Johnson Defends Home Turf
JEFFERSON, WI (Saturday, June 21, 2014) Two time Jefferson Speedway Late Model champion, Casey Johnson, showed that home track advantage really means something on Saturday night. The TUNDRA Super Late Model Series invaded Wisconsin’s Action Track with Johnson joining the show and charging to the front of the 23 car starting field to win the 60 lap feature event. The win was Johnson’s first in the series and his second feature victory of the season at Jefferson Speedway.
It took three tries to get the race started cleanly as the visiting drivers tried to get the handle on the tricky quarter mile speed plant. Mike Lichtfeld took the early lead with Ryan Farrell on his rear bumper. Johnson kept his nose clean throughout the melees early on as he found himself in third on lap two. Johnson didn’t wait long to make a move on Farrell for the second position. Johnson drew even with Farrell on lap four, clearing for second two laps later. Johnson closed in on Lichtfeld, peeking to his low side on lap 11. Johnson and Lichtfeld were wheel to wheel on lap 12 with Johnson trying to overtake for the top spot. After a brief battle, Johnson took control of the point on lap 14. After two cautions on laps 20 and 21, Johnson restarted on the high side with Lichtfeld choosing the bottom lane. Johnson fired back into the lead with Ty Majeski now up to second and Lichtfeld back to third. A caution slowed the action once again at the half way point of the race. This time Majeski restarted under Johnson, but Johnson managed to quickly regain control with Majeski falling in line behind. The leaders ran nose to tail over the remaining circuits with Johnson showing the way. Majeski came home second with defending TUNDRA Series champion Nick Panitzke in third. Dalton Zehr and Lichtfeld rounded out the top five. Johnson also led the way in qualifying turning a lap of 13.750 seconds.
Joining the action on Saturday night was the Mid-American Stock Car Series. Lyle Nowak took advantage of problems on Brad Keith’s machine to take the late lead and win the 50 lap feature event. Rick Tackman Jr grabbed the early lead from the pole with Greg Beebe in second and Eric Lingford in third. Eric Pierce moved past Lingford for third as Keith joined the top five on lap seven. Keith continued to move forward, passing Lingford for fourth and driving up alongside Pierce on lap 11. Keith drew even with Beebe a lap later, clearing for second on lap 13. A caution on lap 14 slowed the pace setting up a side by side battle on the restart between Tackman and Keith. As racing resumed, Keith powered into the lead with Tackman now second. Another caution on lap 18 didn’t change anything at the front as Keith maintained control with Tackman in second. On lap 21, Tackman got very high in turns three and four forcing him to check up and allowing Pierce to slip past for second. Kenny Joosten and Nowak followed into a battle for third while Pierce tried to close on Keith. With 15 laps remaining, Keith began to slow as he quickly lost pressure in his left front tire. Pierce pulled up behind as Keith tried to hang on with the flat tire. As Pierce tried to pass Keith on the low side, Nowak charged around the outside of both competitors to take over the top spot. Joosten followed into second, but Nowak drove off to claim the win. Joosten finished second followed by Pierce, Lingford and Tackman. Joosten claimed top honors in qualifying turning a lap of 14.972 seconds.
The Jefferson Speedway Road Warriors competed as well with Bill Reynolds of Watertown claiming the 15 lap feature event. Joe Solem led early with Kenny Storkson to his outside. Storkson drove back alongside Solem on lap three, clearing for the lead just before the caution waved. On the restart, Reynolds raced up to second with Bill Sweeney in tow for third. On lap seven, Reynolds drove under Storkson as they raced door to door. Reynolds cleared for the lead on lap nine as he cruised to the checkers to get the win. Storkson was second followed by Sweeney, Craig Henning and Solem.
Rounding out the action was the IMCA Vintage cars. A great back and forth battle between Jerry Schneider and Rex Rossier ended when they made contact in turns one and two on the final lap. Schneider drove away from the incident to get the win with Rossier settling for second.
Next Saturday, June 28, is a full program in all divisions with time trials at 5pm and racing at 7pm. Jefferson Speedway is located halfway between Jefferson and Cambridge on Hwy 18. Please visitwww.jeffersonspeedway.com for more information.
Jefferson Speedway Race Summary
TUNDRA Super Late Model Series-
60 lap Feature Results- 1) Casey Johnson, Edgerton 2) Ty Majeski, Seymour 3) Nick Panitzke, Lakeville (MN) 4) Dalton Zehr, Port Orange (FL) 5) Mike Lichtfeld, Pardeeville 6) Billy Mohn, Lakeville (MN) 7) Jordan Ives, Gladstone (MI) 8) Trent Erdman, Fort Atkinson 9) Brandon Selle, Dale 10) Reagan May, West DePere 11) Bobby Kendall, Montello 12) Eugene Gregorich Jr, Amherst 13) Travis Dassow, West Bend 14) Corey Jankowski, Tomah 15) Steve Lichtfeld, Portage 16) Ty James, Oconomowoc 17) Wyatt Blashe, Clintonville 18) Steve Rubeck, Cherry Valley 19) Frank Nitzke, Berlin 20) Ryan Farrell, East Troy 21) Michael Bilderback, S.Beloit (IL) 22) Brent Strelka, Seymour 23) Tom Gee Jr, Sobieski
Fast Qualifier- Casey Johnson—13.750 seconds
Fast Five Dash Winner- Michael Bilderback
Heat Winners- 1) Nick Panitzke 2) Reagan May
Mid-American Stock Car Series-
50 lap Feature Results- 1) Lyle Nowak 2) Kenny Joosten 3) Erik Pierce 4) Eric Lingford 5) Rick Tackman Jr 6) Scott Dunning 7) Jeremy Spoonmore 8) Mark Pluer 9) Scott Null 10) Dan Gilster 11) Chris Storey 12) Greg Beebe 13) Tim Fulford 14) Ben Glascock 15) David Slack 16) Ryan Gutknecht 17) Jeff Holtz 18) David Vernhagen 19) Brad Keith 20) Dusty Krebs 21) Ken Calhoun 22) Butch Mierendorf 23) Mark Brooner
Fast Qualifier- Kenny Joosten—14.972 seconds
Heat Winners- 1) Ben Glascock 2) Rick Tackman Jr 3) Ryan Gutknecht
Road Warriors-
Feature Results- 1) Bill Reynolds, Watertown 2) Kenny Storkson, Evansville 3) Bill Sweeney, Edgerton 4) Craig Henning, Jefferson 5) Joe Solem, Madison 6) Chad Olds, Whitewater 7) Rodger Stephenson, Cambridge
Fast Qualifier- Bill Reynolds—16.888 seconds
Heat Winner- Bill Reynolds
