Johnson Crowned Mid-Season Champ
JEFFERSON, WI (Saturday, July 11, 2015) Edgerton’s Casey Johnson used a late race pass for the lead to capture his third feature win in the Bill Collins Memorial Mid Season Championship 60 lap Late Model main event. Johnson’s back to back feature victories have allowed the two time track champion to increase his lead in the point standings at Wisconsin’s Action Track.
Kyle Smith and Tyler Peterson paced the field of 20 drivers to the green flag with Peterson taking the early lead on lap one. Smith slid up in front of Kyle Taylor for second with Jerry Eckhardt close behind in fourth on lap two. Eckhardt drove under Taylor and pulled alongside Smith as they battled for second on lap three. Jason Erickson joined the leaders on lap seven as the action grew hot and heavy deep in the field. Smith reclaimed the second position on lap ten with Erickson following into third. Erickson quickly went to work on Smith, stealing the second spot on lap 16 and setting his sights on Peterson at the front. Erickson caught Peterson a lap later as he dove under the leader entering turn one. Erickson cleared for the top spot on lap 18 and began to open up a healthy advantage over the rest of the field. Eckhardt slipped past Peterson on lap 20 for second bringing Smith along for third. Alex Papini also worked past Peterson to claim fourth on lap 22. Papini took third from Smith on lap 26 as the leaders began to spread out. Casey Johnson claimed fifth at the halfway point of the event as he began his trek through the top five. Johnson was in fourth a lap later and found himself knocking on the door for third by lap 39. Johnson worked around Papini for third and began to close on Eckhardt running second. Johnson caught the veteran pilot, Eckhardt, with 13 laps to go while Erickson remained out front. Johnson cleared for second while Erickson dealt with heavy lapped traffic in front of him. Johnson chipped away at Erickson’s advantage as the laps wound down. The leaders cleared lapped traffic with seven laps to go as Johnson closed the gap on Erickson. Johnson caught the leader with two laps remaining as he dove to the low side entering turn one. After a one lap side by side shootout, Johnson took control of the point and charged to the checkers to claim the win. Erickson settled for second with Eckhardt, Papini and Shaun Scheel completing the top five.
In Sportsman action, it was Jefferson’s Jason Thoma charging to the front of the 35 lap feature to claim the win. Ed Jackson and Dan Schmidt brought the field to green as the caution filled feature got underway. Schmidt held the slight advantage to complete lap one just before the first yellow flag slowed the field. Schmidt led the pack back to green with Jackson running second and Scott Hoeft in third. Caution number two waved on lap five when contact between Hoeft and Jason Kubicz resulting in Hoeft spinning on the exit of turn two. Both drivers were forced the rear on the restart with Schmidt still showing the way in front of Jackson and Russ Nicholson. A three way battle for second broke out on lap 11 when Mike Winters, Jackson and Nicholson drove three wide through turns three and four. Nicholson emerged with the position just as another caution slowed the pace. A series of three more yellows in three laps allowed Terry Wangsness and Jason Thoma to enter the top five. As racing resumed on lap 14, Wangsness charged up to the inside of Schmidt looking to take the lead. Wangsness cleared for the spot with Thoma in his tracks for second. Thoma quickly drove under Wangsness as they entered turn one on lap 16. Thoma cleared for the lead a lap later and began to pull away. At the checkers, it was Thoma for the convincing win followed by Wangsness, Mark Deporter, Winters and Steven Sauer.
Waupun’s Seth Reamer picked up the clean sweep in the International division by laying claim to fast time in qualifying, winning his heat race and also winning the 25 lap feature event. Dan Birkett took the early lead from pole sitter Noah Pankow with Jason Uttech sliding up to second on lap two. Uttech drew even with Birkett on lap three with Merek Pankow up to third. Mike Lambert joined the leaders a lap later as he dropped to the low side of the speedway looking to lead. Lambert emerged alongside Merek Pankow on lap five while Reamer added his number to the scoreboard in fourth. On lap nine, Reamer charged to the high side of Pankow and Lambert while Birkett used the low groove as the four competitiors raced side by side through turns three and four. Birkett hung on the top spot momentarily until Reamer pulled alongside on lap 11. Reamer grabbed control of the top spot on lap 12 bringing Lambert along for second. Lambert shadowed Reamer over the remainder of the race, but Reamer stayed strong on the point to capture the win. Lambert was second followed by Merek Pankow, Birkett and Joe Cross.
