Mierendorf ices UAW Local 95 – 50 Lapper at Jefferson!

By Jeanne & Larry Starr

August 28, 1999; Jefferson, WI. – Charlie Mierendorf of Lake Mills claimed top honors in the UAW Local 95, fifty lap Late Model feature on Wisconsin’s Action Track. Starting from the outside of row 1 Mierendorf dropped to 4th at the green flag, as Luke Westenberg of Palmyra pulled ahead to the early lead. A crash, in turn 4, brought the first caution, on lap 2. On the restart Westenberg held the point, with Mierendorf running 5th. Mierendorf gained momentum as he neared the front, motoring past Russ Goodwin of Beloit and Terry Morgan of Delafield, into 2nd by the eighth circuit. Closing with Westenberg by lap 16, Mierendorf launched his bid for the lead.

Fighting hard to stay in front, Westenberg held off Mierendorf’s charge until lap 22. Mierendorf moved to the inside, edging into the top spot by lap 27. On lap 28 Westenberg’s luck turned bad, backing into the turn one wall, to bring the second caution of the race. Westenberg returned, after making repairs in the pits, to finish the race.

As Mierendorf led the way to the checkered flag, the yellow flag flew two more times. Once for a spin on lap 31, and once, on lap 35, as many cars tangled in spins triggered by fluid on the track. At the stripe it was Mierendorf for the win, followed by Ron Bishofberger of Ft. Atkinson, Andy Wendt of Watertown, Dan Chesmore of Janesville and Mike Taylor of Stoughton.

Bishofberger set the fast pace in qualifying, with a 14.883 second circuit of the quarter mile.

Claiming victories, in 10 lap heat races, were Duane Deppe of Waterloo, Bart Reinen of Jefferson and Andy Wendt.

Moving to the feature, from the 20 lap Last Chance race were Rex Weston of Lake Mills, Reinen, Brian Sonnenberg of Cambridge and Butch Mierendorf of Waterloo.

In International class action Mike Drays of Milton claimed top honors in the 20 lap feature. Starting from the outside of row 3, Drays started his drive to the front, as Scott Uttech of Beaver Dam took the early lead. A pair of cars tangled on the back stretch, on lap 3, bringing the only caution of the race.

Uttech led the field back to the green with Drays running fifth. Patiently working his way through traffic, Drays claimed 2nd by lap 13, closing with Uttech. Drays moved to the inside, making the winning pass on lap 15, with Aaron Rude of Cambridge following for 2nd. As they flew past the checkered flag, it was Drays for the win, followed by Rude, Uttech, Matt Nickel of Madison and Charles Dixon of Waukesha.

Brent Nottestad of Cambridge set the mark in qualifying with a 16.140 second orbit of the quarter mile.

Claiming heat race victories were Dixon and Drays.

In Sportsman Division action rookie driver Jeff Kohlhoff of Watertown claimed victory, in the 25 lap feature. Starting from the inside of row 5, Kohlhoff began his trek to the checkered flag, as Mark Deporter of Ft. Atkinson grabbed the early lead. Bob Selsing of Ft. Atkinson closed with Deporter by lap 5, making many unsuccessful attempts to the inside. Kohlhoff soon moved into third, making it a three-way battle for the top spot. As they came down the front stretch, three wide on lap 9, Selsing suffered a broken tie rod, sending him into the turn 1 wall, to bring the first caution of the race.

On the restart it was Deporter in the top spot, with Kohlhoff running 2nd. Moving to the inside at the green flag, Kohlhoff claimed the point by lap 12. Guiding the field from there to the checkered flag, Kohlhoff opened up a healthy lead, as the battles raged behind him. Deporter spun out of the 2nd spot, on lap 13, bringing the final caution of the race. At the stripe it was Kohlhoff for the win, followed by Chad “Squirt” Stevens of Beloit, Dave Oswald of Cottage Grove, Kyle Munro of Ft. Atkinson and Tony Koepke of Ft. Atkinson.

Stevens set the fast qualifying pace, with a 15.675 second loop of the quarter mile.

Claiming victories, in 10 lap heat races, were Chad Reimer of Oconomowoc, Roger Stephenson of Cambridge, Chris Ehrhart of Deerfield and Selsing.

Moving to the Last Chance race, from the 8 lap Consi, were Reimer and Dustin Ward of Beaver Dam.

Moving to the feature lineup, via the 15 lap Last Chance race were Kevin Thompson of Palmyra, Ehrhart, Ben Hallock of Ft. Atkinson and Shane Radtke of Rome.

In Hobby Stock Action, Dennis Gaserude of Oregon took home top honors, in the 20 lap feature. Starting from the inside of row 4, Gaserude started his trip to the front, as Kevin Quale of Ft. Atkinson drove out to the early lead. Quale held the point for 7 laps, opening up a healthy lead, as cars battled through traffic behind him. Quale saw his lead vaporize, on lap 7, as the battle for 3rd became a wreck that brought the first caution of the race.

As Quale led the field back to green, Gaserude closed with Ron Coppernoll of Dane, in his bid for 2nd. Gaserude motored under Coppernoll, on lap 9, closing with Quale for the top spot. Gaserude pulled ahead before lap 10, with Coppernoll close behind for 2nd. Gaserude guided the way to the checkered, interrupted by one more caution, on lap 14. At the stripe it was Gaserude for the win, followed by Coppernoll, Nick Golich of Hebron, Ken Scott of Rio and Chuck Egli of Waterloo.

