Jacob Nottestad Wins First Career Feature  

JEFFERSON, WI (Saturday, June 3, 2017)                  As lightning flashed in the distance, the thunder roared on Wisconsin’s Action Track as the best drivers in the area put on a show. When the dust settled after the River’s Edge Market 50 lap Late Model main event, it was Utica’s Jacob Nottestad standing tall. The 16 year old pilot held off a hard charging Casey Johnson and lead every lap to capture his first career victory in Jefferson Speedway’s premier division. With his win, the latest in a long line of successful Nottestad’s became the youngest Late Model feature winner in the track’s history at the age of 16 years and 53 days.

Seth Reamer and Nottestad brought the field to green as Nottestad grabbed control on the opening circuit. Michael Grueneberg and Luke Westenberg moved up to into a battle for second on lap one with Shaun Scheel watching from fourth. Westenberg took over the second spot on lap three as Scheel tried to follow past Grueneberg. Scheel grabbed third on lap five with Zack Riddle in tow for fourth. Scheel began to apply heavy pressure to Westenberg while Nottestad increased his lead over the pack. Scheel got under Westenberg on lap seven as they battled for second. After a four lap fight, Scheel took over the runner up position with Westenberg falling back into a side by side war for third with Riddle. Riddle moved past Westenberg before the first of three cautions waved on lap 18 for a spinning Noel Ramge. As racing resumed, Riddle went to work on Scheel for second while Nottestad continued to show the way. The second yellow waved on lap 24 when Kody Hubred and Dale Nottestad got together sending Hubred around on the exit of turn two. Riddle was scored in second behind Jacob Nottestad for the restart with Scheel in third. As racing resumed, Riddle took a shot on the inside of Nottestad for the lead. The pair of drivers made slight contact forcing both to check up briefly. This allowed Scheel to get back by Riddle for second while Nottestad maintained his lead. Jason Erickson followed around Riddle with Casey Johnson in his tracks for fourth. The top five began to break away from the field as they ran nose to tail until lap 40. With ten laps remaining, Johnson went to the high side of Erickson looking to steal third. But one lap later, Riddle made contact to the rear of Erickson resulting in Erickson spinning off turn two to force the final caution of the race. The field took the green once again with nine laps to go. Johnson quickly went to work on Scheel for second, diving under him on lap 44 and clearing for the position with six to go. Johnson began to reel in Nottestad as the laps ticked away. Johnson began to apply heavy pressure to the leader in the final three laps. As they raced into turn three one final time, Johnson peeked under Nottestad. But the rookie, Nottestad kept the three time champion at bay as they flew past the checkers. It was Nottestad for the win with Johnson settling for second. Shaun Scheel finished third with Westenberg and Stephen Scheel rounding out the top five.

In Sportsman action, Jefferson’s Jason Thoma took the lead early in the 30 lap feature event and drove away to get the victory. Terry Wangsness and Rick Coppernoll paced the field to green with Wangsness taking the initial lead. Thoma moved into second just before the sole caution of the event slowed the pace on lap two. Once racing resumed, Thoma charged alongside Wangsness, clearing for the top spot on the exit of turn four. Thoma began to stretch his advantage while Chris Chenoweth moved up to battle Wangsness for second. Chenoweth cleared for second as Wangsness began to fall off the pace. Mark Deporter and Robert Hansberry Jr moved up to third and fourth respectively on lap four. Hansberry got by Deporter on lap eight as he pulled up behind Chenoweth looking for second. The duo battled door to door on lap 11, with Hansberry taking over the second position two laps later. Hansberry spent the remainder of the race trying to close the gap on Thoma at the front. But Thoma remained in control as he crossed the stripe first to score the win. Hansberry was second followed by Bobby Selsing, Chenoweth and Deporter.

Edgerton’s Mark English charged to the front of the 20 lap International feature event and drove away to get the win. Jamie Kohn, Joe Cross and Noah Pankow raced three wide on the opening lap for the lead with Kohn emerging with the spot. After an early yellow on lap two, Kohn returned to the lead with English quickly up to second. On lap three. English dove under Kohn as they raced into turn one. English moved out front down the back stretch with Kohn dropping back to second and Ashley Gottschalk in third. By the halfway point of the race, English was enjoying a straightaway lead as Josh Marx made his way up to the second spot. Mike Lambert and Neil Higgins joined Marx as the three drivers fought for second. But at the front, it was English in complete control as he saw the checkers first to get the win. Marx won the battle for second with Lambert, Higgins and Jason Uttech completing the top five.

