Pendleton Picks Up Mid-Season Championship Win

By Andrew Schaller
JEFFERSON, WI (Saturday, June 25, 2011) Helenville’s Brandon Pendleton captured the 60 lap Mid-Season Championship Late Model feature presented by J&L Tire at Jefferson Speedway. Pendleton led every lap of the main event to mark his first career Late Model feature win at Wisconsin’s Action Track.

Pendleton and Bruce Lee paced the field of 20 competitors to the drop of the green. Pendleton grabbed control as they entered turn one with Lee falling in line behind for second. Lee began to pressure Pendleton on the point as the duo broke away from the pack while Roger Behlke and Scott Lindsay battled for third. Behlke gained possession of the third spot on lap eight bringing Chris Quam along for fourth. On lap 12, Quam got around Behlke for third with Doug Hahn in tow for fourth. Hahn went to work on Quam, stealing the third spot away on lap 18 as he started to reel in the two leaders. At the front, Lee continued to pressure Pendleton, looking for a way around the leader. Hahn closed on the pair of drivers lap after lap until he was on Lee’s rear bumper at the midway point of the race. Just as Hahn began to work on Lee for second, the sole caution of the race slowed his efforts on lap 36. As racing resumed, Hahn tried to work the low groove looking to move forward. When Hahn began to lose grip on the bottom, Luke Westenberg shot past into third, as well as Jason Erickson to fourth. On lap 47, Westenberg got loose entering turn three allowing Erickson and Casey Johnson to fire past. Pendleton continued to show the way with Lee filling his rear view mirror and Erickson battling with Johnson for third. Pendleton held off Lee in the closing laps as he crossed under the checkers to get the win. Lee came home second followed by Johnson, Erickson and Westenberg.

Curt Thompson of Jefferson claimed the 40 lap Sportsman Mid-Season Championship feature. Dan Schmidt took the early lead on lap one from the outside of row one with Will Rece falling in line behind him. Jason Dunn pressured Rece for second while Mark Deporter watched from fourth. On lap 13, Deporter and Dunn made contact entering turn one and causing Dunn to spin in front of the pack. Dunn collected Jim Taylor and Kurt Kleven as they brought out the caution. On the restart, Thompson dove under Rece in turn one. Thompson claimed second and slid up alongside the leader, Schmidt on lap 14. Thompson cleared for the top spot a lap later with Jay Kalbus looking to follow. Kalbus made his way to second on lap 17 as he set his sights on Thompson at the front. Kalbus began knocking on Thompson’s door by lap 20 with James Helmer in third. Kalbus applied heavy pressure to Thompson while Jason Thoma closed on the lead group. Thoma joined the leaders on lap 26, using the outside groove to drive alongside Helmer. Kalbus continued to use the low side as he worked over Thompson. Thoma pulled up behind Thompson as the laps wound down. Kalbus dropped back into a battle with Thoma in the closing circuits as the Thompson fired back out into the lead. Thompson crossed the stripe first to secure the win with Thoma claimed second and Kalbus, Helmer and Terry Wangsness rounding out the top five.

Kyle Stark of Waterloo continued his dominance of the International class by moving to front and running away with the 30 feature event. Dale Smith, Keith Bell and Darren Brown drove three wide on the opening lap with Brown claiming the initial lead. Another three wide battle on lap two ended when Kenny Au emerged with the top spot as Stark was already threatening the top five. Mike Lambert made his way to second on lap six, bringing Gary and Kyle Stark along for third and fourth respectively. Kyle got by his brother, Gary on lap nine as he pulled up behind Lambert. Stark quickly got past Lambert for second as he continued to move forward. On lap 13, Stark dove under Au and took over the lead down the backstretch. Stark immediately pulled away from the pack until a stalled car brought out the sole caution of the race and erased his advantage. But as racing resumed, Stark checked out from the field on his way to the feature win. Gary Stark finished second followed by Au, Lambert and Dale Smith.

In Hobby Stock action, it was Jim Tate Jr of Deforest claiming the 35 feature event. Jamie Dunn led lap one from the front row as Brent Gergen took to the high side of the speedway looking to move to the front. Gergen charged past Dunn on lap two as he quickly opened up a large lead. Meanwhile, Tate was slicing his way through the field into the top five. Kyle Chwala made his way to second on lap 10 as he began to try to cut into Gergen’s large lead. Tate raced up to third on lap 19 and drew even with Chwala for second a lap later. Tate cleared for the position on lap 21 as he set his sights on Gergen. Tate closed the gap on the leader, finally catching him with 10 laps remaining. Tate charged to the low side, stealing the lead for himself on lap 26 and pulling away from Gergen. Tate cruised to the stripe to get the win followed by Gergen, Chwala, Tony Ciano and Zack Schmidt.

