Null Dominates Blackhawk 50 – Selsing and Kohloff score third wins of season at Jefferson Speedway!

By Jeanne & Larry Starr

August 15, 1998; Jefferson, WI. – Scott Null of Lake Mills notched his third feature victory of the 1998 season in the Denny’s Den/WFAW Blackhawk 50 on Wisconsin’s Action Track. Starting from the outside of row 3 Null began his drive to the front, as rookie driver Nick Wendt of Watertown pulled out to the early lead. As Wendt pulled away from the field, Null ran 6th looking for an opportunity. Null’s first opportunity came on lap 8, when he moved under Eric Gerlach of Palmyra and Bill Leindecker of Janesville to claim the third spot.

Once in third, Null closed with Luke Westenberg of Palmyra, looking for second. Null motored under Westenberg, claiming second, on lap 10 and began to close with Wendt. Wendt fought off Null’s charge for 7 laps before he slipped, in turns 1 and 2, just enough to give Null the opening he needed to claim the lead on lap 18. Wendt recovered, holding onto the second spot, right behind Null as defending track champion Al Papini of Machesney Park IL. and former track champion Andy Wendt of Watertown moved through the field. Papini moved around Leindecker to claim 4th on lap 20.

The first caution of the race came on lap 24, for a spin in turn 2. On the restart it was Null at the point, with Nick Wendt still running second. Papini closed with Westenberg, claiming 3rd on lap 27 and closing with Nick Wendt. The rookie driver fought hard, trying to stay ahead of the veteran holding off the veteran, lap after lap. Caution flew again on lap 38, when a spin in turn 2 collected three cars. On the restart Papini launched his attack, claiming the second spot on lap 39. Once in 2nd Papini worked to close the gap with Null, who had opened up a lead over the battle for second. Everything looked good for Null, until lap 47, when a spin in 2 brought out the final caution of the race.

On the restart it was Null, just 3 laps from the checkered flag with Papini right on his back bumper. As the green flag flew, Papini moved to the inside, with Null slipping a little in turn 1. Null recovered, holding off the attack, and pulling ahead as they rounded turns 3 and 4. As Papini tried to close with Null, Jason Erickson of Cambridge made his way around Nick Wendt for third on lap 48 and tried to close with Papini for 2nd. As they took the checkered flag it was Null by a car length for the win, followed by Papini, Erickson, Nick Wendt and Westenberg.

When asked about the late race caution, in Victory Lane, Null commented, “I really loved the caution, especially with the big red car (Papini) behind me.”

Denny Stair of Sullivan set the fast pace in qualifying, with a 14.866 second tour of the quarter mile.

Papini claimed the first win of the night, in the 8 lap Denny’s Den Dash for Cash.

Claiming victory, in 10 lap heat races, were Butch Mierendorf of Waterloo, Kenny Olson of Ft. Atkinson and John Hornby of Sun Prairie.

Moving to the feature lineup via the 20 lap Last Chance race were Jerry Parker of Palmyra, Randy Cusick of Ft. Atkinson, John Ovadal of Johnson Creek and Bart Reinen of Jefferson.

In International division action Justin Nottestad claimed top honors in the 20 lap main event. Starting from the outside for row 6 Nottestad charged quickly toward the front, as Mike Dixon of Omro pulled out to the early lead. Nottestad moved up to the fifth spot by lap 6, before the first caution, on lap 7, when a lapped car spun in the middle of the battle for the lead. On the restart it was still Dixon in the lead, with Nottestad running 4th.

Nottestad moved around Scott Uttech of Beaver Dam for 3rd and closed with Earl Kauffman of Edgerton, looking for 2nd. On lap 9, Nottestad moved under Kauffman, carrying the pass all the way around Dixon for the lead. The second caution came on lap 10, as a pair of cars tangled coming out of turn 4, and wound up in the front stretch wall. As the field was coming around for the restart, the “accordion” effect struck in turn 3, with several cars getting together. After the carnage was cleared, the restart saw Nottestad open up his lead as Darnell Mepham of Ft. Atkinson moved past Kauffman for the 3rd spot.

