Johnson First Repeat Winner at Jefferson Speedway
by Andrew Schaller
JEFFERSON, WI (Saturday, June 23, 2012) Stoughton’s Casey Johnson became the first Late Model pilot at Jefferson Speedway to repeat as feature winner in the 2012 race season. Johnson charged through the field and made a late race pass to net the win in the Sullivan Saloon 50 lap feature event.
Tommy Pecaro and Noel Ramge paced the field to green as they battled wheel to wheel for the top spot. Ramge claimed the early lead on lap two with Chris Quam trying to follow around the outside of Pecaro for the second spot. Quam cleared for second and pulled up behind Ramge with Pecaro falling in line behind him in third. The first of two cautions waved on lap 11 for raindrops on the speedway. After the sprinkles passed and racing resumed, the leaders once again lined up single file with Ramge showing the way. On lap 20, Pecaro experienced mechanical difficulty as he fell off the pace and was forced to retire from the event. A lap later, the caution waved for a final time as John Ovadal spun down the front stretch. Once racing resumed, Dylan Schuyler moved around Trent Erdman for the third spot with Johnson in tow for fourth. Johnson quickly moved to the low side of Schuyler as they raced side by side for third. Johnson made the pass and continued forward under Quam for second. Johnson cleared for the second position on lap 34, pulling up behind Ramge on the point. Johnson charged under Ramge on lap 37, pulling alongside and looking to lead. A lap later Johnson was out front all alone with Kyle Jarlsberg trying to follow past Ramge as well. Jarlsberg made the pass and looked to catch the new leader, Johnson. But Johnson stayed strong out front on his way to the checkers for the win. Jarlsberg finished second followed by Ramge, Doug Hahn and Schuyler.
Jason Thoma of Jefferson captured the 30 lap Sportsman main event. Kenny Au grabbed the early lead on lap one from fellow front row starter Jeff Schultz. Steven Sauer quickly charged up underneath Au, drawing even at the front of the pack. Sauer cleared for the lead on lap six with Kody Hubred following into second. A caution on lap nine slowed the field as Seth Lootans spun his mount in turn four. As the green flag waved once again, Thoma found himself in third and challenging Hubred for the runner up spot. Thoma drove under Hubred on lap 12, clearing for second three laps later with Mark Deporter trying to follow. Deporter and Hubred touched on lap 16 allowing Kyle Chwala to join the battle. The contact eventually resulted in Hubred spinning to bring out the second caution period of the event. On the restart, Thoma got a good run under Sauer at the front to steal the lead at the line. At the same time, Chwala and Deporter connected down the backstretch as both were sent spinning to bring out the final caution of the race. Thoma restarted the final 11 circuits as the leader with Sauer in second and Jim Tate Jr running in third. Tate got by Sauer once racing resumed, but Thoma was already enjoying a comfortable lead on his way to the win. Tate finished second followed by Tory Bagley, Sauer and Au.
Madison’s Mike Lambert captured another feature win on the season after winning the 20 lap International feature event. Devin Wild and Josh Kubicz led the field to green with Wild taking the initial lead on lap one. Wild drifted a little high exiting turn four forcing the pack to bunch up behind him resulting in several cars spinning to the infield for the first caution of the race. After another quick caution a lap later, Wild still maintained the top spot with Kubicz in second and Dan Birkett running third. By lap four, James Bell was running in the top five with Mark English hot on his heels and Lambert not far behind. By lap five, Bell was challenging Kubicz for second with English also applying heavy pressure. As the leader bunched up, Bell and Wild made contact which ended with both spinning in turn one for another yellow flag period. English was able to restart as the leader with Kubicz and Lambert rounding out the top three. Once racing resumed, Lambert quickly made his way around Kubicz for second, setting his sights on English in the lead. Lambert reeled in the new leader until catching him on lap 11. Lambert drove to the low side, drawing even and making the pass for the lead on lap 12. English made the crossover move to once again pull alongside Lambert. But Lambert powered back out to sole possession of the top spot with only five laps remaining. Lambert stayed out front to see the checkers first for the win. English held on for second with Kyle Stark, Matt McKinney and Seth Reamer completing the top five.
