Clark notches first career win at Jefferson Speedway!
By Jeanne & Larry Starr
June 5, 1999; Jefferson, WI. – Bruce Clark of Watertown led flag-to-flag claiming his first career feature victory at Jefferson Speedway. Starting from the pole position Clark pulled ahead and never looked back, as he guided the field to the checkered flag.
The race was slowed by one caution, on lap 4, when several cars tangled on the back stretch, retiring former track champion Ron Bishofberger of Ft. Atkinson, Dan Chesmore of Janesville and Curt Thompson of Palmyra early in the race. On the restart Clark pulled ahead of Luke Westenberg of Palmyra as Denny Stair of Sullivan worked his way up from the 6th spot, toward the point. Stair moved under John Ovadal of Johnson Creek, for third, on lap 11 and closed with Westenberg. Stair moved to the inside of Westenberg on lap 15 and the two battled side by side for nearly 10 laps, before Stair pulled ahead in 2nd. Stair tried to run down Clark, over the closing laps of the race, but Clark was not about to slow up at this point. At the stripe it was Clark for the win, followed by Stair, Andy Wendt of Watertown, Roger Behlke of Jefferson and Mike Taylor of Stoughton.
Andy Wendt set the fast qualifying pace, with a 14.918 second tour of Wisconsin’s Action Track.
Scott Null of Lake Mills claimed the trophy, and money, in the “Racing For Her”, “B&K Metalfab” and “Hot Race Products” sponsored Fast Dash.
Claiming victories, in 10 lap heat races were Brian Schneidewent of Palmyra, Taylor and Bart Reinen of Jefferson.
Transferring to the main event from the 20 lap Last Chance race were Jasper Gronert of Jefferson, Butch Mierendorf of Waterloo, Reinen and Charlie Mierendorf of Lake Mills.
In International class action Brent Nottestad of Cambridge notched his second feature win, in the 20 lap main event. Starting from the inside of row 6 Nottestad began his trek to the front, as Scott Uttech of Beaver Dam pulled out to the early lead. Caution came on lap 1 as three cars tangled. Charles Dixon of Waukesha pulled up to claim the lead by lap 4, with Aaron Rude of Cambridge close behind for 2nd. Nottestad pulled into the 3rd spot by lap 5, engaging Rude in the battle for 2nd. The field slowed for another caution on lap 6.
On the restart it was Dixon at the point with Nottestad moving to the inside of Rude. Rule fought hard, on the outside, hanging onto the 2nd spot until the next caution, on lap 11. On this restart, Nottestad pulled under and past Rude, closing with Dixon. Nottestad claimed the point on lap 13, followed by Rude. The field slowed, for the final caution, on lap 16, with Nottestad at the point followed by Rude. Nottestad guided the field to the checkered, where he was followed by Rude, Darnell Mepham of Ft. Atkinson, Dixon and Mike Bingham of Jefferson.
Justin Nottestad of Cambridge set the fast qualifying pace, with a 16.073 second orbit of the quarter mile speed plant.
Claiming victory in 10 lap heat races were Tory Adams of Madison and Rick Neerland of Ft. Atkinson.
Joining the feature lineup, via the 10 lap Last Chance race were Bingham, Mike Dietzen of Milwaukee, Mark Balis of Edgerton and Ken Edmundson of Whitewater.
In Sportsman Division action Chris Purdy of Milton made it two in a row, in the 25 lap feature. Starting from the outside of row 7, Purdy began his run to the point, as Roger Stephenson of Cambridge pulled out to the early lead. As Stephenson guided the field, rookie driver Jeff Kohlhoff of Watertown was working his way through the field, just ahead of defending track champion Dave Oswald of Cottage Grove. Kohlhoff lost the handle coming down the front stretch, on lap 9, triggering a melee that collected most of the middle of the field. Stevenson lead the field back to the green, followed by Ryan Ley of Sullivan and Randy Padfield of Stoughton.
Purdy moved under Padfield, on the start, claiming the 3rd spot and closing with Ley. The final caution came on lap 10, with Purdy running 3rd behind Ley. At the green flag, Purdy moved under Ley, claiming 2nd and closed with Stephenson. Stephenson surrendered the point on lap 11 as Purdy pulled ahead to guide the way to the checkered. At the stripe it was Purdy, making it two in a row, followed by Padfield, Kyle Munro of Ft. Atkinson, Josh Courtney of Janesville and Oswald.
Munro set the fast qualifying pace with a 15.784 second circuit of the quarter mile speed plant.
Claiming victory, in 10 lap heat races, were Scotty Johnson of Deforest, Noel Ramge of Hellenville, Tom Collins of Lake Mills and Randy Padfield of Stoughton.
