Eckhardt Returns to Victory Lane
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.
Jim Taylor of Stoughton flexed his muscle as he led start to finish and held off all challengers to capture the 30 lap Sportsman main event. Starting from the front row, Taylor grabbed the early lead on lap one from fellow front row starter Kenny Au. Steven Sauer followed past Au into second on lap two as he looked to challenge Taylor for the lead. Sauer looked to the low side of Taylor, drawing even on lap six. Meanwhile, Kody Hubred took over the third spot and pulled up to join the duo at the front. Sauer and Taylor battled side by side for the lead with Hubred watching closely from third. Taylor regained sole possession of the top spot on lap nine as Sauer dropped back into a fight for second with Hubred. The top three lined up single file with Taylor holding the lead over Sauer in second. On lap 16, Hubred took a shot on the inside of Sauer, stealing second and setting his sights on Taylor. Hubred tried lap after lap to get a run past the leader, but Taylor hung on strong each time at the front. Hubred took one final shot with one lap to go, but Taylor once again powered out down the backstretch on his way to the checkers for the win. Hubred was second followed by Sauer, Will Rece and Jason Thoma.
Madison’s Mike Lambert picked up the feature win after a late race pass for the lead during the 20 lap International main event. Dylan Buckingham and Josh Kubicz paced the field to green with Buckingham taking the initial lead on lap two. Peter Shelley slid up alongside Buckingham on lap three, clearing for the lead as they exited turn four. Matt McKinney followed Shelley into second on lap eight while Lambert and Kyle Stark moved into the top five. After a caution on lap 14, McKinney tried to move to the low side of the speedway in an attempt to get by Shelley. Lambert powered to his outside as they both dove under Shelley for a three way battle for the lead. Lambert and Shelley emerged side by side for the top spot with Lambert taking control a lap later. Stark followed Lambert into second, but was unable to challenge for the lead as they crossed under the checkers. Lambert got the win followed by Stark in second. Rounding out the top five were Shelley, James Bell and McKinney.
Tony Ciano of Janesville claimed his second consecutive Hobby Stock feature after winning the 15 lap affair. Duane Deppe led early with Lucas Buckingham pulling up to his outside from the second row. Deppe and Buckingham battled side by side until Ciano split the middle of the two drivers, claimed the lead on lap three. Bobby Selsing followed his example to grab second with James Helmer in tow for third. Helmer drove up under Selsing as they raced wheel to wheel for second with Ciano opened up a healthy advantage. Ciano stayed out front on his way to the checkers for the win. Selsing won the fight for second with Helmer coming home third. Jeff LeFave and Buckingham completed the top five.
Bill Reynolds of Watertown grabbed the lead halfway through the 15 lap Road Warrior feature and hung on to get the win. Matt McKinney led lap one from the pole with Bill Sweeney and Jason Haas battling for second behind him. On lap two, Sweeney claimed second with Reynolds in tow for third. Reynolds moved to the low side of Sweeney on lap three as they pulled up behind McKinney at the front. Reynolds crept up under McKinney on lap seven, clearing for the lead a lap later as Sweeney tried to follow. Rob Lange joined the fight for second on lap nine, emerging with the position a lap later. Lange began to reel in Reynolds in the closing laps, catching him as they flew past the white flag. But Reynolds hung on at the front to see the checkers first for the win. Lange was second followed by Tim Ellis, Rodger Stephenson and Sweeney.
The final event of the evening ended with Michael Heimann of Waunakee in victory lane after winning the 20 lap Bandit feature. Starting on the front row with Josh Marx, Heimann led lap one with Marx falling back alongside Mitch Brockway for second. Marx tried to make the outside groove work until a caution on lap eight slowed his efforts. After another quick caution on lap 11, Marx once again drove to the outside as he tried to draw even with Heimann for the lead. Lap after lap, Marx inched forward until he alongside Heimann with only three laps remaining. Nick Schmidt joined the duo at the front as Heimann tried to maintain control of the top spot. As they came to the checkers, it was Heimann holding the advantage to pick up the win with Marx in second and Schmidt third. Brockway and Cory Jansen rounded out the top five.
Next Saturday, June 23, is a full program of racing in all six divisions highlighted by the Sullivan Saloon 50 lap Late Model feature. Time trials begin at 5pm with racing at 7pm. Jefferson Speedway is located halfway between Jefferson and Cambridge on Hwy 18. Please visit www.jeffersonspeedway.com for more information.
