Casey Johnson Dominates 34th Wisconsin State Championships
JEFFERSON, WI (Sunday, September 14, 2014) Sporting the Dan Chesmore tribute paint scheme, Edgerton’s Casey Johnson captured wins in both of the twin 65 lap Wisconsin State Championship Late Model features. The wins marked Johnson’s seventh and eighth trip to victory lane this season at Jefferson Speedway and also won him his first Wisconsin State Championship.
The first of two Big 8 Series Late Model main events got underway with Dale Nottestad and Kyle Jarlsberg leading the field of 24 competitors to green. Nottestad grabbed control on lap one as Jarlsberg dropped back into a battle for second with Noel Ramge. Two cautions in the early going slowed the pace with Nottestad still showing the way with Jarlsberg and Ramge in second and third respectively. On lap 21, Alex Papini joined the leaders taking over the fourth position behind Ramge. Another caution on lap 29 for fluid on the racing surface served as an extended break in the action while cleanup ensued. Once racing resumed, Papini continued his climb toward the front as he took third from Ramge on lap 30 and second from Jarlsberg on lap 32. Papini began to size up Nottestad on the point while the leader tried to keep him in his rear view mirror. Meanwhile, Johnson pulled his machine into the third position on lap 48. After another yellow flag period on lap 58, Papini began to apply heavy pressure to Nottestad with Johnson continuing to watch from third. Nottestad and Papini made contact several times, eventually resulting in Johnson spinning to avoid an incident and force another caution. Johnson was allowed to keep his position on the restart behind Nottestad and Papini with only six laps to go. Nottestad and Papini renewed their battle for the top spot once racing resumed. After swapping paint several time, Nottestad spun on lap 63 to bring out one final caution. Nottestad and Papini were relegated to the rear of the field on the restart for their involvement in the caution, handing the point over to Johnson with only two laps remaining. Johnson remained in control through the checkers to claim the win with Ramge, Stephen Scheel, Shaun Scheel and Dylan Schuyler completing the top five.
Jon Reynolds Jr took control on the opening lap of feature number two with Jason Schuler battling Don Gaserude for second. Gaserude made hard contact with the turn three wall on lap two to force a caution. Racing resumed with Reynolds out front and Schuler riding in second. Meanwhile, Johnson was picking way toward the front as he looked to secure the overall championship. Johnson entered the top five on lap 34. Johnson continued forward, taking fourth on lap 40 and third three laps later. By lap 45, Johnson was alongside Schuler for second with Papini riding in his tracks. Johnson cleared for the second spot and pulled up behind Reynolds on lap 49. Johnson made quick work of Reynolds to secure the lead and begin to pull away from the pack. Papini followed into second in the closing laps, but Johnson was already well on his way to another feature victory. At the checkers, it was Johnson for the win followed by Papini, Reynolds, Schuler and Austin Nason. With his victories, Johnson was awarded the overall title with Noel Ramge second and Luke Westenberg in third.
In Sportsman action, it was Waterloo’s Steven Sauer claiming the overall title while Kyle Chwala of Lake Mills and Mark Deporter of Fort Atkinson each won features. Chwala and Robert Hansberry Jr led the field to green to begin the first 35 lap affair. Chwala took command of the lead on lap one with Hansberry and Kody Hubred fighting for second. Hansberry reclaimed the position on lap three and began to mount a challenge to the early leader. Hansberry stayed close to Chwala as he searched for an opening to the front. But Chwala held him at bay as he led every lap to pick up the win. Hansberry was second in the first feature followed by Sauer, Jason Thoma and Deporter.
Feature #2 began with Terry Wangsness taking control in front of Mike Storkson and Jim Taylor. After two early cautions, Deporter joined the leaders in fourth. Deporter moved past Taylor for third and then claimed second from Storkson on lap 18. Deporter pulled up behind Wangsness on lap 21, drawing even and completing the pass a lap later with Sauer in tow for second. Deporter remained in control over the final circuits to see the checkers first and claim the win. Wangsness got back to second before it was over with Sauer, Hansberry and Hubred rounding out the top five. With two finishes of third in each feature, Sauer was the overall champion with Deporter second and Hansberry third.
