Grueneberg Grabs Season Opener

JEFFERSON, WI (Saturday, May 02, 2015)

Madison’s Michael Grueneberg bested a stout field of Wisconsin’s finest Late Model pilots to grab the first feature of the season at Jefferson Speedway. Grueneberg dominated every lap of the CR Construction 50 lap main event, en route to making a statement as the 2015 season got underway.

Grueneberg and Luke Westenberg led the field to green with Grueneberg taking control of the top spot as they exited turn two on the opening lap. Grueneberg immediately began to pull away from the pack while Westenberg battled for second with Craig Phillips. Westenberg took control of the runner up position on lap five while Stephen Scheel drove to the high side of Phillips to claim third. Shaun Scheel followed into fourth with two time defending champ, Dale Nottestad up to fifth. The leaders lined up single file as each driver began to size up the competition directly in front of them. At the midway point of the race, Nottestad made a move to get by Shaun Scheel for fourth, bringing Casey Johnson along into the top five. Johnson got a good run to move past Nottestad on lap 32. Johnson quickly went to work on Stephen Scheel for third, taking over the position on lap 39. Johnson spent the remainder of the race trying to close in on Westenberg for second while Grueneberg continued to show the way. Grueneberg closed out the event without ever being seriously challenged as he took the checkered flag for the win. Westenberg managed to hold off Johnson for second with Stephen Scheel and Shaun Scheel rounding out the top five.

Jefferson’s Jason Thoma completed the clean sweep in the Sportsman division by claimed fast time, winning his heat and claiming the 30 lap feature event.  Russ Nicholson led early from the pole with Mike Winters quickly up to second. Winters stalked Nicholson until making his move for the lead on lap six. Winters cleared for the top spot a lap later while Tony Ciano moved up to challenge Nicholson for second. The sole caution of the race waved on lap 14, slowing the field with 16 laps remaining. As racing resumed, Thoma began his trek to the front. Using the high side, Thoma slipped past Jay Kalbus to claim third and draw even with Ciano for second. By lap 19, Thoma owned the second position as he continued to charge forward. Thoma pulled alongside Winters on lap 20, gaining the advantage and clearing for the point as they raced into turn one. Thoma quickly opened up a healthy advantage while Winters tried to fend off Ciano for second. At the checkers, it was Thoma for the win with Winters hanging on to second. Ciano was third followed by Terry Wangsness and Kalbus.

Seth Reamer of Waupun picked his way to the front of the 20 lap International feature to capture the victory. Brandon DeLacy and Tim Petrie led the field to green with Petrie taking the early lead on lap one. Joe Cross followed into second with Merek Pankow third and Reamer already running in fourth. Reamer slipped by Pankow for third on lap six and alongside Cross for second. Reamer cleared for second on lap seven as he continued forward alongside Petrie. Reamer took command of the lead on lap ten with Mike Lambert trying to stay in his tracks for second. Lambert attained the second spot on lap 12 as he looked to close on Reamer. But Reamer had the field covered as he streaked to the checkers for the win. Lambert was second followed by Petrie, Pankow and Cross.

Picking up the second clean sweep on the evening was Dustin Ward of Waterloo. Jim Wolf and Jeff LeFave Jr kicked off the 20 lap affair from the front row. LeFave led lap one with Wolf still flanked to his inside. Wolf motored past LeFave to claim the lead on lap two. Lucas Buckingham got by LeFave to take over second with Ward charging up to third on lap eight. Ward dove under Buckingham to take over the second spot on lap ten. A lap later, Ward was under the leader looking to steal the top spot for himself. Ward cleared Wolf for the point on lap 12 with Bobby Selsing Jr trying to follow him to the front. Selsing took second from Wolf on lap 14, but Ward was already well on his way to stripe to claim the win. Selsing was second with Buckingham, Wolf and Bo Bennish rounding out the top five.

In Road Warrior action, it was Bryan Gottschalk of Jefferson taking top honors in the 20 lap feature event. Starting behind row one, Gottschalk charged to the outside while Ken Paavo and Lucas Stevenson battled for the lead. Gottschalk drove around Paavo for second on lap two and quickly moved past Stevenson a lap later to take over the top spot. Gottschalk began to stretch his lead while Craig Henning and Bill Sweeney fought for second. Sweeney eventually claimed the position on lap 15 as he looked to catch the leader. Lapped traffic allowed Sweeney to close in on Gottschalk as the laps ticked away, but Gottschalk stay in command to get the win. Sweeney was second followed by Henning, Chris Gottschalk and Bill Reynolds.

Madison’s Jamie Kohn claimed the 20 lap Bandit main event. Jesse Johnson took the lead from Sueter Bennett on lap two with Tyler Deporter following into second. Kohn joined the leaders, stealing the second spot from Deporter on lap seven . Kohn closed up to the rear bumper of Johnson on lap eight. Kohn dove under Johnson, taking the top spot away on lap ten. Nick Schmidt followed into second, but Kohn had him covered as he drove to the checkers for the win. Schmidt was second with Chad Olds, Josh Marx and Johnson completing the top five.

