Nottestad, Quam, Erdman, Wangsness and Sweeney Crowned Champions at Jefferson Speedway!

By Larry Starr

September 6, 2003; Jefferson, Wis. – Coming into the “Havill-Spoerl Season Championships” at “Wisconsin’s Action Track” the championship, in several divisions, were up for grabs.

In Late Model action Scott Nottestad of Stoughton, coming into the night with a strong point lead, iced the championship, with a feature win in the 75 lap “Havill-Spoerl” main event. Starting from the outside of row 8, Nottestad began his journey to the point as Don Mattrisch pulled to the early lead. Mattrisch guided the way for 23 laps before surrendering the point to John Ovadal. Moving to the front Ovadal opened a strong lead, with fast car battling through traffic. By lap 50 Andy Went had moved to 2nd, with Nottestad up to 3rd, well behind Ovadal.

A pair of lapped cars tangled, going into turn 3, collecting Wendt in the crash. Ovadal saw his lead vaporize as the yellow flag appeared. Nottestad was up to 2nd for the restart, and went to work on Ovadal. Ovadal held off Nottestad for another 13 laps before slipping, just enough to provide an opening. Nottestad motored under Ovadal, into the top spot on lap 63, guiding the field to the checkered flag. At the strip it was Nottestad for the win, followed by Ovadal, Steve Dobbratz, Curt Thompson and Roger Behlke.

In International action Aaron Rude of Cambridge claimed top honors in the 20 lap championship feature. Starting from the inside of row 6, Rude started his trek to the checkers, as Randy Jansen pulled to the early lead. Jansen held the point for 2 circuits, before being relieved at the point by Tory Adams. Rude made his way to 2nd, on lap 6, closed with Adams o lap 7 and claimed the point on lap 8. From there it was Rude, guiding the way to the finish. At the stripe it was Rude for the win, followed by Brent Nottestad, Derek Bettenhausen, Mike Bingham, David Jurczyk and Chris Quam.

Quam held a strong point lead, coming into the night, and his sixth place finish was enough to guarantee him the 2003 Track Championship in the International class.

In Sportsman division action Chad Reimer of Oconomowoc notched the first feature win of his career, in the 40 lap main event. Starting from the inside of row 5, Reimer headed for the front, as Luke Padfield grabbed the early lead. Padfield led the field for 33 laps, as Reimer made his way through traffic. Claiming 3rd by lap 21, Reimer moved under Mark English, for 2nd, on lap 27, closing with Padfield. Reimer passed Padfield, for the lead on lap 34, as Trent Erdman launched his bid for 2nd. Erdman made his way to 2nd on lap 36, trying to close the gap with Reimer. At the stripe it was Reimer for the win, followed by Erdman, Scott “Chico” Riedner, Tom Reents and Tod Goldade.

Erdman started the feature with a one point lead, over Dave Oswald. His 2nd place finish, over Oswald’s 7th, elevated him to the 2003 championship.

In Hobby Stock action rookie driver Garrett Goth claimed top honors in the 30 lap championship feature. Starting from the inside of row 3, Goth headed to the front, as Russ Nicholson drove to the early lead. Nicholson surrendered the point to Rick Kehoe on lap 6, with Goth close behind for 2nd. Goth drove under Kehoe, for the lead, on lap 8, guiding the field from there to the checkered flag. At the stripe it was Goth for the win, followed by Eaan Carson, Johnny Robinson II, Jim Tate, Pete Elgas and Terry Wangsness.

Wangsness started the race with a small point lead, over Jeramy Hartwig and Johnny Robinson. His 6th place finish, with Hartwig well behind, placed him in the championship for 2003. Robinson overtook Hartwig for the runner up position.

In Bandit action Bill Sweeney of Janesville claimed the 25 lap main event, and the 2003 championship. Starting the race from the outside of row 6, with a 2 point lead in championship points, Sweeney headed toward the front, as Renee Collins drove to the early lead. Collins surrendered the point to Brandon Kozak on lap 5, with Sweeney moving into the 2nd spot. Sweeney moved under, claiming the point on lap 6, showing the way to the checkered. The race saw the red flag on lap 20, as Mike Heelein ended up on his roof coming off the 3rd turn. Heelein walked away from the wreck and the race restarted, after the cleanup. At the stripe it was Sweeney for the win, holding off Chris Nelson. Rounding out the top 5 were Peter Shelley, Don Munns and Mark Joyner.

This ends the points chase for the 2003 season.

Next week Jefferson Speedway hosts the 23rd annual “Pepsi Wisconsin State Championships,” with top driver competing in 2 days of racing action for their share of the $35,000 purse.

Friday night gates open at 1:00pm, practice starts at 2:00pm, qualifying at 5:00pm and racing at 8:30pm.
Saturday night the gates open at 2:00pm, the track opens for practice at 3:00pm and the full program of Last Chance and Feature racing, with Twin 65 lap Late Motel features, starts at 6:00pm.

