Chesmore clinches championship with win at Jefferson!
By Jeanne & Larry Starr
September 2, 2000; Jefferson, WI. – Dan Chesmore of Janesville claimed top honors in the, Custom Finishes of Sullivan, 50 lap main event. Starting from the outside of row 5 Chesmore started his drive to the front as Tom Dorn of Ft. Atkinson pulled out to the early lead. Caution came on lap 4, for a car leaking fuel (who did not seem to understand the black flag).
Dorn led the restart with Denny Stair of Sullivan close behind and Chesmore up to the 10th spot. Stair battled with Dorn until lap 15, when Dorn slipped just enough to give Stair an opening coming off the 2nd turn. As Stair pulled to the front, Ken Olson of Ft. Atkinson moved under Dorn battling for the 2nd spot. Olson claimed the 2nd spot by lap 19, as Chesmore moved under a “near” accident to claim the 3rd spot.
Olson’s bid for the lead ended, when he had a tire go down, in turn 3. The flat sent Olson into Stair, spinning stair and bringing the caution on lap 25. On the restart it was Chesmore at the point, with Jason Erickson of Cambridge running 2nd. On the restart Ron Bishofberger of Ft. Atkinson challenged Erickson, for 2nd. Erickson held of the former track champion until lap 31, when Bishofberger claimed 2nd and Roger Behlke of Jefferson joined the battle for 3rd. Caution came one more time, on lap 32, for a blown engine.
Chesmore guided the way from the final green to the checkered flag as Behlke again moved on Erickson. Behlke nosed ahead at the white flag, with Erickson fighting hard on the outside. At the stripe it was Chesmore for the win, followed by Bishofberger, Behlke, Erickson and Bill Leindecker of Janesville.
Chesmore’s win moved him far enough out in the point standings to guarantee a season championship, with one night of racing remaining in the 2000 season point battle.
Behlke set the high mark in qualifying with a 15.021 second circuit of the quarter mile speed plant.
Leindecker claimed early honors in the Custom Finishes “Dash for Cash.”
Claiming victories, in 10 lap heat races, were Butch Mierendorf of Waterloo, Scott Null of Lake Mills and Mike Taylor of Stoughton.
Moving to the feature lineup, from the 20 lap Last Chance race, were Don Matrisch of Whitewater, Randy Cusick of Ft. Atkinson, Ken Piotrowski of Milton and Rex Weston of Lake Mills.
In International Class action Mike Drays of Milton held off the current point leader, Justin Nottestad of Cambridge to notch the win in the 20 lap main event. Starting from the outside of row 5, Drays headed to the point, as Derek Bettenhausen of Cambridge grabbed the early lead. Challenging Bettenhausen in the early going was Bobby Moore of Edgerton, working the inside for 12 laps. Moore was working the inside on lap 11, when Drays moved up to make the battle 3 wide for the top spot.
Moore and Drays pulled ahead, with Moore holding a slight advantage on lap 12, before losing the point to Drays. As Drays pulled ahead, Nottestad moved under Moore for the 2nd spot, closing with Drays. Nottestad never let up, but neither did Drays as they flew toward the checkered. At the stripe it was Drays for the win followed by Nottestad, Aaron Rude of Cambridge, Ed Wolf III of Watertown and Moore.
Nottestad set the fast pace in qualifying with a 16.046 second orbit of the quarter mile.
Ken Edmundson of Lima Center and Moore each claimed victory, in 10 lap heat races.
In Sportsman Division action Jay Kalbus of Oconomowoc claimed top honors in the 25 lap feature. Starting from the pole Kalbus grabbed the early lead and never looked back, guiding the field to the checkered flag. The race was interrupted by a single caution, on lap 12. As Kalbus guided the field to the checkered, Josh Courtney of Janesville fought his way through the field, followed by the current point leader Dave Oswald of Cottage Grove. Courtney motored by Bob Selsing of Ft. Atkinson, for 3rd, on lap 14, closing with Rich Titus of Jefferson for the 2nd spot. At the stripe it was Kalbus for the win, followed by Courtney, Oswald, Jeff Kohlhoff of Watertown and Selsing.
Claiming victories, in 10 lap heat races, were rookie driver Faye Riedner of Waunakee, Jason Elliott of Stoughton and Josh Weir of Cottage Grove.
Joining the feature lineup, from the 15 lap Last Chance race, were Randy Padfield of Stoughton, Mike Acheson of Watertown, Elliott and Joe Wendorf of Jefferson.
In Hobby Stock action Dennis Schmidt of Watertown claimed top honors in the 20 lap main event. Starting from the outside of row 1, Schmidt pulled ahead at the start and guided the field to the checkered.
Ernie Witte of Johnson Creek moved up to challenge Schmidt by lap 11, making may attempts, to the inside, but always coming up a little short. At the stripe it was Schmidt for the win, followed by Witte, Gerald Chapman of Juneau, Jim Pfeifer of Ft. Atkinson and Tim Noble of Janesville.
