Chesmore takes second straight Late Model main!

By Jeanne & Larry Starr

June 17, 2000; Jefferson, WI. – Dan Chesmore of Jefferson claimed top honors in the 35 lap “WJVL Night” main event on Wisconsin’s Action Track. Starting from the outside of row 6 Chesmore started his drive to the front as Russ Goodwin of Beloit pulled out to the early lead.

A pair of cars tangled, on lap 5, bringing out the first caution of the race. On the restart it was Goodwin at the point, with Chesmore up to the 6th spot. Goodwin opened up a strong lead, as the battle for 4th, between Denny Stair of Sullivan and Luke Westenberg of Palmyra, raged side by side behind him for many laps. Westenberg cleared Stair on lap 13, leaving an opening for Chesmore. Chesmore moved to the inside of Stair, working toward the 4th spot. Coming out of turn 4, on lap 19, Roger Behlke of Jefferson and Scott Null of Lake Mills tangled, heading hard into the front stretch wall.

The collision collected 4 more cars before the smoke cleared. On the restart it was Goodwin at the point, followed by Tom Dorn of Ft. Atkinson, with Chesmore up to fifth. Chesmore claimed the 4th spot on lap 20 with Ron Bishofberger of Ft. Atkinson close behind for 5th. Chesmore worked his way under Ryan Ley of Rome, for 3rd, by lap 23 and set his sights on Dorn. Dorn surrendered the 2nd spot by lap 24 as Chesmore closed with Goodwin, making his bid for the top spot. The battle lasted until lap 31, with Chesmore rolling to the point. Goodwin surrendered another spot to Bishofberger before the checkers flew. At the stripe it was Chesmore for the win, followed by Bishofberger, Goodwin, Jim Jarlsberg of Cambridge and Dorn.

Chesmore’s win was his second in a row, making him the first repeat winner of the 2000 season in the track’s Late Model division. The win also lengthened Chesmore’s point lead in the hunt for the 2000 Championship.

Bishofberger set the fast pace in qualifying with a 14.815 second tour of the quarter mile speed plant.

Chesmore claimed the coins, in the 8 lap “WJVL Dash for Cash.”

Claiming victories, in 10 lap heat races, were Null, Jasper Gronert of Jefferson and Chesmore.

Transferring to the main event from the 20 lap Last Chance race were Scott Bleecker of Jefferson, Scott Null of Lake Mills, Jasper Gronert of Jefferson and Jerry Parker of Palmyra.

In International division action, Brent Nottestad of Cambridge claimed top honors in the 20 lap feature. Starting from the outside of row 6, Nottestad started the long drive to the front, as Scott Uttech of Beaver Dam pulled out to the early lead. Caution came, on lap 3, when a pair of cars spun into the dirt.

On the restart Nottestad was up to 7th with Uttech still at the point. Nottestad claimed 4th before the second caution, for a spinning car, came on lap 9. At the return of the green flag, Nottestad moved to the inside of Scott Hoeft of Whitewater, in his bid for 3rd. Hoeft was not eager to surrender the spot, as the pair raced, side-by-side for 3 laps, before Nottestad managed to pull ahead. Nottestad moved under Mark English of Edgerton and Uttech, making the winning pass on lap 11.

The trip to the checkered flag was interrupted by another caution, on lap 13. Nottestad held the point at the restart, and never looked back, opening a sizable lead on his way to victory lane. At the stripe it was Nottestad, followed by Uttech, Mike Drays of Milton, English and Mike Bingham of Jefferson.

Nottestad turned in the fast qualifying effort, with a 15.841 second loop of the quarter mile, and claimed victory in an 8 lap heat race, to complete a perfect night of racing.

Tory Adams of Madison claimed victory in the other 10 lap heat race.

Transferring to the feature lineup, from the 8 lap Last Chance race were Adams, Bobby Moore of Edgerton, Art Dewey of Janesville and Ken Edmundson of Lima Center.

In Sportsman Division action Dave Oswald of Cottage Grove came from the outside of row 7, to another feature win, in the 25 lap main event. Chris Ehrhart of Deerfield pulled to the early lead, with Rich Titus of Ft. Atkinson claiming 2nd. The only caution of the race came on lap 3, when two cars tangled. On the restart Titus moved under Ehrhart in his bid for the top spot, while Oswald fought his way from the 14th spot. Titus edged ahead by lap 6, clearing Ehrhart on lap 8. As Titus pulled ahead, Kevin Thompson of Palmyra made his way to 2nd.

Oswald joined the top 5 by lap 14, battling Bob Selsing of Ft. Atkinson for 4th. Moving past Selsing, Oswald claimed 3rd from Dylan Schuyler of Dousman on lap 16, and 2nd from Thompson on lap 18. Titus fought hard to stay in front, but Oswald claimed the spot by lap 21. At the stripe it was Oswald for the win, followed by Titus, Thompson, Selsing and Schuyler.

Oswald set the high mark in qualifying, with a 15.737 second lap on the quarter mile.

Claiming victories, in 10 lap heat races, were Dan Schmidt of Farmington, Joe Wendorf of Jefferson and Selsing.

Moving to the feature lineup, via the 15 lap Last Chance race were Curt Thompson of Palmyra, Schmidt, Wendorf and Josh Weir of Cottage Grove.