James Helmer of Beaver Dam endured a great battle in the closing laps to capture the 20 lap Hobby Stock feature. Chester Williams led lap one from the pole with Kale Peterman charging up to second. On lap four, Peterman dove under Williams entering turn one as Bobby Selsing watched from third. Peterman cleared for the lead with Selsing following into second a lap later. Selsing took his turn to challenge for the point, driving under Peterman on lap nine. Tony Ciano joined the fight for the lead, but contact between Ciano and Selsing sent Selsing spinning to bring out the sole caution of the race. Selsing’s evening was finished due to damage and Ciano was forced the rear of the field for the restart. Peterman brought the field back to green with Helmer filling up his rear view mirror. Helmer immediately drove to the high side of the racing surface, looking to make a pass for the lead. Lap after lap, Helmer inched a little closer to the front until the pair of drivers were side by side passing under the white flag. Contact down the back stretch on the final lap as the leaders maneuvered through lapped traffic allowed Helmer to capture the lead and charge the stripe to get the win. Peterman settled for second with Ciano, Williams and Billy Robinson rounding out the top five.
In Road Warrior action, it was Rob Lange of Jefferson taking the win and extending his lead in the points standings after claiming the 15 lap affair. Mark English and Chester Williams brought the field to green with Rodger Stephenson trying to go three wide for the top spot early on. English eventually gained possession of the lead on lap four with Lange already running in third. Lange motored under English on lap five, clearing for first a lap later. Lange immediately opened up a large lead over the field while Tim Ellis made his way to the front. Ellis made a late race charge to get to second, but Lange was already well on his way to the checkers for the win. Ellis finished second followed by Stephenson, English and Bill Reynolds.
Josh Lenz of Lake Mills rounded out the night’s festivities by winning the 20 lap Bandit feature event. Art Blakely took the lead on lap one with Tiffany Desjarlais up to second and Lenz right behind her for third. On lap three. Lenz slipped by Desjarlais for the second spot as Nick Schmidt came along for third. Schmidt drove under Lenz on lap six, but when Schmidt made slight contact with Blakely at the front, Lenz fired past both drivers and into the lead. Lenz continued to pull away from the rest of the pack while Schmidt searched for a lane around Blakely for second. With three laps to go, Blakely spun exiting turn four allowing Dave Schmidt and Taylor Schmude by and dropping Nick Schmidt to fourth. At the line, it was Lenz for the win followed by Dave Schmidt, Schmude, Nick Schmidt and Dustin Ward.
Next Saturday, June 30, is Mid-Season Championship Night at Wisconsin’s Action Track. Extended features in all division including a 65 lap Late Model main event are on tap as well as fireworks and Kids Stock Car Rides. There will also be Big Wheel Races and a Coin Drop for the kids. Gates open at 2pm with time trials at 4pm. Kids rides will take place from 5:30-6:30 and the first race starts at 7pm. Special Event Pricing is in effect for the evening. Jefferson Speedway is located halfway between Jefferson and Cambridge on Hwy 18. Please visitwww.jeffersonspeedway.com for more information.