Dustin Ward of Waterloo took over the lead of the 30 lap Hobby Stock feature at the halfway point and drove away to claim the victory. Jim Wolf lead early from the pole with Jared Vike up to second. Vike took a look to the low side of Wolf on lap four, drawing even with the leader a lap later. Vike took over the top spot on lap five with Boyd Eichelkraut and Dylan Buckingham slipping past Wolf into a battle for second. After a caution on lap eight, AJ Lloyd and Ward began to slide their way through the top five on their way to the front. When Buckingham peeked to the high side of Vike for the lead, Ward dropped to the low side and pulled alongside. On lap 14, Ward continued to forward as he slid up next to Vike on the point. Ward cleared for the lead a lap later with Lloyd staying on his rear bumper for second. Ward cruised over the second half of the race on his way to the checkers for the win. Lloyd finished second with Dylan Buckingham, Vike and Lucas Buckingham rounding out the top five.
Jefferson’s Chris Gottschalk dominated the majority of the 22 lap Road Warrior feature on his way to picking up the win. Lucas Stevenson led lap one with Don Mattrisch up to second. Mattrisch made his move to the front on lap two with Gottschalk close behind for second. Bill Reynolds joined Gottschalk behind the leader on lap three as they split and both drove around Mattrisch. Gottschalk and Reynolds began to fight for the lead as they raced wheel to wheel. Gottschalk gained the advantage, taking control of the point on lap six. Gottschalk immediately began to pull away as he opened up a big lead and cruised to the stripe for the win. Reynolds was second followed by Kenny Storkson, Bill Sweeney and Craig Henning.
Adam Schook of Whitewater captured the 22 lap Bandit Mid-Season Championship feature event. Brody Chilvers and DJ Hill led the field to green with Chilvers taking the initial lead on the opening lap. Jeremy Bredeson moved into second while Josh Marx took over third. Marx took to the high groove as he drove past Bredeson and alongside Chilvers on lap two. Marx grabbed control of the lead on lap three with Bredeson to second and Schook up to third. Schook drove by Bredeson to claim the second spot on lap five as he closed in on the new leader. A sole caution slowed the pace on lap 12. Marx and Schook restarted side by side with Marx returning to the point. Schook stayed close as the laps ticked away. With five laps to go, Schook began to apply heavy pressure to Marx looking to make a pass. On lap 20, Schook drove under Marx entering turn one as the duo raced door to door. They continued to battle for an advantage past the white flag to begin the final circuit. As they raced out of turn four the final time, Schook gained momentum and held it as he crossed under the checkers first for the win. Marx settled for second followed by Jamie Kohn, Bredeson and Chilvers.
