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By Andrew Schaller
JEFFERSON, WI (Saturday, September 17, 2011) Fort Atkinson’s Jason Erickson capped off a season in which he captured the Jefferson Speedway Late Model title for the fourth time by also laying claim to the 2011 Wisconsin State Championship. Erickson took over the lead at the midway point of the 100 lap main event and drove off to collect the hardware that accompanies the title of State Champion.

By virtue of winning their semi final races, Kyle Jarlsberg and John Ovadal Jr led the field of 25 stellar pilots to the drop of the green flag. After battling side by side on the opening circuit, Jarlsberg grabbed sole possession of the top spot on lap two. Erickson charged under Ovadal a lap later, entering into a fight for the second spot. Erickson took control of second on lap five as the leaders lined up single file. The leaders began to maneuver heavy lapped traffic just before the first of four cautions slowed the field on lap 43. After another quick caution a lap later, Erickson made his move. Erickson began to peek to the low side of Jarlsberg looking for an opening. On lap 48, the duo made slight contact entering turn one which allowed Erickson to draw even with Jarlsberg down the backstretch. Erickson motored into the lead on lap 49 just before caution number three appeared. Once racing resumed, Erickson moved out to a comfortable lead with Jarlsberg holding steady in second. With twenty laps remaining, Jarlsberg spun hard into the turn three wall, coating the track with fluid and forcing the final caution of the event. Erickson restarted as the leader, this time with Ovadal running in second and Zack Riddle in third. As racing got back underway, Riddle slipped past Ovadal and set his sights on Erickson at the point. But Erickson flexed his muscle over the final circuits as he cruised to the checkers to pick up the win. Riddle finished in second with Tim Sargent, Casey Johnson and Doug Hahn rounding out the top five.

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By Andrew Schaller
JEFFERSON, WI (Saturday, September 10, 2011) The regular racing season came to a close at Wisconsin’s Action Track as champions were crowned on Havill Spoerl Season Championship night. While Fort Atkinson’s Jason Erickson was putting the finishing touches on his fourth Late Model title, it was Shaun Scheel of Lake Mills capturing his first career Late Model feature win.

Jerry Eckhardt and Scott Lindsay led the field to the green flag with Lindsay taking control on lap one. Eckhardt fell in line behind Lindsay with Scheel running in third. Scheel made his move on lap 11, moving to the low side of Eckhardt for second. Scheel continued to slide forward as he drew even with Lindsay on lap 13. Scheel inched forward, claimed sole possession of the point on lap 16 while Ty James and Casey Johnson joined the leaders in fourth and fifth respectively. Scheel began to stretch his advantage while Eckhardt and Lindsay waged war for the second position. Eckhardt gained the spot on lap 21 with James following in his tracks for third. The battle for second began to heat up on lap 44, this time between Eckhardt and James. With ten laps remaining, James cleared for second with Johnson in tow for third. The leaders began to encounter lapped traffic on lap 56, but Scheel stayed strong as he saw the checkers first for the win. James finished second with Johnson, Eckhardt and Jason Erickson rounding out the top five. Erickson’s fifth place finish helped him secure his third track championship in the last four seasons and fourth overall in Jefferson Speedway’s premier division.

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By Andrew Schaller
JEFFERSON, WI (Saturday, August 27, 2011) Watertown’s John Ovadal Jr methodically picked his way to the front of the field on Saturday night and ran away to capture the Papa Murphy’s Pizza 50 lap Late Model main event. The victory marked Ovadal’s second feature win of the season as he continues to stay alive in the hunt for the 2011 championship crown.

Ty James and Shaun Scheel paced the field of 18 competitors to the green with Scheel taking the initial lead down the back stretch on lap one. James pulled in line behind Scheel with Chris Quam up to third and Tommy Pecaro riding in fourth. The top three lined up single file as they began to pull away from the rest of the pack while Ovadal sliced his way into the top five by lap eleven. One lap later, James mounted a charge to the inside of Scheel, drawing even as he looked to steal the top spot. James continued to inch forward until finally clearing for the lead on lap 16. Meanwhile, Ovadal ran down the leaders, making quick work of Quam and sliding under Scheel for second. Ovadal cleared for the runner up spot on lap 21, bringing Doug Hahn along for third. Ovadal began to reel in James until the sole caution of the race waved on lap 28. Once racing resumed, Ovadal began to peek to the inside of James. Ovadal got a good run on lap 29, drawing even with James and shooting past for the lead. Ovadal immediately opened up a large advantage while Hahn moved up to battle James for second. Ovadal continued to stretch his lead as he cruised to the checkers to get the win. James held off the advances of Hahn to claim second with Casey Johnson in fourth and Jason Erickson in fifth.