Mepham moved under Dixon one lap later, and tried to close with Nottestad. The gap closed quickly, on lap 12, as the yellow flag flew for the final time, as 2 cars tangled on the front stretch. On the restart Nottestad pulled ahead of Mepham as rookie driver Brent Nottestad challenged Dixon for 3rd. Justin Nottestad guided the field to the checkered never seriously challenged. At the stripe it was Justin Nottestad for the win, followed by Mepham, Brent Nottestad, Kauffman and Matt Frey of Cambridge.

Justin Nottestad set the fast pace in qualifying with a 16.117 second circuit of the quarter mile.

Claiming victory, in 8 lap heat races, were Bobby Moore of Madison and Mepham.

In Sportsman division action Bob Selsing of Ft. Atkinson notched his third feature victory of the year in the 25 lap main event. Starting from the inside of row 6, Selsing battled his way to the front as Josh Courtney of Janesville pulled out to the early lead. As Courtney worked to stay out front Selsing was working his way through the field, behind current point leader Dave Oswald of Cottage Grove.

By lap 6 Oswald was up to 4th, with Selsing running 6th as Randy Padfield of Stoughton challenged Courtney for the lead. Courtney held on until lap 10 before surrendering the point to Padfield. Padfield had a short run in the top spot, as Oswald moved under him on lap 11, with Selsing close behind, claiming the 3rd spot. Selsing moved under Padfield for 2nd on lap 12 and worked to close with Oswald. The only caution of the race came on lap 18, when a pair of cars tangled in turn 2, sending one into the wall.

On the restart Oswald was a little loose going into turn 1 and Selsing moved to the inside. What followed was a tremendous battle for the lead, with Selsing working the inside of Oswald, lap after lap, bringing the fans to their feet. Selsing made the winning pass, on lap 23, edging past Oswald on the bottom. Oswald dropped low, trying to battle his way back to the front, but came up short at the checkered flag. As they charged to the checkered flag it was Selsing for the win, followed by Oswald, Chad Stevens of Beloit, Ryan Ley of Sullivan and Courtney.

When questioned after the race Selsing said “Am I excited! That was the best race of my life!”

Selsing set the fast qualifying pace with a 15.914 second orbit of the quarter mile.

Claiming victory, in 10 lap heat races, were Joe Wendorf of Jefferson and Padfield.

Transferring to the feature via the 10 lap Last Chance race were Bo Sanden of Newville, Allen McBride of Janesville, Wendorf and Dylan Schuyler of Dousman.

In Hobby Stock Action, Jeff Kohlhoff of Watertown claimed his third of the year in the 20 lap feature. Starting from the outside of row 7, Kohlhoff began his journey to the front. As the green flag flew, a spin through the grass, and up across the track, collected 3 cars in the turn 2 wall setting the field for a complete restart.

On the restart, it was Bill Bush of Johnson Creek pulling out to the early lead, with Kohlhoff working his way up from 10th. Bush held the point for 4 laps, before pulling from the track with car trouble, surrendering the lead to Randy Strasburg of Ft. Atkinson. Strasburg guided the way for 4 laps, as Pete Elgas of Janesville batted with Dan Schmidt of Farmington for 2nd. Elgas passed Schmidt on lap 7 closing with Strasburg, to claim the lead on lap 8. As Elgas claimed the lead Kohlhoff was moving into 5th behind defending track champion Jim Pfeifer of Ft. Atkinson.

Pfeifer claimed the 2nd spot by lap 9, with Kohlhoff claiming 3rd on lap 10. Kohlhoff moved to the outside of Pfeifer on lap 11, claiming the second spot, as he challenged Elgas for the lead. As Elgas fended off Kohlhoff’s challenge, the field slowed for a caution, on lap 16 for a spin in the 2nd turn. On the restart Kohlhoff moved to the inside looking for the lead. Elgas held on for 2 more laps, before Kohlhoff edged by, just before the white flag. As Kohlhoff claimed the lead, Pfeifer moved to the inside of Elgas looking for 2nd. At the stripe it was Kohlhoff, claiming his third of the season, followed by Pfeifer, Elgas, former track champion Dennis Gaserude of Oregon and Schmidt.

