Papini Prevails in ATS 50

JEFFERSON, WI (Saturday, June 6, 2015)                                Alex Papini of Machesney Park, IL, charged to the front of the field on Saturday night to capture the Automatic Transmission Service of Janesville 50 lap Late Model feature. Papini’s win marks his second career feature victory at Wisconsin’s Action Track and makes him the fifth different winner in as many weeks in the 2015 season.

Starting outside Bruce Lee, Jerry Eckhardt grabbed the initial lead on lap one as they raced out of turn four. Chris Quam drove around Lee to move into second on lap two with Papini in his tracks for third. Papini drove under Quam looking for second on lap seven. Two laps later, Papini muscled by Quam to claim the position and set his sights on the leader. Exiting turn two on lap 13, Papini peeked under Eckhardt, drawing even as they flew through turns three and four. One circuit later, Papini was out front with Eckhardt back to second and Quam still running third. The first of three cautions slowed the pace on lap 18 when Lee spun. After another quick caution a couple laps later, Papini began to stretch his lead while Michael Grueneberg and Casey Johnson began their trek through the top five. Grueneberg got to third on lap 26 with Johnson trying to stay on his rear bumper the whole way. Grueneberg began to work on Eckhardt for the second spot while Johnson watched from fourth. On lap 34 Grueneberg made the pass for the runner up spot with Johnson right behind for third. Grueneberg began to slice into Papini’s advantage as the laps ticked away. Grueneberg’s efforts were aided with a final caution on lap 48 setting up a green-white-checkered finish. But Papini remained in control over the final two laps to see the checkers first for the win. Grueneberg settled for second with Johnson, Eckhardt and Quam completing the top five.

In Sportsman action, Tim Coley of Madison led flag to flag to capture the 30 lap feature event. Starting outside Mike Rahn on the front row, Coley took command of the top spot on lap one with Rahn back to second and Jim Taylor third. Terry Wangsness and Tony Ciano entered the top five on lap two running fourth and fifth respectively. Wangsness and Ciano each got past Taylor on lap 12 while Coley continued to show the way. Wangsness and Ciano swapped positions on lap 17 while Rahn moved up behind Coley. Rahn continued to shadow the leader, waiting for an opening to pounce on the lead. But Coley remained steady on the point as he raced to the checkers for the win. Rahn was second followed by Ciano, Jason Thoma and Mark Deporter.

Seth Reamer of Waupun held off Mike Lambert to capture the 20 lap International feature event. Neil Higgins led lap one from the front row with Keith Bell trying to stay strong to his inside. Higgins cleared for sole possession of the lead on lap two with Joe Cross sliding past Bell for second. Reamer and Lambert also got around Bell for third and fourth on lap four. Reamer quickly went to work on Cross, taking away the second spot on lap six. Reamer continued to move forward, pulling alongside Higgins for the lead on lap eight. After a brief battle, Reamer claimed the lead with Lambert staying in his tracks for second. The top three lined up single file as they began to separate themselves from the rest of the pack. Reamer held off Lambert’s advances in the closing laps to grab the checkers and the win. Lambert was second followed by Higgins, Cross and Jason Uttech.

Dustin Ward of Waterloo powered his way to the win in the 25 lap Hobby Stock main event. Korey Bengsch and Jim Tate Jr led the field to green with Tate grabbing control on lap two. Jeff LeFave moved up to second on lap three while Bobby Selsing Jr sliced into the top five. After a caution on lap seven, Selsing began to move toward the front with Ward on his rear bumper and AJ Lloyd not far behind. Selsing moved up to second on lap 12 with Ward and Lloyd in his rear view mirror. Selsing, Ward and Lloyd drove three wide through turns three and four on lap 14. Contact between the three pilots resulted in Selsing and Ward emerging side by side while Lloyd tried to regain control. Ward and Selsing made contact entering turn one on the subsequent lap with Ward powering past Selsing for second. Ward quickly pulled up next to Tate at the front, clearing for the top spot on lap 16. Selsing followed for second a lap later with Lloyd also up to third. A late caution set up a four lap shootout to the finish, but nobody had anything for Ward as he stayed out front to cross the stripe first for the win. Selsing finished second with Lloyd, Lucas Buckingham and Tate rounding out the top five.

