Badgerland Battles Settled at Jefferson Speedway

CAMBRIDGE, WI (Saturday, August 25, 2018)      As the weeks wind down in the 2018 racing season, the battles on the track and in the standings are heating up. A dust up between the top two in Late Model points led to Lake Mills pilot, Shaun Scheel, claiming the Bean’s Helping Hands 50 lap feature event. The win marks Scheel’s third feature victory of the season as he looks to close in on the points leader. In addition to the season points chase battles, the Badgerland Challenge Series battles were settled as the best Late Model and Sportsman drivers from Jefferson Speedway and Madison International Speedway went head to head.

Riley Stenjem and Dylan Schuyler paced the 21 car field to green as they battled side by side for control in the early laps. The duo broke out slightly from the pack with Stenjem holding the advantage. Stenjem cleared for the lead on lap five with Schuyler tucking in behind and Michael Grueneberg in third. Grueneberg dove under Schuyler on lap nine with Scheel up to watch from fourth and Dale Nottestad in fifth. Grueneberg took away the second spot on lap 11 while Scheel tried to follow under Schuyler. Scheel grabbed third on lap 13 with Nottestad in his tracks for fourth. A caution on lap 17 slowed the pace with Stenjem leading the field back to green. On the restart Nottestad slipped past Scheel to take over the third position. Meanwhile, Grueneberg was trying to draw even with Stenjem on the point. On lap 30, Grueneberg looked low on Stenjem as they raced into turn three. Nottestad pounced on the opening, going to the outside of Grueneberg. As they exited turn four, contact between the pair of competitors resulted in caution after Grueneberg met the front stretch wall. The melee moved Scheel up to second behind Stenjem for the restart. As racing resumed, the battle was on for the lead with Stenjem trying to hold off Scheel. Scheel slipped past on lap 33, but Stenjem wasn’t ready to give up the lead just yet. Stenjem crossed over and charged under Scheel on lap 35. The two raced wheel to wheel for six laps until Scheel regained the lead with nine laps to go. From there, it was all Scheel on the point as he drove off to get the win. Stenjem was second followed by Jacob Nottestad, Schuyler and Luke Westenberg. With his third place finish, Jacob Nottestad claimed the overall Badgerland Challenge Series title with Shaun Scheel second and Stephen in Scheel in third. Jefferson Speedway also captured the Late Model title over Madison International Speedway.

Watertown’s Chris Chenoweth scored the victory for the Sportsman and helped clinch the overall Badgerland Challenge Series title for Jefferson Speedway. Chris Jones took the initial lead slightly over fellow front row starter, Jim Taylor. Chenoweth joined the battle on lap two, taking to the high side as they raced three wide into turn three. Jones and Chenoweth emerged side by side a lap later. On lap four, Jones got very loose allowing Chenoweth to grab the lead and bring Randy Breunig along for second. Breunig began to stalk Chenoweth, searching for an avenue to get around the new leader. His efforts were slowed on lap 15 when Jake Biever spun in turn one to force a yellow flag. Breunig resumed his efforts to get around Chenoweth once the green waved again. Jason Thoma moved into third on lap 21. Thoma got under Breunig a couple laps later as they two drivers fought over the second position. Chenoweth remained out front as he cruised the checkers to get the win. Breunig nipped Thoma at the line for second with Jones and Taylor rounding out the top five. Thoma claimed the overall title for the Badgerland Challenge Series with his third place finish.

The International division competed in the first half of the Race for Autism Awareness Four Cylinder Shootout. Afton’s Devon Dixon claimed the 25 lap feature event with a late race pass to net the lead. Chris Gottschalk and Merek Pankow led the field to green. Gottschalk held the advantage in the opening laps, claimed sole possession of the lead on lap three. Nick Schmidt moved under Pankow on lap four with Ashley Gottschalk driving to the high side of the duo. Ashley Gottschalk emerged with the second spot on lap five with Rick Schaefer in tow for third. Caution waved on lap 11, setting up Chris and Ashley Gottschalk on the front row for the restart. After another quick caution on the restart, Chris Gottschalk reclaimed the lead with Schaefer up to battle Ashley Gottschalk for second. Schaefer moved past Ashley and drew even with Chris on lap 19. Scott Hoeft and Mark English battled side by side for third behind them. But on lap 21, English went up in flames, ending his evening and forcing the final caution of the race. Gottschalk and Schaefer lined up on the front row for the restart, this time with Schaefer grabbing control of the top spot. Dixon followed to the outside of Gottschalk, taking second and drawing even with Schaefer on lap 24. Dixon cleared for the lead on the final circuit, hanging on through the checkers to get the win. Schaefer was second followed by Hoeft, Chris Gottschalk and Neil Higgins. The two race series will be settled on August 26 at Slinger Speedway.

