Gerlach scores Late Model win, Nottestad takes clean sweep at Jefferson Speedway!

By Jeanne & Larry Starr

May 29, 1999; Jefferson, WI. – Eric Gerlach of Palmyra powered from the outside of the front row, to the checkered flag, notching his first feature win of the 1999 season, in the Kearns Motor Cars 50, at Jefferson Speedway. As Gerlach claimed the point, rookie driver Randy Breunig of Columbus moved into second, with Bill Leindecker of Janesville close behind.

Leindecker claimed the second spot on lap 9, falling in behind Gerlach as they opened up a healthy lead over the field. The lead vaporized on lap 19, as a spin in turn 2, brought out the second caution of the race. On the restart Gerlach pulled ahead, as Mike Taylor of Stoughton moved ahead from the 4th spot. Taylor claimed 3rd on lap 22, with Scott Null of Lake Mills close behind for 4th. A pair of cars tangled on the back stretch, bringing out the final caution of the race, on lap 41. On the restart Leindecker made his bid for the lead, but Gerlach proved up to the task as the top 4 battled nose to tail, and side by side, over the final 9 laps. At the stripe it was Gerlach for the win, followed by Leindecker, Taylor, Null and Ron Bishofberger of Ft. Atkinson.

Bishofberger set the fast qualifying pace, with a 14.926 second orbit of the quarter mile speed plant.

Defending track champion Andy Wendt of Watertown claimed the trophy in the, Kearns Motor Cars, Fast Dash.

Claiming, 10 lap heat race, victories were Butch Mierendorf of Waterloo, Scott Bleeker of Jefferson, Dan Chesmore of Janesville and Taylor.

Transferring to the Last Chance race, via the 12 lap Consolation Race were Brian Schneidewent of Palmyra and James Gleesing of Whitewater.

Moving to the feature lineup, through the 20 lap Last Chance race were J.C. Stanelle of Milton, Terry Morgan of Delafield, Jon Hornby of Sun Prairie and Bleeker.

In International class action, defending track champion Justin Nottestad of Cambridge filled his “Clean Sweep” with his victory in the 20 lap main event. Starting from the outside of row 6, Nottestad powered through the field, claiming the 5th spot by lap 4, as Scott Uttech of Beaver Dam pulled out in the early lead.

Nottestad caught Uttech by lap 5, pulling to the inside to make his bid for the lead. Uttech surrendered the position on lap 6, only to find himself battling Charles Dixon of Waukesha for second. Aaron Rude of Cambridge pulled up to join the battle, moving under Uttech and Dixon to claim 2nd on lap 9. As they streaked passed the checkered flag it was Nottestad for the win, followed by Rude, Dixon, Mike Drays of Milton and Matt Frey of Cambridge.

Nottestad set the fast pace in qualifying with a 15.976 second tour of Wisconsin’s Action Track.

Claiming victory in 10 lap heat races were Mark English of Edgerton and Nottestad.

Transferring to the main event, via the 10 lap Last Chance race were Brent Nottestad of Cambridge, English, Mark Balis of Edgerton, Ken Edmundson of Whitewater and Jason Uttech of Watertown.

In Sportsman division action Chris Purdy of Milton ground his way to the front of the 25 lap main event. Starting from the inside of row 5, Purdy began his drive to the front, as Dave Quale of Ft. Atkinson and Rich Titus of Jefferson battled for the early lead. Quale pulled ahead by lap 2, with Purdy up to the 4th spot. Purdy pulled into second on lap 9, closing with Quale on lap 11 and working to the inside.

Quale battled hard, on the outside, fighting side by side until lap 23, when Purdy managed to pull ahead. At the stripe it was Purdy claiming the checkered flag, followed by Quale, defending track champion Dave Oswald of Cottage Grove, Rick Coppernoll of Madison, Kyle Munro of Ft. Atkinson and Chad Stevens of Beloit.

Quale subsequently failed the post race technical inspection, moving the finishing order, from 2nd back, up one position.

Oswald set the fast qualifying pace, with a 15.651 second circuit of the quarter mile.

Claiming victories, in 10 lap heat races, were Scotty Johnson of Deforest, Noel Ramge of Hellenville, Randy Padfield of Stoughton and Quale.

Making the Last Chance race via the 10 lap Consi were Brian Jensen of Tigerton and Johnson. Kevin Thompson of Palmyra, Ben Hallock of Ft. Atkinson, Tom Collins of lake Mills and Alan McBride of Janesville moved through the 10 lap Last Chance race into the feature lineup.