Watertown’s Chris Chenoweth claimed the overall International championship with his combined finishes of first and second in the twin 20 lap feature events. Chenoweth took command on lap one of the first feature from the pole with Joe Cross in second and John Handeland in third. After a caution on lap five, Seth Reamer joined the leaders, taking third from Handeland and drawing even with Cross for second. After a brief battle, Reamer cleared for the runner up position with Chenoweth still showing the way out front. Reamer began to apply pressure to the leader while Mike Lambert pulled into third on lap 11. A final caution on lap 15 set up a five lap shootout to the finish with Chenoweth still out front and Reamer nipping at his heels. As racing resumed, Lambert made a move alongside Reamer allowing Chenoweth to stay in command. At the checkers, it was Chenoweth for the win followed by Lambert, Reamer, Cross and Jason Uttech.
Dan Bagley led early in the second International feature event with Keith Bell close behind in second. Bell drove around Bagley to take the point on lap three with Casey Strese in tow for second. Strese didn’t wait long to take over the lead position, wrestling it away from Bell on lap seven and bringing Chenoweth along for second. Chenoweth slipped by Strese a lap later to lead his second feature of the afternoon with Reamer right behind in second. Reamer went to work on Chenoweth just as he had the previous feature, this time using the high groove. Reamer inched forward lap after lap until he owned the lead with three laps to go. Reamer charged to the checkers to pick up the win followed by Chenoweth, Jamie Shelley, Lambert and Handeland. Chenoweth was crowned the overall champ followed by Reamer and Lambert.
Dual Hobby Stock 30 lap main events got underway with Phil Wuesthoff leading the pack in front of Dave Trute. Trute began to challenge Wuesthoff for the top spot while Dustin Ward made his way to third by lap ten. After a caution on lap 14, Trute went back to work on Wuesthoff looking to lead while Ward slipped under Trute. Ward moved into sole possession of second on lap 24, but Wuesthoff was well on his way to picking up the win. Ward settled for second with Trute, AJ Lloyd and Cody Buchs completing the top five.
Scott Riemer led the second feature on lap one with Jeff LeFave up to second and Wayne Buchs in third. Buchs got by LeFave for second on lap eight with AJ Lloyd in tow for third. Lloyd quickly began to challenge Buchs for second, claiming the position on lap 11. Lloyd pulled up behind Riemer on lap 13, drawing even and clearing for the top spot a lap later. Lloyd began to stretch his advantage while Dustin Ward maneuvered his way up to second on lap 17. But Lloyd cruised all the way to checkers to claim the win with Ward coming home second once again. Wuesthoff was third followed by Wayne and Cody Buchs. With his two second place finishes, Dustin Ward of Waterloo was awarded the overall title with Wuesthoff second and Lloyd third.
Identical top five finishes in the twin 20 lap Road Warrior features resulted in Bill Sweeney of Edgerton picking up the clean sweep and the championship for his division. Sweeney led lap one in the first feature with Bill Reynolds and Chris Gottschalk battling for second. Reynolds and Gottschalk fought wheel to wheel over the length of the race with Gottschalk eventually gaining the upper hand in the closing laps. But Sweeney led from start to finish winning feature number one followed by Gottschalk, Reynolds, Craig Henning and Bryan Gottschalk.
The second feature began with Jordan Lamb out front and Chad Olds in second. As Lamb and Olds raced side by side for the lead on lap four, Reynolds charged up the middle to take over the top spot on lap five. Sweeney followed into second a lap later with Gottschalk in tow as the top three broke away from the rest of the pack. Sweeney drove under Reynolds entering turn one on lap 15. After a brief side by side battle, Sweeney cleared for the lead allowing Gottschalk to follow under Reynolds for second. At the checkers, the results were the same as feature number one with Sweeney claiming the win. Sweeney was the overall champ with Gottschalk second and Reynolds in third.
Twin 20 lap Bandit features ended much the same as the Road Warriors with Waterloo’s Kyle Stark picking up the clean sweep. Stark and Nick Schmidt battled from row one to begin the first race with Stark taking control of the point on lap three. Stark dominated the race while Tom Pfeifer slipped past Schmidt for second. At the checkers, it was Stark out front followed by Pfeifer, Schmidt, Steve Dickson and Devon Dixon.
