Erickson Is Back to Back Winner

By Andrew Schaller
JEFFERSON, WI (Saturday, July 30, 2011) Fort Atkinson’s Jason Erickson charged to the front of the field on Saturday night to win the Pepsi 50 lap Late Model feature. The win marked Erickson’s second straight victory and third of the season. Erickson is the only Late Model pilot to garner more than one feature win to this point in the 2011 campaign.

Scott Lindsay and Brandon Pendleton led the field to green with Lindsay taking the initial lead on lap one. Pendleton fell in line for second with Roger Behlke running third. Behlke moved to the low side as he pulled alongside Pendleton on lap two. Behlke cleared for second on lap three with Trent Erdman trying to follow. The first of two cautions waved on lap nine for a spinning Steve Dobbratz. Erdman made the pass for third as racing resumed and just before the second caution on lap 11. Once racing got back underway, Erdman was shown the black flag for leaking fluid handing third to John Ovadal. On lap 18, Behlke began to take a look to the inside of Lindsay at the point. Behlke drew even with Lindsay as they duo battled for the lead. Behlke drifted a little high entering turn one on lap 20. Behlke and Lindsay made contact forcing Lindsay to check up as Behlke rocketed into the lead with Ovadal in tow for second. Two laps later, Ovadal took a look to the inside of the new leader as Erickson ran the two drivers down. Erickson joined the two leaders as he pulled up behind Behlke with Ovadal to the inside. Ovadal continued to work the low side as he tried to make the pass for the lead. On lap 34, Ovadal began to lose grip as he slid back allowing Erickson to dive under Behlke. Erickson completed the winning pass with ten circuits remaining. Erickson cruised through the final laps to see the checkers first for the win. Rounding out the top five were Behlke, Casey Johnson, Dylan Schuyler and Ovadal.

Greg Staude of Helenville led all 30 laps of the Sportsman main event on his way to victory lane with the win. Staude grabbed the lead on lap one from the outside of the front row. Will Rece tried to come back on the inside, but couldn’t hang on as Jim Taylor moved past into second. Tory Bagley followed into third as the leaders lined up single file. The top three ran under a blanket lap after lap with Staude showing the way. James Helmer tried to mount a late race charge into the top three, but the leaders held serve over the final laps with Staude seeing the checkers first for the win. Taylor finished second followed by Bagley, Helmer and Jay Kalbus.

Waterloo’s Kyle Stark claimed yet another International feature win as he took the 20 lap feature event. Casey Strese led lap one with Devon Dixon up to second. Dixon peeked under Strese on lap three as he pulled alongside the early leader. Dixon cleared on lap four with Kenny Au following into second. Neil Higgins moved into third on lap five with Stark in his tracks for fourth. Stark quickly moved past Higgins for third a lap later. Stark found himself under Au on lap eight, clearing for second and setting his sights on Dixon. Stark closed up on the back bumper of Dixon on lap 12 as he shadowed the leader. Stark dove under Dixon entering turn three on lap 13. They duo passed under the flag stand side by side. Stark cleared through turns one and two as he immediately pulled away from the field. Stark cruised to the stripe for the win followed by Dixon, Mark English, Gary Stark and Mike Lambert.

Driving a loaned ride, Jim Tate Jr of Deforest captured the 20 lap Hobby Stock main event. After a three wide battle on lap two, Sean Watters emerged with the top spot with Chester Williams in tow for second. Tate followed into third on lap four. Williams charged under Watters on lap six, clearing for the lead a lap later. Tate stayed on his rear bumper as he moved into second. Williams kept Tate at bay until he was forced to retire from the event with mechanical difficulties. Tate grabbed the lead on lap 14 with Tony Ciano moving up to second. Tate stayed strong out front to get the win with Ciano, Zack Schmidt, Dustin Ward and Jeff LeFave rounding out the top five.

Bill Reynolds of Watertown led flag to flag to win the 15 lap Road Warrior main event. Starting from the pole, Reynolds took control as they crossed the line to complete lap one. Tim Ellis fell to second as he tried to hold off Rodger Stephenson for the position. Stephenson got under Ellis on lap seven, clearing for second a lap later. Stephenson tried to run down Reynolds on the point, but Reynolds couldn’t be caught. Reynolds saw the checkers first with Stephenson settling for second. Completing the top five were Ellis, Mike White and Kevin Pauls.

Seth Reamer of Columbus used a late race charge to claim the lead and win the 20 lap Bandit feature event. Brandon Johnson led at the start with Josh Lenz in second. Mitch Brockway stole the runner up spot for himself before the first of two cautions on lap five. After another quick caution three laps later, the leaders lined up single file with Reamer working his way through the pack and into the top five. With five laps remaining, Reamer took to the outside lane as the charged forward. Reamer found himself outside Brockway for second on lap 17 and door to door with Johnson for the lead a lap later. Reamer stuck his nose into the lead as they flew past the white flag. Reamer cleared for the lead on the final lap as he motored to the finish for the win. Johnson came home second followed by Brockway¸ Heather Stark and Lenz.

Next Saturday, August 6, is a full program of racing in all six divisions. Time trials begin at 5pm with racing at 7pm sharp. Jefferson Speedway is located halfway between Jefferson and Cambridge on Hwy 18. Please visitwww.jeffersonspeedway.com for more information.

