Chesmore Victorious in Watertown Bowl 50 Frey Captures first WIN at Jefferson Speedway!!

By Jeanne & Larry Starr

September 5, 1998; Jefferson, WI. – Janesville’s Dan Chesmore notched his second feature win, of the 1998 season, in the Watertown Bowl 50 on Wisconsin’s Action track. Starting from the outside of row 6 Chesmore began his trek to the front, as Russ Goodwin of Beloit pulled out in the early lead. As Chesmore worked his way through the field, Kenny Olson of Ft. Atkinson closed with Goodwin, as Randy Breunig of Columbus and Eric Gerlach of Palmyra battled for the third spot.

Chesmore made his way to fifth before the only caution of the race came, on lap 13, for a car hitting the wall in turn three. On the restart it was still Goodwin the lead as Chesmore pulled to the inside of Gerlach, making his bid for second. Chesmore pulled ahead of Gerlach on lap 15 while Goodwin found Olson making a run to the inside, in his bid for the lead. Olson grabbed the top spot on lap 16, with Chesmore following into second and starting his campaign for the top spot.

Chesmore worked the inside of Olson for 6 laps, before making the winning pass on lap 21. As Chesmore assumed the point, Olson worked to come back on the outside, making a good run of it for 4 more laps. As Chesmore pulled ahead of Olson, former track champion Andy Wendt of Watertown battled his way toward the front. Wendt claimed fourth by lap 24, as Charlie Mierendorf of Lake Mills closed with Olson in the battle for second. Chesmore continued to open up his lead, as Wendt closed with Olson and Mierendorf, looking for an opening.

Coming out of the 2nd turn, on lap 27, Olson and Mierendorf got slightly out of shape, opening a line to the inside. Wendt charged to the bottom sailing past both cars, to claim the second spot, with nearly a straight away between him and Chesmore. As both drivers would their way through lapped traffic, Wendt steadily closed the gap, but it proved to be too little too late, as Chesmore guided the way tot he checkered flag. At the stripe it was Chesmore claiming his second of the season, followed by Wendt, Mierendorf, Scott Null of Lake Mills and Roger Behlke of Jefferson.

Jason Erickson of Cambridge set the fast qualifying pace with a 14.876 second tour of the quarter mile speed plant.

Null claimed the check, from the 8 lap Watertown Bowl Dash for Cash.

Claiming victory in 10 lap heat races were Steve Seals of Janesville, Scott Bleeker of Jefferson, Goodwin and Breunig.

Transferring to the Last Chance Race, via the 8 lap Consi were Jim Glesing of Palmyra and Seals.

Rounding out the feature lineup, via the 20 lap Last Chance Race were Randy Cusick of Ft. Atkinson, Mike Taylor of Stoughton, Rex Weston of Lake Mills and Luke Westenberg of Palmyra.

In International class action Matt Frey of Cambridge claimed his first feature victory of the season, in the 20 lap main event. Starting from the outside of row two, Frey began his drive to the front, as Charles Dixon of Waukesha moved out to the early lead. Frey closed with Dixon over the first 6 laps, as the current point leader battled his way from the rear of the field. Frey moved to the inside of Dixon on lap 5, raced side by side for one lap pulling ahead on lap 7 and never looked back.

As Frey guided the field to the checkered flag a 4 way battle for position was making its way through the field as Darnell Mepham of Ft. Atkinson, the current point leader Justin Nottestad of Cambridge, Brent Nottestad of Cambridge and Mike Cusick of Edgerton fought their way toward the front. Frey was well ahead of that battle as he guided the field, through the caution free race, toward the checkered flag. As they flew past the checkered flag it was Frey for the win, followed by Dixon, Mepham, Justin Nottestad and Brent Nottestad.

Justin Nottestad set the fast pace in qualifying, with a 16.001 second tour of the quarter mile. This came after breaking down during practice, leaving the track to put in a new engine and returning just in time to get 1 lap of qualifying.

Claiming victory, in 10 lap heat races, were Jim Pankow of Oregon, D. R. Moore of Madison and Justin Nottestad.

