by Andrew Schaller
JEFFERSON, WI (Saturday, June 16, 2012) Johnson Creek’s Jerry Eckhardt made his triumphant return to Jefferson Speedway victory lane after a several year absence on Saturday night. The over 40 year racing veteran led flag to flag to became the seventh different Late Model feature winner in as many weeks after capturing the Ken Olson’s Used Cars 50 lap main event.

Starting alongside Chris Quam, Eckhardt led lap one by a slight margin as they crossed the stripe. On the second circuit, Eckhardt claimed sole possession of the point as they exited turn two with Dylan Schuyler trying to follow around the high side of Quam for second. Schuyler completed the pass on lap three as he pulled up behind Eckhardt with Doug Hahn moving into third. Eckhardt and Schuyler began to pull away from the rest of the pack as the field sorted itself out behind them. By the midway point of the race, the pair of drivers were enjoying a large lead that continued to grow lap after lap. With the laps beginning to tick away, Schuyler mounted a charge to challenge Eckhardt for the top spot. Schuyler searched for a way to get past the leader, but Eckhardt maintained his advantage despite the pressure. Schuyler and Eckhardt made contact one time in the closing laps, but Eckhardt hung on and held him off to see the checkers first for the win. Schuyler settled for second with Casey Johnson finishing a distant third. Hahn and Trent Erdman rounded out the top five finishers.

by Andrew Schaller

JEFFERSON, WI (Saturday, June 09, 2012) Jefferson’s Kyle Jarlsberg returned with a vengeance to Wisconsin’s Action Track after suffering a mechanical failure one week ago. Jarlsberg powered to the front of the field en route to winning the River’s Edge Farm Market and Catering 50 lap Late Model feature event.

Rusty Hansen and Bruce Lee paced the field of some of Wisconsin’s finest drivers to the drop of the green flag. Lee claimed the early lead on lap two as Hansen tried to fight back on the low side with Trent Erdman and Jerry Eckhardt battling for third. On lap four, Hansen and Eckhardt made contact resulting in Hansen connecting hard with the front chute wall and ending his evening. Lee restarted as the leader with Erdman running second and Doug Hahn in third. As racing resumed, Lee drifted high entering turn one allowing Erdman to slide under and claim the top spot with Hahn in tow for second. By lap 12, Jarlsberg had worked his way past Lee as well as he began to work over Hahn for the runner up position. Jarlsberg drove under Hahn to steal second away on lap 13 as the top three lined up single file. Jarlsberg closed in on Erdman at the point as he began to apply pressure to the new leader. Jarlsberg stayed close to the rear bumper of Erdman, taking several looks to the low side of the leader. Jarlsberg got a great run entering turn one on lap 23. He drew even with Erdman as they raced wheel to wheel for the lead. Jarlsberg continued to inch forward until finally completing the winning pass on lap 29. Erdman dropped back into a fight for second with Hahn while Jarlsberg opened up a healthy advantage over the rest of the field. Jarlsberg cruised the stripe to get the win with Hahn edging out Erdman for second. Casey Johnson finished fourth followed by John Ovadal Jr in fifth.

by Andrew Schaller
JEFFERSON, WI (Saturday, June 02, 2012) Dale Nottestad of Cambridge captured the Pepsi 50 lap Late Model main event at Jefferson Speedway on Saturday night. Nottestad took control of the race just past the halfway point and never looked back on the way to his first feature victory of the season at Wisconsin’s Action Track.

