May 26, 2001; Jefferson, WI. - Mike Taylor of Stoughton led the field, flag to flag, claiming top honors in the Mountain Dew 50 lap late Model feature. Starting from the pole Taylor claimed the early lead and never looked back, guiding the field all the way to the checkered flag.

Photo Highlights

Mike Taylor (#41) takes his bows in Victory lane, after winning the Mountain Dew 50 feature event for the Late Models. It ain't over till the checkered flag.   Ken Olson (#68) closed with Mike Taylor (#41) late in the Late Model feature race.   Taylor held on to win the race. Tough going in the pack!  Jason Erickson (#1), Scott Nottestad (#14), Dan Chesmore (#27), Roger Behlke (#44) and Tim Noble (#71) battle for position in the Mountain Dew 50. Brent Nottestad (#25) takes a turn in Victory lane, following his win in the International class feature. Oh So Close!  Dave Oswald (#31), tries to overtake Jay Kalbus (#27) at the finish.  Oswald came up short by half a fender during the Sportsman main event. Jay Kalbus (#27) takes his bows in victory lane, following his Sportsman feature win. Jim Pfeifer (#11) stops in victory lane, following his win in the Hobby Stock main. Don't touch that dial!  No this picture is not printed backwards, it's the first ever pure stock 4-cylinder "Bandit" class, and they do, sometimes, turn right!  Shown is Jeff Jesberger (#67), leading Tade Swerig (#3).  Jesberger is on his way to winning the inaugural feature for the division.

Over the first half of the race Taylor opened up a quarter lap lead, over the second place car of Jefferson's Jasper Gronert. Debris on the track brought the only caution of the race, on lap 26, closing the field for the restart. Taylor pulled ahead at the green flag, continuing his journey to the checkered, as Ken Olson of Ft. Atkinson closed with Gronert in the battle for 2nd. Olson made his way under Gronert on lap 29, claiming the 2nd spot, with Randy Breunig of Columbus close behind for 3rd. Olson closed with Taylor, catching up with 5 laps to go. Taylor held off Olson's challenge as they flew past the checkered flag. Rounding out the top five were Breunig, Scott Nottestad of Stoughton and Jason Erickson of Cambridge.

Erickson set the fast qualifying pace, with a 14.867 second circuit of the quarter mile. Tom Dorn of Ft. Atkinson won the 8 lap Dash-for-Cash. Claiming victory, in 10 lap heat races, were Matt Frey of Cambridge, Don Mattrisch of Whitewater, Scott Bleeker of Jefferson and Jerry Parker of Palmyra. Joining the Last Chance race, from the 15 lap Consolation race, were Bart Reinen of Jefferson and Brian Sonnenberg of Cambridge. Moving to the feature lineup, from the 20 lap Last Chance race, were Russ Goodwin of Beloit, Mattrisch, Beau Sanden of Janesville and Ken Piotrowski of Milton.

In International class action, defending track champion Brent Nottestad of Cambridge claimed top honors in the 20 lap feature. Starting from the inside of row 4, Nottestad began his trek to the front as Tim Woollen of Sun Prairie pulled out to the early lead. The first caution came, on lap 5, when a car slowed on the track. Woollen led the restart as Nottestad battled ahead from the 5th spot.

Following Chris Quam of Stoughton, under Mike Dietzen of Milwaukee, Nottestad claimed 3rd by lap 7. The final caution came, on lap 10, for a loose tire. On the restart Nottestad moved under Quam, claiming 2nd by lap 12. Woollen held off Nottestad for 4 more laps, surrendering the point on lap 16. As Nottestad pulled ahead Woollen was battling Aaron Rude of Cambridge for 2nd. At the stripe it was Nottestad for the win, followed by Rude, Woollen, Ed Wolff III of Clyman and Mike Drays of Milton.

Wolff set the fast qualifying pace with a 15.857 second orbit of the quarter mile speed plant. Jim Pankow of Oregon and Derrick Bettenhausen of Milton each won an 8 lap heat race. Moving to the feature lineup, from the 10 lap Last Chance race, were Steve Drays of Milton, Jason Uttech of Watertown, Darnell Mepham of Ft. Atkinson, Ken Edmundson of Lima Center and Lucas Vinje of Cambridge.

In Sportsman Division action Jay Kalbus of Oconomowoc claimed a narrow victory over defending track champion Dave Oswald of Cottage Grove. Starting from the Inside of row 2, Kalbus headed toward the front, as Kevin Thompson of Palmyra claimed the early lead. Kalbus battled with Thompson, for 8 laps, before making his way to the top spot. With Kalbus guiding the way, Oswald made his way to 7th by lap 6, working his way through traffic. Motoring under Bobby Stough Jr. of Stoughton, on lap 13, Oswald closed with Thompson for 2nd. Claiming 2nd by lap 18, Oswald closed with Kalbus, managing a pass just before the only caution of the race, when a car hit the turn 1 wall.

Kalbus was back at the point for the restart, since scoring reverts to the last completed lap. AS the flew toward the checkered flag, side-by-side, Kalbus was able to hold off the charging Oswald. At the stripe it was Kalbus, by a fender, over Oswald, followed by Thompson, Trent Erdman of Ft. Atkinson and Josh Courtney of Janesville.
Oswald topped the field in qualifying with a 15.661 second tour of the quarter mile.

