Ovadal Jr. Dominates Big 8 at Jefferson!

By Kevin Ramsell

Saturday, September 17, 2005 (Jefferson, WI) – Jason Erickson’s lap of 14.302 seconds (62.928 mph) captured the fast qualifier award for the Big 8 Series event at the 25th Annual Wisconsin State Championship at the Jefferson Speedway. A total of 44 cars made qualifying attempts.

If John Ovadal Jr. could have written a better script of what his weekend would be like; he would have probably taken fast time as well. But, the young driver dominated the entire Big 8 Series weekend at the 25th Annual Wisconsin State Championships at the Jefferson Speedway.

On Friday night, Ovadal Jr. captured the 35-lap “Preview” Feature and many wondered if this was a preview of what everyone would see on Saturday night for the Twin 50-lap main event for the Big 8 Series. Ovadal Jr. didn’t let his fans down as he simply dominated both 50-lap events and took home the overall title.

Ovadal Jr. started on the outside of the third row for the first 50-lap event. Ryan Carlson jumped to the early lead. Ovadal Jr. quickly worked his way to the front. By lap 14, he was already up to second place. Six laps later, he caught Carlson and was right on his rear bumper. Ovadal Jr. would try to get on the inside of Carlson, but Carlson would get a better run off of the corners to keep Ovadal Jr. behind him.

On lap 35, lap traffic would make a difference in the first 50-lap event as Carlson came upon it coming off of turn two. Ovadal Jr. jumped at an opportunity to get on the inside of Carlson and took over the top spot going into turn three. Ovadal Jr. would pull out to about a two-car length lead over Carlson all the way to the checkered flag. Bobby Wilberg would come home third with Tim Noble in fourth. Steve Dobratz rounded out the top five.

The first 50-lap event was slowed four times. Doug Hahn suffered the worse wreck with seven laps to go when he and Randy Breunig got together coming off of turn two. Hahn was the only driver not able to make the call for the second 50-lap event.

While in victory lane, Ovadal Jr. rolled the dice to set the field for the second 50-lap event. The invert would be eight plus what Ovadal Jr. rolled, which was a four. Meaning that Ovadal Jr. would start 12th in the second feature race.

Jason Schuler and Mike Ehde led the field of 25 cars to the green flag in the second 50-lap event. Ehde would grab the early lead over Schuler. The fans were keeping a close eye on Ovadal Jr. to see if he could work his way up to the front.

Ovadal Jr. would follow Bobby Wilberg to front. In fact, it appeared that those two drivers were about the only ones that could pass cars on the inside in the corners, as the high line was the preferred groove.

At the halfway mark, Wilberg was up to second with Ovadal Jr. right behind him. A caution was flown on lap 27 when Luke Westenberg spun in turn four. This allowed Wilberg to catch up to Ehde. At the re-start, Wilberg went on the inside of Ehde to take over the top spot. Two laps later, Ovadal Jr. got past Ehde for second.

With 15-laps to go, Wilberg and Ovadal Jr. were in a separate zip code from third place runner, Noble. Ovadal Jr. could not find a way to get past Wilberg.

With 9 laps to go, Wilberg began to suffer engine problems and this allowed Ovadal Jr. to get past the veteran and take over the top spot. Ovadal Jr. would go on to his second checkered flag of the evening and third of the weekend, to take home the overall championship. Wilberg would hold on to second with Noble in third. Dylan Schuyler would come home fourth while Ehde rounded out the top five.

Mike Beyer, the Big 8 Point leader coming into this weekend’s event, had to take a provisional to make the main event. At the end of the night, there was a huge shake up in the point battle. Wilberg moved to the top with Ryan Carlson in second and Jon Reynolds Jr. in third. Beyer fell to fourth and Tony Bagstad to fifth.

The Big 8 Series returns to action this Friday night at the 40th Annual National Short Track Championships presented by Chicago International Truck at the Rockford Speedway. A 58-lap event will be on the card for the Big 8 Series.

For more information on the Big 8 Series, please visit their website at www.big8series.com.

Big 8 Series Limited Late Models
A-Main 01 — 1. John Ovadal Jr., Watertown, Wis; 2. Bob Wilberg, Orfordville, Wis; 3. Tim Noble, Janesville, Wis; 4. Ryan
Carlson, Loves Park; 5. Dylan Schuyler, Jefferson, Wis; 6. Jason Erickson, Lake Mills, Wis; 7. Jon Reynolds, Jr.,
Roscoe; 8. Mike Ehde, Prairie du Chien, Wis; 9. Kyle Jarlsberg, Cambridge, Wis; 10. Jason Schuler, Cambridge, Wis;
11. Steve Dobbratz, Rio, Wis; 12. Randy Breunig, Columbus, Wis; 13. Mike Beyer, Machesney Park; 14. Tony Koepke,
Fort Atkinson, Wis; 15. Tony Bagstad, Westby, Wis; 16. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 17. Chad Stevens, Orfordville, Wis; 18. Matt
Berger, Loves Park; 19. George Bohn, Machesney Park; 20. Mike Lloyd, Machesney Park; 21. Jason Thoma, Lake Mills,
Wis; 22. Jerry Echardt, Johnson Creek, Wis; 23. Luke Westenberg, Watertown, Wis; 24. Noel Ramge, Helenville, Wis;
25. Greg Bowers, Waterloo, Wis; 26. Doug Hahn, Whitewater, Wis.

