Johnson Wins Cost Cutters 50

JEFFERSON, WI (Saturday, August 15, 2015)           Edgerton’s Casey Johnson charged to the front of the pack on Saturday night at Jefferson Speedway and won the Cost Cutters 50 lap Late Model feature event. The wins marks Johnson’s fourth visit to victory lane this season as he continues to dominate the premier division at Wisconsin’s Action Track.

Kyle Smith and Luke Westenberg led the 18 car field to green with Westenberg taking control of the point on lap one. Smith dropped back into a battle for second with Stephen Scheel while Westenberg opened up a healthy advantage. Scheel cleared for second on lap six, but Smith fought back to draw even with Scheel two laps later. After battling for several laps side by side, Scheel reclaimed the second position on lap 14. One circuit later, Smith and Dylan Schuyler made contact resulting in Smith spinning down the back stretch for force the first caution period. Westenberg restarted as the leader with Scheel right behind and Noel Ramge up to third. As racing resumed, Johnson entered into a fight with Michael Grueneberg for the fourth spot while Scheel went to work on the leader at the front. Johnson cleared for fourth on lap 20 and slid up alongside Ramge for third on lap 22. Johnson made the pass while Scheel tried to pressure Westenberg on the low side through turns three and four. Scheel couldn’t make the move stick as Johnson closed in on the leaders. Johnson began to challenge Scheel for second on lap 30. Johnson appeared to make the pass for the runner up position, but another yellow flag erased his momentum. As racing resumed, it was still Westenberg out front followed by Scheel and Johnson. On lap 34, Johnson got under Scheel as they raced off of turn two. Johnson completed the pass on lap 36 and set his sights on Westenberg. With ten laps remaining, Johnson got a great run down the back chute, pulling even with Westenberg entering turn three. After a brief battle, Johnson moved into control of the top spot on lap 43 and raced away to grab the win. Westenberg finished second with Scheel holding off a hard charging Jason Erickson for third. Rounding out the top five was Grueneberg in fifth.

Jim Tate Jr of Doylestown made a rare appearance in 2015, coming home with the win in the 30 lap Sportsman feature event. Scott Hoeft led early from outside of row one with Russ Nicholson and Tim Coley fighting for second behind him. Coley cleared for second on lap two bringing Tate along with him for third. Tate didn’t waste any time behind Coley, driving under him on lap four. Tate stole the spot from Coley on lap six with Mark Deporter in tow for third. Tate pulled up behind Hoeft as he began to search for a lane to the front. On lap ten, Tate dove under Hoeft, clearing for the top spot a lap later. Tate began to check out from the pack while Deporter moved up to challenge Hoeft for second. On lap 17, Deporter got loose after contact with Jay Kalbus allowing Hoeft to move back into second while Kalbus worked over Deporter for third. Kalbus got by Deporter on lap 20 and pulled up behind Hoeft on lap 22. Kalbus moved past Hoeft for second with five laps to go, but Tate was already well on his way to the victory. Kalbus finished second followed by Hoeft, Deporter and Tony Ciano.

A great side by side battle for the majority of the 20 lap International feature ended with Seth Reamer of Beaver Dam in victory lane. Noah Pankow and Brandon DeLacy led the field to green with DeLacy taking the initial lead on lap one. On lap two, the action was slowed by caution when Pankow and Neil Higgins got together. Racing got back underway with DeLacy and Uttech leading the field back to green. Uttech grabbed control of the point with Merek Pankow up to second. Another caution waved on lap three for a multi car melee on the front stretch. This time it was Uttech and Pankow leading the pack back to action. Reamer joined the fight as they raced three wide off turn two. Reamer and Pankow emerged wheel to wheel as the battle for the lead was underway. Lap after lap, the duo traded the lead with neither taking complete control. The see saw battle lasted the remainder of the race as both drivers searched for an advantage. As they came to the checkers, it was Reamer by inches of Pankow to claim the win. Rounding out the top five were Uttech, Mike Lambert and Mark English.