Jefferson Speedway Race Summary
Late Model-
Ken Olson’s Used Cars 50 lap Feature Results- 1) Jerry Eckhardt, Johnson Creek 2) Dylan Schuyler, Jefferson 3) Casey Johnson, Stoughton 4) Doug Hahn, Whitewater 5) Trent Erdman, Fort Atkinson 6) John Ovadal Jr, Watertown 7) Kyle Jarlsberg, Jefferson 8) Ty James, Oconomowoc 9) Jason Erickson, Fort Atkinson 10) Chris Quam, Stoughton 11) Shaun Scheel, Lake Mills 12) Stephen Scheel, Lake Mills 13) Tim Lange, Dousman 14) Jody Krueger, Edgerton 15) Mike Taylor, Stoughton 16) Noel Ramge, Helenville 17) Dale Nottestad, Cambridge 18) Tyler Peterson, Woodstock (IL)
Fast Qualifier- Jason Erickson—14.345 seconds
Last Chance- Jody Krueger, Stephen Scheel, Tim Lange, Tyler Peterson, Mike Taylor
Heat Winners- 1) Ed Kubicz 2) Ty James 3) Doug Hahn
Sportsman-
Feature Results- 1) Jim Taylor, Stoughton 2) Kody Hubred, Cambridge 3) Steven Sauer, Waterloo 4) Will Rece, Stoughton 5) Jason Thoma, Jefferson 6) Jim Tate Jr, Deforest 7) Mark Deporter, Fort Atkinson 8) Tory Bagley, Stoughton 9) Kyle Chwala, Lake Mills 10) Terry Wangsness, Jefferson 11) Jason Kubicz, Whitewater 12) Steve Allman, Oconomowoc 13) Kenny Au, Jefferson 14) Chris Gottschalk, Jefferson
Fast Qualifier- Kyle Chwala—14.933 seconds
Heat Winners- 1) Steven Sauer 2) Jim Taylor
International-
Feature Results- 1) Mike Lambert, Madison 2) Kyle Stark, Waterloo 3) Peter Shelley, Edgerton 4) James Bell, Brodhead 5) Matt McKinney, Fort Atkinson 6) Seth Reamer, Marshall 7) Neil Higgins, Watertown 8) Dylan Buckingham, Whitewater 9) Devon Dixon, Janesville 10) Dan Birkett, Jefferson 11) Darren Brown, Jefferson 12) Josh Kubicz, Whitewater 13) Devin Wild, Jefferson 14) John Handeland, Belleville
Fast Qualifier- Mike Lambert—16.220 seconds
Heat Winners- 1) Peter Shelley 2) Matt McKinney
Hobby Stock-
Feature Results- 1) Tony Ciano, Janesville 2) Bobby Selsing, Edgerton 3) James Helmer, Beaver Dam 4) Jeff LeFave, Fort Atkinson 5) Lucas Buckingham, Whitewater 6) Duane Deppe, Waterloo 7) Chester Williams, Waukesha 8) Jim Wolf, Watertown 9) Eric Will
Fast Qualifier- James Helmer—16.176 seconds
Heat Winner- Tony Ciano
Road Warrior-
Feature Results- 1) Bill Reynolds, Watertown 2) Rob Lange, Jefferson 3) Tim Elllis, S.Beloit (IL) 4) Rodger Stephenson, Cambridge 5) Bill Sweeney, Edgerton 6) Matt McKinney, Fort Atkinson 7) Jason Haas, Jefferson 8) Travis Schneeberg, Cottage Grove 9) Chester Williams, Waukesha 10) Rory Hardy, Oregon
Fast Qualifier- Rob Lange—16.922 seconds
Heat Winners- 1) Rodger Stephenson 2) Bill Sweeney
Bandit-
Feature Results- 1) Michael Heimann, Waunakee 2) Josh Marx, Jefferson 3) Nick Schmidt, Oak Creek 4) Mitch Brockway, Ixonia 5) Cory Jansen, Lake Geneva 6) Dennis Wuesthoff, Beaver Dam 7) Taylor Schmude, Cambridge 8) Phil Wuesthoff, Beaver Dam 9) Dustin Yanke, Fort Atkinson 10) Keith Erickson, Columbus 11) Tiffany Desjarlais, Columbus 12) Devon Dixon, Janesville 13) Josh Lenz, Lake Mills 14) Michelle Kriigel, Sun Prairie 15) Erik Bennett, Beloit 16) Ken Storkson, Madison 17) Brandon DeLacy, Stoughton 18) Jordan Lamb, Fort Atkinson
Fast Qualifier- Devon Dixon—14.272 seconds
Last Chance- Brandon DeLacy, Jordan Lamb, Ken Storkson, Erik Bennett, Josh Lenz
Heat Winners- 1) Ken Storkson 2) Tiffany Desjarlais 3) Phil Wuesthoff