Scott set the fast qualifying pace with a 17.008 second lap, on the quarter mile.

Claiming victories, in 8 lap heat races, were Dan Schmidt of Watertown, Lincoln Keeser of Milton and Gaserude.

Moving to the feature, from the 8 lap Last Chance race were Scott Bush of Ft. Atkinson, Schmidt, Jim Blucher of Madison and Ernie Witte of Watertown.

Rounding out the night’s entertainment was the Roll-Over contest, where Roy Pfeifer Jr. of Ft. Atkinson took home top honors, with 3 perfect rolls.

Next week Jefferson Speedway presents the Settler’s Bay 50 lap Late Model feature and the Bubble Gauntlet Finale.

Gates open at 3:30, qualifying at 5:30 and racing at 7:30 sharp. Jefferson Speedway is located on highway 18 between Cambridge and Jefferson.

Results – UAW Local 95 – “50”

Late Model Feature Finish:

Laps: 50
1. 1 – Charlie Mierendorf (Lake Mills)
2. 76 – Ron Bishofberger (Ft. Atkinson)
3. 18 – Andy Wendt (Watertown)
4. 27 – Dan Chesmore (Janesville)
5. 41 – Mike Taylor (Stoughton)
6. 6 – Bart Reinen (Jefferson)
7. 11 – Beau Sanden (Janesville)
8. 62 – Scott Null (Lake Mills)
9. 25 – Mike Cusick (Ft. Atkinson)
10. 12 – Butch Mierendorf (Waterloo)
11. 10 – Brian Sonnenberg (Cambridge)
12. 52 – Duane Deppe (Waterloo)
13. 16 – Luke Westenberg (Palmyra)
14. 46 – Nick Wendt (Watertown)
15. 11 – Russ Goodwin (Beloit)
16. 5 – Terry Morgan (Delafield)
17. 43 – Denny Stair (Sullivan)
18. 44 – Roger Behlke (Jefferson)

FAST QUALIFIER
76 – Ron Bishofberger (Ft. Atkinson): 14.883 seconds

FAST DASH: 8 Lap
62 – Scott Null (Lake Mills)

LAST CHANCE: 20 Lap
35 – Rex Weston (Lake Mills)
6 – Bart Reinen (Jefferson)
10 – Brian Sonnenberg (Cambridge)
12 – Butch Mierendorf (Waterloo)

Heats: 10 lap:
1) – 52 – Duane Deppe (Waterloo)
2) – 6 – Bart Reinen (Jefferson)
3) – 18 – Andy Wendt (Watertown)

International Feature: Laps: 20
1. 48 – Mike Drays (Milton)
2. 9 – Aaron Rude (Cambridge)
3. 74 – Scott Uttech (Beaver Dam)
4. 7 – Matt Nickel (Madison)
5. 71 – Charles Dixon (Waukesha)
6. 12 – Darnell Mepham (Ft. Atkinson)

FAST QUALIFIER
25 – Brent Nottestad (Cambridge): 16.140 sec.

Heats: 10 lap:
1) – 71 – Charles Dixon (Waukesha)
2) – 48 – Mike Drays (Milton)

Sportsman Feature: Laps: 25
1. 98 – Jeff Kohlhoff (Watertown)
2. 82 – Chad “Squirt” Stevens (Beloit)
3. 31 – Dave Oswald (Cottage Grove)
4. 30 – Kyle Munro (Ft. Atkinson)
5. 32 – Tony Koepke (Ft. Atkinson)
6. 21 – Josh Courtney (Janesville)

FAST QUALIFIER
82 – Chad “Squirt” Stevens (Beloit): 15.675 seconds.

LAST CHANCE: 15 lap
99 – Kevin Thompson (Palmyra)
5 – Chris Ehrhart (Deerfield)
6 – Ben Hallock (Ft. Atkinson)
17 – Shane Radtke (Rome)

CONSI: 8 lap
19 – Chad Reimer (Oconomowoc)
9 – Dustin Ward (Beaver Dam)

Heats: 10 lap:
1) – 19 – Chad Reimer (Oconomowoc)
2) – 88 – Roger Stephenson (Cambridge)
3) – 6 – Chris Ehrhart (Deerfield)
4) – 42 – Bob Selsing (Ft. Atkinson)

Hobby Stock Feature: Laps: 20
1. 18 – Dennis Gaserude (Oregon)
2. 72 – Ron Coppernoll (Dane)
3. 66 – Nick Golich (Hebron)
4. 39 – Ken Scott (Rio)
5. 22 – Chuck Egli (Waterloo)
6. 02 – Ernie Witte (Watertown)

FAST QUALIFIER
39 – Ken Scott (Rio): 17.008 sec.

LAST CHANCE: 8 lap
17 – Scott Bush (Ft. Atkinson)
19 – Dan Schmidt (Watertown)
93 – Jim Blucher (Madison)
02 – Ernie Witte (Watertown)

Heats: 8 lap:
1) – 19 – Dan Schmidt (Watertown)
2) – 99 – Lincoln Keeser (Milton)
3) – 18 – Dennis Gaserude (Oregon)

Rollover Contest: Roy Pfeifer Jr. (Ft. Atkinson)