Dobbratz Dominates Miller Lite 50
By Andrew Schaller
JEFFERSON, WI (Saturday, August 20, 2011) Steve Dobbratz motored to the front of the field and drove away to win the Miller Lite 50 lap Late Model feature event. The victory is the first on the season for the Rio pilot as he looks to close the gap in the standings between himself and point leader Jason Erickson.
Bruce Lee and Brandon Pendleton led the field to green with Lee sliding into command through turns one and two on the opening circuit. Shaun Scheel followed past Pendleton as he immediately began to pressure the early leader on lap two. The first of two caution periods came on lap five when Luke Westenberg backed his mount into the turn three wall. Once racing resumed, Scheel returned to work on Lee for the top spot while Dobbratz made his way into the top five. After the second caution on lap ten, Dobbratz started his charge to the front, moving into third on lap 11 and quickly driving under Scheel for the second spot. Dobbratz dove under Lee for the lead on lap 14, clearing for the top spot as they exited turn four. Dobbratz stretched his advantage while Lee continued to hold off Scheel for second. Scheel got loose on lap 27, opening the door for Chris Quam and Casey Johnson to slip past. Johnson mounted a late race charge to second, but Dobbratz was well on his way to capturing the win. Johnson settled for second with John Ovadal coming home third. Lee and Kyle Jarlsberg rounded out the top five finishers.
Point leader, Jay Kalbus of Watertown, increased his lead in the standings by claiming the 30 lap Sportsman main event. Will Rece and Stephen Scheel paced the field to green with Rece nipping Scheel at the stripe to lead lap one. Scheel returned the favor on the second tour, but Rece fought back to claim possession of the top spot on lap three. Terry Wangsness followed into second with Doug Bennett in tow for third. Kalbus found himself riding in the fifth spot by lap ten as he continued to move to the front. On lap 12, Kalbus dove to the low side as they raced three wide into turn one. Kalbus emerged with the third position as he set his sights on Wangsness for second. Kalbus stuck his nose into the runner up spot just before the sole caution of the race waved on lap 16. As racing resumed, Kalbus dove under Rece, taking over the point on lap 18. Kalbus began to pull away from the field while Tory Bagley made his way to fourth. Bagley sliced up to second by lap 24, but Kalbus had the race in hand as he saw the checkers first for the win. Bagley was second followed by Rece, Wangsness and Kurt Kleven.
Mark English of Edgerton picked up the win in the 20 lap International feature event. Waylin Willman led early from the outside of row one as the field began to bunch up behind him. Kyle Smith, Joe Cross and Travis Schneeberg raced three wide for the second spot while English watched from fifth. Cross began to fall back as English moved up to take his place in the three wide fight for second. English claimed the spot on lap seven as he set his sights on Willman at the front. English made quick work of Willman, capturing the lead on lap eight and immediately pulling away from the pack. English continued to stretch his lead as Kenny Au made his way to second. English cruised through the final laps to cross the stripe first for the win. Au finished second with Smith, Willman and Mike Lambert completing the top five.
Steven Sauer of Waterloo made a late race pass for the lead enabling him to win the 20 lap Hobby Stock feature event. Mike Manley led lap one as Jeff LeFave moved up to challenge him on the inside. LeFave moved past Manley for the lead on lap two with Allen McBride and Tony Ciano trying to follow. Ciano emerged with the second spot on lap five as LeFave began to show smoke out the back of his machine. The caution waved on lap eight as LeFave was forced to retire with an oil leak. Ciano inherited the lead with point leader Jim Tate Jr on his rear bumper for the restart. Tate charged to the outside of Ciano, drawing even for the lead . Tate cleared for the top spot on lap ten. One lap later, Tate pulled his car to the infield with mechanical difficulties as Ciano once again assumed the lead. As the laps wound down, Sauer pulled up behind Ciano looking to make his move. Sauer dove under Ciano as they headed into turn three with only four laps remaining. Sauer cleared for the lead a lap later as he drove off to get the win. Ciano finished second followed by McBride, Brent Gergen and Chester Williams.
Rodger Stephenson of Cambridge captured the 15 lap Road Warrior feature event. Kevin Pauls grabbed the lead on lap one with Bill Sweeney running second. Sweeney wasted little time as he looked to the low side of Pauls on lap two. While they battled door to door, Stephenson crept up in the bottom groove. Sweeney took the lead on lap five, but it was short lived as Stephenson charged under him. Stephenson cleared for the point on lap seven as Scott Pauls moved up to challenge Sweeney for second. Sweeney pulled off the racing surface with problems on lap 13, handing second to Scott Pauls. But Stephenson continued to show the way as he saw the checkers first for the win. Scott Pauls was second with Kevin Pauls, Tim Ellis and Bill Reynolds rounding out the top five.
Heather Stark of Waterloo grabbed the lead late in the 20 lap Bandit feature en route to victory lane with the win. Dylan Buckingham took control on lap one with Brandon Johnson in tow for second. Johnson made his move for the lead on lap two with Mitch Brockway following into second. On lap four, Stark motored into the outside lane as she tried to move to the front. Stark picked her way up to third just before the caution waved on lap 11. As racing resumed, Stark once again charged to the high side, pulling even with Brockway for second. Stark gained the spot as she slid up alongside Johnson on the point. After battling Johnson for four laps, Stark moved into sole possession of the lead on lap 16. Stark drove off to the checkers to get the win with Johnson finishing in the second spot. Phil Wuesthoff was third followed by Keith Erickson and Seth Reamer.
Next Saturday, August 27, is Fan Appreciation Night highlighted by the Papa Murphy’s Pizza 50 lap Late Model feature. There will also be a Pre-Race Tailgate for the fans and drivers with $1 specials on food and drink from 4-7pm. Time trials begin at 5pm with the first race at 7pm. Jefferson Speedway is located halfway between Jefferson and Cambridge on Hwy 18. Please visit www.jeffersonspeedway.com for more information.