Pfeifer set the fast qualifying pace with a 17.001 second loop of Wisconsin’s Action Track.

Claiming victory, in 8 lap heat races, were Jim Zachow of Janesville, Bart DiMattina of Milton and Schmidt.

Transferring to the feature lineup from the 8 lap Last Chance race were Zachow, DiMattina, Jim Williams of Milton and Ben Hallock of Ft. Atkinson.

Next week, the One-on-One Street Drags, return to Jefferson Speedway. Spectators will be able to compete in their own street legal, licensed and titled, cars and trucks, in 4, 6 and 8 cylinder classes. The Street Drags will round out a full racing program in the Late Model, International, Sportsman and Hobby Stock divisions.

Gates open at 4:00, qualifying at 5:30 and racing to begin at 7:30 sharp. Jefferson Speedway is located on highway 18 half way between Jefferson and Cambridge.

Late Model Division
“Blackhawk” 50 Lap Feature Event
1. #62 Scott Null (Lake Mills)
2. #39 Al Papini (Machesney Park, IL)
3. #96 Jason Erickson (Cambridge)
4. #46 Nick Wendt (Watertown)
5. #16 Luke Westenberg (Palmyra)
6. # 1 Charlie Mierendorf (Lake Mills)
7. #55 Eric Gerlach (Palmyra)
8. #27 Dan Chesmore (Janesville)
9. #44 Roger Behlke (Jefferson)
10. # 2 Tom Dron (Ft. Atkinson)
11. #71 John Ovadahl (Johnson Creek)
12. #18 Andy Wendt (Watertown)
13. #76 Roy Aitchison (Deerfield)
14. # 2 Jerry Parker (Palmyra)
15. #25 Randy Cusick (Ft. Atkinson)
16. # 6 Bart Reinen (Jefferson)
17. # 7 Bill Leindecker (Janesville)
18. #43 Denny Stair (Sullivan)

20 Lap Last Chance:
1.) Parker
2.) Cusick
3.) Ovadahl
4.) Reinen

First 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Butch Mierendorf

Second 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Kenny Olson

Third 10 Lap Heat:
1.) John Hornby

Denny’s Den Dash for Cash:
1.) Al Papini

Fast Qualifier:
#43 Denny Stair, Sullivan,……….14.866 Seconds

Internationals
20 Lap Feature Event
1. #15 Justin Nottestad (Cambridge)
2. #12 Darrell Mepham (Ft. Atkinson)
3. #25 Brent Nottestad (Cambridge)
4. #57 Earl Kauffman (Edgerton)
5. # 2 Matt Frey (Cambridge)
6. # 9 Aaron Rude (Cambridge)

First 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Bobby Moore

Second 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Mepham

Fast Qualifier:
#15 Justin Nottestad, Cambridge, WI,……..16.117 Seconds

Sportsman
25 Lap Feature Event
1. #42 Bob Selsing (Ft. Atkinson)
2. #31 Dave Oswald (Cottage Grove)
3. #82 Chad Stevens (Beloit)
4. #77 Ryan Ley (Rome)
5. #21 Josh Courtney (Janesville)
6. #21 Richard Titus (Jefferson)

First 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Joe Wendorf

Second 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Randy Padfield

Fast Qualifier:
#42 Bob Selsing, Fort Atkinson,………15.914 Seconds

Hobby Stocks
20 Lap Feature Event
1. #98 Jeff Kohloff (Watertown)
2. #58 Jim Pfiefer (Ft. Atkinson)
3. #52 Pete Elgas (Janesville)
4. #18 Dennis Gaserude (Oregon)
5. #19 Dan Schmidt (Farmington)
6. #19 Jim Zachow (Janesville)

Last Chance:
1.) Jim Zachow

First 8 Lap Heat:
1.) John Zachow

Second 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Bart DiMattina

Third 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Dan Schmidt

Fast Qualifier:
#58 Jim Pfiefer, Ft. Atkinson, WI,…….17.001 Seconds