In Hobby Stock action Brett Schmidt of Farmington claimed his first feature victory in the 2 lap main event. Starting from the pole, Schmidt guided the field flag-to-flag, leaving the battles for position in his wake. His drive to the checkered flag was interrupted by two cautions, on lap 2, for a bumper on the race track, and lap 6, for a blown tire. At they flew past the checkered flag it was Schmidt for the win, followed by Bill Bush of Jefferson, Dennis Gaserude of Arena, Roger Stephenson of Cambridge and Jim Pfeifer of Ft. Atkinson.

Ken Scott of Rio set the fast qualifying pace, with a 16.982 second orbit of the quarter mile.

Claiming victories, in 8 lap heat races were John Deussler of Marshall, Gaserude and Stephenson.

Moving to the feature lineup, from the 12 lap Last Chance race were Scott Bush of Ft. Atkinson, Jay Finnegan of Milton, Jim Blucher of Madison and John Remsik of Sun Prairie.

Next week Jefferson Speedway hosts the “Smith Motors 50,” and the Great American Trailer Race. Don’t miss this action packed night on Wisconsin’s Action Track.

Gates open at 4:00, qualifying at 5:30 and racing at 7:30 sharp. Jefferson Speedway is on highway 18 between Jefferson and Cambridge Wisconsin.

Late Model Feature Finish:
Laps: 35
1. 27 Dan Chesmore (Janesville)
2. 76 Ron Bishofberger (Ft. Atkinson)
3. 11 Russ Goodwin (Beloit)
4. 97 Jim Jarlsberg (Cambridge)
5. 2 Tom Dorn (Ft. Atkinson)
6. 16 Luke Westenberg (Palmyra)
7. 4 Denny Stair (Sullivan)
8. 62 Scott Null (Lake Mills)
9. 77 Ryan Ley (Rome)
10. 41 Mike Taylor (Stoughton)
11. 98 Scott Bleecker (Jefferson)
12. 22 Jasper Gronert (Jefferson)
13. 2 Jerry Parker (Palmyra)
14. 88 Jim Gleesing (Whitewater)
15. 68 Ken Olson (Ft. Atkinson)
16. 44 Roger Behlke (Jefferson)
17. 82 Chad Stevens (Beloit)
18. 106 Chris Purdy (Milton)

FAST QUALIFIER
76 Ron Bishofberger (Ft. Atkinson): 14.815 seconds

FAST DASH: 8 Lap
27 Dan Chesmore (Janesville)

LAST CHANCE: 20 Laps:
98 Scott Bleecker (Jefferson)
62 Scott Null (Lake Mills)
22 Jasper Gronert (Jefferson)
2 Jerry Parker (Palmyra)

Heats: 10 lap: (Winners Only)
1) 62 Scott Null (Lake Mills)
2) 22 Jasper Gronert (Jefferson)
3) 27 Dan Chesmore (Janesville)

International Feature: Laps: 20
1. 25 Brent Nottestad (Cambridge)
2. 74 Scott Uttech (Beaver Dam)
3. 48 Mike Drays (Milton)
4. 57 Mark English (Edgerton)
5. 17 Mike Bingham (Jefferson)
6. 89 Scott Hoeft (Whitewater)

FAST QUALIFIER
25 Brent Nottestad (Cambridge): 15.841 seconds

LAST CHANCE: 8 lap
128 Tory Adams (Madison)
28 Bobby Moore (Madison)
22 Art Dewey (Janesville)
59 Ken Edmundson (Lima Center)

Heats: 10 laps: (Winners Only)
1) 128 Tory Adams (Madison)
2) 25 Brent Nottestad (Cambridge)

Sportsman Feature: Laps: 25
1. 31 Dave Oswald (Cottage Grove)
2. 28 Rich Titus (Ft. Atkinson)
3. 99 Kevin Thompson (Palmyra)
4. 42 Bob Selsing (Ft. Atkinson)
5. 33 Dylan Schuyler (Dousman)
6. 11 Trent Erdman (Ft. Atkinson)

FAST QUALIFIER
31 Dave Oswald (Cottage Grove): 15.737 seconds

LAST CHANCE: 15 lap
6 Curt Thompson (Palmyra)
19 Dan Schmidt (Farmington)
3 Joe Wendorf (Jefferson)
52 Josh Weir (Cottage Grove)

Heats: 10 laps: (Winners Only)
1) 19 Dan Schmidt (Farmington)
2) 3 Joe Wendorf (Jefferson)
3) 42 Bob Selsing (Ft. Atkinson)

Hobby Stock Feature: Laps: 20
1. 9 Brett Schmidt (Farmington)
2. 17 Bill Bush (Jefferson)
3. 18 Dennis Gaserude (Arena)
4. 88 Roger Stephenson (Cambridge)
5. 11 Jim Pfeifer (Ft. Atkinson)
6. 57 Jason Ayers (Stoughton)

FAST QUALIFIER
39 Ken Scott (Rio): 16.982 seconds

LAST CHANCE: 12 lap
11 Scott Bush (Ft. Atkinson)
98 Jay Finnegan (Milton)
93 Jim Blucher (Madison)
83 John Remsik (Sun Prairie)

Heats: 8 lap: (Winners Only)
1) 24 John Deussler (Marshall)
2) 18 Dennis Gaserude (Arena)
3) 88 Roger Stephenson (Cambridge)

Bump & Run (Relay): Team of John Remsik (Sun Prairie) and Tim Seitz (Edgerton)