Whitewater’s Lucas Buckingham led every lap of the 25 lap Hobby Stock feature en route the picking up the victory. Starting alongside Chuck Egli, Buckingham took control on lap one with Egli back to second. But Egli wasn’t ready to go away just yet as he fought back on the inside of Buckingham on lap three. While the duo raced wheel to wheel, a caution slowed their pace on lap seven with Jon Benninger spun in turn one. Buckingham restarted as the leader with Egli in second and Jimmie Robinson in third. As racing resumed, Chester Williams charged up to the second spot behind Buckingham with Phil Wuesthoff in tow for third. AJ Lloyd entered the top five around the midway point of the race as he began his charge towards the front. On lap 15, Lloyd drove to the high side of Wuesthoff, looking for third. Lloyd moved past Wuesthoff and alongside Williams with nine laps remaining. Williams and Lloyd waged an intense battle for the second position while Buckingham watched them in his rear view mirror. Buckingham stayed out front all the way to the checkered flag to pick up his first win of the season. Lloyd beat Williams to the line to finish second with Jim Tate Jr and Wuesthoff rounding out the top five.

Merek Pankow of Jefferson scored the win in the 15 lap Road Warrior feature event. Anthony Accardi took the early lead on lap one with Pankow already up to second. Pankow motored past Accardi on lap two to take over the top spot while Craig Henning, Bill Sweeney and Accardi raced three wide for the second spot. Henning and Sweeney emerged side by side for second  while Pankow continued to lead the way. Chris Gottschalk joined the fight for second as the laps wound down. But Pankow remained in control all the way to the checkers to pick up his first feature win in the division. Sweeney came home with second followed by Chris Gottschalk, Henning and Bryan Gottschalk.

Madison’s Bill Kohn captured the 15 lap Bandit feature event. Matt Weber and Tyler Edmundson brought the field to green with Weber taking the lead into turn one. CJ Hemiller raced past Weber as they exited turn two. Weber got sideways down the backstretch ending with his mount sliding into the infield to force the sole caution of the race. Hemiller and Edmundson restarted on the front row with Hemiller grabbing control as the green waved once again. Kohn drove to the outside of Hemiller on lap three, taking over the top spot a lap later. DJ Hill moved past Hemiller to grab second on lap six with Chad Olds following into third. Olds used the outside lane to draw even with Hill while Kohn pulled away. Kohn cruised to the checkers from there to get the win with Hill holding on to finish second. Olds was third followed by Hemiller and Bart Brockman.

Next Saturday, June 10, is a full program of racing sponsored by Triana’s Trophy Case including the return of the Bandoleros. Time trials begin at 5pm with racing at 7pm. Jefferson Speedway is located halfway between Jefferson and Cambridge on Hwy 18. Please visit jeffersonspeedway.com for more information.

JEFFERSON SPEEDWAY RACE SUMMARY

Late Model-

Feature Results- 1) Jacob Nottestad, Utica  2) Casey Johnson, Edgerton  3) Shaun Scheel, Lake Mills  4) Luke Westenberg, Jefferson  5) Stephen Scheel, Lake Mills  6) Kody Hubred, Cambridge  7) Steve Dobbratz, Rio  8) Ed Wolff III, Watertown  9) Dale Nottestad, Cambridge  10) John Ovadal Jr, Watertown  11) Jason Erickson, Fort Atkinson  12) Michael Grueneberg, Madison  13) Jerry Eckhardt, Johnson Creek  14) Noel Ramge, Helenville  15) Zack Riddle, Oregon  16) Cody Erdmann, Horicon  17) Tyler Peterson, Lake Geneva  18) Seth Reamer, Beaver Dam

