Ovadal Captures Old Glory 50

By Andrew Schaller

July 3, 2008; Jefferson WI — Watertown’s John Ovadal Jr charged to the front of the pack to claim victory in the Old Glory 50 lap Late Model feature at Jefferson Speedway on Thursday night. In doing so, Ovadal took the early lead in the Goodyear Stateline Challenge, a two day program between Jefferson Speedway and Rockford Speedway. The second half gets underway at Rockford Speedway this Saturday night.

Chad Reimer and Chris Quam lead the field of 20 competitors to the drop of the green flag. The duo battled side by side until lap four when Quam gained the top spot with Casey Johnson going by Reimer for second. Quam and Johnson began to separate themselves from the pack while Reimer and Mike Beyer battled for third. Beyer got by Reimer for third just as Ovadal entered the top five on lap 16. Ovadal quickly moved into fourth and together with Beyer started to run down the leaders. Ovadal snuck inside Beyer for third just as the first of two cautions waved when Matt Berger spun his mount.

On the restart, Ovadal dove inside Johnson for second and immediately set his sights on Quam for the lead. On lap 32, Ovadal peeked to the low side of Quam down the backstretch. He cleared for the top position a lap later and began to pull away. The final caution flew with two laps remaining, but the restart was no problem for Ovadal as he cruised to the checkers for the win. Quam, Steve Dobbratz, Johnson and Beyer rounded out the top five.

Terry Wangsness of Jefferson made a late race charge to the front of the field the grab the win in the Cheesehead 30 lap Sportsman feature event. Brandon Riedner took the early lead from fellow front row starter Dan Schmidt with Wangsness following into the second spot. The leaders lined up single file and ran off lap after lap without caution. Wangsness continued to shadow Riedner until lap 20 when he finally made his move. Wangsness looked to the inside, eventually pulling even on lap 22 as the pair of drivers flew around the quarter mile oval. They raced each other side by side until lap 28 when Wangsness finally gained the advantage. He motored to the stripe out front with Riedner right behind for second. James Helmer, Tom Reents and Dave Oswald completed the top five finishers.

Current International point leader Mark English of Janesville increased his lead in the standings by claiming the 20 lap feature event. Neil Higgins took the initial lead on the opening lap while the pack bunched up behind him for second. The hard racing behind him allowed Higgins to pull out to a comfortable lead. Scott Hoeft won the battle for second just as the first caution of the race flew on lap five. As the green returned, English flew into the top five and quickly moved into fourth. By lap nine, English was in third while Higgins continued to lead. English caught Hoeft on lap 11 and a lap later was by him for second with his eyes fixed on Higgins for the top spot. English pulled up the rear bumper of Higgins and, on lap 13, moved to the inside and pulled even with the leader. English cleared Higgins for the lead on lap 14 just as the second and final caution flew. On the restart, English was unchallenged as he sped to the line for the win. Rounding out the top five were Higgins, Hoeft, Rodney Mundt and Peter Shelley.

Sun Prairie’s Larry Moen took top honors by winning the 25 lap Hobby Stock feature race. Moen didn’t have far to go to get to the front as he started on the outside of row. Moen moved into second early on as Andy Raley took the early lead. Moen shadowed the leader until lap four when he took a look to the inside of Raley. Two laps later, Moen charged by Raley and into the lead. By this time, Dustin Ward had joined the fight at the front of the field and the three lined up to run together and get away from the pack. The only caution period of the event arrived on lap 12, slowing the field and erasing any advantage the leaders owned. After the restart, Moen began to separate himself from the Raley as Ward looked to get by into second. Raley experienced mechanical difficulties and was forced to retire on lap 14. But Moen was enjoying a large lead and he cruised to the line for the win. Steve Sauer managed to get by Ward late in the race for second with Ward finished third. Chet Paffel was fourth while Lincoln Keeser took fifth.

Tony Ciano of Janesville managed to hold off a hard charging Tommy Pfeifer to capture the win in the 20 lap Bandit feature. Ciano took control early from his front row starting spot while Pfeiffer began making his way through the traffic to the front. Pfeifer was into the top five by lap nine. He was up to fourth a lap later and on lap 12, Pfeifer split two competitors and maneuvered into second. Pfeifer began closing the gap on the leader, Ciano. Pfeifer caught Ciano and as they motored underneath the while flag, was side by side for the top spot. As the raced under the checkers, Ciano held the very slight advantage for the win with Pfeifer in second. Mark Dewey, David Schmidt and Jeff LeFave completed the top five.

