Bishofberger Leads Late Models in Denny’s Den 50 Kohloff scores first career Sportsman victory!

By Jeanne & Larry Starr

August 7, 1999; Jefferson, WI. – Former track champion Ron Bishofberger of Ft. Atkinson claimed top honors in the Denny’s Den 50 lapper at Jefferson Speedway. Starting from the inside of row 5, Bishofberger began his trek to the front, as Randy Cusick of Ft. Atkinson claimed the early lead. Cusick’s turn at the point ended, on lap 2, when he lost the handle in turn 2, bringing out the first caution of the race and surrendering the lead to Dan Chesmore of Janesville.

Chesmore guided the way through the second caution of the race, on lap 22, when a pair of cars tangled on the back stretch, disabling one and bringing out the yellow flag. On the restart Chesmore experienced car trouble, dropping from the race and handing the point to Luke Westenberg of Palmyra. Westenberg found Bishofberger on his tail, battling for the top spot.

Fighting hard, Westenberg held on for 4 laps, before Bishofberger found the opening he needed, on the bottom, motoring past into the lead. Once at the point, Bishofberger pulled ahead guiding the way to the checkered flag. Westenberg found himself in a battle for 2nd, with Nick Wendt of Watertown. As they flew past the checkered flag it was Bishofberger for the win followed by Wendt, Westenberg, Scott Null of Lake Mills and Roger Behlke of Jefferson.

Jason Erickson of Cambridge set the fast qualifying pace, with a 14.858 second tour of the quarter mile. Taking home the money, from the 8 lap Fast Dash was Bishofberger. Claiming victory, in 10 lap heat races, were Butch Mierendorf of Waterloo, Duane Deppe of Waterloo and Jasper Gronert of Jefferson. Moving through the 10 lap Consi. to the Last chance race were Ken Piotrowski of Janesville and Mierendorf. Joining the feature lineup, via the 20 lap Last Chance race, were Jim Sault Jr. of Sullivan, Jim Gleesing of Whitewater, Scott Bleeker of Jefferson, Beau Sanden of Janesville and Bart Reinen of Jefferson.

In International class action Brent Nottestad of Cambridge claimed top honors in the 20 lap Denny’s Den main event. Starting from the outside of row 6 Nottestad started his drive to the front as Mike Hoppe of Milwaukee pulled out to the early lead. Hoppe fell to the charge of Jefferson’s Mike Bingham on lap 2, as Nottestad battled his way at mid-field.

A spin in turn 2 brought out the caution on lap 8, with Bingham still at the point and Mike Cusick of Edgerton running 2nd. On the restart Cusick moved to the inside, claiming the point by lap 10, as Nottestad battled with Bingham for 2nd. Nottestad made his way under Cusick on lap 13, leaving Cusick to battle with brother Justin Nottestad. Debris on the track brought the final caution on lap 15, with Cusick still holding 2nd. On the restart Justin Nottestad claimed the inside and, in 2 laps, the 2nd spot. At the stripe it was Brent Nottestad for the win, followed by Justin Nottestad, Aaron Rude of Cambridge, Cusick and Mike Drays of Milton.

Justin Nottestad set the fast mark in qualifying, with a 15.971 second orbit of the quarter mile speed plant. Claiming victory, in 10 lap heat races, were Todd Otis of Madison and Chris Quam of Stoughton. Filling the feature lineup, via the 10 lap Last Chance race were D. R. Moore of Madison, Todd Otis of Madison, Charles Dixon of Waukesha and Jason Uttech of Watertown.

In Sportsman division action, rookie driver Jeff Kohlhoff of Watertown notched his first feature victory in the 25 lap main event. Starting from the outside of row 5, Kohlhoff started his drive to the front, as Kevin Thompson of Palmyra drove out the early lead. Kohlhoff caught the leaders by lap 5, watching the battle between Thompson and Bob Selsing of Ft. Atkinson, for an opening.

The leaders tangled, on lap 9, spinning out of harms way as Kohlhoff powered past to take the point. By lap 18, Chris Purdy of Milton closed with Kohlhoff, launching his bid for the lead. The battle for the top spot caught lapped traffic, on lap 19, bringing the crowd to their feet for what looked like the making of a large wreck. There was no wreck, as Kohlhoff took the high line, going into one, powering to a large lead, as Purdy found himself diving to the dirt to avoid a lapped car. Purdy made it back tot he track, several positions back, as Kohlhoff cruised to the checkered flag. At the stripe it was Kohlhoff for the win, followed by defending track champion Dave Oswald of Cottage Grove, Kyle Munro of Ft. Atkinson, Chad “Squirt” Stevens of Beloit and Purdy.

Stevens set the fast qualifying pace, with a 15.777 second loop of the quarter mile. Claiming victory, in 10 lap heat races, were Rich Titus of Jefferson, Dylan Schuyler of Dousman and Ryan Ley of Rome. Moving to the feature lineup, from the 10 lap Last Chance race, were Shane Radtke of Rome Chris Ehrhart of Deerfield, Schuyler and Rick Stenli of Stoughton.

