September 7, 2002; Jefferson, Wis. -- Track Champions were crowned, in all 5 racing divisions, during Havill-Spoerl Season Championships, at Jefferson Speedway.

Photo Highlights

The 2002 Champions, in all divisions. Left to Right, Tim Seitz (#57) Bandit, Roger Stephenson (#88) Hobby Stock, Ron Bishofberger (#76) Late Model, Aaron Rude (#9) International and Jay Kalbus (#27) Sportsman. Nick Wendt (#94) takes his turn in victory lane, following the Havill-Spoerl 75 lap Late Model Feature.  The battle for the lead in the Late Model feature! Nick Wendt (#94) holds off Roger Behlke (#44). They finished as you see them, 1st and 2nd. Brent Nottestad (#25) pulled into Victory Lane, following the 30 lap International championship feature. The aftermath of an oiled corner! A blown engine scatterd cars in the International feature. Pictured are Lucas Vinje (#27), Mike Drays (#48) and Mike Bingham (#17). The battle for the lead, Brent Nottestad (#25) moving under Scott Dolphin (#0) and Scott Uttech (#74) in the International feature. Nottestad is on his way to another win. Scott "Chico" Riedner (#26) scored his first Sportsman feature win of the 2002 season, in the final point race. The winning pass, Scott Riedner moves under Bobby Stough Jr. (#27), claiming the lead in the Sportsman feature. Terry Wangsness (#55), logged the win, in the Hobby Stock championship feature, bringing him within 13 points of the championship. Russ Nicholson (#67) suffered a broken axle, early in the Hobby Stock feature, and Tim Noble (#72) had the misfortune of running over the loose wheel. Chris Matz (#72) loops it in the Hobby Stock feature. Bad as this looks, everyone made it by, without incident. Terry Wangsness (#55) finds his way past Lincoln Keeser (#99), to claim the top spot in the Hobby Stock feature. Bill Reynolds (#38) notched the win, in the Bandit feature.

Ron Bishofberger of Fort Atkinson locked up the Late Model Championship. Aaron Rude of Cambridge earned the International Championship crown. Jay Kalbus of Oconomowoc is the Sportsman division champion. Roger Stephenson of Cambridge held on to the Hobby Stock Championship and Tim Seitz of Edgerton won the Championship in the Bandit division.

In Late Model action Nick Wendt of Jefferson claimed top honors in the "Havill-Spoerl Automotive Family" 75 lap feature. Starting from the outside of row 5, Wendt headed toward the front, as Tom Dorn claimed the early lead. Dorn led the field for 7 laps, before surrendering the top spot to Beau Sanden. As Sanden claimed the point Wendt made his way to the 6th spot, moving steadily forward.

Wendt closed with Dorn on lap 17, claiming 2nd on lap 20, looking far ahead to Sanden. Caution came on lap 28 when 2 cars collided on the front straight closing the field for the restart. Sanden held off Wendt until lap 38, when Wendt saw the opening he needed, powering to the point. As Wendt claimed the point, Roger Behlke powered through the field grabbing the 2nd spot by lap 49. Behlke closed with Wendt, exhausting his bag of tricks, in his bid for the top spot. Wendt was up to the challenge, holding off the veteran all the way to the checkers. At the strip it was Wendt for the win followed by Behlke, Scott Nottestad, Sanden and Ron Bishofberger.

In International action Brent Nottestad of Cambridge notched another victory, in the 30 lap main event. Starting 10th Nottestad raced to the front as Scott Uttech of Watertown jumped to the early lead. Nottestad made his way to 2nd before the first caution, on lap 8, for a blown engine. On the restart Nottestad powered to the front, and never looked back, guiding the field to the finish. At the finish it was Nottestad, by nearly a half lap over Aaron Rude, Dennis Clapp, Chris Quam and Scott Dolphin.

In Sportsman division action Scott "Chico" Riedner notched his first feature of the 2002 season, in the 40 lap, season championship, main event. Starting from the inside of the last row, Riedner started his long drive to the front, as Kyle Jarlsberg drove to the early lead.

Jarlsberg led the way for 36 laps, before losing the handle, on the back stretch, bringing out the 2nd caution of the race, and moving Bobby Stough to the point, with Riedner running 2nd. On the restart Riedner headed low, as Stough slid high in turn 1, powering out of 2 Riedner claimed the point with 4 to go. At the stripe it was Riedner for the win, followed by Stough, Jay Kalbus, Bret Schmidt and Chad Reimer.