Noble set the fast qualifying pace, with 17.009 second tour of the quarter mile.
Claiming victories, in 8 lap heat races, were John Duessler of Marshall, Lincoln Keeser of Milton and Schmidt.
Joining the feature lineup, via the 12 lap Last Chance race, were Jeremy Hartwig of Cottage Grove, Chuck Egli of Waterloo, Terry Wangsness of Whitewater and Jay Finnegan of Milton.
Rounding out the nights racing action was the final round of the Great American Trailer Race with John Remsik of Middleton claiming the win.
The racing action continues next week with the Havill-Spoerl Season Championships. The program includes a 75 lap Late Model feature and extended features in all divisions. This will close the regular racing season at Jefferson Speedway.
Gates open at 4:00, qualifying at 5:30 and racing at 7:30 sharp.
Jefferson Speedway is on highway 18 between Cambridge and Jefferson Wisconsin.
RESULTS
Late Model Feature Finish:
Laps: 50
1. 27 Dan Chesmore (Janesville)
2. 76 Ron Bishofberger (Ft. Atkinson)
3. 44 Roger Behlke (Jefferson)
4. 14 Jason Erickson (Cambridge)
5. 7 Bill Leindecker (Janesville)
6. 62 Scott Null (Lake Mills)
7. 82 Chad “Squirt” Stevens (Beloit)
8. 98 Scott Bleecker (Jefferson)
9. 16 Luke Westenberg (Palmyra)
10. 68 Ken Olson (Ft. Atkinson)
11. 25 Randy Cusick (Ft. Atkinson)
12. 6 Ken Piotrowski (Milton)
13. 52 Duane Deppe (Waterloo)
14. 2 Tom Dorn (Ft. Atkinson)
15. 35 Rex Weston (Lake Mills)
16. 4 Denny Stair (Sullivan)
17. 56 Don Matrisch (Whitewater)
18. 4 Jim Sault Jr. (Rome)
FAST QUALIFIER
#44 Roger Behlke (Jefferson): 15.021 seconds
FAST DASH: 8 Lap
7 Bill Leindecker (Janesville)
LAST CHANCE: 20 Laps
56 Don Matrisch (Whitewater)
25 Randy Cusick (Ft. Atkinson)
6 Ken Piotrowski (Milton)
35 Rex Weston (Lake Mills)
Heats: 10 lap(Winners Only)
1) 12 Butch Mierendorf (Waterloo)
2) 62 Scott Null (Lake Mills)
3) 41 Mike Taylor (Stoughton)
International Feature: Laps: 20
1. 48 Mike Drays (Milton)
2. 25 Brent Nottestad (Cambridge)
3. 9 Aaron Rude (Cambridge)
4. 89 Ed Wolf III (Watertown)
5. 28 Bobby Moore (Edgerton)
6. 12 Darnell Mepham (Ft. Atkinson)
FAST QUALIFIER
#25 Brent Nottestad (Cambridge): 16.046 seconds
Heats: 10 laps (Winners Only)
1) 59 Ken Edmundson (Lima Center)
2) 28 Bobby Moore (Edgerton)
Sportsman Feature:
Laps: 25
1. 27 Jay Kalbus (Oconomowoc)
2. 21 Josh Courtney (Janesville)
3. 31 Dave Oswald (Cottage Grove)
4. 98 Jeff Kohlhoff (Watertown)
5. 42 Bob Selsing (Ft. Atkinson)
6. 21 Rich Titus (Jefferson)
FAST QUALIFIER
#31 Dave Oswald (Cottage Grove): 15.764 seconds
LAST CHANCE: 15 lap
2 Randy Padfield (Stoughton)
82 Mike Acheson (Watertown)
8 Jason Elliott (Stoughton)
3 Joe Wendorf (Jefferson)
Heats: 10 laps: (Winners Only)
1) 26 Faye Riedner (Waunakee)
2) 8 Jason Elliott (Stoughton)
3) 62 Josh Weir (Cottage Grove)
Hobby Stock Feature: Laps: 20
1. 19 Denis Schmidt (Watertown)
2. 02 Ernie Witte (Johnson Creek)
3. 7 Gerald Chapman (Juneau)
4. 11 Jim Pfeifer (Ft. Atkinson)
5. 71 Tim Noble (Janesville)
6. 9 Bret Schmidt (Farmington)
FAST QUALIFIER
#71 Tim Noble (Janesville): 17.009 seconds
LAST CHANCE: 12 lap
6 Jeremy Hartwig (Cottage Grove)
22 Chuck Egli (Waterloo)
55 Terry Wangsness (Whitewater)
98 Jay Finnegan (Milton)
Heats: 8 lap: (Winners Only)
1) 24 John Duessler (Marshall)
2) 99 Lincoln Keeser (Milton)
3) 19 Denis Schmidt (Watertown)
Trailer Race: John Remsik (Middleton)