April 26, 2003; Jefferson, Wis. -- The pits and grandstands were filled, to open the 52nd year of action, at Jefferson Speedway.   Former track champion Dan Chesmore of Janesville came from a 5th place start, to claim victory in the “Spring Sizzler 50." Steve Dobbratz claimed the point, at the start, guiding the way for 15 laps, as Chesmore made his way from 5th to 2nd and Scott Nottestad moving from 10th to 3rd. Chesmore and Scott Nottestad flew past Dobbratz, on lap 16, into the 1st and 2nd.

Photo Highlights

Dan Chesmore (#27) opened his 2003 season, with a trip to victory lane, in the Spring Sizzler 50 - Late Model season opener. Steve Dobbratz (#52) held the early lead, in the Late Model Feature. Behind Dobbratz are Squirt Stevens (#82) and Mike Johnson (#17).  Mike Drays (#48) tours victory lane, following his win, in the International main event. Mark English (#57) edges Noel Ramge (#17), to win the Sportsman Last Chance race. Jason Thoma (#95), claimed victory, in the Sportsman feature. Setting up the winning pass. Jason Thoma (#95), closing in on Mark Deporter (#28) in the Sportsman Feature. Jim Williams (#J10), first at the strip, in Hobby Stock heat. Paul Edmundson (#00) notched the first wins, of his career, claiming both his heat race and the feature. Second turn of the Hobby Stock feature. Eaan Carson (#2) leading the way, with Paul Edmundson (#00) outside and Bobby Frisch (#92) in the 3rd spot. Edmundson is on his way to the win, and Frisch finished 3rd. Bill Reynolds (#38) turned in the winning performance, in the Bandits. Bandit Action! Gary Stark (#29) leads the way, with Tim Petrie (#11), #99 and Jim Clark (#39) closing fast.

As Chesmore led the way, Nottestad closed in, keeping the pressure high, as battles were waged, for position. Among the top advancers was Mike Beyer charging from 13th to 5th. The only caution of the race came, on lap 42, for a spin in turn 2, closing the field, for the dash to the finish. At the final green, Nottestad launched his bid for the top spot. Chesmore was up to the challenge, guiding the way to the checkered, followed by Nottestad, Dobbratz, Chad “Squirt” Stevens and Mike Beyer.

In International class action Mike Drays of Milton drove from 8th to the front, in the season opening 20 lapper. At the green flag it was Mike Bingham claiming the early lead, with Jim Pankow moving to claim the point, on lap 3, with Drays close behind, for 2nd. On lap 18, lapped traffic came into play, blocking Pankow and letting the door open for Drays move to the point. At the stripe it was Drays, followed by Pankow, Chris Quam, Scott Hoeft and Brent Nottestad.

In Sportsman division action, it as Jason Thoma of Jefferson, turning a 12th place start into a feature win, in the 30 lap main event. After a rocky start, with 2 complete restarts, the first for a lap 1 spin, and the 2nd for a flat tire and spin on the restart, Dustin Ward moved out to the early lead.

Ward guided the way over the first 15 laps, before receiving the, dreaded, black flag, for leaking fluid. As Ward pulled from the track, Mark Deporter moved to the top spot, with Thoma close behind. Thoma moved to the inside on lap 18, claiming the top spot by lap 20. With Thoma at the point, Chad Reimer was battling his way from 4th. Reimer made his way past Brent Moe and Deporter as they were coming to the white flag. At the stripe it was Thoma for the win, followed by Reimer, Deporter, James Helmer and Tony Koepke.

In Hobby Stock action, Paul Edmundson of Whitewater notched his first career win, in any race, with victory in the 20 lap main event. Starting from the outside of the front row, Edmundson claimed the early lead, and never looked back, guiding the field all the way to the checkered flag. As Edmundson led the way, Johnny Robinson made his way from 8th to 2nd. At the stripe it was Edmundson for the win, followed by Eaan Carson, Bobby Frisch, Gary Pashley and Jim Tate.

The Bandit’s closed the evening, with Bill Reynolds of Watertown notching the win, in the 18 lap main event. Starting on the outside of row 5, Reynolds headed toward the point, as Peter Shelley moved to the early lead. Shelly surrendered the point to Tim Seitz, on lap 2, with Reynolds already up to 3rd. Claiming the point, on lap 5, Reynolds guided the field to the checkered flag, with Brian Paulson, making his way to 2nd. At the stripe it was Reynolds with the win, followed by Paulson, Brandon Riedner, Seitz, and Bill Sweeney.

Next week at Jefferson Speedway it’s Autograph and Picture Day. Come early, bring your cameras, and prepare to meet your favorite drivers. Gates open at 2:00, Qualifying at 4:00, Autograph and Picture session at 6:00 and racing at 7:00 sharp.

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

Event: Spring Sizzler 50 - Season Opener

FAST QUALIFIER  :   11 Beau Sanden (Janesville): 14.800 seconds
FAST DASH: 8 Lap M&M Bar:   14  Scott Nottestad (Stoughton)
CONSI: 12 Lap :   44 Roger Behlke (Jefferson), 11 Russ Goodwin (Beloit)
LAST CHANCE: 20 Lap :   22 Jasper Gronert (Jefferson), 41 Mike Taylor (Stoughton), 76 Ron Bishofberger (Ft. Atkinson), 71 Jon Ovadal Jr. (Watertown)
Heats: 10 lap: 1)    44 Roger Behlke (Jefferson)                2)   41 Mike Taylor (Stoughton)                       3)    88 Jim Gleesing (Whitewater)            

FAST QUALIFIER  :   4 Chris Quam (Stoughton): 14.854 seconds

Heats: 10 lap: 1)     00 Scott Hoeft (Watertown)                 2)   16 Jimmy Pankow (Oregon)

FAST QUALIFIER  :   11 Trent Erdman (Ft. Atkinson): 15.692 seconds

LAST CHANCE: 15 Lap :   57 Mark English (Janesville), 17 Noel Ramge (Hellenville), 52 Judy Weir (Cottage Grove), 4 Luke Padfield (Jefferson), 14 Kyle Taylor (Stoughton)
Heats: 10 lap: 1)    59 Judy Weir (Cottage Grove)             2)   2 Randy Padfield (Edgerton)                        3)    32 Tony Koepke (Ft. Atkinson)            

FAST QUALIFIER  :   6 Jeremy Hartwig (Cottage Grove): 16.727 seconds

CONSI: 8  Lap :   58 Dave Ryan (Madison),, 9 Bill Emmons (Jefferson)

LAST CHANCE: 12 Lap :   77 Jim Burns (Edgerton), 991 Lincoln Keeser (Johnson Creek), 88 Jerry Chapman (Juneau), 43 Jason Finnegan (Milton)

Heats:  8 lap: 1)    9 Bill Emmons (Jefferson)           2)   991 Lincoln Keeser (Johnson Creek)            3)       J10 Jim Williams (Milton)
                      4)   00 Paul Edmundson (Whitewater)

FAST QUALIFIER  :   4D Brandon Riedner (Waunakee): 15.103 seconds

LAST CHANCE: 12 Lap :   29 Mark Joyner (Whitewater(, 75 Paula Seitz (Edgerton),  21 Jason Punsel (Cambridge), 20 Rikki Bishofberger (Ft. Atkinson)

Heats:  8 lap: 1)    11 Tim Petrie (Whitewater)                  2)   4 Christopher Higgins (Whitewater)                  3)    38 Bill Reynolds (Watertown)