You can catch the second half of the 1st Annual Goodyear Stateline Challenge this Saturday, July 5th at Rockford Speedway with racing getting started at 7:07 pm. Next Saturday, July 12 is a full program in all divisions at Jefferson Speedway with time trials at 5:00 and racing at 7 pm sharp. Jefferson Speedway is located halfway between Jefferson and Cambridge on Hwy 18. For more information, please visit www.jeffersonspeedway.com.

Jefferson Speedway Race Summary

Late Models—

Feature Results- 1) 71 John Ovadal Jr, Watertown 2) 4 Chris Quam, Stoughton 3) 52 Steve Dobbratz, Rio 4) 5 Casey Johnson, Stoughton 5) 0 Mike Beyer, Machesney Park, IL 6) 7 Bob Kahler, Caledonia, IL 7) 94 Jason Erickson, Fort Atkinson 8) 16 Luke Westenberg, Jefferson 9) 44 Roger Behlke, Jefferson 10) 71 Jason Deppe, Waterloo 11) 39 Matt Berger 12) 51 Dennis Schmidt 13) 2 Michael Bilderback 14) 11 Tim Sargent, S. Beloit, IL 15) 11 Trent Erdman, Fort Atkinson 16) 99 Doug Hahn, Whitewater 17) 4 Luke Padfield, Jefferson 18) 19 Chad Reimer, Watertown 19) 22 Jasper Gronert, Jefferson 20) 52 Leonard Reimer, Janesville

Fast Qualifier- 7 Bob Kahler—14.315 seconds
Consolation Race- 1 Jody Krueger, 13 Andy Brocker
Last Chance- 11 Trent Erdman, 71 Jason Deppe, 39 Matt Berger, 51 Dennis Schmidt

Heat Winners-1) 13 Andy Brocker 2) 51 Dennis Schmidt 3) 29 Scott Lindsay 4) 33 Dylan Schuyler

Sportsman—

Feature Results- 1) 55 Terry Wangsness, Jefferson 2) 4D Brandon Riedner, Waunakee 3) 7 James Helmer, Oconomowoc 4) 42 Tom Reents, Janesville 5) 31 Dave Oswald, Cottage Grove 6) 6 Darrell Garmin

Fast Qualifier- 20 Bret Schmidt—15.153 seconds

Consolation Race- 5 Doug Bennett, 23 Ron Young

Last Chance- 22 Brady Lilly, 95 Bob Hansbury, 39 Ken Scott, 12 Scott Lawver

Heat Winners- 1) 82 Mike Atchison 2) 39 Ken Scott 3) 12 Scott Lawver

International—

Feature Results- 1) 57 Mark English, Janesville 2) 66 Neil Higgins, Watertown 3) 00 Scott Hoeft, Jefferson 4) 21 Rodney Mundt, Lake Mills 5) 5 Peter Shelley, Edgerton 6) 67 Joe Cross, Sun Prairie

Fast Qualifier- 57 Mark English—16.538 seconds

Heat Winners- 1) 3 Shawn Gunsolas 2) 21 Brandon Pendleton

Hobby Stock—

Feature Results- 1) 10 Larry Moen, Sun Prairie 2) 11 Steve Sauer, Waterloo 3) 9 Dustin Ward, Waterloo 4) 60 Chet Paffel, Madison 5) 99 Lincoln Keeser, Johnson Creek 6) 33 Jimmy Robinson, Orfordville

Fast Qualifier- 11 Steve Sauer—16.515 seconds

Last Chance- 07 Mike Maurer, 52 Jamie Peck, 1 Brett Carson, 62 Alan McBride

Heat Winners- 1) 56 Randy Strasburg 2) 60 Chet Paffel 3) 10 Larry Moen

Bandit—

Feature Results- 1) 86 Tony Ciano, Janesville 2) 57 Tommy Pfeifer, Fort Atkinson 3) 82 Mark Dewey 4) 10 Dave Schmidt, Cudahy 5) 81 Jeff LeFave, Fort Atkinson 6) 89 Chad Olds

Fast Qualifier- 57 Tommy Pfeifer—14.407 seconds

Last Chance- 4 Brian Beale, 29 Waylin Willman, 18 Scott Pauls, 10 Melissa Moen

Heat Winners- 1) 76 Al Stillman 2) 86 Tony Ciano