Ovadal Victorious in Blackhawk 50 at Jefferson Speedway!

By Larry Starr

July 19, 2003; Jefferson, Wis. – John Ovadal Jr. of Watertown claimed top honors in the “WFAW AM 940 — Blackhawk 50.” Starting from the inside of row 2, Ovadal claimed the 2nd spot, at the green flag, behind Jay Kalbus. Ovadal, worked the inside of Kalbus over the opening 4 laps, before a spin brought out the caution, setting up a single file restart.

Ovadal worked from behind Kalbus until lap 19, when another spin slowed the field for a restart. On the restart, Ovadal made his way to the inside, challenging for the top spot. Kalbus surrendered the point, on lap 21, with Ovadal pulling ahead, to guide the way to the checkers. Randy Breunig made his way to 2nd, by lap 24, closing with Ovadal, but he was unable to find his way past Ovadal. At the stripe it was Ovadal for the win followed by Breunig, Andy Wendt, Mike Beyer and Steve Dobbratz.

In International class action Jimmy Pankow of Oregon made another trip to Victory lane, following the 2 lap main event. Starting 5th, Pankow headed toward the front, as Randy Jansen claimed the early lead. Jansen surrendered the point to Mike Bingham, on lap 2, with Pankow close behind, for the 2nd spot. Motoring under Bingham, on lap 5, Pankow claimed the point and never looked back. At the stripe it was Pankow for the win, followed by Mike Drays, Scott Hoeft, Steve Drays and Chris Quam.

In Sportsman division action Trent Erdman of Fort Atkinson turned a 12th place start into a feature win. At the green flag it was Dan Schmidt claiming the early lead, guiding the way for 24 laps, as Erdman battled through traffic. Erdman was running 7th, after the second caution of the race, on lap 12. At the green, Erdman moved forward motoring to 4th by lap 19, 3rd by lap 21, and 2nd by lap 22. Closing with Schmidt on lap 23, Erdman pulled ahead on lap 25. As they flew past the checkers, it was Erdman for the win, followed by Dave Oswald, Tony Koepke, Schmidt and Jordan McBride.

In Hobby Stock action rookie driver Eric Gardner of Marshall led 20, of 20, notching the first feature win of his racing career. Starting from the outside of the front row, Gardner claimed the lead at the green flag, guiding the field to the checkered flag. Following Gardner at the finish were Jason Deppe, Chris Purdy, Jeramy Hartwig and Terry Wangsness.

In Bandit action Brandon Kozak of Whitewater won his first career feature, and become the youngest winner on record, in the 18 lap main event. Starting on the pole, Kozak led every lap on his way to victory. At the stripe it was Kozak for the win, followed by Alan Petrie, Tim Seitz, Paula Seitz and Chris Higgins.

Next week Jefferson Speedway hosts the “Good Karma Cup 50,” fifty lap Late Model feature, with a full racing program in the Late Model, International, Sportsman and Hobby Stock Divisions. The Bandits are off next week. Rounding out the nights’ activities will be the One-on-One Street Drags.

Gates open at 3:00pm, qualifying at 5:00pm and racing at 7:00pm sharp.

Jefferson Speedway is on Highway 18, half way between Cambridge and Jefferson Wisconsin.

Jefferson Speedway – Date: July 19, 2003 – Event: WFAW Blackhawk 50
Late Model Feature Finish: Laps: 50
1. 71 John Ovadal Jr. (Watertown) (First Win) 10. 94 Nick Wendt (Watertown)
2. 4 Randy Breunig (Columbus) 11. 62 Jeff Steenbergen (Waupan)
3. 18 Andy Wendt (Watertown) 12. 87 Kyle Jarlsberg (Cambridge)
4. 75 Mike Beyer (Machesney Park IL) 13. 2 Tom Dorn (Ft. Atkinson)
5. 52 Steve Dobbratz (Rio) 14. 6 Ken Piotrowski (Janesville)
6. 76 Ron Bishofberger (Ft. Atkinson) 15. 79 Brent Knight (Watertown)
7. 44 Roger Behlke (Jefferson) 16. 27 Jay Kalbus (Oconomowoc)
8. 16 Luke Westenberg (Watertown) 17. 14 Scott Nottestad (Stoughton)
9. 11 Beau Sanden (Janesville) 18. 2 Matt Frey (Cambridge)
FAST QUALIFIER : 44 Roger Behlke (Jefferson): 14.919 seconds
FAST DASH: 8 Lap : 75 Mike Beyer (Machesney Park IL)
CONSI: 12 Lap : 94 Derek Dombeck (Eland), 56 Don Mattrisch (Ft. Atkinson)
LAST CHANCE: 20 Lap : 2 Tom Dorn (Ft. Atkinson), 79 Brent Knight (Watertown), 6 Ken Piotrowski (Janesville), 87 Kyle Jarlsberg (Cambridge)
Heats: 10 lap: 1) 2 April Reimer (Beloit) 2) 68 Ken Olson (Ft. Atkinson) 3) 18 Andy Wendt (Watertown) 4) 52 Steve Dobbratz (Rio)