Winning 8 lap heat races were Luke Padfield of Jefferson, Chad Reimer of Oconomowoc, Josh Weir of Cottage Grove and Erdman. Coming through the 10 lap Consolation race, to the Last Chance, were Mike Landers of Johnson Creek, Brian Ells of Janesville and Kurt Kleven of Cambridge. Transferring from the 15 lap Last Chance race were R.C. Coppernoll of Madison, Tom Collins of Lake Mills, Dustin Ward of Beaver Dam and Tony Koepke of Ft. Atkinson.

In Hobby Stock Action, Jim Pfeifer of Ft. Atkinson motored to the front of the 20 lap feature. Starting from the outside of row 5, Pfeifer started the long drive to the front, as Dennis Schmidt of Watertown pulled to the early lead. The first caution came, on lap 9, for a car in the turn 1 wall. On the restart it was Schmidt at the point with Pfeifer running 4th. Pfeifer moved under Ernie Witte of Watertown, for 3rd on lap 10, closing with Chris Matz of Watertown for 2nd.

Moving past Matz, Pfeifer drove under Schmidt on lap 11, making the winning pass on lap 12. Caution came again, on lap 19, for a blow engine. Pfeifer led the restart, with Dennis Gaserude of Arena up to 2nd. At the stripe it was Pfeifer for the win, followed by Roger Stephenson of Cambridge, Gaserude, Chuck Egli of Waterloo and Schmidt.
Egli turned in the fast qualifying effort with a 16.902 second lap of the quarter mile.

Winning 8 lap heat races were Lonny Wilson of Janesville, Jason Thom of Ft. Atkinson and Brent Moe of Deforest.
Moving to the feature lineup, via the 12 lap Last Chance race, were Lincoln Keeser of Milton, Jason Brockway of Machesney IL, Mike Cusick of Edgerton and Rick Kehoe of Jefferson.

The, 10 lap, inaugural feature in the new Bandit division was claimed by Jeff Jesberger of Sun Prairie. Jesberger held off Tade Swerig of Stoughton, claiming the victory. The 6 lap heat race was won by Dave Hundley of Rockton IL.

Rounding out the night's action was the Trailer Race of Destruction, thrilling kids of all ages with the spectacle of carnage.
Next week is Scout Night at Jefferson Speedway, with a full racing program and the first running of the Bubble Gauntlet for the 2001 season.

For those unfamiliar with the event, the Bubble Gauntlet is run on a Soap Suds covered track, with 1 full-sized car attempting to complete the allotted laps, while a herd of sub-compacts tries to prevent it.

Gates open at 3:00 pm, qualifying at 5:00 pm and racing at 7:00 pm sharp.

Jefferson Speedway is on highway 18, between Cambridge and Jefferson Wisconsin.

FAST QUALIFIER: # 1 Jason Erickson (Cambridge): 14.867 seconds
FAST DASH: 8 Lap:  2 Tom Dorn (Ft. Atkinson)
CONSI: 15 Lap  -    6 Bart Reinen (Jefferson), 10 Brian Sonnenberg (Cambridge)
LAST CHANCE: 20 Lap  -   11 Russ Goodwin (Beloit), 56 Don Mattrisch (Whitewater), 11 Beau Sanden (Janesville),
6 Ken Piotrowski (Milton)
Heats: 10 lap (Winners Only)
1)   2 Matt Frey (Cambridge)  
2)   56 Don Mattrisch (Whitewater)    
3)    98 Scott Bleeker (Jefferson)  
4)    2 Jerry Parker (Palmyra)

FAST QUALIFIER: #89 Ed Wolff III (Clyman): 15.857 seconds.
LAST CHANCE: 10 lap   - 84 Steve Drays (Milton), 36 Jason Uttech (Watertown),   12 Darnell Mepham (Ft Atkinson),
59 Ken Edmundson (Lima Center), 27 Lucas Vinje (Cambridge)
Heats: 8 lap (Winners Only) :
1)   16 Jim Pankow (Oregon)              
2)   10 Derrick Bettenhausen (Milton)

FAST QUALIFIER: #31 Dave Oswald (Cottage Grove): 15.661 seconds.
CONSI: 10 lap  - 8 Mike Landers (Johnson Creek), 80 Brian Ells (Janesville), 15 Kurt Kleven (Cambridge)
LAST CHANCE: 15 lap  - 36 R.C. Coppernoll (Madison), 8 Tom Collins (Lake Mills),  9 Dustin Ward (Beaver Dam),
32 Tony Koepke (Ft. Atkinson)
Heats: 10 lap: (Winners Only) 
1)    4 Luke Padfield (Jefferson)         
2)    19 Chad Reimer (Oconomowoc)
3)   52 Josh Weir (Cottage Grove)
4)   11 Trent Erdman (Ft. Atkinson)

FAST QUALIFIER: #22 Chuck Egli (Waterloo): 16.902 seconds.
LAST CHANCE: 12 lap  - 99 Lincoln Keeser (Milton), 40 Jason Brockway (Machesney IL), 18 Mike Cusick (Edgerton),
70 Rick Kehoe (Jefferson)
Heats: 8 lap: (Winners Only)
1)   40 Lonny Wilson (Janesville) 
2)   1 Jason Thom (Ft. Atkinson)
3)   22 Brent Moe (Deforest)                   

Heats: 6 lap: (Winners Only)  1)   7 Dave Hundley (Rockton IL)