Edgerton’s Bill Sweeney made the late race pass to get the win in the 25 lap Road Warrior main event. Kevin Pauls and Leonard Reimer led the field to green with Pauls taking control on lap one. Pauls and Reimer made contact on lap two, allowing Rodger Stephenson to shoot past into the lead. Sweeney followed into second and immediately went to work on Stephenson out front. Lap after lap, Sweeney tried to gain the advantage over Stephenson to no avail. With seven circuits remaining, Sweeney got a good run entering turn three as he pulled even looking to lead. Sweeney inched ahead, claimed control of the point on lap 19 as Stephenson tried to come back strong. But Sweeney held him at bay to see the checkers first for the win. Stephenson settled for second followed by Scott Pauls, Rob Lange and Tim Ellis.

Heather Stark of Waterloo motored to the front of the field to claim the 25 lap Bandit feature event. Erik Bennett led lap one from the pole with Dylan Buckingham in tow for second. Bryan Gottschalk got past Buckingham on lap eight as Stark was using the high side to move forward. Stark, Buckingham and Michael Heimann drove three wide on lap 11 for third with Stark emerging in third and still moving forward. A lap later, Stark was outside Gottschalk for second. Stark cleared for the position and charged beside Bennett for the lead. Stark claimed the spot on lap 13 and immediately began to stretch her advantage. Keith Erickson made his way to second on lap 17, but Stark was long gone on her way to the win. Erickson finished second with Nick Schmidt, Phil Wuesthoff and Bennett rounding out the top five.

Next Saturday, July 2, is a full program of racing in all six divisions sponsored by Newville Auto Salvage as well as stock car rides for the kids and fireworks presented by Thundercat Fireworks. Time trials begin an hour early at 4pm with racing at 7pm sharp. Sunday, July 3, is round two of the Tournament of Destruction capped off once again by fireworks. 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) 21 Brandon Pendleton, Helenville 2) 77 Bruce Lee, Cambridge 3) 5 Casey Johnson, Stoughton 4) 94 Jason Erickson, Fort Atkinson 5) 16 Luke Westenberg, Jefferson 6) 71 John Ovadal, Watertown 7) 99 Doug Hahn, Whitewater 8) 52 Steve Dobbratz, Rio 9) 33 Dylan Schuyler, Jefferson 10) 4 Chris Quam, Stoughton 11) 9 Tommy Pecaro 12) 61 Jerry Eckhardt, Johnson Creek 13) 44 Roger Behlke, Jefferson 14) 8 Shaun Scheel, Lake Mills 15) 29 Scott Lindsay, Dousman 16) 96 Tim Lange, Dousman 17) 17 Eric Connell, Fort Atkinson 18) 21 Ryan Zielski, Oconomowoc 19) 7 Ed Kubicz, Whitewater 20) 16 Tyler Peterson, Lake Geneva

Fast Qualifier- 94 Jason Erickson—14.298 seconds

Last Chance- 16 Tyler Peterson, 8 Shaun Scheel, 17 Eric Connell, 96 Tim Lange, 9 Tommy Pecaro, 7 Ed Kubicz

Heat Winners- 1) 99 Lincoln Keeser 2) 29 Scott Lindsay 3) 33 Dylan Schuyler

Sportsman-

Feature Results- 1) 66 Curt Thompson, Jefferson 2) 6 Jason Thoma, Jefferson 3) 27 Jay Kalbus, Watertown 4) 7 James Helmer, Beaver Dam 5) 55 Terry Wangsness, Jefferson 6) 2 Mark Deporter, Fort Atkinson 7) 15 Will Rece, Stoughton 8) 52 Tory Bagley, Stoughton 9) 19 Dan Schmidt, Farmington 10) 19 John Handeland, Jefferson 11) 15 Rick Rothwell 12) 1 Levi Cloute, Janesville 13) 11 Adam Bleskan, Menomonie Falls 14) 71 Jason Dunn, Sun Prairie 15) 3 Ken Hoff, Jefferson 16) 22 Brady Lilly, Milton 17) 4 Jim Taylor, Stoughton 18) 51 Kurt Kleven, Cambridge

