Bleecker scores first victory at Jefferson Speedway!

By Jeanne & Larry Starr

July 1, 2000; Jefferson, WI. – Scott Bleecker of Jefferson claimed the first feature win of his career in the Kearns Motor Car Co. 50.

Starting from the pole position, Bleecker guided the field flag to flag, in the caution free 50 lapper. Opening a strong lead, in the early going, Bleecker’s position was never challenged as the battle raged for 2nd. Rookie driver Chris Purdy of Milton battled under Randy Cusick of Ft. Atkinson for the 2nd spot, on lap 23, nearly a half lap behind the leader.

Purdy worked to close the gap, as former track champion Ron Bishofberger of Ft. Atkinson battled his way to the 3rd spot followed by the current point leader Dan Chesmore of Janesville. At the stripe it was Bleecker for the win, followed by Purdy, Bishofberger, Chesmore and Jim Jarlsberg of Cambridge.

Chesmore set the fast pace in qualifying, with a 14.838 second circuit of the quarter mile.

Bill Leindecker of Janesville claimed the trophy, in the 8 lap Dash for Cash.

Claiming victories, in 10 lap heat races, were Craig Olver of Deforest, Russ Goodwin of Beloit, Scott Null of Lake Mills and Tom Dorn of Ft. Atkinson.

Moving to the feature lineup from the 20 lap Last Chance race were Brent Knight of Watertown, Jerry Parker of Palmyra, Luke Westenberg of Palmyra and Ryan Ley of Rome.

Entrants in the Last Chance race, from the 10 lap Consolation Race were Olver, and Butch Mierendorf of Waterloo.

In International Division action Brent Nottestad earned a hard fought victory in the, caution free, 20 lap main event. Starting from the outside of row 6, Nottestad started his drive to the point as Bobby Moore of Edgerton pulled out to the early lead. Moore opened up a sizable lead in the early running as Scott Uttech of Beaver Dam, Matt Nickel of Madison, and Mike Bingham of Jefferson fought a 3-way battle for the 2nd spot. Bingham claimed 2nd by lap 5, closing with Moore by lap 7.

Moore held onto the top spot until lap 10, as Bingham battled with Mike Drays of Milton for the 2nd spot. Bingham found his way under Moore, for the top spot on lap 10, with Drays following for 2nd on lap 11. As Moore dropped into the 3rd spot he found himself trying to hold off Nottestad. Nottestad claimed the 3rd spot by lap 12, closing with Drays. Drays fell to Nottestad’s charge on lap 15, as Nottestad moved under Bingham in his bid for the lead. Nottestad pulled to the point on lap 16, guiding the field to the checkered flag. At the stripe it was Nottestad for the win, followed by Drays, Aaron Rude of Cambridge, Darnell Mepham of Ft. Atkinson, Bingham and Moore.

Nottestad set the high mark in qualifying with a 15.982 second tour of the quarter mile.

Victories, in 10 lap heat races, went to Mark English of Edgerton and Chris Quam of Stoughton.

Moving to the feature lineup from the 10 lap Last Chance race were Derek Bettenhausen of Cambridge, English, Tory Adams of Madison, Mike Dietzen of Milwaukee and Tim Woollen of Madison.

In Sportsman Division action Jeff Kohlhoff of Watertown claimed top honors in the 25 lap main event. Starting from the outside of row 6, Kohlhoff started his trek to the checkered flag as Tony Koepke of Ft. Atkinson pulled out to the early lead. Koepke showed the way for 19 laps, interrupted by a caution on lap 11, for debris on the track.

Koepke led the way on the restart with Josh Wier of Cottage grove running 2nd, and Kohlhoff up to 4th. Bob Selsing of Ft. Atkinson motored past Weir on lap 12, for 2nd, with Kohlhoff following into the 3rd spot. Kohlhoff moved under Selsing for the 2nd spot, on lap 15, closing with Koepke. Koepke held on for 2 more laps, before Kohlhoff saw the opening he needed, to claim the top spot. As Kohlhoff drove tot he point, Rick Coppernoll of Madison followed for 2nd. At the stripe it was Kohlhoff for the win, followed by Coppernoll, Koepke, Dave Oswald of Cottage Grove, and Trent Erdman of Ft. Atkinson.

Oswald set the fast qualifying mark, at 15.768 seconds.

Claiming victories, in 10 lap heat races, were Luke Padfield of Jefferson, Dylan Schuyler of Dousman and Tony Koepke of Ft. Atkinson.

Moving to the feature lineup, via the 15 lap Last Chance race were Josh Courtney of Janesville, Chris Ehrhart of Deerfield, Pete Olsen of Ft. Atkinson and Rick Rothwell of Madison.

Joining the Last Chance race, from the 10 lap Consolation Race were Mike Acheson of Watertown and Padfield.

In Hobby Stock action Jim Williams of Milton claimed the checkered flag, in the 20 lap main event. Starting from the outside of row 2, Williams followed Ernie Witte of Johnson Creek into the 2nd spot. A crash, on lap 2, brought out the first caution of the race. With Witte at the point and Williams running 2nd.

Witte suffered mechanical problems on the restart, leaving the top spot to Williams. Surviving the 2nd caution, on lap 3, Williams guided the field to the checkered flag. At the stripe it was Williams for the win, followed by Kevin Quale of Ft. Atkinson, Jim Pfeifer of Ft. Atkinson, Dennis Gaserude of Arena and Lincoln Keeser of Milton.

