Johnson Powers to Victory at Jefferson Speedway

JEFFERSON, WI (Saturday, May 31, 2014) Two time champion, Casey Johnson of Stoughton, charged to the front of the field en route to picking up the win in the Ken Olson’s Used Cars 50 lap Late Model main event. Johnson appeared determined to become the fifth feature winner of the season despite starting deep in a field full of superior pilots.

Noel Ramge and Tyler Peterson paced the field to green as they battled side by side for control of the top spot. Ramge eventually claimed possession of the lead on lap six with Shaun Scheel trying to follow under Peterson to second. On lap nine, Scheel completed the pass and quickly went to work on Ramge at the point. Scheel peeked to the low side of Ramge on lap ten, drawing even and clearing a lap later to take the lead. Scheel began to pull away from the pack while Chris Quam moved up to challenge Ramge for the second position. Quam eventually claimed the spot on lap 28 with Dylan Schuyler in tow for third. Schuyler made his move on Quam, pulling alongside him on lap 30. The first of two cautions waved on lap 31 for a multi-car melee on the front stretch. Schuyler was scored in the second position behind Scheel for the restart with Quam riding in third. As racing resumed, Johnson slipped by Ramge and alongside Quam. At the same time, Schuyler tried to make a move on Scheel, but the duo made slight contact resulting in Schuyler getting loose and allowing Johnson to charge around him to second. The second and final caution waved on lap 38 for a spinning Kyle Smith in turn two. On the restart, Johnson got a great run off turn two as he motored under Scheel looking to lead. Johnson continued to inch forward until he was clear of Scheel at the front of the field with ten laps remaining. Johnson cruised over the final circuits on his way to picking up the win. Schuyler was second followed by Scheel, Quam and Ramge.

Jason Thoma of Jefferson hung on at the end of a very exciting finish to claim the win in the 30 lap Sportsman feature. Adam Bleskan led early from the pole with Jim Taylor up to second on lap one. The inside line followed forward with Seth Lootans taking third and Thoma already up to fourth. Taylor quickly went to work on Bleskan at the point, driving to the low side and clearing for the lead on lap four. Lootans followed into second with Thoma still in his rear view mirror. Lootans quickly drove up next to Taylor, taking over the lead on lap eight and bringing Thoma along for second. Thoma wasted little time in second as he pulled even with Lootans on lap ten. After a brief battle, Thoma was out front with Mark Deporter now trying to move past Lootans for second. Deporter completed the pass on lap 18 and began to shadow the new leader. With three laps to go, Deporter launched his bid for the lead. Looking to the low side, Deporter tried to draw even with Thoma. The battle was on as they duo flew past the white flag to begin the final lap. The pair of competitors raced out of turn four wheel to wheel as they came to the checkered flag. At the stripe, it was Thoma by inches over Deporter to grab the win. Rounding out the top five were Lootans, Jay Kalbus and Robert Hansberry Jr.

Madison’s Mike Lambert claimed the win in the 20 lap International feature event. Joe Cross took the initial lead on lap one with Keith Bell up to second. A three way battle for third began to heat up between Lambert, Scott Uttech and Peter Shelley. Lambert eventually won that battle when he pulled into third on lap 11. A lap later, Lambert was side by side with Bell for second. Lambert picked up the position and continued forward alongside Cross on lap 13. Lambert cleared for the top spot on lap 14 as he began to pull away from the pack. At the checkers, it was Lambert for the win followed by Cross, Bell, Chris Chenoweth and Seth Reamer.

In Hobby Stock action, it was Waterloo’s Dustin Ward picking up the 20 lap feature win. Jim Wolf and Dylan Buckingham brought the field to green as they battled wheel to wheel for the top spot. Wolf claimed the position on lap two with Jeff LeFave following into second. On lap five, LeFave drove to the low side of Wolf, taking the lead for himself and bringing Cody Buchs along for second. On lap seven, Ward joined the leaders as he began to challenge Buchs for the second spot. Ward dispatched of Buchs and drove up alongside side LeFave on lap eight. Ward cleared a lap later and drove out to a healthy advantage while Chester Williams worked his way up to second. Ward cruised to the checkers for the win with Williams, Buchs, Phil Wuesthoff and Bobby Selsing Jr rounding out the top five.

Watertown’s Bill Reynolds achieved the clean sweep on the evening by setting quick time qualifying, winning his heat race and capturing the 15 lap Road Warrior feature win. Jordan Lamb led early on from the pole with Scott Hoeft and Craig Henning battling for second behind him. Henning got loose on lap three sending Hoeft into second and allowing Reynolds and Bill Sweeney to slip by as they fought for third. Hoeft moved around Lamb on lap five bringing Reynolds along for second. Reynolds quickly went to work under the new leader, claiming the top spot on lap seven. Reynolds pulled away from the pack while Chris Gottschalk picked his way up to second. At the checkers, it was Reynolds for the convincing win followed by Gottschalk, Hoeft, Sweeney and Kenny Storkson.