Next Saturday, May 9, is a full program in all divisions highlighted by the Serenity Concepts 50 lap Late Model feature as well as the Best Appearing Car Contest. Time trials begin at 5pm with racing 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) Michael Grueneberg, Madison  2) Luke Westenberg, Jefferson  3) Casey Johnson, Edgerton  4) Stephen Scheel, Lake Mills  5) Shaun Scheel, Lake Mills  6) Dale Nottestad, Cambridge  7) Jason Erickson, Fort Atkinson  8) Trent Erdman, Fort Atkinson  9) John Ovadal Jr, Watertown  10) Dylan Schuyler, Jefferson  11) Craig Phillips, Edgerton  12) Brandon Pendleton, Helenville  13) Kyle Smith, Lake Mills  14) Kyle Taylor, Deerfield  15) Chris Quam, Stoughton  16) Jerry Eckhardt, Johnson Creek  17) Andrew Kiedrowski, Union Grove  18) Tyler Peterson, Lake Geneva

Fast Qualifier- Jason Erickson—14.138 seconds

Last Chance- Tyler Peterson, Kyle Smith, Dylan Schuyler, Andrew Kiedrowski

Heat Winners- 1) Tyler Peterson  2) Dylan Schuyler  3) Kyle Smith

Sportsman – Feature Results- 1) Jason Thoma, Jefferson  2) Mike Winters, Sun Prairie  3) Tony Ciano, Janesville  4) Terry Wangsness, Jefferson  5) Jay Kalbus, Whitewater  6) Mark Deporter, Fort Atkinson  7) Robert Hansberry Jr, Beloit  8) Chris Chenoweth, Watertown  9) Jim Taylor, Stoughton  10) Mike Storkson, Madison  11) Mike Rahn, DePere  12) Josh Madell, Mayville  13) Ed Jackson, Madison  14) Tom Schuette, Fort Atkinson  15) Russ Nicholson, Madison  16) Tim Coley, Madison  17) Scott Hoeft, Watertown

Fast Qualifier- Jason Thoma—14.919 seconds

Heat Winners- 1) Mike Storkson  2) Jason Thoma

International – Feature Results- 1) Seth Reamer, Waupun  2) Mike Lambert, Madison  3) Tim Petrie, Whitewater  4) Merek Pankow, Jefferson  5) Joe Cross, Sun Prairie  6) Neil Higgins, Watertown  7) Dan Birkett, Jefferson  8) Jason Uttech, Watertown  9) Brandon DeLacy, Fort Atkinson  10) Noah Pankow, Jefferson

Fast Qualifier- Mike Lambert—16.447 seconds

Heat Winners- 1) Joe Cross  2) Seth Reamer

Hobby Stock – Feature Results- 1) Dustin Ward, Waterloo  2) Bobby Selsing Jr, Fort Atkinson  3) Lucas Buckingham, Whitewater  4) Jim Wolf, Watertown  5) Bo Bennish, Merrill  6) Boyd Eichelkraut, Stoughton  7) Jeff LeFave Jr, Fort Atkinson  8) Dylan Buckingham, Whitewater  9) Jared  Vike, Columbus  10) Wayne Buchs, Mazomanie  11) Korey Bengsch, Sun Prairie  12) Cody Buchs, Mazomanie

Fast Qualifier- Dustin Ward—15.735 seconds

Heat Winners- 1) Wayne Buchs  2) Dustin Ward

Race Night May 2nd

Road Warrior – Feature Results- 1) Bryan Gottschalk, Jefferson  2) Bill Sweeney, Aztalan  3) Craig Henning, Helenville  4) Chris Gottschalk, Jefferson  5) Bill Reynolds, Watertown  6) Don Mattrisch, Fort Atkinson  7) Charles Novotny, Fort Atkinson  8) Lucas Stevenson, Beloit  9) Don Georgeson Jr, Fort Atkinson  10) Ken Paavo, Fort Atkinson

Fast Qualifier- Kenny Storkson- 16.793 seconds

Heat Winners- 1) Bill Reynolds  2) Craig Henning

Bandit – Feature Results- 1) Jamie Kohn, Madison  2) Nick Schmidt, Watertown  3) Chad Olds, Whitewater  4) Josh Marx, Dousman  5) Jesse Johnson, Fort Atkinson  6) Adam Schook, Whitewater  7) Tyler Deporter, Fort Atkinson  8) Bill Kohn, Madison  9) Tara Belz, Sun Prairie  10) DJ Hill, Fort Atkinson  11) Sueter Bennett, Franksville  12) Jeremy Bredeson, Columbus

Photography by Mark Melchiori and available online at mdmracepix.com