In Hobby Stock action, it was Waterloo’s Dustin Ward taking top honors in the 25 lap feature event. Chuck and Jordy Egli led the pack to green as they fought for the top spot. Chuck Egli claimed the lead on lap four as Jordy fell back into a battle for second with Christian Janssen. Janssen moved ahead of Jordy while trying to draw even with Chuck Egli for the lead. Janssen got under Chuck Egli on lap 12. After a brief battle, Janssen moved out front with Jared Vike trying to follow under Egli. On lap 15, Ward joined the fight for second. Ward and Vike emerged side by side with Ward claiming the spot on lap 17. Ward continued forward alongside Janssen on lap 18. Three laps later, Ward moved out front alone while Scott Riedner followed into second. From there is was all Ward to the finish to get the win. Scott Riedner came home second with Janssen, Jim Tate Jr and Brandon Riedner completing the top five.

Tyler Deschaine of Loves Park, IL, claimed the 20 lap Bandit feature event. Lyle Phillips led lap one from the pole with Tyler Edmundson up to second. Nick Schmidt drove to the high side of Edmundson on lap three, claimed second a lap later. Schmidt continued to move forward, drawing even with Phillips on lap seven. A lap later, Schmidt was out front. Deschaine followed around Phillips for second on lap ten just before the caution appeared on lap 11. On the restart, Deschaine fired into the lead with Schmidt dropping back to second. One more yellow waved on lap 15. Deschaine once again grabbed the lead on the restart as he began to pull away. At the checkers, it was Deschaine for the win followed by Schmidt, Chad Olds, Jeremy Bredeson and Edmundson.

Anna Price of Rhinelander scored her first career Bandolero feature win at Wisconsin’s Action Track after claiming the 20 lap feature. Chase Wangsness grabbed the lead after two early cautions. Price moved into second on lap three as the leaders lined up single file. Alex Hartwig moved up to third on lap 11, setting his sights on Price in second. Hartwig caught Price on lap 14, passing her for second on lap 16. Hartwig drew up behind Wangsness, looking under the leader on lap 19. Contact on the exit of turn four ended with both drivers hard into the front stretch wall to force a caution. Price and Michael Guderski led the field back to green for the final two laps. The duo battled door to door for the lead while Logan Taylor watched from third. Price held the advantage on the final circuit, holding it to the checkers to score the win. Taylor got by Guderski to claim second with Jevin Guralski and Laney Osborne rounding out the top five.

Next Saturday, September 1, is Fan Appreciation Night presented by Culver’s of Johnson Creek as well as the Sportsman Challenge Finale. Special pricing on brats and beer from 5-7pm in celebration of the Tucker Family owning and operating Jefferson Speedway for 50 years. Time trials begin at 5pm with racing at 7pm. Sunday, September 2, is the final Tournament of Destruction for the 2018 season all beginning at 7pm. Jefferson Speedway is located halfway between Jefferson and Cambridge on Hwy 18. Please visit jeffersonspeedway.com for more information.

JEFFERSON SPEEDWAY RACE SUMMARY

Late Model-

Qualifying

Heat Races

Consy

Last Chance

Feature

Sportsman-

Qualifying

Heat Races

Last Chance

Feature

International-

Qualifying

Heat Races

Feature

Hobby Stock-

Qualifying

Heat Races

Feature

Bandit-

Qualifying

Heat Races

Feature

Bandolero-

Qualifying

Heat Races

Last Chance

Feature