Transferring to the feature, via the 10 lap Last Chance race were Moore, Jason Uttech of Watertown, Mike Bingham of Jefferson and Tory Adams of Madison.

In Sportsman Division action Chris Purdy of Milton claimed the checkered flag in the 25 lap main event. Starting from the outside of row 2, Purdy avoided trouble in the lap 1 caution, moving up to 6th for the restart. As the green flag flew, Tony Koepke of Ft. Atkinson pulled out to the early lead. On the restart Purdy continued his charge to the front, as the current point leader Dave Oswald of Cottage Grove worked his way from the rear of the field.

Randy Padfield of Stoughton closed with Koepke, challenging for the lead. Padfield moved to the inside of Koepke on lap 6, working the inside for 5 laps before claiming the lead on lap 11. As Padfield moved under Koepke, Purdy was right there, following Padfield, to claim second. Purdy moved inside of Padfield, on lap 16, motoring into the lead, around turns 3 and 4. By lap 20, Oswald pulled up behind the battle for second, between Padfield and Chad Stevens of Beloit.

Stevens fell to Oswald’s challenge on lap 20 with Padfield holding on until lap 23. Oswald closed with Purdy, over the remaining laps, but was never within striking distance. As the checkered flag fell it was Purdy in the lead followed by Oswald, Padfield, Stevens, Bob Selsing of Ft. Atkinson and Kyle Munro of Ft. Atkinson.

Purdy subsequently failed the post race technical inspection, moving Oswald into the win column.

Oswald set the fast qualifying pace with a 16.005 second orbit of the quarter mile.

Claiming victory, in ten lap heat races, were Bo Sanden of Neville, Padfield and Dave Quale of Ft. Atkinson.

Transferring to the main event from the 10 lap Last Chance race were John Ovadal Jr. of Johnson Creek, Kale Peterman of Juneau, Sanden and Brett Carson of Ft. Atkinson.

In Hobby Stock Action, Jeff Kohlhoff of Watertown closed the gap in the season point standings with his victory in the 20 lap feature. Starting from the inside of row 7, Kohlhoff began the long drive to the front beside the current point leader, Jim Pfeifer of Ft. Atkinson, as Bill Bush of Johnson Creek drove out in the early lead.

Through a maze of cars Kohlhoff wound his way toward the front, with Pfeifer pulling off early, suffering from a flat tire. Kohlhoff claimed the 6th spot by lap 5, looking to the inside of former track champion Dennis Gaserude of Oregon for 4th. Gaserude moved to the bottom, moving up to 3rd, with Kohlhoff right behind, claiming 4th. Kohlhoff moved under Gaserude on lap 11 to claim second, and set his sights on Bush. Closing in on Bush on lap 12, Kohlhoff moved to the inside, setting up the winning pass on lap 12. At the stripe it was Kohlhoff for the win, followed by Gaserude, Pete Elgas of Janesville, Bush and Lincoln Keeser of Johnson Creek.

Kohlhoff set the fast pace in qualifying with a 16.861 second drive around the quarter mile.

Claiming victory, in 8 lap heat races, were Randy Strasburg of Jefferson, Jason Ayers of Stoughton and Gaserude.

Moving to the feature lineup from the 8 lap Last Chance race were Ayers, Jim Williams of Milton, Scott Carson of Whitewater and Billy Gay of Janesville.

Rounding out the night’s entertainment was the second running of the “Bubble Gauntlet”.
As the cars took to the soap covered track, fans were treated to an action packed 8 laps, as track promoter Terry Tucker piloted the Buick Century ahead of a determined swarm of sub-compacts. For a while it looked like Tucker’s streak was going to end, but he managed to keep the Buick going, to complete the Gauntlet victorious.

Following the races, the track hosted its annual fan appreciation party with a corn boil and refreshments. A good time was had by all.

Next week at Jefferson Speedway Havill-Spoerl Automotive Group presents the Season Championship 75 lap Late Model feature, along with extended features in all divisions. Champions to be crowned in the Late Model, International, Sportsman and Hobby Stock divisions.