Jefferson Speedway Race Summary

Late Model-

Pepsi 50 lap Feature Results- 1) 94 Jason Erickson, Fort Atkinson 2) 44 Roger Behlke, Jefferson 3) 5 Casey Johnson, Stoughton 4) 33 Dylan Schuyler, Jefferson 5) 71 John Ovadal, Watertown 6) 8 Shaun Scheel, Lake Mills 7) 27 Ty James, Oconomowoc 8) 29 Scott Lindsay, Dousman 9) 9 Tommy Pecaro, Markesan 10) 68 Dan Jung, Hartford 11) 21 Brandon Pendleton, Helenville 12) 52 Steve Dobbratz, Rio 13) 99 Doug Hahn, Whitewater 14) 4 Chris Quam, Stoughton 15) 13 Rob Myers, Hartford 16) 77 Bruce Lee, Cambridge 17) 16 Luke Westenberg, Jefferson 18) 11 Trent Erdman, Fort Atkinson

Fast Qualifier- 52 Steve Dobbratz—14.391 seconds

Last Chance- 13 Rob Myers, 4 Chris Quam, 9 Tommy Pecaro, 77 Bruce Lee

Consi- 16 Tyler Peterson, 99 Lincoln Keeser

Heat Winners- 1) 99 Lincoln Keeser 2) 61 Jerry Eckhardt 3) 104 Noel Ramge 4) 21 Ryan Zielski

Sportsman-

Feature Results- 1) 32 Greg Staude, Helenville 2) 4 Jim Taylor, Stoughton 3) 52 Tory Bagley, Stoughton 4) 7 James Helmer, Beaver Dam 5) 27 Jay Kalbus, Watertown 6) 4 Mark Deporter, Fort Atkinson 7) 51 Kurt Kleven, Cambridge 8) 15 Will Rece, Stoughton 9) 55 Terry Wangsness, Jefferson 10) 22 Brady Lilly, Milton 11) 11 Adam Bleskan, Menomonie Falls 12) 19 Dan Schmidt, Farmington 13) 1 Levi Cloute, Janesville 14) 6 Jason Thoma, Jefferson 15) 23 Randy Breunig, Columbus 16) 2 Tom Schuette, Fort Atkinson

Fast Qualifier- 27 Jay Kalbus—15.056 seconds

Heat Winners- 1) 1 Levi Cloute 2) 32 Greg Staude

International-

Feature Results- 1) 92 Kyle Stark, Waterloo 2) 111 Devon Dixon, Janesville 3) 57 Mark English, Edgerton 4) 35 Gary Stark, Sun Prairie 5) 26 Mike Lambert, Madison 6) 31 Kenny Au, Jefferson 7) 66 Neil Higgins, Watertown 8) 90 Kyle Smith, Lake Mills 9) 00 Casey Strese, Jefferson 10) 5 Peter Shelley, Edgerton 11) 6 Dale Smith, Lake Mills 12) 75 Travis Schneeberg, Cottage Grove 13) 97 Chris Chenoweth, Jefferson 14) 83 Devin Wild, Jefferson 15) 28 Brandon Wachal, Janesville 16) 34 Dustin Yanke, Fort Atkinson

Fast Qualifier- 26 Mike Lambert—16.311 seconds

Last Chance- 28 Brandon Wachal, 97 Chris Chenoweth, 34 Dustin Yanke, 83 Devin Wild

Heat Winners- 1) 83 Devin Wild 2) 66 Neil Higgins 3) 92 Kyle Stark

Hobby Stock-

Feature Results- 1) 27 Jim Tate Jr, Deforest 2) 86 Tony Ciano, Janesville 3) 19 Zack Schmidt, Johnson Creek 4) 9 Dustin Ward, Waterloo 5) 81 Jeff LeFave, Fort Atkinson 6) 77 Sean Watters, Jefferson 7) 29 Mike Manley, Fort Atkinson 8) 7 Jim Wolf, Watertown 9) 39 Justin Kumbier, Watertown 10) 22 Chester Williams, Waukesha

Fast Qualifier- 27 Jim Tate Jr—16.439 seconds

Heat Winners- 1) 81 Jeff LeFave 2) 9 Dustin Ward, Waterloo

Road Warrior-

Feature Results- 1) 6 Bill Reynolds, Watertown 2) 88 Rodger Stephenson, Cambridge 3) 01 Tim Ellis, Loves Park (IL) 4) 33 Mike White, Janesville 5) 78 Kevin Pauls, Middleton 6) 71 Jimmie Pankow, Jefferson 7) 23 Mike Manley, Fort Atkinson 8) 135 Rob Lange, Jefferson 9) 18 Scott Pauls, Deerfield 10) 42 Bill Sweeney, Edgerton

Fast Qualifier- 18 Scott Pauls—16.931 seconds

Heat Winners- 1) 6 Bill Reynolds 2) 88 Rodger Stephenson

Bandit-

Feature Results- 1) 37 Seth Reamer, Columbus 2) 62 Brandon Johnson, Avalon 3) 43 Mitch Brockway, Ixonia 4) 93 Heather Stark, Waterloo 5) 16 Josh Lenz, Lake Mills 6) 99 Phil Wuesthoff, Beaver Dam 7) 09 Nick Schmidt, Menomonie 8) 31 Michael Heimann, Waunakee 9) 10 Dave Schmidt, Menomonie 10) 03 Keith Erickson, Columbus 11) 1 Kyle Riedner, Waunakee 12) 13 Josh Marx, Jefferson 13) 52 Brad Birzer, Ixonia 14) 69 Dan Birkett, Jefferson 15) 28 Scott Crawford 16) 41 Jordan Lamb, Fort Atkinson 17) 17 Tadd Douglas, Jefferson 18) 13 Taylor Schmude, Cambridge

Fast Qualifier- 93 Heather Stark—14.308 seconds

Last Chance- 28 Scott Crawford, 52 Brad Birzer, 13 Josh Marx, 41 Jordan Lamb

Heat Winners- 1) 76 Alan Stillman 2) 16 Josh Lenz 3) 09 Nick Schmidt