Last Chance “A” 01 — 1. George Bohn, Machesney Park; 2. Tony Bagstad, Westby, Wis; 3. Jason Thoma, Lake Mills,
Wis; 4. Chad Stevens, Orfordville, Wis; 5. Mike Taylor, Stoughton, Wis; 6. Roger Behlke, Jefferson, Wis; 7. Dennis
Schmidt, Juneau, Wis; 8. Clayton Braaksma, Beaver Dam, Wis; 9. David Nauman, Waunakee, Wis; 10. Jerry Echardt,
Johnson Creek, Wis; 11. April Reimer, Beloit, Wis; 12. Jasper Gronert, Fort Atkinson, Wis.

Last Chance “A” 02 — 1. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 2. Doug Hahn, Whitewater, Wis; 3. Mike Beyer, Machesney Park; 4.
Aaron Wilky, Waterloo, Wis; 5. Ken Piotrowski, Janesville, Wis; 6. Kris Kelly, Norway, Mich.; 7. Nick Wendt, Watertown,
Wis; 8. Scott Hatton, Waterloo, Wis; 9. Tim Petrie, Whitewater, Wis; 10. Chris Koepke, Jefferson, Wis; 11. Allen Petrie,
Jr, Sun Prairie, Wis; 12. Jeff Steenbergen, Waupun, Wis; 13. Charlie Miendorf, Lake Mills, Wis.

Heat 01 — 1. Kyle Jarlsberg, Cambridge, Wis; 2. Greg Bowers, Waterloo, Wis; 3. Jerry Echardt, Johnson Creek, Wis; 4.
George Bohn, Machesney Park; 5. Jason Thoma, Lake Mills, Wis; 6. Tony Bagstad, Westby, Wis; 7. Dennis Schmidt,
Juneau, Wis; 8. Mike Taylor, Stoughton, Wis; 9. Clayton Braaksma, Beaver Dam, Wis; 10. Roger Behlke, Jefferson,
Wis; 11. Jasper Gronert, Fort Atkinson, Wis.

Heat 02 — 1. Noel Ramge, Helenville, Wis; 2. Tony Koepke, Fort Atkinson, Wis; 3. Doug Hahn, Whitewater, Wis; 4. Matt
Berger, Loves Park; 5. Mike Beyer, Machesney Park; 6. Chris Koepke, Jefferson, Wis; 7. Aaron Wilky, Waterloo, Wis; 8.
Jeff Steenbergen, Waupun, Wis; 9. Tim Petrie, Whitewater, Wis; 10. Ken Piotrowski, Janesville, Wis; 11. Kris Kelly,
Norway, Mich.; 12. Allen Petrie, Jr, Sun Prairie, Wis.

Last Chance Heat 01 — 1. Ken Piotrowski, Janesville, Wis; 2. Mike Taylor, Stoughton, Wis; 3. April Reimer, Beloit, Wis;
4. Nick Wendt, Watertown, Wis; 5. Chuck Egli, Waterloo, Wis; 6. Charlie Miendorf, Lake Mills, Wis; 7. David Nauman,
Waunakee, Wis; 8. Scott Hatton, Waterloo, Wis.

Champions Main Event — 1. Jerry Echardt, Johnson Creek, Wis; 2. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Roscoe; 3. Jason Erickson, Lake
Mills, Wis; 4. Mike Beyer, Machesney Park; 5. Jason Schuler, Cambridge, Wis; 6. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 7. Ryan Carlson,
Loves Park; 8. Kris Kelly, Norway, Mich.; 9. Randy Breunig, Columbus, Wis; 10. Tim Noble, Janesville, Wis; 11. Tony
Bagstad, Westby, Wis.

Main Event “A” — 1. John Ovadal Jr., Watertown, Wis; 2. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 3. Bob Wilberg, Orfordville, Wis; 4.
Tim Noble, Janesville, Wis; 5. Steve Dobbratz, Rio, Wis; 6. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Roscoe; 7. Jason Erickson, Lake Mills,
Wis; 8. Randy Breunig, Columbus, Wis; 9. Kyle Jarlsberg, Cambridge, Wis; 10. Dylan Schuyler, Jefferson, Wis; 11.
Mike Ehde, Prairie du Chien, Wis; 12. Jason Schuler, Cambridge, Wis; 13. Mike Beyer, Machesney Park; 14. Mike
Lloyd, Machesney Park; 15. Tony Koepke, Fort Atkinson, Wis; 16. Tony Bagstad, Westby, Wis; 17. Jerry Echardt,
Johnson Creek, Wis; 18. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 19. Jason Thoma, Lake Mills, Wis; 20. George Bohn, Machesney
Park; 21. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 22. Chad Stevens, Orfordville, Wis; 23. Luke Westenberg, Watertown, Wis; 24. Doug
Hahn, Whitewater, Wis; 25. Greg Bowers, Waterloo, Wis; 26. Noel Ramge, Helenville, Wis.

