Johnson Claims Autism Awareness Feature
JEFFERSON, WI (Saturday, August 30, 2014) Casey Johnson of Edgerton charged to the front of the pack to claim the lead and the victory in the Race for Autism Awareness 50 lap Late Model feature on Saturday night. With his latest feature win, Johnson leads the way with five victories in Jefferson Speedway’s premier division.
Michael Grueneberg and Stephen Scheel led the field to green with Scheel holding a slight advantage to lead lap one. Grueneberg stuck his nose ahead of Scheel to lead the second lap, pulling his mount into sole possession of the top spot in turns three and four. Brandon Pendleton slipped by Scheel to gain the second spot with Scheel dropping into a battle for third with Trent Erdman. Erdman claimed third on lap ten as the leaders lined up single file and began to separate themselves from the rest of the pack. The first of two cautions waved on lap 20 when Dylan Schuyler and Chris Quam made contact with each other sending both cars hard into the backstretch wall and ending their evenings. Racing resumed with Johnson now lurking in the fifth position as he launched his trek through the top five. Johnson got by Erdman for third on lap 27 and pulled up behind Pendleton looking for second. Johnson stole the runner up spot from Pendleton just before the second and final caution of the race waved on lap 31 for a multiple car melee in turns three and four. As the green flew once again. Johnson began to shadow the leader, Grueneberg. Lap after lap Johnson searched for an opening to make a pass for the lead. Slight contact between the two entering turn one on lap 43 opened the door to Johnson to make his move. Drawing even on lap 44, Johnson completed the winning pass as they exited turn four. Grueneberg made one attempt to fight back, but Johnson had him covered as he cruised to the checkers to get the win. Grueneberg finished second followed by Pendleton, Erdman and Shaun Scheel.
In Sportsman action, Mark Deporter stated his case in the fight for the 2014 championship by dominating the 30 lap feature event. Tony Ciano took the initial lead on lap one with Deporter and Seth Lootans battling for second behind him. Deporter claimed the position just before Lootans spun to bring out the caution on lap three. As racing resumed, Deporter began to peek to the low side of Ciano, drawing alongside on lap six. Deporter cleared a lap later as he opened up a large lead. Robert Hansberry Jr motored through the top five up to third by lap 18. Two laps later, Hansberry got past Ciano for second and began trying to reel in the leader. Hansberry chipped away slowly at Deporter’s advantage, but ran out of laps as Deporter saw the checkers first for the win. Hansberry settled for second with Ciano, Kody Hubred and Steven Sauer rounding out the top five.
Waupun’s Seth Reamer used a late race pass for the lead to capture the 20 lap International feature event. Dan Birkett led lap one from the outside of row one with Joe Cross up to second on lap two. Mike Lambert took the second spot away from Cross on lap four with Reamer in tow for third. Lambert drove under Birkett on lap six, claimed the point on lap eight with Reamer still in his tracks for second. Reamer began searching for a way around the new leader while Chris Chenoweth pulled into third. On lap 13, Reamer got a good run under Lambert as they entered turn one. After a brief side by side battle, Reamer took over the top spot on lap 17 and never looked back on his way to the win. Lambert came home second followed by Chenoweth, Birkett and John Handeland.
Whitewater’s Lucas Buckingham picked up his first career Hobby Stock feature victory as he and his brother made up the one-two finish of the 25 lap feature event. Boyd Eichelkraut and Jared Vike paced the field to green with Vike taking the early lead on lap one. The sole caution of the raced waved on lap two when Dustin Ward slid across the front stretch and into the sand pile on the infield. As racing resumed, Lucas Buckingham drove to the outside for third and then took second from Eichelkraut in the same manner on lap four. Lucas Buckingham crossed over to the bottom and pulled alongside Vike looking to lead with Dylan Buckingham now up to third. Lucas cleared for the top spot on lap nine bringing along his younger brother, Dylan , for second. Cody Buchs made his way up to third by lap 15 as he began to apply pressure to Dylan for second. Dylan was up to the challenge as he kept Buchs in his rear view mirror while his brother showed the way out front. At the checkers, it was the brother’s Buckingham with the one-two finish with Lucas getting the win. Dylan was second followed by Buchs, Bobby Selsing Jr and AJ Lloyd.
Bill Sweeney of Edgerton won the 20 lap Road Warrior main event. Jeff LeFave led early with Bryan Gottschalk in second. After a caution on lap five, Sweeney drove around the outside of Gottschalk to claim second. Sweeney dove to the bottom of the racing surface as he drew even with LeFave on lap seven. Sweeney cleared for the lead with Chris Gottschalk following into second a lap later. Gottschalk spent the remainder of the race trying to catch the new leader, but to no avail as Sweeney flew past the checkers first to get the win. Gottschalk was second with Craig Henning, Bryan Gottschalk and Matt Melchiori rounding out the top five.
Waterloo’s Kyle Stark completed the sweep in the Bandit division by claimed fast time in qualifying, winning his heat race and claiming the 20 lap feature event. Noah Pankow led lap one from the outside of row one with Adam Schook in second. After a caution on lap seven, Dave Schmidt began battling with Schook for second while Pankow continued to lead. Stark joined the battle for the second spot, making it a three wide affair on lap nine. Stark claimed the position a lap later and charged up behind Pankow. Stark made his move on lap 12, drawing even and making the winning pass a lap later. Point leader Nick Schmidt made his way up to second by lap 17, but Stark was already well on his way to the win. Schmidt finished second followed by Pankow, Brian Cook and Dave Schmidt.