Next Saturday, July 18, is a full program of racing in all six divisions highlighted by the Miller Lite 50 lap Late Model feature as well as One on One Street Drags. 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) Jason Erickson, Fort Atkinson 3) Jerry Eckhardt, Johnson Creek 4) Alex Papini, Machesney Park (IL) 5) Shaun Scheel, Lake Mills 6) Michael Grueneberg, Madison 7) Brandon Pendleton, Helenville 8) Luke Westenberg, Jefferson 9) Dylan Schuyler, Jefferson 10) Trent Erdman, Fort Atkinson 11) Chris Quam, Stoughton 12) Noel Ramge, Helenville 13) Kyle Smith, Lake Mills 14) Bruce Lee, Cambridge 15) John Ovadal Jr, Watertown 16) Stephen Scheel, Lake Mills 17) Craig Phillips, Edgerton 18) Tyler Peterson, Lake Geneva 19) Kyle Taylor, Deerfield 20) Roger Behlke, Jefferson
Fast Qualifier- Casey Johnson—14.184 seconds
Last Chance- John Ovadal Jr, Noel Ramge, Bruce Lee, Roger Behlke
Heat Winners- 1) Scott Patrick 2) Jerry Eckhardt 3) Luke Westenberg
Sportsman-
Feature Results- 1) Jason Thoma, Jefferson 2) Terry Wangsness, Jefferson 3) Mark Deporter, Fort Atkinson 4) Mike Winters, Sun Prairie 5) Steven Sauer, Waterloo 6) Jay Kalbus, Whitewater 7) Dan Schmidt, Farmington 8) Russ Nicholson, Madison 9) Tim Coley, Madison 10) Scott Hoeft, Watertown 11) Nick Letsinger, Rockford (IL) 12) Josh Madell, Mayville 13) Tony Ciano, Janesville 14) Jim Taylor, Stoughton 15) Jim Tate Jr, Doylestown 16) Brian Mayer, Rockford (IL) 17) Jason Kubicz, Whitewater 18) Ed Jackson, Madison 19) Jeff Hehrkorn, Wisconsin Dells 20) Mike Storkson, Evansville
Fast Qualifier- Jason Thoma—14.992 seconds
Heat Winners- 1) Scott Hoeft 2) Tim Coley 3) Jim Tate Jr
International-
Feature Results- 1) Seth Reamer, Waupun 2) Mike Lambert, Madison 3) Merek Pankow, Jefferson 4) Dan Birkett, Jefferson 5) Joe Cross, Sun Prairie 6) Brandon DeLacy, Fort Atkinson 7) Jason Uttech, Watertown 8) Neil Higgins, Watertown 9) Jamie Shelley, Edgerton 10) Keith Bell, Brodhead 11) Noah Pankow, Jefferson 12) Josh Rusch, Fort Atkinson
Fast Qualifier- Seth Reamer—16.308 seconds
Heat Winners- 1) Keith Bell 2) Seth Reamer
Hobby Stock-
Feature Results- 1) Dustin Ward, Waterloo 2) AJ Lloyd, Machesney Park (IL) 3) Dylan Buckingham, Whitewater 4) Jared Vike, Sun Prairie 5) Lucas Buckingham, Whitewater 6) Wayne Buchs, Mazomanie 7) Boyd Eichelkraut, Stoughton 8) Jim Wolf, Watertown 9) Jeff LeFave, Fort Atkinson 10) Gary Paulick, Union Grove 11) Jon Benninger, Sun Prairie 12) Korey Bengsch, Sun Prairie 13) Tom Dorn, Fort Atkinson 14) Cody Buchs, Mazomanie
Fast Qualifier- AJ Lloyd—15.904 seconds
Heat Winners- 1) Gary Paulick 2) Dylan Buckingham
Road Warrior-
Feature Results- 1) Chris Gottschalk, Jefferson 2) Bill Reynolds, Watertown 3) Kenny Storkson, Indianford 4) Bill Sweeney, Aztalan 5) Craig Henning, Helenville 6) Don Mattrisch, Fort Atkinson 7) Bryan Gottschalk, Jefferson 8) Charles Novotny, Fort Atkinson 9) Lucas Stevenson, Janesville 10) Nick Newton, Lake Mills
Fast Qualifier- Chris Gottschalk—16.630 seconds
Heat Winners- 1) Bryan Gottschalk 2) Kenny Storkson
Bandit-
Feature Results- 1) Adam Schook, Whitewater 2) Josh Marx, Dousman 3) Jamie Kohn, Madison 4) Jeremy Bredeson, Columbus 5) Brody Chilvers, Milton 6) Nick Schmidt, Watertown 7) Chad Olds, Whitewater 8) Dalton Jones, Sun Prairie 9) Peter Shelley, Edgerton 10) Dylan Brown, Jefferson 11) DJ Hill, Fort Atkinson 12) Dustin Yanke, Fort Atkinson
Fast Qualifier- Dustin Yanke—17.118 seconds
Heat Winners- 1) Jeremy Bredeson 2) Jamie Kohn
