Jason Erickson wins the Joas Painting 50
Mikey Rottier
6.17
Jefferson Speedway Race Report
CAMBRIDGE- An enthusiastic crowd enjoyed a thrilling night of racing with five divisions and 23 races on a gorgeous night at the Jefferson Speedway, Saturday, June 17. Jason Erickson, Jefferson, piled onto his already dominating season with another win in the JOAS Painting 50-lap Late Model feature event. In addition to an exciting Late Model feature the Hobby Stock 30-lap event did not disappoint. Jim Tate Jr. out of Doylestown held off current points leader Robbie Rucks to win the race and shoot up the point standings.
The Late Model feature began with a caution on lap six after a collision between Bruce Lee, Edgerton, and Cody Hoseweart, Machesney Park, Illinois. After the restart rookie Karter Stark, Marshall, took the lead followed by Dylan Schuyler. The caution flag came back out on lap 21, it was the two rookies, Stark and Johnson Creek’s Shane Radtke Jr. in front at the restart. The veterans Erickson and Schuyler latched on the rookies’ bumpers and flanked Radtke to go three wide and take over the second and third place positions. Erickson and Schuyler stayed door handle to door handle as they tracked Stark, until the final caution flag of the race came out for Shaun Scheel, Lake Mills. Erickson took the advantage after the restart and coasted his way to another feature win. Stark finished second, Schuyler third and Radtke fourth.
In the first heat of the Late Model division rookie Michael Guderski, Manchester, passed Logan Graham, Cuba City, with two to go for the win. The second heat finished a lap short due to a caution flag on the final lap, Schuyler earned the win. In the third heat Stark pulled into the lead at the halfway point and held on through checkers. Guderski, Jerry Eckhardt, Johnson Creek, Tim Coley, Madison, and Chris Blawat, Palmyra, all earned their place in the feature by finishing in the top four of the last chance race.
Once again Erickson set the quick time for the Late Models in qualifying with a lap of 14.322 seconds.
Chase Wangsness, Jefferson, got out to an early lead in the Hobby Stock feature event. Tate Jr. followed in second and Rucks sat in third. A caution occurred in lap 10 after a collision between Matthew Thoma, Jefferson, and Bud Riedner, Waunakee. Both cars left to go to the pit, but Thoma was able to return before the restart. Tate jumped into the lead position with 15 laps to go and Tucker Bodendorfer, Muskego, followed into second. With three laps to go Rucks took the outside advantage on Bodendorfer and began tracking Tate, but Tate managed to hold him through the checkers.
In the first heat of the Hobby Stock races rookie Michael Weismann, Johnson Creek, and Hunter Milbrath, Lake Mills battled for lead position, it was Milbrath with the advantage as they passed the checkers. Chuck Egli, Waterloo came out to an early lead in the second heat, but was passed three wide by Tate and Jon Benniger, Windsor, on either side. Tate and Benniger battled through the back half, but Benniger was able to stick his nose across first. Current points leader Robbie Rucks walked away with the final heat. Chester Williams, Waukesha, Jessica Breunig, Columbus, Milbrath, and rookie Avery Linnerud, Milton, earned their spot in the feature in the last chance race.
Thoma set the fastest time in qualifying for the Hobby Stocks with a lap of 15.547 seconds.
In the 20-lap international feature, former track champion Mark English, Janesville, got out to an early lead and attempted to run away and hide. Weston Strese, Jefferson, began to track down English and caught up to his bumper with five laps to go. Strese’s late push was enough to overtake English and earn his third feature win of the season. Rookie A.J. Accardi, Janesville, earned a comfortable win in the first International heat and English ran away with the second heat.
Rookie Blake Nottestad, Cambridge, set the quick time for the Internationals with a 15.489 second lap.
Penn Sauter, Deforest, headlined the Bandolero division with an undefeated night of racing. In addition to winning the Bandoleros fourth and final heat of the night, Sauter emerged victorious from a caution riddled 15-lap Bandolero feature event. Sauter earned his third feature win on just his third night of racing this season and will shoot into the top three in the point standings. The first heat of the night for the Bandoleros was won by rookie Gage Kubicz, Whitewater. Blake Michael, Evansville, won the second heat of the night and Bentley Thompson, West Salem, came away with the third. In the concy race Kubicz and Brody Thompson, West Salem, raced their way into the last chance race. In the last chance race Michael, Emily Billings, Waterloo, Axel Oldenhoff, Lake Mills, and Parker Bodendorfer, Muskego, earned a spot in the feature.
Sauter posted the fastest time in qualifying for the Bandoleros with a 16.412 second lap.
Dillon Schwanbeck, Poynette, also finished the night undefeated and earned enough points to become the new points leader in the Legends division. Schwanbeck won the 25-lap feature event in addition to the second legends heat of the night. Spencer Polacek, New Berlin, won the first heat.
For the Legends, Schwanbeck set the quick time in qualifying with a time of 15.673 seconds.
Wisconsin’s Action Track will be back in full force next week, Saturday, June 24 for Kids’ Night. Come enjoy a full racing program featuring the Sportsmans, Bandits, Bandoleros, Hobby Stocks and the debut of the 6 Shooters, in addition to activities for the kids.