Dave Schmidt led the second feature with Jeremy Bredeson up to second. After a caution on lap five, Kyle Stark charged into the top five as he picked his way to the front. Devon Dixon pulled into second on lap seven with Stark on his heels for third. After Dixon claimed the top spot on lap nine, Stark launched his bid for the lead. Dixon and Stark raced door to door as the laps began to tick away. The duo raced past the white flag with nothing settled at the front. Stark gained the advantage down the back stretch on the final lap and hung on to see the checkers first. Dixon settled for second with Steve Dickson, Tom Pfeifer and Dave Schmidt rounding out the top five. Stark’s two wins netted him the overall title with Pfeifer second and Dickson in third.
This marks the completion of the 2014 racing schedule at Wisconsin’s Action Track. Jefferson Speedway would like to thank all the fans, race teams and sponsors for another great season of racing entertainment. Stay tuned to www.jeffersonspeedway.com for information on upcoming events.
Jefferson Speedway Race Summary-
Big 8 Late Model Series-
Feature #1 Results- 1) Casey Johnson, Edgerton 2) Noel Ramge, Helenville 3) Stephen Scheel, Lake Mills 4) Shaun Scheel, Lake Mills 5) Dylan Schuyler, Jefferson 6) Luke Westenberg, Jefferson 7) Kyle Smith, Lake Mills 8) Austin Nason, Roscoe (IL) 9) Jason Schuler, Cambridge 10) Don Gaserude, Fort Atkinson 11) Jon Reynolds Jr, Rockford (IL) 12) Steve Dobbratz, Rio 13) Brent Edmunds, Monticello 14) Michael Grueneberg, Madison 15) Chris Quam, Stoughton 16) Danny Church Jr, Delavan 17) Alex Papini, Machesney Park (IL) 18) J Herbst, LaCrosse 19) Dale Nottestad, Cambridge 20) Jesse Bernhagen, Markesan 21) John Ovadal Jr, Watertown 22) Kyle Jarlsberg, Jefferson 23) Brandon Pendleton, Helenville 24) Caleb Adrian, Walcott (IA)
Feature #2 Results- 1) Casey Johnson, Edgerton 2) Alex Papini, Machesney Park (IL) 3) Jon Reynolds Jr, Rockford (IL) 4) Jason Schuler, Cambridge 5) Austin Nason, Roscoe (IL) 6) Luke Westenberg, Jefferson 7) Noel Ramge, Helenville 8) Michael Grueneberg, Madison 9) Stephen Scheel, Lake Mills 10) Dylan Schuyler, Jefferson 11) Steve Dobbratz, Rio 12) Brent Edmunds, Monticello 13) Danny Church Jr, Delavan 14) Chris Quam, Stoughton 15) John Ovadal Jr, Watertown 16) Jerry Eckhardt, Johnson Creek 17) J Herbst, LaCrosse 18) Shaun Scheel, Lake Mills 19) Casey Strese, Jefferson 20) Kyle Smith, Lake Mills 21) Brandon Pendleton, Helenville 22) Don Gaserude, Fort Atkinson 23) Dale Nottestad, Cambridge 24) Jesse Bernhagen, Markesan
Overall Finish- 1) Casey Johnson, Edgerton 2) Noel Ramge, Helenville 3) Luke Westenberg, Jefferson 4) Stephen Scheel, Lake Mills 5) Austin Nason, Roscoe (IL)