Bill Sweeney of Aztalan claimed the 20 lap Road Warrior feature. Nick Newton and Lucas Stevenson brought the field to green with Newton leading to complete the opening lap. Bryan Gottschalk used the high side to claim second on lap two and continue  forward alongside Newton for the lead. Gottschalk stole the point from Newton on lap three just before the caution waved to slow the action. Gottschalk and Bill Sweeny led the field back to green, this time with Sweeney taking control of the top spot. Sweeney began to stretch his lead over the field while Kenny Storkson and Chris Gottschalk moved forward. Storkson cleared for second on eight, but Sweeney was already well on his way as he cruised to the checkers for the win. Storkson was second followed by Chris Gottschalk, Craig Henning and Bryan Gottschalk.

Watertown’s Nick Schmidt held off a hard charging Dustin Yanke in the closing laps to win the 20 lap Bandit feature event. Starting on the front row, Schmidt fired into the lead and immediately began to pull away while Tyler Deporter and Adam Schook battled for second. Schook claimed the position on lap five with Yanke in tow for third. Yanke and Schook opened up a fight for second while Schmidt was comfortably out front. Yanke finally cleared for second on lap 10 and began to close the gap on the leader. Yanke chipped away at Schmidt’s advantage lap after lap, finally catching him with three laps to go. Yanke dove low through turns three and four each of the final circuits, but Schmidt beat him back to turn one each time to stay out front. At the checkers, it was Schmidt by a nose with Yanke settling for second. Schook was third with Jamie Kohn fourth and Chad Olds in fifth.

Making a special appearance at Jefferson Speedway was the American Ethanol Super Truck Series competing in twin 25 lap features. Feature number one saw Camden Murphy lead all 25 laps to grab the win. Starting on the pole, Murphy took control on lap one with Kurt Kleven up to second. Kleven began to pressure Murphy for the point with Tommy Pecaro up to third. Mike Raskovic powered under Pecaro to steal third on lap  14. With two laps remaining, Raskovic jammed under Kleven to grab second. But Murphy stayed in control to win the first feature event followed by Raskovic, Kleven, Pecaro and Chester Ace.

The second feature began with Pecaro and Ace on row one. Pecaro led lap one before the first of several cautions slowed the pace. After the restart, Pecaro spun in turn four to force a second yellow flag and relegate himself to the rear of the pack. Kevin Knuese and Raskovic led the field back to green with Knuese now taking control and Murphy following into second. A third caution on lap eight set up another shootout for the lead between Knuese and Raskovic. The duo battled side by side until lap 13 when Raskovic slid into turn three allowing Knuese to take control. Murphy followed around Raskovic to claim second. Knuese raced through a final caution with seven laps to go as he stayed in control to get the win. Murphy was second followed by Rick Corso, Mike Corvo and Raskovic. After combining finishes of first and second in the twin features, Camden Murphy of Itasca, IL, was crowned the overall winner with Raskovic taking second and Knuese in third.

Next Saturday, June 13, is a full program in all six divisions sponsored by B&M Electric plus the Flaming Wall of Death attraction. Time trials begin at 5pm with racing at 7pm. 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) Alex Papini, Machesney Park (IL)  2) Michael Grueneberg, Madison  3) Casey Johnson, Edgerton  4) Jerry Eckhardt, Johnson Creek  5) Chris Quam, Stoughton  6) Jason Erickson, Fort Atkinson  7) Stephen Scheel, Lake Mills  8) Trent Erdman, Fort Atkinson  9) Brent Edmunds, Monticello  10) Don Gaserude, Fort Atkinson  11) Brandon Pendleton, Helenville  12) Shaun Scheel, Lake Mills  13) Noel Ramge, Helenville  14) Kyle Smith, Lake Mills  15) Bruce Lee, Cambridge  16) Kyle Taylor, Deerfield  17) Luke Westenberg, Jefferson  18) John Ovadal Jr, Watertown

Fast Qualifier- Casey Johnson—14.095 seconds

Last Chance- John Ovadal Jr, Shaun Scheel, Don Gaserude, Kyle Smith

Consi- Andrew Kiedrowski, Tiffany Desjarlais

Heat Winners- 1) Ed Kubicz  2) Roger Behlke  3) Brandon Pendleton  4) Casey Johnson

Sportsman-

Feature Results- 1) Tim Coley, Madison  2) Mike Rahn, DePere  3) Tony Ciano, Janesville  4) Jason Thoma, Jefferson  5) Mark Deporter, Fort Atkinson  6) Terry Wangsness, Jefferson  7) Steve Sauer, Waterloo  8) Jim Taylor, Stoughton  9) Jay Kalbus, Whitewater  10) Mike Winters, Sun Prairie  11) Dan Schmidt, Farmington  12) Russ Nicholson, Madison  13) Scott Hoeft, Watertown  14) Mike Storkson, Evansville  15) Ed Jackson, Madison  16) Tom Schuette, Fort Atkinson