Jefferson Speedway – Date: September 6, 2003 – Event: Havill-Spoerl Season Championships

Late Model Feature Finish: Laps: 75
1. 14 Scott Nottestad (Stoughton) (Track Champ) 10. 6 Ken Piotrowski (Janesville)
2. 71 John Ovadal Jr. (Watertown) 11. 68 Ken Olson (Ft. Atkinson)
3. 52 Steve Dobbratz (Rio) 12. 41 Mike Taylor (Stoughton)
4. 100 Curt Thompson (Ft. Atkinson) 13. 56 Don Mattrisch (Whitewater)
5. 44 Roger Behlke (Jefferson) 14. 2 Matt Frey (Cambridge)
6. 76 Ron Bishofberger (Ft. Atkinson) 15. 18 Andy Wendt (Watertown)
7. 33 Dylan Schuyler (Dousman) 16. 22 Jasper Gronert (Jefferson)
8. 94 Nick Wendt (Watertown) 17. 13 Shane Radtke (Watertown)
9. 82 Chad “Squirt” Stevens (Orfordville) 18. 87 Kyle Jarlsberg (Cambridge)
10. 11 Beau Sanden (Janesville) 19. 12 Greg Bowers (Waterloo)
FAST QUALIFIER : 94 Nick Wendt (Watertown): 14.956 seconds
FAST DASH: 8 Lap : 14 Scott Nottestad (Stoughton)
LAST CHANCE: 20 Lap : 2 Matt Frey (Cambridge), 13 Shane Radtke (Watertown), 12 Greg Bowers (Waterloo), 6 Ken Piotrowski (Janesville)
Heats: 10 lap: 1) 2 Matt Frey (Cambridge) 2) 87 Kyle Jarlsberg (Cambridge) 3) 71 John Ovadal Jr. (Watertown)

International Feature: Laps: 30
1. 9 Aaron Rude (Cambridge) 4. 17 Mike Bingham (Milton)
2. 25 Brent Nottestad (Cambridge) 5. 18 David Jurczyk (Jefferson)
3. 10 Derek Bettenhausen (Milton) 6. 4 Chris Quam (Stoughton) (Track Champ)
FAST QUALIFIER : 9 Aaron Rude (Cambridge): 15.948 seconds
FAST DASH: 6 Lap : 16 Jimmy Pankow (Oregon)
Heats: 10 lap: 1) 49 Tory Adams (Madison) 2) 10 Derek Bettenhausen (Milton)

Sportsman Feature: Laps: 40
1. 19 Chad Reimer (Oconomowoc) First Feat. Win 4. 42 Tom Reents (Janesville)
2. 11 Trent Erdman (Ft. Atkinson) (Trk Champ) 5. 9 Tod Goldade (Stoughton)
3. 26 Scott “Chico” Riedner (Waunakee) 6. 28 Mark Deporter (Ft. Atkinson)
FAST QUALIFIER : 11 Trent Erdman (Ft. Atkinson): 15.557 seconds
FAST DASH: 6 Lap : 20 Bret Schmidt (Watertown)
LAST CHANCE: 15 Lap : 26 Scott Riedner (Waunakee), 19 Dan Schmidt (Watertown), 55 Carey Hensel (Stoughton), 2 Randy Padfield (Stoughton), 23 Chris Koepke (Ft. Atkinson)
Heats: 10 lap: 1) 17 Brandon Riedner (Waunakee) 2) 57 Mark English (Edgerton) 3) 55 Carey Hensel (Stoughton)

Hobby Stock Feature: Laps: 30
1. 89 Garrett Goth (Cottage Grove) 4. 27 Jim Tate (Watertown)
2. 2 Eaan Carson (Ft. Atkinson) 5. 52 Pete Elgas (Janesville)
3. 99 Johnny Robinson II (Orfordville) 6. 55 Terry Wangsness (Delavan) (Track Champ)
FAST QUALIFIER : 6 Jeramy Hartwig (Cottage Grove): 16.575 seconds
FAST DASH: 6 Lap : 55 Terry Wangsness (Delavan)
CONSI: 8 Lap : 91 Bret Carson (Ft. Atkinson), 88 Tom Collins (Lake Mills), 77 Chris Jackson (Edgerton)
LAST CHANCE: 12 Lap : 01 Justin Bowey (Sullivan), 38 Bryon Grassl (Janesville), 21 Josh Courtney (Janesville), 58 Dave Ryan (Monona)
Heats: 8 lap: 1) 01 Justin Bowey (Sullivan) 2) 58 Dave Ryan (Monona)
3) 70 Rick Kehoe (Jefferson) 4) 89 Garrett Goth (Cottage Grove)

Bandit Feature: Laps: 25
1. 42 Bill Sweeney (Janesville) (Track Champ) 4. 45 Don Munns (Milton)
2. 73 Chris Nelson (Cottage Grove) 5. 29 Mark Joyner (Whitewater)
3. 5 Peter Shelley (Edgerton) 6. 11 Tim Petrie (Whitewater)
FAST QUALIFIER : 42 Bill Sweeney (Janesville): 14.985 seconds
FAST DASH: 6 Lap : 38 Bill Reynolds (Watertown)
LAST CHANCE: 12 Lap : 21 Justin Punsel (Cambridge), 99 Jordan Hill (Black Earth), 92 Kyle Stark (Waterloo), 8 Mike Heelein (Ft. Atkinson), x75 Travis Schneeberg (Sun Prairie)
Heats: 8 lap: 1) 41 Nick Newton (Jefferson) 2) 99 Jordan Hill (Black Earth) 3) 42 Bill Sweeney (Janesville) 4) 57 Tim Seitz (Edgerton)