Nottestad Notches Another Victory
JEFFERSON, WI (Saturday, August 16, 2014) As the 2014 season quickly winds toward a close, the point battles at Wisconsin’s Action Track become front and center. Dale Nottestad of Cambridge strengthened his case to repeat as Late Model track champion with a convincing win in the Cost Cutters Family Hair Care 50 lap feature event. The win marks Nottestad’s fourth visit to victory lane this season allowing him to extend his lead in the standings with just three weeks of point racing left.
Bruce Lee and Craig Phillips paced the strong field of competitors to the green flag with Phillips taking the early lead down the backstretch on lap one. John Ovadal Jr followed into second with Brandon Pendleton in tow for third. Ovadal drove up alongside Phillips on lap five, clearing for the top spot a lap later with Pendleton still in his tracks for second. The leaders ran nose to tail while Michael Grueneberg charged into the top five. Grueneberg picked off positions, slipping by Pendleton for second on lap 13. Two laps later, Grueneberg and Ovadal were side by side for the lead while Nottestad was already knocking on the door to enter the top three. Grueneberg completed the pass on Ovadal to take over the top spot on lap 16. Nottestad followed under Ovadal for second a lap later as he set his sights on the new leader. As the duo passed the stripe to complete the halfway point of the race, Nottestad motored under Grueneberg entering turn one. After a brief battle, Nottestad claimed the point on lap 26 and began to check out from the rest of the field. Nottestad cruised to the checkers from there to get the win with Grueneberg hanging on to finish second. Rounding out the top five were Casey Johnson, Dylan Schuyler and Shaun Scheel.
A thrilling finish to the 30 lap Sportsman feature saw Jefferson’s Jason Thoma sitting in victory lane. Adam Bleskan led early with Tim Coley creeping up to his inside. Coley grabbed the lead with Jay Kalbus following into second just before the sole caution of the race appeared on lap three. As racing resumed, Kalbus began to apply heavy pressure to Coley for the top spot, drawing even on lap five and clearing a lap later. Meanwhile, Thoma, who was forced to the pit area for repairs following the caution, restarted on the tail of the field and was charging through the pack at a rapid pace. Thoma found himself all the way up to third by lap 17 as he continued to close in on the leaders. Thoma got past Coley for second on lap 21 and drove up behind the leader, Kalbus. Thoma began to search for a way around Kalbus, making several attempts at a pass using the low groove through turns three and four. But each time Kalbus would get momentum off turn four and slam the door entering turn one. Thoma zeroed in one final time as the duo passed under the white flag. As they raced into turn three, Kalbus dropped to the bottom of the racing surface to block Thoma. Thoma fired to the outside of Kalbus this time, drawing even as they exited turn four. Thoma won the drag race to the stripe by inches to claim the win with Kalbus settling for second. Mark Deporter, Robert Hansberry Jr and Coley completed the top five.
Another exciting feature finish ended with John Handeland of Belleville in victory lane following the 20 lap International main event. Merek Pankow took command on lap one while Keith Bell and Josh Lenz battled for second behind him. Pankow held the lead through an early caution as Handeland made his way next to Bell looking for second. Handeland cleared for the position on lap 15 and began to close on Pankow at the point. With two laps remaining, Handeland drove to the outside of Pankow looking to pass. The pair of drivers flew past the white flag door to door to start the final lap. Handeland gained a slight advantage down the backstretch and into turn three. As they raced toward the checkered flag, contact forced Handeland to begin to spin as he crossed the stripe first sideways to score the victory. Pankow finished a close second followed by Bell, Chris Chenoweth and Mike Lambert.
Phil Wuesthoff of Beaver Dam dominated the 20 lap Hobby Stock feature event to pick up the win. Jeff LeFave and Jim Wolf brought the field to the green flag. On lap one. Wuesthoff dropped to the low side and drove up next to LeFave and Wolf in a three wide fight for first. Wuesthoff took control of the lead on lap two. Ken Scott followed into second with Dustin Ward on his tail for third. Ward worked past Scott on lap six and began to close in on Wuesthoff at the front. Ward caught the leader on lap ten and began to search for a lane to the front. But Wuesthoff was up to the challenge as he kept Ward in his rear view mirror to see the checkers first and get the win. Ward was second followed by Bobby Selsing Jr, Scott and Dylan Buckingham.
Bill Sweeney of Edgerton claimed the 20 lap Road Warrior feature event. Tom Dorn held the early lead from the pole while Craig Henning and Sweeney made their way to the front. Henning worked past Brandon DeLacy for second on lap seven with Sweeney on his bumper for third. On lap nine, Henning drove under Dorn looking to lead. Sweeney charged up the middle in a three way fight for first. Sweeney took over the top spot on lap ten and drove away to pick up the win. Henning finished second followed by Bill Reynolds, Dorn and Matthew Melchiori.
Jefferson’s Trent Rueth scored the victory in the 15 lap Bandit feature event. Noah Pankow led early from the pole with Dennis Wuesthoff up to second and Rueth right behind in third. Rueth drove around the outside of Wuesthoff to claim second and set his sights on Pankow at the front. Rueth dropped to the low side, drawing even with Pankow on lap five. Rueth cleared a lap later and immediately began to stretch his advantage. Devon Dixon made it up to second in the closing laps, but Rueth was already well on his to the checkers for the win. Dixon came home second followed by Pankow, Nick Schmidt and Brandon DeLacy.