Jefferson Speedway Race Summary
Late Model-
Sullivan Saloon 50 lap Feature Results- 1) Casey Johnson, Stoughton 2) Kyle Jarlsberg, Jefferson 3) Noel Ramge, Helenville 4) Doug Hahn, Whitewater 5) Dylan Schuyler, Jefferson 6) Chris Quam, Stoughton 7) Trent Erdman, Fort Atkinson 8) Brady Liddle, Oregon 9) Jason Erickson, Fort Atkinson 10) Shaun Scheel, Lake Mills 11) Ty James, Oconomowoc 12) Jerry Eckhardt, Johnson Creek 13) John Ovadal Jr, Watertown 14) Roger Belhke, Jefferson 15) Scott Lindsay, Dousman 16) Tim Lange, Dousman 17) Luke Westenberg, Jefferson 18) Tommy Pecaro, Markesan
Fast Qualifier- Jason Erickson—14.340 seconds
Consi- Joe Wendorf, Lincoln Keeser
Last Chance- Roger Behlke, Ty James, Luke Westenberg, Tim Lange
Heat Winners- 1) Lincoln Keeser 2) Roger Belhke 3) Chris Quam
Sportsman-
Feature Results- 1) Jason Thoma, Jefferson 2) Jim Tate Jr, Deforest 3) Tory Bagley, Stoughton 4) Steven Sauer, Waterloo 5) Kenny Au, Jefferson 6) Kody Hubred, Cambridge 7) Jim Taylor, Stoughton 8) Jeff Schultz, Elkhorn 9) Terry Wangsness, Jefferson 10) Ryan Oldenhoff, Fort Atkinson 11) Seth Lootans, Kenosha 12) Adam Bleskan, Menomonee Falls 13) Steve Allman, Oconomowoc 14) Kyle Chwala, Lake Mills 15) Mark Deporter, Fort Atkinson
Fast Qualifier- Kyle Chwala—15.039 seconds
Heat Winners- 1) Ryan Oldenhoff 2) Tory Bagley
International-
Feature Results- 1) Mike Lambert, Madison 2) Mark English, Edgerton 3) Kyle Stark, Waterloo 4) Matt McKinney, Fort Atkinson 5) Seth Reamer, Marshall 6) Peter Shelley, Edgerton 7) Dylan Buckingham, Whitewater 8) Dan Birkett, Jefferson 9) Darren Brown, Jefferson 10) Josh Kubicz, Whitewater 11) Devin Wild, Jefferson 12) James Bell, Brodhead 13) John Handeland, Belleville 14) Neil Higgins, Watertown
Fast Qualifier- Kyle Stark—16.245 seconds
Heat Winners- 1) Peter Shelley 2) John Handeland
Hobby Stock-
Feature Results- 1) James Helmer, Beaver Dam 2) Kale Peterman, Iron Ridge 3) Tony Ciano, Janesville 4) Chester Williams, Waukesha 5) Billy Robinson, Orfordville 6) Jeff LeFave, Fort Atkinson 7) Lucas Buckingham, Whitewater 8) Jim Wolf, Watertown 9) Crystal O’Gorman, Lake In The Hills (IL) 10) Lorin Christian, Watertown 11) Bobby Selsing, Edgerton 12) Jimmy Robinson, Orfordville
Fast Qualifier- James Helmer—16.099 seconds
Heat Winners- 1) Chester Williams 2) Bobby Selsing
Road Warrior-
Feature Results- 1) Rob Lange, Jefferson 2) Tim Ellis, S.Beloit (IL) 3) Rodger Stephenson, Cambridge 4) Mark English, Edgerton 5) Bill Reynolds, Watertown 6) Chester Williams, Waukesha 7) Matt McKinney, Fort Atkinson 8) Jared Larson, Jefferson 9) Chad Olds, Whitewater 10) Travis Schneeberg, Cottage Grove
Fast Qualifier- Rob Lange—16.817 seconds
Heat Winners- 1) Mark English 2) Tim Ellis
Bandit-
Feature Results- 1) Josh Lenz, Lake Mills 2) Dave Schmidt, Cudahy 3) Taylor Schmude, Cambridge 4) Nick Schmidt, Oak Creek 5) Dustin Ward, Waterloo 6) Mitch Brockway, Ixonia 7) Phil Wuesthoff, Beaver Dam 8) Mike Heimann, Waunakee 9) Dustin Yanke, Fort Atkinson 10) Keith Erickson, Columbus 11) Cory Jansen, Lake Geneva 12) Tadd Douglas, Jefferson 13) Josh Marx, Jefferson 14) Tiffany Desjarlais, Columbus 15) Erik Bennett, Beloit 16) Michelle Kriigel, Sun Prairie 17) Robby Robinson, Orfordville 18) Art Blakely, Whitewater
Fast Qualifier- Taylor Schmude—14. 205 seconds
Last Chance- Michelle Kriigel, Erik Bennett, Robby Robinson, Josh Marx
Heat Winners- 1) Robby Robinson 2) Josh Marx 3) Tiffany Desjarlais