Next Saturday, September 6, is Havill Spoerl Season Championship Night. A full program of racing in all six divisions is on tap as we crown our 2014 track champions. 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) Casey Johnson, Edgerton 2) Michael Grueneberg, Madison 3) Brandon Pendleton, Helenville 4) Trent Erdman, Fort Atkinson 5) Shaun Scheel, Lake Mills 6) Luke Westenberg, Jefferson 7) Dale Nottestad, Cambridge 8) Jason Erickson, Fort Atkinson 9) Stephen Scheel, Lake Mills 10) Dave Edwards, Salem 11) Steve Dobbratz, Rio 12) Craig Phillips, Edgerton 13) Roger Behlke, Jefferson 14) Tony Koepke, Jefferson 15) Kyle Chwala, Lake Mills 16) Jason Schuler, Cambridge 17) Chris Quam, Stoughton 18) Dylan Schuyler, Jefferson
Fast Qualifier- Casey Johnson—14.562 seconds
Consi- Mike Ehde, Shawn Gunsolus, Joe Wendorf
Last Chance- Craig Phillips, Roger Behlke, Dave Edwards, Kyle Chwala
Heat Winners- 1) Gary Krueger 2) Tyler Peterson 3) Shaun Scheel 4) Dylan Schuyler
Sportsman-
Feature Results- 1) Mark Deporter, Fort Atkinson 2) Robert Hansberry Jr, Beloit 3) Tony Ciano, Janesville 4) Kody Hubred, Utica 5) Steven Sauer, Waterloo 6) Jim Tate Jr, Deforest 7) Jay Kalbus, Whitewater 8) Terry Wangsness, Jefferson 9) Jason Thoma, Jefferson 10) Will Rece, Stoughton 11) Jeff Schultz, Elkhorn 12) Jim Taylor, Stoughton 13) Adam Bleskan, Menomonee Falls 14) Michael Gilomen, Northfield (MN) 15) Tim Coley, Madison 16) Dan Schmidt, Farmington 17) Mike Storkson, Evansville 18) Seth Lootans, Kenosha
Fast Qualifier- Steven Sauer—15.299 seconds
Heat Winners- 1) Mike Storkson 2) Mark Deporter
International-
Feature Results- 1) Seth Reamer, Waupun 2) Mike Lambert, Madison 3) Chris Chenoweth, Watertown 4) Dan Birkett, Jefferson 5) John Handeland, Belleville 6) Joe Cross, Sun Prairie 7) Jason Uttech, Watertown 8) Neil Higgins, Watertown 9) Keith Bell, Brodhead 10) Merek Pankow, Jefferson 11) Chandale Swartout, 12) Aaron Randel,
Fast Qualifier- Seth Reamer—16.295 seconds
Heat Winners- 1) Dan Birkett 2) Mike Lambert
Hobby Stock-
Feature Results- 1) Lucas Buckingham, Whitewater 2) Dylan Buckingham, Whitewater 3) Cody Buchs, Mazomanie 4) Bobby Selsing Jr, Edgerton 5) AJ Lloyd, Loves Park (IL) 6) Phil Wuesthoff, Beaver Dam 7) Jeff LeFave, Fort Atkinson 8) Jared Vike, Sussex 9) Wayne Buchs, Mazomanie 10) Boyd Eichelkraut, Stoughton 11) Justin Kumbier, Juneau 12) Jim Wolf, Watertown 13) Dustin Ward, Waterloo 14) Chester Williams, Waukesha 15) Bill Bush, Jefferson
Fast Qualifier- Bobby Selsing Jr—15.718 seconds
Heat Winners-1) Wayne Buchs 2) Phil Wuesthoff
Road Warrior-
Feature Results- 1) Bill Sweeney, Edgerton 2) Chris Gottschalk, Jefferson 3) Craig Henning, Helenville 4) Bryan Gottschalk, Jefferson 5) Matt Melchiori, Milwaukee 6) Jeff LeFave, Fort Atkinson 7) Kenny Storkson, Evansville 8) Tom Dorn, Fort Atkinson 9) Bill Reynolds, Watertown 10) Brandon DeLacy, Fort Atkinson 11) Chad Olds, Whitewater 12) Don Goergeson Jr, 13) Scott Hoeft, Watertown 14) Tadd Douglas, Jefferson
Fast Qualifier- Bill Sweeney—16.686 seconds
Heat Winners- 1) Tom Dorn 2) Chris Gottschalk
Bandit-
Feature Results- 1) Kyle Stark, Waterloo 2) Nick Schmidt, Oak Creek 3) Noah Pankow, Jefferson 4) Brian Cook, Janesville 5) Dave Schmidt, Cudahy 6) Adam Schook, Whitewater 7) Josh Marx, Dousman 8) Jamie Kohn, Madison 9) Jeremy Bredeson, Columbus 10) Tyler Deporter, Fort Atkinson 11) Dennis Wuesthoff, Beaver Dam 12) Trent Rueth, Jefferson 13) Lyle Phillips, Edgerton 14) Mike Bleecker, Lake Mills 15) Merek Pankow, Jefferson 16) Devon Dixon, Janesville 17) Brandon DeLacy, Fort Atkinson 18) Josh Lenz, Lake Mills 19) Josh Rusch, Cambridge 20) Chad Olds, Whitewater
Fast Qualifier- Kyle Stark—17.026 seconds
Heat Winners- 1) Adam Schook 2) Dave Schmidt 3) Kyle Stark