Fast Qualifier- Casey Johnson—14.266 seconds

Last Chance- Steve Dobbratz, Jerry Eckhardt, Ed Wolff III, Tyler Peterson

Consi- Lincoln Keeser, Ed Kubicz

Heat Winners- 1) Tyler Peterson  2) Steve Dobbratz  3) Noel Ramge

Best Appearing Car Contest Winner- Shaun Scheel

Sportsman-

Feature Results- 1) Jason Thoma, Jefferson  2) Robert Hansberry Jr, Beloit  3) Bobby Selsing, Johnson Creek  4) Chris Chenoweth, Watertown  5) Mark Deporter, Fort Atkinson  6) Tony Ciano, Janesville  7) Jay Kalbus, Watertown  8) Jim Taylor, Stoughton  9) Dustin Ward, Waterloo  10) Dan Schmidt, Farmington  11) Rick Coppernoll, Stoughton  12) Ed Jackson, Madison  13) Josh Madell, Mayville  14) Jake Biever, Janesville  15) Terry Wangsness, Jefferson  16) Boyd Eichelkraut, Stoughton

Fast Qualifier- Robert Hansberry Jr—14.909 seconds

Last Chance- Dustin Ward, Boyd Eichelkraut, Jake Biever, Ed Jackson

Heat Winners- 1) Dustin Ward  2) Josh Madell  3) Bobby Selsing

Best Appearing Car Contest Winner- Dustin Ward

International-

Feature Results- 1) Mark English, Edgerton  2) Josh Marx, Dousman  3) Mike Lambert, Fort Atkinson  4) Neil Higgins, Watertown  5) Jason Uttech, Watertown  6) Ashley Gottschalk, Fort Atkinson  7) Noah Pankow, Jefferson  8) Chad Olds, Whitewater  9) Dylan Scott, Rio  10) Joe Cross, Sun Prairie   11) Chris Jackson, Fort Atkinson  12) Jamie Kohn, Madison

Fast Qualifier- Mike Lambert—16.012 seconds

Heat Winners- 1) Jamie Kohn  2) Mark English

Best Appearing Car Contest Winner- Josh Marx

Hobby Stock-

Feature Results- 1) Lucas Buckingham, Whitewater  2) AJ Lloyd, Loves Park (IL)  3) Chester Williams, Waukesha  4) Jim Tate Jr, Doylestown  5) Phil Wuesthoff, Beaver Dam  6) Kenny Storkson, Indianford  7) Brandon Riedner, Waunakee  8) Robby Robinson, Orfordville  9) Chuck Egli, Columbus  10) Jared Vike, Sussex  11) Dan Snyder, Madison  12) Jon Benninger, Windsor  13) Jim Wolf, Watertown  14) Jim Robinson, Beloit  15) Brandon Angileri, Beloit  16) Korey Bengsch, Fond du Lac

Fast Qualifier- AJ Lloyd—15.955 seconds

Last Chance- Jon Benninger, Jim Wolf, Korey Bengsch, Brandon Riedner

Heat Winners- 1) Jim Wolf  2) Jared Vike  3) Brandon Angileri

Best Appearing Car Contest Winner- Kenny Storkson

Road Warrior-

Feature Results- 1) Merek Pankow, Jefferson  2) Bill Sweeney, Lake Mills  3) Chris Gottschalk, Fort Atkinson  4) Craig Henning, Helenville  5) Bryan Gottschalk, Jefferson  6) Bill Reynolds, Watertown  7) Anthony Accardi, Madison  8) Mark Dewey, Janesville  9) Brandt Nicholson,   10) Leroy Gronert, Jefferson

Fast Qualifier- Chris Gottschalk—16.644 seconds

Heat Winners- 1) Merek Pankow  2) Bryan Gottschalk

Best Appearing Car Contest Winner- Craig Henning

Bandit-

Feature Results- 1) Bill Kohn, Madison  2) DJ Hill, Watertown  3) Chad Olds, Whitewater  4) CJ Hemiller, Watertown 5) Bart Brockman, Rockford (IL)  6) Cade Watters, Sun Prairie  7) Jeremy Bredeson, Deforest  8) Tyler Edmundson,   9) Matt Weber, Whitewater  10) Josh Lenz, Lake Mills

Fast Qualifier- Jeremy Bredeson—14.404 seconds

Heat Winners- 1) Josh Lenz  2) Cade Watters

Best Appearing Car Contest Winner- Chad Olds