Quals- 1) Jon Reynolds Jr, Rockford (IL) 14.449 2) Alex Papini, Machesney Park (IL) 14.494 3) Luke Westenberg, Jefferson 14. 516 4) John Ovadal Jr, Watertown 14.525 5) Kyle Jarlsberg, Jefferson 14.528 6) Dale Nottestad, Cambridge 14.550 7) Noel Ramge, Helenville 14.568 8) Casey Johnson, Edgerton 14.568 9) Stephen Scheel, Lake Mills 14.596 10) Danny Church Jr, Delavan 14.614 11) Jesse Bernhagen, Markesan 14.621 12) Steve Dobbratz, Rio 14.621 13) Kyle Smith, Lake Mills 14.626 14) Shaun Scheel, Lake Mills 14.634 15) Austin Nason, Roscoe (IL) 14.637 16) Michael Grueneberg, Madison 14.640 17) Brent Edmunds, Monticello 18) J Herbst, LaCrosse 14.702 19) Trent Erdman, Fort Atkinson 14.703 20) Dylan Schuyler, Jefferson 14.706 21) Chris Quam, Stoughton 14.715 22) Jason Schuler, Cambridge 14.722 23) Brandon Pendleton, Helenville 14.742 24) Don Gaserude, Fort Atkinson 14.743 25) Michael Bachaus, Columbia City (IN) 14.749 26) Mike Ehde, Prairie du Chein 14. 753 27) Bruce Lee, Cambridge 14.763 28) Craig Phillips, Edgerton 14.804 29) Tyler Peterson, Lake Geneva 14.822 30) Dave Edwards, Salem 14.841 31) Kyle Taylor, Deerfield 14.850 32) Caleb Adrian, Walcott (IA) 14.872 33) Jerry Eckhardt, Johnson Creek 14.879 34) Jeff Nowak, Weston 14.898 35) Casey Strese, Jefferson 14.909 36) Tony Koepke, Jefferson 15.003 37) Duke Long, West Bend 15.162 38) Shawn Gunsolus, Jefferson 15.291 39) Mike Taylor, Stoughton 15.334 40) Tom Jasinski, Pewaukee 15.336 41) Tiffany Desjarlais, Columbus 15.389 42) Hunter Drefahl, Columbus 15.424 43) Chester Williams, Waukesha 15.788 44) Lincoln Keeser, Johnson Creek 15.883
Preview Feature- 1) Dale Nottestad, Cambridge 2) Kyle Jarlsberg, Jefferson 3) Noel Ramge, Helenville 4) Jesse Bernhagen, Markesan 5) Shaun Scheel, Lake Mills 6) Jon Reynolds Jr, Rockford (IL) 7) Steve Dobbratz, Rio 8) Chris Quam, Stoughton 9) Dylan Schuyler, Jefferson 10) Kyle Smith, Lake Mills 11) Michael Grueneberg, Madison 12) Casey Johnson, Edgerton 13) Stephen Scheel, Lake Mills 14) Danny Church Jr, Delavan 15) Alex Papini, Machesney Park (IL) 16) John Ovadal Jr, Watertown 17) Austin Nason, Roscoe (IL) 18) Luke Westenberg, Jefferson
Dash Winners- 1) Jesse Bernhagen, Markesan 2) Shaun Scheel, Lake Mills
Qualifier Winners- 1) Michael Grueneberg, Madison 2) Chris Quam, Stoughton
Last Chance Winners- 1) Don Gaserude, Fort Atkinson 2) Jason Schuler, Cambridge
Race Of Champions Winner- Dale Nottestad, Cambridge
Sportsman-
Feature #1 Results- 1) Kyle Chwala, Lake Mills 2) Robert Hansberry Jr, Beloit 3) Steven Sauer, Waterloo 4) Jason Thoma, Jefferson 5) Mark Deporter, Fort Atkinson 6) Kody Hubred, Utica 7) Jim Taylor, Stoughton 8) Jay Kalbus, Whitewater 9) Terry Wangsness, Jefferson 10) Mike Storkson, Evansville 11) Tim Coley, Madison 12) Doug Paul, Montello 13) Rick Coppernoll, Cottage Grove 14) Dan Schmidt, Farmington 15) Nick Letsinger, Rockford (IL) 16) Peter Gillis, Watertown 17) Nick Egan, Slinger 18) Seth Lootans, Kenosha 19) Jim Tate Jr, Deforest 20) Joe DeCubellis, Lake Geneva