In Hobby Stock action Jim Pfeifer of Ft. Atkinson moved from his 12th place start to catch early leader Jason Ayers of Stoughton by lap 24 in the 25 lap main event. Ayers held on to the 2nd spot as they bore down on the checkered flag. Pfeifer claimed the win followed by Ayers, Lincoln Keeser of Jefferson, Jim Williams of Milton and Trent Erdman of Ft. Atkinson.

Pfeifer set the pace, in qualifying, with a 17.286 second loop of the quarter mile.

Bart DiMattina of Milton and Dennis Gaserude of Oregon claimed victories in 8 lap heat races.

Rounding out the night’s entertainment was the “Bubble Gauntlet,” where 18 4 cylinder compact cars brought to and end the long winning streak of the gauntlet team of Terry Tucker and John Kamenick. The full sized 4 door surrendered the event, at 6.5 laps into the 8 lap event.

Next week Jefferson Speedway presents the first rollover contest of the 1999 season, rounding out a full racing program in the Late Model, International, Sportsman and Hobby Stock divisions.

Gates open at 3:30, qualifying at 5:30 and racing at 7:30 sharp! Jefferson Speedway is located half way between Jefferson and Cambridge, on highway 18.

Late Model Division
“Kearns Motor Cars 50” – 50 Lap Feature
1. #55 Eric Gerlach Palmyra
2. # 7 Bill Leindecker Janesville
3. #41 Mark Taylor Stoughton
4. #62 Scott Null Lake Mills
5. #76 Ron Bishofberger Fort Atkinson
6. #44 Roger Behlke Jefferson
7. #27 Dan Chesmore Janesville
8. #96 Jason Erickson Cambridge
9. #71 John Ovadal Johnson Creek
10. #93 Jon Hornby Sun Prairie
11. #18 Andy Wendt Watertown
12. #98 Scott Bleeker Jefferson
13. #76 Randy Breunig Columbus
14. # 5 Butch Mierendorf Waterloo
15. #27 J.C. Stanelle Milton
16. #43 Denny Stair Sullivan
17. #25 Randy Cusick Fort Atkinson
18. # 7 Bruce Clark Watertown

12 Lap Consolation:
1.) Brian Schneidewent
2.) James Gleesing

20 Lap Last Chance:
1.) Stanelle
2.) Terry Morgan
3.) Chesmore
4.) Taylor

First 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Butch Mierendorf

Second 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Scott Bleeker

Third 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Dan Chesmore

Fourth 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Mike Taylor

Dash:
1.) Andy Wendt
Fast Qualifier: #76 Ron Bishofberger, Fort Atkinson,……….14.926 Seconds

Internationals
20 Lap Feature Event
1. #15 Justin Nottestad Cambridge
2. # 9 Aaron Rude Cambridge
3. #71 Charles Dixon Waukesha
4. #48 Mike Drays Milton
5. # 2 Matt Frey Cambridge
6. # 7 Matt Nickel Madison
10 Lap Last Chance: 1.) Brent Nottestad; 2.) Mark English; 3.) Mark Balis; 4.) Ken Endmundson; 5.) Jason Uttech
First 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Mark English
Second 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Justin Nottestad
Fast Qualifier: #15 Justin Nottestad, Cambridge,……..15.976 Seconds

Sportsman
25 Lap Feature Event
1. # 7 Chris Purdy Milton
2. #67 Dave Quale Fort Atkinson
3. #31 Dave Oswald Cottage Grove
4. #36 Rick Coppernoll Madison
5. #30 Kyle Munro Fort Atkinson
6. #82 Chad Stevens Beloit
10 Lap Consolation: 1.) Brian Jensen; 2.) Scotty Johnson
15 Lap Last Chance: 1.) Kevin Thompson; 2.) Ben Hallock; 3.) Tom Collins; 4.) Alan McBride
First 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Scotty Johnson
Second 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Noel Ramge
Third 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Randy Padfield
Fourth 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Dave Quale
Fast Qualifier: #31 Dave Oswald, Cottage Grove,………15.651 Seconds

Hobby Stocks
20 Lap Feature Event
1. #58 Jim Pfeifer Fort Atkinson
2. #57 Jason Ayers Stoughton
3. #99 Lincoln Keeser Jefferson
4. #J10 Jim Williams Milton
5. #11 Trent Erdman Fort Atkinson
6. #90 Billy Gay Janesville
First 8 Lap Heat: 1.) Bart DiMattina
Second 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Dennis Gaserude
Fast Qualifier: #58 Jim Pfiefer, Fort Atkinson,…….17.286 Seconds

Bubble Gunatlet Results: 18 compact 4 cylinder cars brought to an end the winning streak of Terry Tucker and John Kamenick at 6.5 laps into the 8 lap event.