International Feature: Laps: 20
1. 16 Jimmy Pankow (Oregon) 4. 84 Steve Drays (Milton)
2. 48 Mike Drays (Milton) 5. 4 Chris Quam (Stoughton)
3. 00 Scott Hoeft (Watertown) 6. 9 Aaron Rude (Cambridge)
FAST QUALIFIER : 4 Chris Quam (Stoughton): 15.940 seconds
FAST DASH: 6 Lap : 0 Scott Dolphin (Marshall)
Heats: 10 lap: 1) 16 Jimmy Pankow (Oregon) 2) 10 Derek Bettenhausen (Cambridge)

Sportsman Feature: Laps: 30
1. 11 Trent Erdman (Ft. Atkinson) 4. 19 Dan Schmidt (Watertown)
2. 3 Dave Oswald (Cottage Grove) 5. 2 Jordan McBride (Janesville)
3. 32 Tony Koepke (Ft. Atkinson) 6. 42 Tom Reents (Janesville)
FAST QUALIFIER : 11 Trent Erdman (Ft. Atkinson): 15.666 seconds
FAST DASH: 8 Lap : 20 Bret Schmidt (Watertown)
LAST CHANCE: 15 Lap : 17 Bill Bush (Jefferson), 21 Tony Chase (Columbus), 14 Kyle Taylor (Stoughton), 57 Mark English (Edgerton)
Heats: 10 lap: 1) 59 Judy Weir (Cottage Grove) 2) 57 Mark English (Edgerton) 3) 17 Bill Bush (Jefferson)

Hobby Stock Feature: Laps: 20
1. 13 Eric Gardner (Marshall) (First Feature) 4. 6 Jeramy Hartwig (Cottage Grove)
2. 71 Jason Deppe (Waterloo) 5. 55 Terry Wangsness (Delavan)
3. 88 Chris Purdy (Milton) 6. 31 Ken Au (Jefferson)
FAST QUALIFIER : 6 Jeramy Hartwig (Cottage Grove): 16.548 seconds (New Track Record)
FAST DASH: 8 Lap : 2 Eaan Carson (Ft. Atkinson)
CONSI: 8 Lap : 35 Mike Punzel (Ft. Atkinson), 21 Josh Courtney (Janesville)
LAST CHANCE: 12 Lap : 01 Justin Bowey (Sullivan), 9 Bill Emmons (Ft. Atkinson), 43 Jay Finnegan (Milton), 67 Russ Nicholson (Stoughton), 58 Dave Ryan
Heats: 8 lap: 1) 99 Lincoln Keeser (Johnson Creek) 2) 44 Jesse Ayers (Stoughton) 3) 19 Dennis Schmidt (Johnson Creek)

Bandit Feature: Laps: 18
1. 02 Brandon Kozak (Whitewater) (First Feat.) 4. 75 Paula Seitz (Edgerton)
2. 12 Alan Petrie 5. 4 Chris Higgins (Watertown)
3. 57 Tim Seitz (Edgerton) 6. 42 Bill Sweeney (Janesville)
FAST QUALIFIER : 42 Bill Sweeney (Janesville): 15.012 seconds
FAST DASH: 8 Lap : 57 Tim Seitz (Edgerton)
CONSI: 8 Lap : 77 Sean Watters (Sun Prairie), Keith Peck (Janesville)
LAST CHANCE: 12 Lap : 41 Nick Newton (Jefferson), 83 Joel Bowers (Edgerton), 8 Mike Heelein (Ft. Atkinson), 08 Renee Collins (Lake Mills)
Heats: 8 lap: 1) 77 Sean Watters (Sun Prairie) 2) 21 Justin Punsel (Cambridge) 3) 08 Renee Collins (Lake Mills) 4) 38 Matt McKinney (Watertown)