Feature #2 Results- 1) Mark Deporter, Fort Atkinson 2) Terry Wangsness, Jefferson 3) Steven Sauer, Waterloo 4) Robert Hansberry Jr, Beloit 5) Kody Hubred, Utica 6) Kyle Chwala, Lake Mills 7) Mike Storkson, Evansville 8) Jim Taylor, Stoughton 9) Jason Thoma, Jefferson 10) Tim Coley, Madison 11) Doug Paul, Montello 12) Nick Letsinger, Rockford (IL) 13) Rick Coppernoll, Cottage Grove 14) Nick Egan, Slinger 15) Seth Lootans, Kenosha 16) Peter Gillis, Watertown 17) Joe DeCubellis, Lake Geneva 18) Jay Kalbus, Whitewater 19) Jim Tate Jr, Deforest
Overall Finish- 1) Steven Sauer, Waterloo 2) Mark Deporter, Fort Atkinson 3) Robert Hansberry Jr, Beloit 4) Kyle Chwala, Lake Mills 5) Kody Hubred, Utica
Preview Feature Winner- Kyle e Chwala, Lake Mills
Qualifier Winner- Seth Lootans, Kenosha
International-
Feature #1 Results- 1) Chris Chenoweth, Watertown 2) Mike Lambert, Madison 3) Seth Reamer, Waupun 4) Joe Cross, Sun Prairie 5) Jason Uttech, Watertown 6) Mark English, Edgerton 7) Dan Birkett, Jefferson 8) Jamie Shelley, Edgerton 9) Casey Strese, Jefferson 10) Merek Pankow, Jefferson 11) Keith Bell, Brodhead 12) Chandale Swartout, Janesville 13) Dan Bagley, Montello 14) Josh Lenz, Lake Mills 15) Josh Mazur, Reedsburg 16) Charlie Braun, Helenville 17) John Handeland, Belleville 18) Matt Melchiori, Milwaukee 19) Neil Higgins, Watertown 20) Noah Pankow, Jefferson 21) Peter Shelley, Edgerton
Feature #2 Results- 1) Seth Reamer, Waupun 2) Chris Chenoweth, Watertown 3) Jamie Shelley, Edgerton 4) Mike Lambert, Madison 5) John Handeland, Belleville 6) Casey Strese, Jefferson 7) Dan Birkett, Jefferson 8) Mark English, Edgerton 9) Joe Cross, Sun Prairie 10) Keith Bell, Brodhead 11) Jason Uttech, Watertown 12) Neil Higgins, Watertown 13) Merek Pankow, Jefferson 14) Dan Bagley, Montello 15) Noah Pankow, Jefferson 16) Josh Mazur, Reedsburg 17) Peter Shelley, Edgerton 18) Josh Lenz, Lake Mills 19) Charlie Braun, Helenville 20) Chandale Swartout, Janesville 21) Matt Melchiori, Milwaukee
Overall Finish- 1) Chris Chenoweth, Watertown 2)Seth Reamer, Waupun 3) Mike Lambert, Madison 4) Jamie Shelley, Edgerton 5) Joe Cross, Sun Prairie
Preview Feature Winner- Joe Cross, Sun Prairie
Qualifier Winner- 1) Noah Pankow, Jefferson
Hobby Stock-
Feature #1 Results- 1) Phil Wuesthoff, Beaver Dam 2) Dustin Ward, Waterloo 3) Dave Trute, New Lisbon 4) AJ Lloyd, Loves Park (IL) 5) Cody Buchs, Mazomanie 6) Wayne Buchs, Mazomanie 7) Dylan Buckingham, Whitewater 8) Jeff LeFave, Fort Atkinson 9) Chris Flairty, Waukesha 10) Scott Riemer, Brookfield 11) Lucas Buckingham, Whitewater 12) Bill Bush, Janesville 13) Jordan Lamb, Fort Atkinson 14) Jason Schaller, French Island 15) Gary Paulick, Union Grove 16) Boyd Eichelkraut, Stoughton 17) Lucas Stevenson, Beloit
Feature #2 Results- 1) AJ Lloyd, Loves Park (IL) 2) Dustin Ward, Waterloo 3) Phil Wuesthoff, Beaver Dam 4) Wayne Buchs, Mazomanie 5) Cody Buchs, Mazomanie 6) Dylan Buckingham, Whitewater 7) Dave Trute, New Lisbon 8) Lucas Buckingham, Whitewater 9) Scott Riemer, Brookfield 10) Jeff LeFave, Fort Atkinson 11) Chris Flairty, Waukesha 12) Bill Bush, Janesville 13) Jordan Lamb, Fort Atkinson 14) Gary Paulick, Union Grove 15) Boyd Eichelkraut, Stoughton
