Leindecker dominates Spring Sizzler 50 at Jefferson Speedway!

By Jeanne & Larry Starr

April 29, 2000; Jefferson, WI. – The message seemed to be “Bill Leindecker is Back!” as Leindecker scored two wins during Jefferson Speedway’s Season opener.

Starting from the outside of row 5, in the Towel City Racing Tire, Spring Sizzler 50, Leindecker avoided the first lap melee triggered by a rookie driver spinning in the first turn. On the restart Leindecker was up to 5th, with Jerry Parker of Palmyra at the point. By Lap 14, Leindecker had moved past Randy Breunig of Columbus claiming the 2nd spot and closing with Parker.

Parker held on for 6 more laps before surrendering to Leindecker’s charge. Motoring to the point, on lap 20, Leindecker never looked back, guiding the field, through 4 more cautions, on his way to the checkered flag. The first of these cautions came on lap 22, when a pair of cars tangled in turn 1. On the restart, Parker was on the back bumper of Leindecker with defending Track Champion, Ron Bishofberger of Ft. Atkinson up to 3rd. Leindecker pulled ahead on the start with Bishofberger moving to the inside of Parker, in the battle for 2nd. Bishofberger claimed 2nd before the next caution, on lap 28, three cars tangled between turns 1 and 2.

On the restart Bishofberger launched his bid for the lead, only to see Leindecker pull ahead. A spin in turn 2 brought another caution on lap 35, with Bishofberger still running 2nd and Scott Null of Lake Mills up to the 3rd spot. The battle for 5th, between Jim Jarlsberg of Cambridge and Andy Wendt of Watertown, ended when the pair made contact in the first turn. The contact sent Wendt spinning and both drivers to the rear for the final restart on lap 44. Leindecker led the sprint to the finish. At the stripe it was Leindecker for the win, followed by Bishofberger, Null, Dan Chesmore of Janesville and Parker.

Bishofberger set the fast qualifying pace, with a 14.737 second tour of the quarter mile speed plant.

Leindecker claimed top honors in the 8 lap, Smith Motors “Dash for Cash.”

Claiming victories, in 10 lap heat races were, Jason Thom of Ft. Atkinson, Duane Deppe of Waterloo, Ken Piotrowski of Janesville and Chris Purdy of Milton.

Transferring to the last chance race, from the 12 lap Consi, were Thom and Jim Gleesing of Whitewater. Deppe, Bruce Clark of Watertown, Beau Sanden of Edgerton and Mike Taylor of Stoughton made their way to the 50 lapper via the 20 lap Last Chance race.

In International class action Darnell Mepham of Ft. Atkinson held off Brent Nottestad of Cambridge to claim top honors in the 20 lap main event. Starting from the outside of row 6, Mepham battled his way toward the front, as Jerry Efferding of Cottage Grove pulled out to the early lead. Bobby Moore of Madison moved up to challenge Efferding by lap 2. Moore pulled ahead on lap 6, only to see the caution flag come out, for a spin, taking the restart back to the last completed lap, and Moore back to 2nd. The battle for the lead, lead to the next caution, on lap 8, as Moore and Efferding came together.

On the restart it was Mark English of Edgerton at the point with Mepham close behind. Mepham found himself fighting for the 2nd spot with Mike Drays of Milton, until Drays, moving ahead, tangled with English bringing out the final caution of the race on lap 12. On the restart it was Mepham at the point with Nottestad running 2nd. Mepham held off the hard charging Nottestad over the remaining laps, to claim the checkered flag. At the stripe it was Mepham for the win, followed by Nottestad, Aaron Rude of Cambridge, Rick Neerland of Ft. Atkinson and Chris Quam of Stoughton.

Rude turned in the fast qualifying time, with a 16.013 second circuit of the quarter mile.

Claiming 10 lap heat race victories were Tim Woollen of Madison and English.

Moving to the feature lineup, from the 10 lap Last Chance Race, were Woollen, Mike Dietzen of Milwaukee, Tory Adams of Madison and Mike Dixon of Omro.

In Sportsman division action, rookie driver Trent Erdman of Ft. Atkinson claimed top honors in the 25 lap feature. Starting from the inside of row 2, Erdman battled his way toward the front, as Josh Wier of Cottage Grove pulled out to the early lead. Erdman was locked in a battle for third, with Shane Radtke of Hellenville, over the early laps. Erdman was up to 3rd when a pair of cars collided, to bring out the only caution of the race.

On the restart, Erdman closed with Dale Padfield of Stoughton, in the battle for 2nd. Moving around Padfield, on lap 14, Erdman closed with Wier, making his bid for the lead. Weir held on until lap 18, before falling to Erdman’s challenge. At the stripe it was Erdman for the win, followed by defending Track Champion Dave Oswald of Cottage Grove, Weir, Josh Courtney of Janesville, and Padfield.

Oswald set the pace in qualifying with a 15.738 second orbit of the quarter mile.

Claiming victory in 10 lap heat races were, Ben Hallock of Ft. Atkinson, Weir and Courtney.

Moving to the feature lineup, via the 15 lap Last Chance race, were Hallock, Dustin Ward of Beaver Dam, Chad Reimer of Oconomowoc and Rick Rothwell of Madison.