Waterloo’s Dustin Ward padded his point lead in the Hobby Stock division by claiming the 25 lap feature event. After an early caution, it was Jim Wolf and Dylan Buckingham leading the field to green. Buckingham held a slight advantage after lap one, but Wolf battled back to draw even on lap two. Wolf charged ahead of Buckingham to take the lead on lap three with Lucas Buckingham up to third. Dylan Buckingham continued to pressure Wolf at the front while Ward and AJ Lloyd sliced their way forward. Ward found himself up to fourth by lap ten with Lloyd in his tracks for fifth. Two laps later, Ward was by Lucas Buckingham for third. On lap 15, Dylan Buckingham got under Wolf and pulled up alongside the leader. Ward began to test the high side of Buckingham and Wolf without too much success. Meanwhile, Lloyd drove up looking to make his move on the bottom side of the leaders. On lap 18, Lloyd got under Buckingham and Wolf as they raced three wide into turn one. Wolf emerged with the lead after contact between Lloyd and Buckingham forced them to check up. At the same time, Ward charged up alongside Wolf looking to lead. Ward completed the winning pass with five laps to go as he pulled away to get the win. Lloyd got past Wolf for second in the closing laps with Cody Buchs and Jared Vike rounding out the top five.

Jefferson’s Chris Gottschalk completed the clean sweep on the evening while also claiming his third straight Road Warrior feature win. Rodger Stephenson led lap one from the front row with Bill Reynolds sneaking up on the inside. Reynolds moved past Stephenson on lap two with Bill Reynolds and Kenny Storkson following as well. Storkson claimed the second spot on lap four with Craig Henning in tow. Henning quickly drove under Storkson to pick up second as he continued forward alongside Reynolds. Henning cleared for the lead on lap 11 with Gottschalk trying to follow past Reynolds for second. On lap 12, Henning, Gottschalk and Reynolds raced three wide into turn one with Gottschalk emerging on top. A caution period slowed the pace with six laps remaining. Gottschalk and Henning restarted side by side as they fought for control of the lead. As racing resumed, Gottschalk began to hold a slight advantage over Henning without being able to completely clear him. At the checkers, it was Gottschalk with the lead to get the win followed by Henning, Bryan Gottschalk, Storkson and Reynolds.

In Bandit action, it was Nick Schmidt of Watertown picking up the win in the 20 lap feature event. Bill Kohn led early with Jeremy Bredeson up to second and Josh Marx in third. Bredeson moved alongside Kohn on lap three while Schmidt drew even with Marx for third. Bredeson cleared for the top spot on lap four as Schmidt and Marx followed past Kohn. On lap six, Schmidt slid up next to Bredeson for the lead while Brody Chilvers began to challenge Marx. Schmidt cleared for the top spot on lap eight with Chilvers following into second. On lap 11, Chilvers took to the high side of the new leader, drawing even and clearing for the lead. But a caution with five laps remaining set up a shootout to the finish with Chilvers and Schmidt restarting side by side. As racing resumed, Chilvers began to have problems allowing Schmidt to reclaim the point. Jamie Kohn and Dustin Yanke got by Chilvers as well as they fought for second. At the checkers, it was Schmidt for the win followed by Jamie Kohn, Yanke, Chilvers and Bredeson.

The Bandoleros joined the action this week as well with Chase Wangsness of Jefferson getting the win in the 8 lap feature event. Starting alongside Wangsness on row one, Emma Hunstiger took the early lead on the first lap. Wangsness got under Hunstiger on lap three as they raced side by side off turn four. Wangsness cleared for the top spot as they entered turn one on lap four. Wangsness hung from there to cross the stripe first for the win. Hunstiger was second followed by Robbie Rucks in third.

Next Saturday, August 22, is a full program in all divisions highlighted by the Badgerland Challenge Finale sponsored by Papa Murphy’s Pizza. Time trials begin at 5pm with racing at 7pm sharp. 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) Luke Westenberg, Jefferson  3) Stephen Scheel, Lake Mills  4) Jason Erickson, Fort Atkinson  5) Michael Grueneberg, Madison  6) Alex Papini, Machesney Park (IL)  7) Brandon Pendleton, Helenville  8) Dylan Schuyler, Jefferson  9) Shaun Scheel, Lake Mills  10) Chris Quam, Stoughton  11) Brent Edmunds, Monticello  12) Kyle Taylor, Deerfield  13) Bruce Lee, Cambridge  14) Kyle Smith, Lake Mills  15) Scott Patrick, Dousman  16) Tyler Peterson, Lake Geneva  17) Noel Ramge, Helenville  18) Tim Sargent, S.Beloit (IL)