Overall Finish- 1) Dustin Ward, Waterloo 2) Phil Wuesthoff, Beaver Dam 3) AJ Lloyd, Loves Park (IL) 4) Cody Buchs, Mazomanie 5) Wayne Buchs, Mazomanie
Preview Feature Winner- Wayne Buchs, Mazomanie
Road Warrior-
Feature #1 Results- 1) Bill Sweeney, Edgerton 2) Chris Gottschalk, Jefferson 3) Bill Reynolds, Watertown 4) Craig Henning, Helenville 5) Bryan Gottschalk, Jefferson 6) Kenny Storkson, Evansville 7) Jeff LeFave, Fort Atkinson 8) Chad Olds, Whitewater 9) Rodger Stephenson, Cambridge 10) Jordan Lamb, Fort Atkinson 11) Don Georgson Jr, Madison
Feature #2 Results- 1) Bill Sweeney, Edgerton 2) Chris Gottschalk, Jefferson 3) Bill Reynolds, Watertown 4) Craig Henning, Helenville 5) Bryan Gottschalk, Jefferson 6) Chad Olds, Whitewater 7) Kenny Storkson, Evansville 8) Jeff LeFave, Fort Atkinson 9) Don Georgson Jr, Madison 10) Jordan Lamb, Fort Atkinson 11) Rodger Stephenson, Cambridge
Overall Finish- 1) Bill Sweeney, Edgerton 2) Chris Gottschalk, Jefferson 3) Bill Reynolds, Watertown 4) Craig Henning, Helenville 5) Bryan Gottschalk, Jefferson
Preview Feature Winner- Bill Sweeney, Edgerton
Bandit-
Feature #1 Results- 1) Kyle Stark, Waterloo 2) Tom Pfeifer, Reeseville 3) Nick Schmidt, Oak Creek 4) Steve Dickson, Rockton (IL) 5) Devon Dixon, Janesville 6) Brandon DeLacy, Fort Atkinson 7) Keith Erickson, Columbus 8) Jamie Kohn, Madison 9) Adam Schook, Whitewater 10) Tyler Deporter, Fort Atkinson 11) Jeremy Bredeson, Deforest 12) Dave Schmidt, Cudahy 13) Paul Reagles, Colgate 14) Jacob Hassler, Colgate 15) Dennis Wuesthoff, Beaver Dam 16) Matt Rusch, Fort Atkinson 17) Alex Seidl, Appleton 18) Kyle Watters, Sun Prairie 19) Jason Dull, Beloit 20) Mike Bleecker, Watertown 21) McKayla Adams, Sun Prairie 22) Bill Boettcher, Madison 23) Lyle Phillips, Edgerton
Feature #2 Results- 1) Kyle Stark, Waterloo 2) Devon Dixon, Janesville 3) Steve Dickson, Rockton (IL) 4) Tom Pfeifer, Reeseville 5) Dave Schmidt, Cudahy 6) Nick Schmidt, Oak Creek 7) Jamie Kohn, Madison 8) Keith Erickson, Columbus 9) Jeremy Bredeson, Deforest 10) Jacob Hassler, Colgate 11) Adam Schook, Whitewater 12) Paul Reagles, Colgate 13) Dennis Wuesthoff, Beaver Dam 14) Tyler Deporter, Fort Atkinson 15) Alex Seidl, Appleton 16) Kyle Watters, Sun Prairie 17) Lyle Phillips, Edgerton 18) Mike Bleecker, Watertown 19) Jason Dull, Beloit 20) McKayla Adams, Sun Prairie 21) Bill Boettcher, Madison 22) Brandon DeLacy, Fort Atkinson 23) Matt Rusch, Fort Atkinson
Overall Finish- 1) Kyle Stark, Waterloo 2) Tom Pfeifer, Reeseville 3) Steve Dickson, Rockton (IL) 4) Devon Dixon, Janesville 5) Nick Schmidt, Oak Creek
Last Chance Winner- Kyle Watters, Sun Prairie
Preview Feature Winner- Kyle Stark, Waterloo
Qualifier Winner- Jacob Hassler, Colgate
