Jefferson, Wis., July 27, 2002 -- Mike Beyer of Machesney Park IL scored a 1st and a 4th place finish, in the, Stockade Restaurant twin 35 lap Late Model features, to claim the overall title for the event.

Photo Highlights

Mike Beyer (#75) visits victory lane, following the first of the Twin 35's. This win, coupled with a 5th place finish in the second 35, earned Beyer the overall championship, for the night.  The winning pass! Mike Beyer (#75) moves around Steve Dobbratz (#52), on his way to victory in the first, of two, 35 lap Late Model features. Trouble in turn 1! At 24 laps into the second 35 lapper, a pair of cars tangled in turn one, collecting five more. Seen here, among the collects are Jason Erickson (#1), Beau Sanden (#11) and Ken Olson (#68). Chico Riedner (#26) moving under Dylan Schuyler (#33) early in the Sportsman feature. Riedner encountered difficulties later, and Schuyler went on to win the race. Jim Robinson (#33), pulls ahead of Casey Burns (#77), in the Hobby Stock main event. Robinson is on his way to victory. Ooops! Jeremy Hartwig (#6) spun out of turn two, in the Hobby Stock feature. He got it straightened out, avoiding a caution. Going by are Gerald Chapman (#7) and Lincoln Keeser (#99). Aaron Rude (#9) edges past Mike Bingham (#17 outside), to win the International fast heat. Mark English (#57) and Mike Drays (#48) tangle on the front stretch, in heat race action. Scott Uttech (#74) leading the way in the International feature, ahead of Chris Quam (#4) and Steve Drays (#84).

Starting on the outside of row 1, in the first 35 lapper, Beyer claimed 2nd, behind Steve Dobbratz, on lap 6, running close and watching for an opening. The opening didn't come until lap 20, when Beyer moved to the inside and motored past Dobbratz, into the lead.

Behind the leaders, defending track champion, Dan Chesmore battled his way toward the front, making his way to fourth by the finish. At the checkered it was Beyer for the win, followed by Dobbratz, Curt Thompson, Chesmore and Scott Nottestad.
The race slowed for a single caution, on lap 15, for debris on the track.

The lineup for the second race was based on an invert, from the finish of the first race. The invert placed Beyer on the inside of row 9, for the start of the 2nd 35.

Jefferson's Roger Behlke claimed top honors in the second 35 lap feature. Starting from the outside of row 4, Behlke headed toward the front as Joe Wendorf moved out to the early lead. Wendorf guided the way, for 16 laps, as Behlke wound his way to the point. Motoring past Gene Olson Jr., for 2nd on lap 15, Behlke closed with Wendorf.

Moving to the inside, on lap 16, Behlke claimed the point on lap 17, guiding the field to the checkered flag. The race slowed, for a major wreck in turn 1, on lap 24, when two cars tangled, collecting 5 more in the melee. Behlke led, from the restart to the checkered, followed by Eric Gerlach, Dan Chesmore and Beyer.

In International class action Chris Quam of Stoughton claimed victory, in the 20 lap main event. Starting from the outside of row 6, Quam headed for the point as Scott Uttech claimed the early lead. Uttech guided the way for 19, of the 20, laps as Quam made his way to 2nd by lap 18. Taking the White flag, Uttech slipped in turn 2, leaving room for Quam and Aaron Rude to move by on the inside. Rude made a bid for the lead but it was Quam at the stripe, followed by Rude, Uttech, Steve Drays and Brent Nottestad.

In Sportsman division action Dylan Schuyler of Dousman scored the win, in the 30 lap feature. Starting from the outside of row 3, Schuyler claimed the 3rd spot, as Luke Padfield drove to the early lead. Padfield guided the way for 28 laps, opening a strong lead, as Scott "Chico" Riedner made his way from the back of the pack, to the 2nd spot. Riedner slowly closed the gap, catching Padfield by lap 26. On lap 28, as Riedner moved to the inside, on the back stretch, Padfield lost the handle, spinning to the inside and collecting Riedner.

Schuyler was at the point for the restart, guiding the field over the remaining 7 laps to claim the win. Rounding out the top 5 were Jason Thoma, Jay Kalbus, Trent Erdman and Kevin Thompson.

In Hobby Stock Action, Jimmy Robinson of Orfordville handled the field, in the 20 lap main event. Starting from the inside of row 3, Robinson took 3 laps to catch, and pass, the early leader Casey Burns. Pulling ahead on lap 3, Robinson build a strong lead on his way to the checkered flag. Following Robinson at the stripe were Jim Williams, Lincoln Keeser, Terry Wangsness and Burns.

Rounding out the nights racing action was a special edition of the Bubble Gauntlet, with track announcer Randy Kamenick piloting the Gantlet car and a team of women drivers running the chase vehicles. The women competing were Melanie Bishofberger, Tina Harold, Paula Seitz, Renee Collins, Karie Hopwood, Jenny Vitense, Tiffany Prietsch, Lisa Padfield, Sheri (Urban) Berger and Judy Weir. The women were victorious, taking out the Gauntlet car after 8, of a scheduled 10, laps.

Next week Jefferson Speedway hosts the Bumper to Bumper 50 lap Late Model feature, and the Bandits return to the speedway.

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

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

Jefferson Speedway - Date: July 27, 2002- Event: Stockade Restaurant Twin 35’s + Bubble Gauntlet

FAST QUALIFIER  :   55 Eric Gerlach (Palmyra): 14.875 seconds 60.50 MPH
FAST DASH: 8 Lap :   11 Beau Sanden (Janesville)
LAST CHANCE: 20 Lap :   97 Bruce Lee (Edgerton), 3 Joe Wendorf (Jefferson), 9 Jeff Nowak (Mosinee), Luke Westenberg (Palmyra), 6 Ken Piotrowski (Janesville), 37 Gene Olson Jr. (Jefferson)
Heats: 10 lap: 1)    9 Jeff Nowak (Mosinee)             2)   75 Mike Beyer (Machesney PK  IL)              3)    76 Ron Bishofberger (Ft. Atkinson)    

FAST QUALIFIER  :   4 Chris Quam (Stoughton): 16.072 seconds 56.00 MPH
Heats: 10 lap: 1)    0 Scott Dolphin (Marshall)                  2)   9 Aaron Rude (Cambridge)

FAST QUALIFIER  :   26 Scott “Chico” Riedner (Waunakee): 15.914 seconds 56.55 MPH
LAST CHANCE: 15 Lap :   14 Kyle Taylor (Stoughton), 59 Judy Weir (Cottage Grove), 3 Rory Padfield (Stoughton), 17 Noel Ramge (Hellenville)
Heats: 10 lap: 1)    23 Jim Pankow (Oregon)                     2)   18 Chad Reimer (Oconomowoc)                      3)    57 Jason Ayers (Stoughton)                  

FAST QUALIFIER  :   55 Terry Wangsness (Delavan): 16.930 seconds 53.16 MPH
LAST CHANCE: 12 Lap :   63 Eugene Niedermeier (Orfordville), 01 Justin Bowey (Sullivan), 7 Gerald Chapman (Juneau), 44 Jesse Ayers (Stoughton)
Heats:  8 lap: 1)    8 Kris Schoonover (Janesville)           2)   7 Gerald Chapman (Juneau)      3)       J10 Jim Williams (Milton)