In Hobby Stock action Chris Matz of Watertown took home top honors in the 20 lap feature. Starting from the outside of the front row, Matz the early lead and never looked back, as he guided the field to the checkered flag. Jim Williams of Milton ran second to Matz for most of the race. At the stripe it was Matz for the win, followed by Williams, Dennis Gaserude of Oregon, Jim Schultz of Ft. Atkinson and Chuck Egli of Waterloo. Gaserude set the fast pace in qualifying with a 17.085 second orbit of the quarter mile. Claiming victory, in 8 lap heat races, were Trent Erdman of Ft. Atkinson and Nick Golich of Hebron.

In the “Great American Bartender’s Race,” Larry Haumschild of Moe’s Pub in Lake Mills claimed victory in the 10 lap event. Randy Padfield of Stoughton claimed victory in the “Great Trailer Race” being the first across the line with his trailer still attached.

Next week Jefferson Speedway presents the Watertown Bowl 50 and the Demolition Derby. Gates open at 3:30 p.m., qualifying at 5:30 p.m. and racing at 7:30 p.m. sharp. Jefferson Speedway is located between Cambridge and Jefferson on highway 18.

Late Model Division
“Denny’s Den 50” – 50 Lap Feature Event
1. #76 Ron Bishofberger (Fort Atkinson)
2. #46 Nick Wendt (Watertown)
3. #16 Luke Westenberg (Palmyra)
4. #62 Scott Null (Lake Mills)
5. #44 Roger Behlke (Jefferson)
6. #43 Denny Stair (Sullivan)
7. # 7 Bill Leindecker (Janesville)
8. #11 Russ Goodwin (Beloit)
9. # 6 Bart Reinen (Jefferson)
10. #98 Scott Bleeker (Jefferson)
11. #88 Jim Gleesing (Whitewater)
12. #25 Randy Cusick (Fort Atkinson)
13. # 4 Jim Sault Jr. (Sullivan)
14. #27 Dan Chesmore (Janesville)
15. #18 Andy Wendt (Watertown)
16. #76 Randy Breunig (Columbus)
17. #11 Beau Sanden (Janesville)
18. #96 Jason Erickson (Cambridge)

20 Lap Last Chance:
1.) Jim Sault, Jr.
2.) Jim Gleesing
3.) Scott Bleeker
4.) Beau Sanden
5.) Bart Reinen

10 Lap Last Consolation:
1.) Ken Piotrowski
2.) Butch Mierendorf

First 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Butch Mierendorf

Second 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Duane Deppe

Third 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Jasper Gronert

Dash:
1.) Ron Bishofberger
Fast Qualifier: #96 Jason Erickson,……..14.858 Seconds

Internationals
20 Lap Feature Event
1. #25 Brent Nottestad (Cambridge)
2. #15 Justin Nottestad (Cambridge)
3. # 9 Aaron Rude (Cambridge)
4. #28 Mike Cusick (Edgerton)
5. #48 Mike Drays (Milton)
6. # 4 Chris Quam (Stoughton)

10 Lap Last Chance:
1.) D.R. Moore
2.) Todd Otis
3.) Charles Dixon
4.) Jason Uttech

First 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Todd Otis

Second 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Chris Quam
Fast Qualifier: #15 Justin Nottestad, Cambridge,………15.971 Seconds

Sportsman
25 Lap Feature Event
1. #98 Jeff Kohloff (Watertown)
2. #31 Dave Oswald (Cottage Grove)
3. #30 Kyle Munro (Fort Atkinson)
4. #82 Chad Stevens (Beloit)
5. # 7 Chris Purdy (Milton)
6. #21 Josh Courtney (Janesville)

15 Lap Last Chance:
1.) Shane Radtke
2.) Chris Ehrhart
3.) Dylan Schuyler
4.) Rick Stenli

First 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Rich Titus

Second 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Dylan Schuyler

Third 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Ryan Ley
Fast Qualifier: #82 Chad Stevens, Beloit, WI,…….15.777 Seconds

Hobby Stocks
20 Lap Feature Event
1. #72 Chris Matz (Watertown)
2. #J10 Jim Williams (Milton)
3. #18 Dennis Gaserude (Oregon)
4. #76 Jim Schultz (Fort Atkinson)
5. #22 Chuck Egli (Waterloo)
6. #99 Lincoln Keeser (Milton)

First 8 Lap Heat:
1.) Trent Erdman

Second 8 Lap Heat:
1.) Nick Golich
Fast Qualifier: #18 Dennis Gaserude, Oregon,………..17.085 Seconds

Great American Bartenders Race: Larry Haumschild, (Moe’s Place Lake Mills)
Great Trailer Race: Randy Padfield, Stoughton