In Hobby Stock action Chris Matz of Watertown opened the season with a feature win. Starting from the outside of row 5, Matz started his trek to the front, as Nick Golich of Hebron pulled out to the early lead. Matz was up to 5th when the only caution of the race came, on lap 3, for a spin. On the restart Matz continued his move to the front, claiming 2nd by lap six. Matz motored under Golich on lap 8 and never looked back. At the stripe it was Matz for the sin followed by defending Track Champion Dennis Gaserude of Oregon, Lincoln Keeser of Milton, Ken Scott of Rio and Jim Pfeifer of Ft. Atkinson.

Scott set the fast qualifying pace, with a 16.981 second loop of the quarter mile.

Claiming heat race victories were John Shane of Waukesha, Scott Bush of Ft. Atkinson and Tim Nobel of Janesville.

Moving to the feature, from the 8 lap Last Chance race were Shane, Jim Blucher of Madison, Brett Carson of Ft. Atkinson and John Deussler of Marshall.

The action continues at Wisconsin’s Action Track, next week with a special program, including and Autograph and Picture session for the fans, and the first Round of One-on-One Street Drags. All of this along with a full racing program, in all four divisions. Gates will open at 3:00, qualifying at 5:00 and racing at 7:30 sharp. The autograph and picture session will be between qualifying and the start of racing.

Jefferson Speedway is located on Highway 18 between Cambridge and Jefferson Wisconsin.

Results – Towel City Spring Sizzler 50

Late Model Feature Finish: Laps: 50
7 – Bill Leindecker (Janesville)
18 – Andy Wendt (Watertown)
76 – Ron Bishofberger (Ft. Atkinson)
97 – Jim Jarlsberg (Cambridge)
62 – Scott Null (Lake Mills)
52 – Bob Taylor (Watertown)
27 – Dan Chesmore (Janesville)
6 – Ken Piotrowski (Janesville)
2 – Jerry Parker (Palmyra)
106 – Chris Purdy (Milton)
76 – Randy Breunig (Columbus)
41 – Mike Taylor (Stoughton)
7 – Bruce Clark (Watertown)
46 – Nick Wendt (Watertown)
2 – Tom Dorn (Ft. Atkinson)
82 – Chad Stevens (Beloit)
11 – Beau Sanden (Edgerton)
16 – Luke Westenberg (Palmyra)

FAST QUALIFIER
76 – Ron Bishofberger (Ft. Atkinson): 14.737 Seconds

Fast Dash “Smith Motors”: 6 Lap
7 – Bill Leindecker (Janesville)

Consi: 12 Lap:
15 – Jason Thom (Ft. Atkinson)
88 – Jim Gleesing (Whitewater)

LAST CHANCE: 20 Lap
52 – Duane Deppe (Waterloo)
7 – Bruce Clark (Watertown)
11 – Beau Sanden (Edgerton)
41 – Mike Taylor (Stoughton)

Heats: 10 lap: (Winners Only)
1) – 15 – Jason Thom (Ft. Atkinson)
2) – 52 – Duane Deppe (Waterloo)
3) – 6 – Ken Piotrowski (Janesville)
4) – 106 – Chris Purdy (Milton)

International Feature: Laps: 20
12 – Darnell Mepham (Ft. Atkinson)
24 – Rick Neerland (Ft. Atkinson)
25 – Brent Nottestad (Cambridge_
4 – Chris Quam (Stoughton)
9 – Aaron Rude (Cambridge)
39 – Tim Woollen (Madison)

FAST QUALIFIER
Aaron Rude (Cambridge): 16.013 Seconds

LAST CHANCE: 10 lap
39 – Tim Woollen (Madison)
21 – Mike Dietzen (Milwaukee)
128 Tory Adams (Madison)
11 – Mike Dixon (Omro)

Heats: 10 lap: (Winners Only)
1) – 39 – Tim Woollen (Madison)
2) – 57 – Mark English (Edgerton)

Sportsman Feature: Laps: 25
11 – Trent Erdman (Ft. Atkinson) 2
1 – Josh Courtney (Janesville)
31 – Dave Oswald (Cottage Grove)
27 – Dale Padfield (Stoughton)
52 – Josh Weir (Cottage Grove)
33 – Dylan Schuyler (Dousman)

FAST QUALIFIER
31 – Dave Oswald (Cottage Grove): 15.738 Seconds

LAST CHANCE: 15 lap
6 – Ben Hallock (Ft. Atkinson)
9 – Dustin Ward (Beaver Dam)
19 – Chad Reimer (Oconomowoc)
53 – Rick Rothwell (Madison),

Heats: 10 lap: (Winners Only)
1) – 6 – Ben Hallock (Ft. Atkinson)
2) – 52 – Josh Weir (Cottage Grove)
3) – 21 – Josh Courtney (Janesville)

Hobby Stock Feature: Laps: 20
72 – Chris Matz (Watertown)
39 – Ken Scott (Rio)
18 – Dennis Gaserude (Oregon)
11 – Jim Pfeifer (Ft. Atkinson)
99 – Lincoln Keeser (Milton)
71 – Tim Nobel (Janesville)

FAST QUALIFIER
39 – Ken Scott (Rio): 16.981 Seconds

LAST CHANCE: 8 lap
11 – John Shane (Waukesha)
93 – Jim Blucher (Madison)
1 – Brett Carson (Ft. Atkinson)
24 – John Deussler (Marshall)

Heats: 8 lap:
1) – 11 – John Shane (Waukesha)
2) – 11 – Scott Bush (Ft. Atkinson) 3) – 71 – Tim Nobel (Janesville)