challenge, holding off all comers as they flew past the checkered flag. At the stripe it was Thompson for the win, followed by Erdman, Oswald, Josh Courtney of Janesville and Jeff Kohlhoff of Watertown.

Kohlhoff set the high mark in qualifying, with a 15.830 second loop of the quarter mile. Claiming victories, in 10 lap heat races, were Luke Padfield of Jefferson, Chad Reimer of Oconomowoc, Ken Scott of Rio and Kalbus. Joining the Last Chance race, from the 2 10 lap Consolation races, were Mike Landers of Johnson Creek and Craig Henning of Hellenville.
Moving to the feature lineup, from the 12 lap Last Chance Race, were Tom Collins of Lake Mills, Dustin Ward of Beaver Dam, Jim Pankow of Oregon and Rory Padfield of Stoughton.

In Hobby Stock action Chuck Egli of Waterloo claimed the first feature win of his career, in the 20 lap main event. Starting from the inside of row 6, Egli started his drive to the front, as Jim Williams of Milton claimed the early lead. The first lap was a small disaster, with the first attempt at a start resulting in a tangle of cars on the back stretch. The second start resulted in a blow engine, and oil on the racing surface.

Once under way Williams was at the point, with Egli up to the 6th spot by lap 3. Egli fought his way through traffic claiming 3rd by lap 14, and motored past Jeremy Hartwig of Cottage Grove, for 2nd, on lap 15. Closing with Williams on lap 17, Egli powered to the front, guiding the way, over the final laps, to the checkered flag. As Egli led the way, Jim Pfeifer of Ft. Atkinson was moving up fast, claiming 2nd before the white flag and closing. Following Egli, at the finish, were Pfeifer, Williams, Roger Stephenson of Cambridge and Hartwig.

Stephenson set the fast qualifying pace, with a 16.975 second lap. Claiming victories, in 8 lap heat races, were Jason Thom of Ft. Atkinson, Williams and Lincoln Keeser of Milton. Moving to the feature lineup, from the 10 lap Last Chance race, were Dennis Schmidt of Watertown, Thom, Mike Manley of Ft. Atkinson and Rick Kehoe of Jefferson.

In Bandit division exhibition heats, victories were claimed by Tim Seitz of Edgerton and Tade Swerig of Stoughton. Roy Pfeifer Jr. of Ft. Atkinson won the Rollover Contest.

Next week Jefferson Speedway hosts the Mountain Dew 50, featuring a 50 lap Late Model feature. The Bandit division will compete in their first point races. Rounding out the nights' entertainment will be the Trailer Race of Destruction.

Gates open at 3:00, qualifying at 5:00 and racing at 7:00 sharp. Jefferson Speedway is on highway 18, between Cambridge and Jefferson Wisconsin.

FAST QUALIFIER: #76 Ron Bishofberger (Ft. Atkinson): 14.965 seconds.
FAST DASH: 8 Lap:  #1 Jason Erickson (Cambridge)
Consi: 12 Lap:  6 Bart Reinen (Jefferson), 6 Ken Piotrowski (Milton)
LAST CHANCE: 20 Lap  -   56 Don Mattrisch (Whitewater),   79 Brent Knight (Watertown),  52 Steve Dobbratz (Rio),
71 Tim Noble (Janesville)
Heats: 10 lap: (Winners Only)  1)    75 Rick Coppernoll (Marshall)  2)   71 Tim Noble (Janesville)
                                               3)    14 Scott Nottestad (Stoughton)  4)   97 Jim Jarlsberg (Cambridge) 

FAST QUALIFIER; # 89 Ed Wolff III (Clyman): 15.942 seconds
Heats: 8 lap: (Winners Only)   1)   71 Charles Dixon (Waukesha)    2)   57 Mark English (Janesville) 

FAST QUALIFIER: #98 Jeff Kohlhoff (Watertown): 15.830 seconds
CONSI: 10 lap   1)  8 Mike Landers (Johnson Creek)   2) 94 Craig Henning (Hellenville)  
LAST CHANCE: 12 lap  - 8 Tom Collins (Lake Mills), 9 Dustin Ward (Beaver Dam,  23 Jim Pankow (Oregon), 3
Rory Padfield (Stoughton)
Heats: 10 lap: (Winners Only)  1)    4 Luke Padfield (Jefferson)       2)   19 Chad Reimer (Oconomowoc)   
                                                3) 39 Ken Scott (Rio)                       4)   27 Jay Kalbus (Oconomowoc)

FAST QUALIFIER: #88 Roger Stephenson (Cambridge): 16.975 seconds.

LAST CHANCE: 10 lap  - 19 Dennis Schmidt (Watertown), 1 Jason Thom (Ft. Atkinson),  29 Mike Manley (Ft. Atkinson), 70 Rick Kehoe (Jefferson)     
Heats: 8 lap: (Winners Only) 1)   1 Jason Thom (Ft. Atkinson)       2)   J10 Jim Williams (Milton)
                                             3)      99 Lincoln Keeser (Milton)          

1)      57 Tim Seitz (Edgerton)                       2)  3 Tade Swerig (Stoughton) 

Rollover Contest:  Roy Pfeifer Jr. (Ft. Atkinson)