Jefferson Speedway Race Summary
Late Model-
Feature Results- 1) 52 Steve Dobbratz, Rio 2) 5 Casey Johnson, Stoughton 3) 71 John Ovadal Jr, Watertown 4) 77 Bruce Lee, Cambridge 5) 87 Kyle Jarlsberg, Cambridge 6) 4 Chris Quam, Stoughton 7) 94 Jason Erickson, Fort Atkinson 8) 33 Dylan Schuyler, Jefferson 9) 99 Doug Hahn, Whitewater 10) 8 Shaun Scheel, Lake Mills 11) 44 Roger Behlke, Jefferson 12) 61 Jerry Eckhardt, Johnson Creek 13) 27 Ty James, Oconomowoc 14) 96 Tim Lange, Dousman 15) 11 Trent Erdman, Fort Atkinson 16) 17 Rob Summers, Lake Geneva 17) 21 Brandon Pendleton, Helenville 18) 16 Luke Westenberg, Jefferson
Fast Qualifier- 94 Jason Erickson—14.361 seconds
Last Chance- 99 Doug Hahn, 61 Jerry Eckhardt, 17 Rob Summers, 96 Tim Lange
Consi- 3 Shaun Gunsolus, 100 Andy Brinkmann
Heat Winners- 1) 100 Andy Brinkman 2) 8 Shaun Scheel 3) 4 Chris Quam
Sportsman-
Feature Results- 1) 27 Jay Kalbus, Watertown 2) 52 Tory Bagley, Stoughton 3) 15 Will Rece, Stoughton 4) 55 Terry Wangsness, Jefferson 5) 51 Kurt Kleven, Cambridge 6) 4 Jim Taylor, Stoughton 7) 2 Mark Deporter, Fort Atkinson 8) 4 Steven Scheel, Lake Mills 9) 7 James Helmer, Beaver Dam 10) 22 Brady Lilly, Milton 11) 3 Ken Hoff, Stoughton 12) 1 Levi Cloute, Janesville 13) 33 Matt Jordan, Jefferson 14) 5 Doug Bennett, Brodhead 15) 22 Kyle Chwala, Lake Mills
Fast Qualifier- 27 Jay Kalbus—15.097 seconds
Heat Winners- 1) 55 Terry Wangsness 2) 52 Tory Bagley
International-
Feature Results- 1) 57 Mark English, Edgerton 2) 31 Ken Au, Jefferson 3) 90 Kyle Smith, Lake Mills 4) 29 Waylin Willman, Janesville 5) 26 Mike Lambert, Madison 6) 66 Neil Higgins, Watertown 7) 23 Casey Strese, Jefferson 8) 75 Travis Schneeberg, Cottage Grove 9) 67 Joe Cross, Sun Prairie 10) 5 Peter Shelley, Edgerton 11) 11 Jason Kubicz, Whitewater 12) 43 Jimmie Pankow, Jefferson 13) 26 Josh Kubicz, Whitewater 14) 41 Nick Newton, Jefferson
Fast Qualifier- 26 Mike Lambert—16. 318 seconds
Heat Winners- 1) 29 Waylin Willman 2) 57 Mark English
Hobby Stock-
Feature Results- 1) 11 Steven Sauer, Waterloo 2) 86 Tony Ciano, Janesville 3) 62 Allen McBride, Janesville 4) 2 Brent Gergen, Jefferson 5) 22 Chester Williams, Waukesha 6) 29 Mike Manley, Janesville 7) 71 Jamie Dunn, Deforest 8) 72 Gary Paulick, Union Grove 9) 77 Sean Watters, Jefferson 10) 27 Jim Tate Jr, Deforest 11) 81 Jeff LeFave, Fort Atkinson
Fast Qualifier- 11 Steven Sauer—16.255 seconds
Heat Winners- 1) 29 Mike Manley 2) 77 Sean Watters
Road Warrior-
Feature Results- 1) 88 Rodger Stephenson, Cambridge 2) 18 Scott Pauls, Deerfield 3) 78 Kevin Pauls, Middleton 4) 01 Tim Ellis, S.Beloit (IL) 5) 6 Bill Reynolds, Watertown 6) 23 Tina Stephenson, Cambridge 7) 51 Rory Hardy, Oregon 8) 42 Bill Sweeney, Edgerton
Fast Qualifier- 18 Scott Pauls—16.899 seconds
Heat Winners- 1) 6 Bill Reynolds 2) 88 Rodger Stephenson
Bandit-
Feature Results- 1) 93 Heather Stark, Waterloo 2) 62 Brandon Johnson, Avalon 3) 99 Phil Wuesthoff, Beaver Dam 4) 03 Keith Erickson, Columbus 5) 37 Seth Reamer, Columbus 6) 09 Nick Schmidt, Menomonie 7) 31 Mike Heimann, Waunakee 8) 10 Dave Schmidt, Menomonie 9) 13 Josh Marx, Jefferson 10) 17 Tadd Douglas, Jefferson 11) 16 Josh Lenz, Lake Mills 12) 109 Ryan Flanagan 13) 36 Erik Bennett, Beloit 14) 43 Mitch Brockway, Ixonia 15) 53 Dylan Buckingham, Whitewater 16) 98 Felicia Dewey, Janesville
Fast Qualifier- 93 Heather Stark—14.274 seconds
Last Chance- 98 Felicia Dewey, 36 Erik Bennett, 17 Tadd Douglas, 109 Ryan Flanagan
Heat Winners- 1) 36 Erik Bennett 2) 10 Dave Schmidt