Pfeifer set the fast pace in qualifying with a 17.142 second loop of the quarter mile.

Claiming victory in 8 lap heat races were Jim Blucher of Madison, Nick Golich of Hebron and Brett Schmidt of Watertown.

Moving to the feature lineup via the 12 lap Last Chance Race were Terry Wangsness of Whitewater, Blucher, Jay Finnegan of Milton and Nick Golich of Hebron.

Before the racing action began, a hoard of smiling kids, had the opportunity to ride in the race cars and during intermission kids on three-wheelers took to the track in the Big Wheel Races.

The night’s action was capped by a spectacular Fireworks demonstration.

Next Week at Jefferson Speedway it’s Mid-Season Championships, hosted by WMAD.

Gates open at 4:30, qualifying at 5:30 and racing at 7:30 sharp.

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

Late Model Feature Finish:
Laps: 50
1. 98 Scott Bleecker (Jefferson) (First Win)
2. 106 Chris Purdy (Milton)
3. 76 Ron Bishofberger (Ft. Atkinson)
4. 27 Dan Chesmore (Janesville)
5. 97 Jim Jarlsberg (Cambridge)
6. 25 Randy Cusick (Ft. Atkinson)
7. 44 Roger Behlke (Jefferson)
8. 2 Tom Dorn (Ft. Atkinson)
9. 14 Scott Nottestad (Cambridge)
10. 7 Bill Leindecker (Janesville)
11. 62 Scott Null (Lake Mills)
12. 68 Ken Olson (Ft. Atkinson)
13. 16 Luke Westenberg (Palmyra)
14. 77 Ryan Ley (Rome)
15. 2 Jerry Parker (Palmyra)
16. 79 Brent Knight (Watertown)
17. 18 Andy Wendt (Watertown)
18. 7 Bruce Clark (Watertown)

FAST QUALIFIER
#27 Dan Chesmore (Janesville): 14.838 seconds

FAST DASH: 8 Lap
7 Bill Leindecker (Janesville)

Consi: 10 Lap:
2 Craig Olver (Deforest)
12 Butch Mierendorf (Waterloo)

LAST CHANCE: Lap
79 Brent Knight (Watertown)
2 Jerry Parker (Palmyra)
16 Luke Westenberg (Palmyra)
77 Ryan Ley (Rome)

Heats: 10 lap: (Winners Only)
1) 2 Craig Olver (Deforest)
2) 11 Russ Goodwin (Beloit)
3) 62 Scott Null (Lake Mills)
4) 2 Tom Dorn (Ft. Atkinson)

International Feature: Laps: 25
1. 25 Brent Nottestad (Cambridge)
2. 48 Mike Drays (Milton)
3. 9 Aaron Rude (Cambridge)
4. 12 Darnell Mepham (Ft. Atkinson)
5. 17 Mike Bingham (Jefferson)
6. 28 Bobby Moore (Edgerton)

FAST QUALIFIER
25 Brent Nottestad (Cambridge): 15.982 seconds

LAST CHANCE: lap
10 Derek Bettenhausen (Cambridge)
57 Mark English (Edgerton)
128 Tory Adams (Madison)
21 Mike Dietzen (Milwaukee)
39 Tim Woollen (Madison)

Heats: 10 lap: (Winners Only)
1) 57 Mark English (Edgerton)
2) 4 Chris Quam (Stoughton)

Sportsman Feature:
Laps: 30
1. 98 Jeff Kohlhoff (Watertown)
2. 36 Rick Coppernoll (Madison)
3. 32 Tony Koepke (Ft. Atkinson)
4. 31 Dave Oswald (Cottage Grove)
5. 11 Trent Erdman (Ft. Atkinson)
6. 42 Bob Selsing (Ft. Atkinson)

FAST QUALIFIER
31 Dave Oswald (Cottage Grove): 15.768 seconds

CONSI: 10 Lap:
82 Mike Acheson (Watertown)
4 Dale Padfield (Jefferson)

LAST CHANCE: 15 lap
21 Josh Courtney (Janesville)
6 Chris Ehrhart (Deerfield)
24 Pete Olsen (Ft. Atkinson)
53 Rick Rothwell (Madison)

Heats: 10 lap: (Winners Only)
1) 4 Luke Padfield (Jefferson)
2) 33 Dylan Schuyler (Dousman)
3) 32 Tony Koepke (Ft. Atkinson)

Hobby Stock Feature: Laps: 20
1. J10 Jim Williams (Milton)
2. 76 Kevin Quale (Ft. Atkinson)
3. 11 Jim Pfeifer (Ft. Atkinson)
4. 18 Dennis Gaserude (Arena)
5. 99 Lincoln Keeser (Milton)
6. 66 Nick Golich (Hebron)

FAST QUALIFIER
11 Jim Pfeifer (Ft. Atkinson): 17.142 seconds

LAST CHANCE: 12 lap
55 Terry Wangsness (Whitewater)
93 Jim Blucher (Madison)
98 Jay Finnegan (Milton)
66 Nick Golich (Hebron)

Heats: 8 lap: (Winners Only)
1) 93 Jim Blucher (Madison)
2) 66 Nick Golich (Hebron)
3) 9 Brett Schmidt (Watertown)