Fast Qualifier- Jason Thoma—14.951 seconds

Last Chance- Scott Hoeft, Russ Nicholson, Mike Storkson, Ed Jackson

Heat Winners- 1) Scott Hoeft  2) Tom Schuette  3) Steve Sauer

International-

Feature Results- 1) Seth Reamer, Waupun  2) Mike Lambert, Madison  3) Neil Higgins, Watertown  4) Joe Cross, Sun Prairie  5) Jason Uttech, Watertown  6) Brandon DeLacy, Fort Atkinson  7) Merek Pankow, Jefferson  8) Keith Bell, Brodhead  9) Nick Schmidt, Watertown  10) Noah Pankow, Jefferson  11) Heather Stark, Watertown

Fast Qualifier- Seth Reamer—16.438 seconds

Heat Winners- 1) Neil Higgins  2) Mike Lambert

Hobby Stock-

Feature Results- 1) Dustin Ward, Waterloo  2) Bobby Selsing Jr, Johnson Creek  3) AJ Lloyd, Loves Park (IL)  4) Lucas Buckingham, Whitewater  5) Jim Tate Jr, Deforest  6) Jeff LeFave, Fort Atkinson  7) Jim Wolf, Watertown  8) Wayne Buchs, Mazomanie  9) Korey Bengsch, Sun Prairie  10) Cody Buchs, Mazomanie  11) Jared Vike, Columbus  12) Boyd Eichelkraut, Stoughton  13) Jon Benninger, Sun Prairie  14) Dylan Buckingham, Whitewater  15) Robert Steltz, Rockford (IL)

Fast Qualifier- Dustin Ward—15.773 seconds

Heat Winners- 1) Boyd Eichelkraut  2) Wayne Buchs

Road Warrior-

Feature Results- 1) Bill Sweeney, Aztalan  2) Kenny Storkson, Evansville  3) Chris Gottschalk, Jefferson  4) Craig Henning, Helenville  5) Bryan Gottschalk, Jefferson  6) Nick Newton, Lake Mills  7) Charles Novotney, Fort Atkinson  8) Bill Reynolds, Watertown  9) Lucas Stevenson, Beloit  10) Brandon Johnson, Janesville

Fast Qualifier- Bill Sweeney—16.648 seconds

Heat Winners- 1) Nick Newton  2) Kenny Storkson

Bandit-

Feature Results- 1) Nick Schmidt, Watertown  2) Dustin Yanke, Fort Atkinson  3) Adam Schook, Whitewater  4) Jamie Kohn, Madison  5) Chad Olds, Whitewater  6) Josh Marx, Dousman  7) Jeremy Bredeson, Deforest  8) Tyler Deporter, Fort Atkinson  9) Bill Kohn, Madison  10) James Junget, Rio  11) Lyle Phillips, Edgerton  12) DJ Hill, Fort Atkinson  13) Brody Chilvers, Milton

Fast Qualifier- Josh Marx—17.213 seconds

Heat Winners- 1) Tyler Deporter  2) Adam Schook

American Ethanol Super Truck Series-

Overall Finish- 1) Camden Murphy, Itasca (IL)  2) Michael Raskovic, New Glarus  3) Kevin Knuese, Brookfield  4) Chester Ace, Oregon  5) Tommy Pecaro, Markesan  6) Rick Corso, Mckenny, (IL)  7) Kurt Kleven, Utica  8) Mike Corvo, Park Ridge (IL)  9) Nick Egan, Slinger  10) Derek Kraus, Stratford  11) Danielle Behn, Waupaca  12) Chad Devine, Appleton  13) Mark English, Janesville  14) Joshua James, Saukville

Feature #1 Results- 1) Camden Murphy  2) Michael Raskovic  3) Kurt Kleven  4) Tommy Pecaro  5) Chester Ace  6) Derek Kraus  7) Kevin Knuese  8) Rick Corso  9) Nick Egan  10) Danielle Behn  11) Mike Corvo  12) Chad Devine  13) Joshua James  14) Mark English

Feature #2 Results- 1) Kevin Knuese  2) Camden Murphy  3) Rick Corso  4) Mike Corvo  5) Michael Raskovic  6) Chester Ace  7) Tommy Pecaro  8) Nick Egan  9) Kurt Kleven  10) Danielle Behn  11) Chad Devine  12) Mark English  13) Derek Kraus

Fast Qualifier- Chester Ace