Joining the Last Chance race via the 10 lap Consi Were Dale Padfield of Jefferson, Chad Reimer of Oconomowoc and Shane Radtke of Rome.
Moving to the feature lineup, via the 15 lap Last Chance race were Rick Stenli of Stoughton, Collins, Dylan Schuyler of Dousman and Mark Deporter of Ft. Atkinson.
In Hobby Stock action, former track champion Dennis Gaserude of Oregon drove from 11th to the point, claiming victory in the 20 lap feature. Gaserude caught early leader Jim Blucher of Madison on lap 5, claiming the point and guiding the field to the checkered flag. At the strip it was Gaserude followed by Jim Pfeifer of Ft. Atkinson, Trent Erdman of Ft. Atkinson, Ernie Witte of Watertown and Nick Golich of Hebron.
The fast qualifying time was turned in by Pfeifer, with a 17.265 second lap of the quarter mile.
Claiming victory in 8 lap heat races were Randy Strasburg of Jefferson and Chuck Egli of Waterloo.
Rounding out the evening’s entertainment was the Roll-Over Contest, where Roy Pfeifer Jr. of Ft. Atkinson claimed top honors, out of a field of 20 cars.
Next week, Jefferson Speedway brings back the trailer race. A field of compact cars, pulling trailers, of all descriptions, will compete in an event where the last car running, with a trailer attached, wins!
Jefferson Speedway is located on Highway 18, between Jefferson and Cambridge. Gates open at 3:30PM, qualifying at 5:30PM and racing at 7:30PM sharp.
Late Model Division
35 Lap Feature Event
1. # 7 Bruce Clark Watertown
2. #43 Denny Stair Sullivan
3. #18 Andy Wendt Watertown
4. #44 Roger Behlke Jefferson
5. #41 Mike Taylor Stoughton
6. #16 Luke Westenberg Palmyra
7. #71 John Ovadal Johnson Creek
8. # 6 Bart Reinen Jefferson
9. #25 Randy Cusick Fort Atkinson
10. # 1 Charlie Mierendorf Waterloo
11. #46 Nick Wendt Watertown
12. #22 Jasper Gronert Janesville
13. # 7 Bill Leindecker Janesville
14. #62 Scott Null Lake Mills
15. #55 Eric Gerlach Palmyra
16. #76 Ron Bishofberger Fort Atkinson
17. #27 Dan Chesmore Janesville
18. #12 Butch Mierendorf Waterloo
20 Lap Last Chance:
1.) Jasper Groner
2.) Butch Mierendorf
3.) Bart Reinen
4.) Charlie Mierendorf
First 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Brian Schneidewent
Second 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Mike Taylor
Third 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Bart Reinen
Dash:
1.) Scott Null
Fast Qualifier: #18 Andy Wendt, Watertown,……….14.918 Seconds
Internationals
20 Lap Feature Event
1. #25 Brent Nottestad Cambridge
2. # 9 Aaron Rude Cambridge
3. #12 Darnell Mepham Fort Atkinson
4. #71 Charles Dixon Waukesha
5. #17 Mike Bingham Jefferson
6. # 2 Matt Frey Cambridge
10 Lap Last Chance:
1.) Mike Bingham
2.) Mike Dietzen
3.) Mark Balis
4.) Ken Edmundson
First 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Tory Adams
Second 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Rick Neerland
Fast Qualifier: #15 Justin Nottestad, Cambridge,……..16.073 Seconds
Sportsman
25 Lap Feature Event
1. # 7 Chris Purdy Milton
2. #27 Randy Padfield Stoughton
3. #30 Kyle Munro Fort Atkinson
4. #21 Josh Courtney Janesville
5. #31 Dave Oswald Cottage Grove
6. #77 Ryan Ley Sullivan
10 Lap Consolation:
1.) Dale Padfield
2.) Chad Reimer
3.) Shane Radtke
15 Lap Last Chance:
1.) Rick Stenli
2.) Tom Collins
3.) Dylan Schuyler
4.) Mark Deporter
First 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Scotty Johnson
Second 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Noel Ramge
Third 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Tom Collins
Fourth 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Randy Padfield
Fast Qualifier: #30 Kyle Munro, Fort Atkinson,………15.784 Seconds
Hobby Stocks
20 Lap Feature Event
1. #18 Dennis Gaserude Oregon
2. #58 Jim Pfiefer Fort Atkinson
3. #11 Trent Erdman Fort Atkinson
4. #02 Ernie Witte Watertown
5. # 0 Jason Thom Johnson Creek
6. #56 Randy Strasburg Jefferson
First 8 Lap Heat:
1.) Randy Strasburg
Second 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Chuck Egli
Fast Qualifier: #58 Jim Pfiefer, Fort Atkinson,…….17.265 Seconds
Roll Over Contest: Roy Pfiefer, Fort Atkinson