Next Saturday, August 23, is Autism Awareness Night with a full program of racing starting with time trials at 5pm and 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) Dale Nottestad, Cambridge 2) Michael Grueneberg, Madison 3) Casey Johnson, Edgerton 4) Dylan Schuyler, Jefferson 5) Shaun Scheel, Lake Mills 6) John Ovadal Jr, Watertown 7) Jason Erickson, Fort Atkinson 8) Trent Erdman, Fort Atkinson 9) Noel Ramge, Helenville 10) Brandon Pendleton, Helenville 11) Craig Phillips, Edgerton 12) Kyle Chwala, Lake Mills 13) Jerry Eckhardt, Johnson Creek 14) Tyler Peterson, Lake Geneva 15) Andrew Kiedrowski, Union Grove 16) Jordan Devoy, Lake Geneva 17) Chuck Duncan, Milwaukee 18) Bruce Lee, Cambridge
Fast Qualifier- Casey Johnson—14.584 seconds
Consi- Chris Quam, Shawn Gunsolus
Last Chance- Chuck Duncan, Andrew Kiedrowski, Tyler Peterson, Jerry Eckhardt
Heat Winners- 1) Jake Vanoskey 2) Dave Edwards 3) Kyle Chwala 4) Brandon Pendleton
Sportsman-
Feature Results- 1) Jason Thoma, Jefferson 2) Jay Kalbus, Whitewater 3) Mark Deporter, Fort Atkinson 4) Robert Hansberry Jr, Beloit 5) Tim Coley, Madison 6) Jim Taylor, Stoughton 7) Seth Lootans, Kenosha 8) Steven Sauer, Waterloo 9) Tony Ciano, Janesville 10) Terry Wangsness, Jefferson 11) Tim Belz, Sun Prairie 12) Mike Storkson, Evansville 13) Adam Bleskan, Menomonee Falls 14) Roy O’Gorman, Lake In the Hills (IL)
Fast Qualifier- Mark Deporter—15.367 seconds
Heat Winners- 1) Mike Storkson 2) Robert Hansberry Jr
International-
Feature Results- 1) John Handeland, Belleville 2) Merek Pankow, Jefferson 3) Keith Bell, Brodhead 4) Chris Chenoweth, Watertown 5) Mike Lambert, Madison 6) Neil Higgins, Watertown 7) Jason Uttech, Watertown 8) Dan Birkett, Jefferson 9) Dave Lembke, Hubertus 10) Aaron Randle, Janesville 11) Joe Cross, Sun Prairie 12) Josh Lenz, Lake Mills
Fast Qualifier- Chris Chenoweth—16.419 seconds
Heat Winners- 1) Keith Bell 2) Neil Higgins
Hobby Stock-
Feature Results- 1) Phil Wuesthoff, Beaver Dam 2) Dustin Ward, Waterloo 3) Bobby Selsing Jr, Edgerton 4) Ken Scott, Rio 5) Dylan Buckingham, Whitewater 6) Cody Buchs, Mazomanie 7) Chester Williams, Waukesha 8) Lucas Buckingham, Whitewater 9) Jim Wolf, Watertown 10) Jeff LeFave, Fort Atkinson 11) Kevin Henderson, Waterford
Fast Qualifier- Bobby Selsing Jr—15.844 seconds
Heat Winners- 1) Phil Wuesthoff 2) Chester Williams
Road Warrior-
Feature Results- 1) Bill Sweeney, Edgerton 2) Craig Henning, Helenville 3) Bill Reynolds, Watertown 4) Tom Dorn, Fort Atkinson 5) Matthew Melchiori, Milwaukee 6) Jeff LeFave, Fort Atkinson 7) Chris Gottschalk, Jefferson 8) Chad Olds, Whitewater 9) Tadd Douglas, Jefferson 10) Scott Hoeft, Watertown 11) Kenny Storkson, Evansville 12) Brian Gottschalk, Jefferson 13) Brandon DeLacy, Fort Atkinson
Fast Qualifier- Bill Sweeney—16.692 seconds
Heat Winners- 1) Jeff LeFave 2) Brian Gottschalk
Bandit-
Feature Results- 1) Trent Rueth, Jefferson 2) Devon Dixon, Janesville 3) Noah Pankow, Jefferson 4) Nick Schmidt, Oak Creek 5) Brandon DeLacy, Fort Atkinson 6) Josh Marx, Dousman 7) Tyler Deporter, Fort Atkinson 8) Dennis Wuesthoff, Beaver Dam 9) Adam Schook, Whitewater 10) Chad Olds, Whitewater 11) Sueter Bennett, Franksville 12) Tara Belz, Sun Prairie 13) Robert Taylor, Wind Lake 14) Matt Rusch, Cambridge
Fast Qualifier- Nick Schmidt—17.269 seconds
Heat Winners- 1) Adam Schook 2) Trent Rueth