Main Event “B” — 1. John Ovadal Jr., Watertown, Wis; 2. Bob Wilberg, Orfordville, Wis; 3. Tim Noble, Janesville, Wis; 4.
Dylan Schuyler, Jefferson, Wis; 5. Mike Ehde, Prairie du Chien, Wis; 6. Jason Schuler, Cambridge, Wis; 7. Kyle
Jarlsberg, Cambridge, Wis; 8. Jason Erickson, Lake Mills, Wis; 9. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Roscoe; 10. Ryan Carlson, Loves
Park; 11. Mike Beyer, Machesney Park; 12. Randy Breunig, Columbus, Wis; 13. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 14. Steve Dobbratz,
Rio, Wis; 15. Chad Stevens, Orfordville, Wis; 16. Tony Bagstad, Westby, Wis; 17. Tony Koepke, Fort Atkinson, Wis; 18.
George Bohn, Machesney Park; 19. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 20. Noel Ramge, Helenville, Wis; 21. Jason Thoma, Lake
Mills, Wis; 22. Luke Westenberg, Watertown, Wis; 23. Greg Bowers, Waterloo, Wis; 24. Jerry Echardt, Johnson Creek,
Wis; 25. Mike Lloyd, Machesney Park.

Qualifying Dash 01 — 1. Dylan Schuyler, Jefferson, Wis; 2. Steve Dobbratz, Rio, Wis; 3. Jason Schuler, Cambridge,
Wis; 4. Jason Erickson, Lake Mills, Wis; 5. John Ovadal Jr., Watertown, Wis; 6. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 7. Luke
Westenberg, Watertown, Wis.

Qualifying Dash 02 — 1. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 2. Tim Noble, Janesville, Wis; 3. Randy Breunig, Columbus, Wis; 4. Mike
Lloyd, Machesney Park; 5. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Roscoe; 6. Mike Ehde, Prairie du Chien, Wis.

Time Trial — 1. Jason Erickson, Lake Mills, Wis; 2. Randy Breunig, Columbus, Wis; 3. Jason Schuler, Cambridge,
Wis; 4. Tim Noble, Janesville, Wis; 5. John Ovadal Jr., Watertown, Wis; 6. Bob Wilberg, Orfordville, Wis; 7. Steve
Dobbratz, Rio, Wis; 8. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Roscoe; 9. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 10. Mike Ehde, Prairie du Chien, Wis;
11. Dylan Schuyler, Jefferson, Wis; 12. Mike Lloyd, Machesney Park; 13. Luke Westenberg, Watertown, Wis; 14. Jerry
Gille, Roscoe; 15. George Bohn, Machesney Park; 16. Mike Beyer, Machesney Park; 17. Jason Thoma, Lake Mills, Wis;
18. Tony Koepke, Fort Atkinson, Wis; 19. Jerry Echardt, Johnson Creek, Wis; 20. Doug Hahn, Whitewater, Wis; 21.
Greg Bowers, Waterloo, Wis; 22. Noel Ramge, Helenville, Wis; 23. Roger Behlke, Jefferson, Wis; 24. Kris Kelly,
Norway, Mich.; 25. Chad Stevens, Orfordville, Wis; 26. Aaron Wilky, Waterloo, Wis; 27. Jasper Gronert, Fort Atkinson,
Wis; 28. Chris Koepke, Jefferson, Wis; 29. Tony Bagstad, Westby, Wis; 30. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 31. Kyle Jarlsberg,
Cambridge, Wis; 32. Allen Petrie, Jr, Sun Prairie, Wis; 33. Clayton Braaksma, Beaver Dam, Wis; 34. Tim Petrie,
Whitewater, Wis; 35. Dennis Schmidt, Juneau, Wis; 36. Jeff Steenbergen, Waupun, Wis; 37. Charlie Miendorf, Lake
Mills, Wis; 38. Ken Piotrowski, Janesville, Wis; 39. April Reimer, Beloit, Wis; 40. Nick Wendt, Watertown, Wis; 41. Mike
Taylor, Stoughton, Wis; 42. Chuck Egli, Waterloo, Wis; 43. Scott Hatton, Waterloo, Wis; 44. David Nauman, Waunakee,
Wis.

Preview Feature — 1. John Ovadal Jr., Watertown, Wis; 2. Jason Erickson, Lake Mills, Wis; 3. Jon Reynolds, Jr.,
Roscoe; 4. Mike Ehde, Prairie du Chien, Wis; 5. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 6. Dylan Schuyler, Jefferson, Wis; 7. Randy
Breunig, Columbus, Wis; 8. Luke Westenberg, Watertown, Wis; 9. Jason Schuler, Cambridge, Wis; 10. Kyle Jarlsberg,
Cambridge, Wis; 11. Greg Bowers, Waterloo, Wis; 12. Noel Ramge, Helenville, Wis; 13. Tony Koepke, Fort Atkinson,
Wis; 14. Steve Dobbratz, Rio, Wis; 15. Mike Lloyd, Machesney Park; 16. Tim Noble, Janesville, Wis; 17. Jerry Gille,
Roscoe.