In Hobby Stock action Terry Wangsness of Delavan claimed his first feature win, of the 2002 season, in the final point race of the year. Starting from the last, Wangsness started his trek to the front, as Jesse Ayers claimed the early lead. Ayers surrendered the point to Chris Schoonover on lap 6. Schoonover led the way until lap 18, when Lincoln Keeser motored to the point.

As Keeser took the lead, Wangsness was moving up from the 4th spot. Wangsness claimed 2nd on lap 21 closing with Keeser to launch his bid for the lead. Moving to the bottom Wangsness kept the pressure on, finally claiming the top spot on lap 26. As they streaked past the finish it was Wangsness for the win, followed by Keeser, Schoonover, Eaan Carson and Dennis Schmidt.

In Bandit action, Bill Reynolds of Watertown claimed top honors in the 25 lap main event. Starting inside the last row, Reynolds headed to the front as Tim Petrie claimed the early lead. Troy Olson drove past Petrie, on lap 6, claiming the point, as Reynolds battled ahead from 4th.

Reynolds raced past Bill Sweeney, for 2nd, on lap 10, closing with Olson. The battle lasted 3 laps, before Reynolds claimed the top spot, on lap 13. Guiding the way to the finish, it was Reynolds for the win, followed by Sweeney, Olson, Tim Seitz and Peter Shelley.

This brings to a close the 2002 point's race at Wisconsin's Action Tack. The season will end next week with the 22nd Annual Pepsi Wisconsin State Championships. This 2 day racing extravaganza will bring in top drivers from all around to vie for their piece of the $32,000 purse.

Friday night, Sept. 13, gates open at 2:00pm, qualifying at 5:00pm and racing at 8:00pm.

Saturday night, Sept. 14, gates open at 3:00pm with racing at 7:00pm.
Jefferson Speedway is half way between Cambridge and Jefferson Wisconsin, on highway 18.    

Jefferson Speedway - Date: September 7, 2002 - Event: Havill-Spoerl Season Championships

FAST QUALIFIER  :   27 Dan Chesmore (Janesville): 14.917 Seconds
FAST DASH: 8 Lap :   75 Mike Beyer (Machesney Park IL)
LAST CHANCE: 20 Lap :   22 Jasper Gronert (Jefferson), 99 Doug Hahn (Whitewater), 3 Joe Wendorf (Jefferson), 12 Greg Bowers (Waterloo)
Heats: 10 lap: 1)    41 Mike Taylor (Stoughton)                2)   66 Curt Thompson (Ft. Atkinson)      3)    8 Jesse Saunders (New Glarus)          

FAST QUALIFIER  :   25 Brent Nottestad (Cambridge): 15.913 seconds
Heats: 10 lap: 1)    17 Mike Bingham (Jefferson)             2)   9 Aaron Rude (Cambridge)

FAST QUALIFIER  :   27 Bobby Stough Jr. (Waunakee): 15.888 seconds
CONSI: 10 Lap :   17 Noel Ramge (Hellenville), 23 Chris Koepke (Ft. Atkinson)
LAST CHANCE: 15 Lap :   32 Tony Koepke (Ft. Atkinson), 37 Nick Berge (Janesville), 42 Tom Reents (Janesville), 14 Kyle Taylor (Stoughton)
Heats: 10 lap: 1)    17 Noel Ramge (Hellenville)               2)   2 Randy Padfield (Stoughton)
                         3)    106 Jody Purdy (Milton)                    4)   42 Tom Reents (Janesville)

2002 Champion: 88 Roger Stephenson (Cambridge)
FAST QUALIFIER  :   55 Terry Wangsness (Delavan)
LAST CHANCE: 12 Lap :   18 Dennis Gaserude (Oregon), 20 Gary Pashey (Marshall), 70 Rick Kehoe (Jefferson), 72 Tim Noble (Janesville)Heats:   8 lap: 1)    17 Bill Bush (Jefferson)               2)   56 Randy Strasburg (Jefferson)       3)       88 Roger Stephenson (Cambridge)  

FAST QUALIFIER  :   42 Bill Sweeney (Janesville): 15.563 seconds
LAST CHANCE: 12 Lap :   41 Brian Paulson (Edgerton), 20 Rikki Bishofberger (Ft. Atkinson), 13 Terry Sauer (Waterloo), 75 Paula Seitz (Edgerton)
Heats:  8 lap: 1)    11 Tim Petrie (Sun Prairie)                 2)   11 Troy Olson (Janesville)                      3)    38 Bill Reynolds (Watertown)