Fast Qualifier- Jason Erickson—14.169 seconds

Last Chance- Tim Sargent, Tyler Peterson, Kyle Taylor, Scott Patrick

Heat Winners- 1) Lincoln Keeser  2) Don Gaserude  3) Dylan Schuyler

Sportsman-

Feature Results- 1) Jim Tate Jr, Doylestown  2) Jay Kalbus, Whitewater  3) Scott Hoeft, Watertown  4) Mark Deporter, Fort Atkinson  5) Tony Ciano, Janesville  6) Terry Wangsness, Jefferson  7) Chris Chenoweth, Watertown  8) Jason Thoma, Jefferson  9) Tim Coley, Madison  10) Jim Taylor, Stoughton  11) Russ Nicholson, Stoughton  12) Tim Belz, Sun Prairie  13) Mike Storkson, Evansville  14) Ed Jackson, Madison  15) Brett Carson, Johnson Creek  16) Dan Silberhorn, Fond du Lac

Fast Qualifier- Jason Thoma—14.972 seconds

Heat Winners- 1) Jim Taylor  2) Terry Wangsness

International-

Feature Results- 1) Seth Reamer, Beaver Dam  2) Merek Pankow, Jefferson  3) Jason Uttech, Watertown  4) Mike Lambert, Fort Atkinson  5) Mark English, Edgerton  6) Tom Pfeifer, Jefferson  7) Seth Green, Edgerton  8) Matt Cooper, Milton  9) Jamie Shelley, Edgerton  10) Tad Douglas, Jefferson  11) Brandon DeLacy, Fort Atkinson  12) Keith Bell, Brodhead  13) Noah Pankow, Jefferson  14) Neil Higgins, Watertown  15) Joe Cross, Sun Prairie

Fast Qualifier- Seth Reamer—16.407 seconds

Heat Winners- 1) Keith Bell  2) Neil Higgins

Hobby Stock-

Feature Results- 1) Dustin Ward, Waterloo  2) AJ Lloyd, Machesney Park (IL)  3) Jim Wolf, Watertown  4) Cody Buchs, Mazomanie  5) Jared Vike, Sussex  6) Dylan Buckingham, Whitewater  7) Lucas Buckingham, Whitewater  8) Wayne Buchs, Mazomanie  9) Jeff LeFave, Fort Atkinson  10) Gary Paulick, Union Grove  11) Boyd Eichelkraut, Stoughton  12) Brandon DeLacy, Fort Atkinson  13) Jon Benninger, Deforest

Fast Qualifier- Dustin Ward—15.938 seconds

Heat Winners- 1) Gary Paulick  2) Boyd Eichelkraut

Road Warrior-

Feature Results- 1) Chris Gottschalk, Jefferson  2) Craig Henning, Helenville  3) Bryan Gottschalk, Jefferson  4) Kenny Storkson, Indianford  5) Bill Reynolds, Watertown  6) Bill Sweeney, Aztalan  7) Rodger Stephenson, Cambridge  8) Lucas Stevenson, Beloit  9) Mike Storkson, Evansville

Fast Qualifier- Chris Gottschalk—16.589 seconds

Heat Winners- 1) Bill Reynolds  2) Chris Gottschalk

Bandit-

Feature Results- 1) Nick Schmidt, Watertown  2) Jamie Kohn, Madison  3) Dustin Yanke, Fort Atkinson  4) Brody Chilvers, Milton  5) Jeremy Bredeson, Deforest  6) Chad Olds, Whitewater  7) Josh Marx, Dousman  8) Adam Schook, Palmyra  9) Dalton Jones, Sun Prairie  10) Tyler Deporter, Fort Atkinson  11) Bill Kohn, Madison  12) DJ Hill, Watertown  13) Tara Belz, Sun Prairie  14) Lyle Phillips, Edgerton  15) Dylan Brown, Jefferson

Fast Qualifier- Brody Chilvers—17.056 seconds

Heat Winners- 1) Jeremy Bredeson  2) Josh Marx