Young Noah Pankow of Jefferson claimed his first career feature victory after winning the 15 lap Bandit main event. Tyler Deporter and Pankow paced the field to green. Deporter took the early lead through turns one and two. Pankow charged back on the outside of Deporter before the completion of the opening lap. Pankow charged past Deporter and into the lead on lap two as he began to open up a large advantage. Meanwhile, Steve Dickson was picking his way through the field. Dickson drove around Dennis Wuesthoff on the outside to claim second on lap seven. Dickson began to close the gap on the leader as the laps ticked away. Dickson found himself on the rear bumper of Pankow as they came to the while flag. But Pankow had just enough to hold him off and cross the stripe first for the win. Dickson settled for second followed by Brandon DeLacy, Nick Schmidt and Trent Rueth.

Next Saturday is a full program of racing in all divisions with time trials at 5pm and racing at 7pm. Plus, mark your calendars for the return of the TUNDRA Super Late Model Series as well as the Mid-American Stock Car Series and the IMCA Vintage Cars on June 21. 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, Stoughton 2) Dylan Schuyler, Jefferson 3) Shaun Scheel, Lake Mills 4) Chris Quam, Stoughton 5) Noel Ramge, Helenville 6) Trent Erdman, Fort Atkinson 7) Dale Nottestad, Cambridge 8) Zack Riddle, Stoughton 9) Luke Westenberg, Jefferson 10) Brandon Pendleton, Helenville 11) Jason Erickson, Fort Atkinson 12) Jerry Eckhardt, Johnson Creek 13) Kyle Smith, Lake Mills 14) Tory Bagley, Edgerton 15) Stephen Scheel, Lake Mills 16) Rusty Hansen, Deerfield 17) Steve Dobbratz, Rio 18) Tyler Peterson, Lake Geneva

Fast Qualifier- Zack Riddle—14.537 seconds

Last Chance- Luke Westenberg, Tory Bagley, Stephen Scheel, Steve Dobbratz

Heat Winners- 1) Tory Bagley 2) Steve Dobbratz 3) Dylan Schuyler

Sportsman-

Feature Results- 1) Jason Thoma, Jefferson 2) Mark Deporter, Fort Atkinson 3) Seth Lootans, Kenosha 4) Jay Kalbus, Whitewater 5) Robert Hansberry Jr, Beloit 6) Jim Taylor, Stoughton 7) Tony Ciano, Janesville 8) Steven Sauer, Waterloo 9) Terry Wangsness, Jefferson 10) Tim Coley, Madison 11) Adam Bleskan, Menomonee Falls 12) Jason Kubicz, Whitewater 13) Peter Gillis, Watertown 14) Mike Storkson, Evansville

Fast Qualifier- Steven Sauer—15.285 seconds

Heat Winners- 1) Tim Coley 2) Jason Thoma

International-

Feature Results- 1) Mike Lambert, Madison 2) Joe Cross, Sun Prairie 3) Keith Bell, Brodhead 4) Chris Chenoweth, Watertown 5) Seth Reamer, Waupun 6) John Handeland, Belleville 7) Merek Pankow, Jefferson 8) Jason Uttech, Watertown 9) Neil Higgins, Watertown 10) Peter Shelley, Edgerton 11) Dan Birkett, Arlington 12) James Bell, Janesville

Fast Qualifier- Mike Lambert—16.429 seconds

Heat Winners- 1) Peter Shelley 2) Seth Reamer

Hobby Stock-

Feature Results- 1) Dustin Ward, Waterloo 2) Chester Williams, Waukesha 3) Cody Buchs, Mazomanie 4) Phil Wuesthoff, Beaver Dam 5) Bobby Selsing Jr, Edgerton 6) Jeff LeFave, Fort Atkinson 7) Jim Wolf, Watertown 8) Lucas Buckingham, Whitewater 9) Dylan Buckingham, Whitewater 10) Boyd Eichelkraut, Stoughton

Fast Qualifier- Chester Williams—15.942 seconds

Heat Winners- 1) Dylan Buckingham 2) Phil Wuesthoff

Road Warrior-

Feature Results- 1) Bill Reynolds, Watertown 2) Chris Gottschalk, Jefferson 3) Scott Hoeft, Watertown 4) Bill Sweeney, Edgerton 5) Kenny Storkson, Evansville 6) Jordan Lamb, Fort Atkinson 7) Craig Henning, Helenville 8) Chad Olds, Whitewater 9) Joe Solem, Madison 10) Brian Gottschalk, Jefferson 11) Matthew Melchiori, Milwaukee

Fast Qualifier- Bill Reynolds—16. 796 seconds

Heat Winners- 1) Matthew Melchiori 2) Bill Reynolds

Bandit-

Feature Results- 1) Noah Pankow, Jefferson 2) Steve Dickson, Rockton (IL) 3) Brandon DeLacy, Fort Atkinson 4) Nick Schmidt, Oak Creek 5) Trent Rueth, Jefferson 6) Dennis Wuesthoff, Beaver Dam 7) Dustin Yanke, Fort Atkinson 8) Heather Stark, Watertown 9) Josh Marx, Dousman 10) Adam Schook, Fort Atkinson 11) Paul Reagles, Colgate 12) Tyler Deporter, Fort Atkinson 13) Sueter Bennett, Franksville

Fast Qualifier- Trent Rueth—17.183 seconds

Heat Winners- 1) Noah Pankow 2) Josh Marx