Trent Erdman and Rusty Hanson paced the pack to the drop of the green flag. After a side by side battle to open the action, Hanson claimed the top spot on lap two with Shaun Scheel trying to follow him into second. A lap later, Scheel made the pass on Erdman to claim the second spot with Nottestad moving up to take his turn next to Erdman. The top two began to separate themselves from the rest of the field while Nottestad and Erdman battled for third. On lap 13, Erdman got loose entering turn allowing Nottestad to move past as well as Kyle Jarlsberg. At the same time, Scheel began to apply pressure to Hanson at the front while Nottestad and Jarlsberg tried to close on the leaders. The top four ran single file until lap 25 when Scheel got a good run on the low side of Hanson. The two drivers touched forcing them to check up and allowing Nottestad to fire past Scheel into second. A lap later, Nottestad charged under Hanson as he pulled even with the leader. A lap later, Nottestad cleared for the point as they exited turn two. Jarlsberg followed past Hanson into second on lap 30 with point leader Jason Erickson trying to follow as well. The sole caution of the race waved on lap 34 when Tommy Pecaro spun in turn four. As racing resumed, Jarlsberg fell off the pace and pulled his car to the infield handing second back to Hanson. Erickson and Casey Johnson spent the remainder of the race searching for a way past Hanson while Nottestad enjoyed a healthy lead over the field. Johnson and Erickson managed to slip past Hanson in the closing laps, but Nottestad was well on his way to picking up the victory. Johnson finished second followed by Erickson, Hanson and Erdman.

by Andrew Schaller
JEFFERSON, WI (Saturday, May 26, 2012) Steve Dobbratz grabbed control of the Veteran’s Memorial 75 lap Late Model feature just past the halfway point and hung on to get the big victory on Saturday night. The win marks the first of the season for the Rio pilot at Jefferson Speedway.

Dale Nottestad and Tim Sargent paced the field of stout competitors to the drop of the green flag with Nottestad moving into the early lead on lap one. Dobbratz quickly moved past Sargent into second on lap two with Casey Johnson in tow for third. The top three lined up single file as they broke away from the rest of the field. Johnson moved to the bottom of the racing surface as he looked to get past Dobbratz for second. But the first of two cautions slowed his efforts on lap 28 as Rob Summers spun in turn four. As racing resumed, Dobbratz got a good run to the low side of Nottestad entering turn one. They raced side by side until lap 31 when they touched through turns three and four allowing Nottestad to regain sole possession of the top spot. The leaders once again lined up single file with Nottestad showing the way followed by Dobbratz in second and Johnson in third. On lap 40, Dobbratz once again charged underneath Nottestad entering turn one. The pair of drivers leaned on eachother until Dobbratz gained the advantage, clearing for the lead on lap 43. Nottestad tried to come back strong, but Dobbratz held him off to stay out front. The second and final caution appeared on lap 67 for a spinning Rusty Hansen, setting up an eight lap shootout to the finish. On the restart, Nottestad charged under Dobbratz into turn one. The duo touched down the back stretch and into turn three. Dobbratz gained control of his mount as he took control of the point once again. Dobbratz managed to hold off Nottestad over the final laps to see the checkers first and collect the big payday for the win. Nottestad settled for second followed by Jason Erickson, Johnson and Sargent.

by Andrew Schaller
JEFFERSON, WI (Saturday, May 19, 2012) Stoughton’s Casey Johnson survived an early incident and led every lap of the B&M Electric 50 lap Late Model feature at Jefferson Speedway on Saturday night. Johnson saved his best for last as he overcame a late caution and held on to get the win, his first of 2012.

Starting on the front row alongside Brady Liddle, Johnson grabbed control of the top spot on lap two as he slid up in front of Liddle down the backstretch. A lap later, Johnson and Liddle touched entering turn one which sent Johnson spinning and forcing the first caution of the event. Liddle subsequently claimed responsibility for the incident allowing Johnson to retain his lead and forcing Liddle to the rear for the restart. As racing resumed, the leaders remained single file with Johnson out front followed by Shaun Scheel in second and Bob Kahler third. Johnson began to pull away from the field while Kyle Jarlsberg was making his way through the field. Jarlsberg moved into fifth just past the halfway mark of the race while Johnson continued to stretch his advantage. By lap 30, Jarlsberg was in fourth and challenging Kahler for third. Jarlsberg made the pass for third on lap 31 as he quickly motored under Scheel looking for second. Jarlsberg completed the pass on lap 32 as he looked to close on Johnson at the point. Jarlsberg cut into Johnson’s lead only slightly until lap 42 when the caution waved for the final time closing up the leaders for the final eight circuits. But Johnson flexed his muscle over the closing laps as Jarlsberg was unable to make a move for the lead. At the checkers, it was Johnson for the win followed by Jarlsberg, Scheel, Steve Dobbratz and Jason Erickson.