Gates open at 4:00, qualifying at 5:30 and racing to begin at 7:30 sharp. Jefferson Speedway is located on highway 18 half way between Jefferson and Cambridge

Late Model Division
“Watertown Bowl 50” – 50 Lap Feature Event
1. #27 Dan Chesmore (Watertown)
2. #18 Andy Wendt (Watertown)
3. # 1 Charlie Mierendorf (Lake Mills)
4. #62 Scott Null (Lake Mills)
5. #44 Roger Behlke (Jefferson)
6. #55 Eric Gerlach (Palmyra)
7. #41 Mike Taylor (Edgerton)
8. #43 Denny Stair (Sullivan)
9. #96 Jason Erickson (Cambridge)
10. #76 Randy Breunig (Columbus)
11. #46 Nick Wendt (Watertown)
12. # 2 Tom Dorn(Fort Atkinson)
13. #36 Rex Weston (Lake Mills)
14. #16 Luke Westenberg (Palmyra)
15. #25 Randy Cusick (Fort Atkinson)
16. #68 Kenny Olson (Fort Atkinson)
17. #11 Russ Goodwin (Beloit)
18. #93 John Hornby (Sun Prairie)

20 Lap Last Chance:
1.) Cusick
2.) Taylor
3.) Weston
4.) Westernberg

8 Lap Consolation:
1.) Jim Glesing
2.) Steve Seals

First 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Seals

Second 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Scott Bleeker

Third 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Goodwin

Fourth 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Breunig

Watertown Bowl Dash for Cash:
1.) Null

Fast Qualifier:
#96 Jason Erickson, Cambridge,……….14.876 Seconds

Internationals
20 Lap Feature Event
1. # 2 Matt Frey (Cambridge)
2. #11 Mike Dixon (Omro)
3. #12 Darnell Mepham (Fort Atkinson)
4. #15 Justin Nottestad (Cambridge)
5. #25 Brent Nottestad (Cambridge)
6. # 9 Aaron Rude (Cambridge)

10 Lap Last Chance:
1.) D.R. Moore
2.) Jason Uttech
3.) Mike Bingham
4.) Tory Adams

First 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Jim Pankow

Second 10 Lap Heat:
1.) D.R. Moore

Third 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Justin Nottestad

Fast Qualifier:
#15 Justin Nottestad, Cambridge, WI,……..16.001 Seconds

Sportsman
25 Lap Feature Event
DQ # 7 Chris Purdy (Ft. Atkinson)
1. #31 Dave Oswald (Cottage Grove)
2. #27 Randy Padfield (Stoughton)
3. #82 Chad Stevens (Beloit)
4. #42 Bob Selsing (Fort Atkinson)
5. #30 Kyle Munro (Fort Atkinson)

10 Lap Last Chance:
1.) John Ovadahl Jr.
2.) Kale Peterman
3.) Bo Sanden
4.) Brett Carson

First 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Sanden

Second 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Padfield

Third 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Dave Quale

Fast Qualifier:
#31 Dave Oswald, Cottage Grove,………16.005 Seconds

Hobby Stocks
20 Lap Feature Event
1. #98 Jeff Kohloff (Watertown)
2. #18 Dennis Gaserude (Oregon)
3. #52 Pete Elgas (Janesville)
4. #17 Bill Bush (Johnson Creek)
5. #99 Lincoln Keeser (Johnson Creek)
6. #19 Dan Schmidt (Farmington)

Last Chance:
1.) Jason Ayers
2.) Jim Williams
3.) Scott Carson
4.) Billy Gay

First 8 Lap Heat:
1.) Randy Strasburg

Second 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Jason Ayers

Third 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Dennis Gaserude

Fast Qualifier:
#98 Jeff Kohloff, Watertown, WI,…….16.861 Seconds

Bubble Gauntlet: The gauntlet car emerged victorious from an action packed 8 laps, keeping Terry Tucker’s winning streak in tact.