Fast Qualifier- 7 James Helmer—15.009 seconds

Heat Winners- 1) 15 Will Rece 2) 55 Terry Wangsness

International-

Feature Results- 1) 92 Kyle Stark, Waterloo 2) 35 Gary Stark, Waterloo 3) 31 Ken Au, Jefferson 4) 26 Mike Lambert, Madison 5) 6 Dale Smith, Lake Mills 6) 75 Travis Schneeberg, Cottage Grove 7) 90 Kyle Smith, Lake Mills 8) 111 Devon Dixon, Janesville 9) ONO Keith Bell, Brodhead 10) 5 Peter Shelley, Edgerton 11) 25 Darren Brown, Jefferson 12) 97 Chris Chenoweth, Jefferson 13) 29 Waylin Willman, Janesville 14) 41 Nick Newton, Jefferson 15) 83 Devin Wild, Jefferson 16) 66 Neil Higgins, Watertown 17) 23 Casey Strese, Jefferson 18) 11 Jason Kubicz, Whitewater 19) 57 Mark English, Edgerton 20) 61 Chris Gottschalk, Jefferson 21) 95 Matt McKinney, Fort Atkinson

Fast Qualifier- 92 Kyle Stark—16.134 seconds

Heat Winners- 1) 61 Chris Gottschalk 2) 111 Devon Dixon 3) 35 Gary Stark

Hobby Stock-

Feature Results- 1) 27 Jim Tate Jr, Deforest 2) 2 Brent Gergen, Jefferson 3) 2 Kyle Chwala, Lake Mills 4) 86 Tony Ciano, Janesville 5) 19 Zack Schmidt, Johnson Creek 6) 9 Dustin Ward, Waterloo 7) 22 Chester Williams, Waukesha 8) 77 Sean Watters, Jefferson 9) 21 Ben Monday, Columbus 10) 29 Mike Manley, Jefferson 11) 81 Jeff LeFave, Fort Atkinson 12) 72 Gary Paulick, Union Grove 13) 7 Jim Wolf, Watertown 14) 71 Jamie Dunn, Deforest 15) 55 Lucas Buckingham, Whitewater 16) 11 Steven Sauer, Waterloo 17) 56 Randy Strasburg, Fort Atkinson

Fast Qualifier- 27 Jim Tate Jr—16.316 seconds

Heat Winners- 1) 86 Tony Ciano 2) 22 Chester Williams

Road Warrior-

Feature Results- 1) 42 Bill Sweeney, Edgerton 2) 88 Rodger Stephenson, Cambridge 3) 18 Scott Pauls, Deerfield 4) 135 Rob Lange, Jefferson 5) 01 Tim Ellis, Loves Park (IL) 6) 33 Michael White, Janesville 7) 78 Kevin Pauls, Middleton 8) 6 Bill Reynolds, Watertown 9) 71 Leonard Reimer, Janesville 10) 51 Rory Hardy, Oregon 11) 23 Bobby Selsing, Jefferson

Fast Qualifier- 18 Scott Pauls—17.055 seconds

Heat Winners- 1) 88 Rodger Stephenson 2) 135 Rob Lange

Bandit-

Feature Results- 1) 93 Heather Stark, Waterloo 2) 03 Keith Erickson, Columbus 3) 09 Nick Schmidt, Menomonie 4) 99 Phil Wuesthoff, Beaver Dam 5) 36 Erik Bennett, Beloit 6) 1 Kyle Riedner, Waunakee 7) 43 Mitch Brockway, Ixonia 8) 31 Bryan Gottschalk, Jefferson 9) 31 Michael Heimann, Waunakee 10) 11 Art Blakely, Beloit 11) 62 Brandon Johnson, Avalon 12) 11 Cory Jansen, Lake Geneva 13) 16 Josh Lenz, Lake Mills 14) 34 Dustin Yanke, Fort Atkinson 15) 17 Tadd Douglas, Jefferson 16) 53 Dylan Buckingham, Whitewater 17) 20 Gary Stark, Waterloo 18) 18 Robby Robinson, Orfordville 19) 02 Michelle Kriegel, Sun Prairie 20) 52 Brad Birzer, Ixonia

Fast Qualifier- 93 Heather Stark—14.170 seconds

Last Chance- 20 Gary Stark, 02 Michelle Kriegel, 11 Art Blakely, 34 Dustin Yanke, 62 Brandon Johnson

Heat Winners- 1) 18 Robby Robinson 2) 16 Josh Lenz 3) 09 Nick Schmidt