Pendleton Prevails on Mid-Season Championship Night

JEFFERSON, WI (Saturday, July 06, 2013) Brandon Pendleton of Helenville got to the front of the field and flexed his muscle as he drove away to win the 60 lap River’s Edge Meat Market Late Model feature on Mid-Season Championship Night. While Pendleton was winning his first feature of the season, Brooklyn’s Zack Riddle solidified his place at the top of the point standings in his quest for the 2013 title.

Craig Phillips and Kyle Smith paced the field of 20 hot shoes to the drop of the green. After a side by side battle to open up the action, Smith grabbed control on lap two as Phillips dropped back into a fight for second with Tyler Peterson. The first of two cautions waved on lap three when Roger Behlke made very hard contact with the turn one wall. Smith led the field back to green with Peterson in second and Phillips riding in third. Pendleton began his charge to the front of the field once racing resumed as he moved past Phillips for third and quickly dove under Peterson to steal second. Pendleton drew in close to Smith on lap six, making his way into the lead just before the second and final caution slowed the field on lap eight. As racing resumed, Pendleton began to open up a large advantage over the pack while Chris Quam challenged Smith for second. Quam made the pass on lap 14 and was joined by Trent Erdman in third a couple laps later. Erdman took a turn in the second spot when he slipped by Quam on lap 24 while Pendleton’s lead continued to grow. Meanwhile, Kyle Jarlsberg and Zack Riddle were making their way into the top five as they claimed the fourth and fifth spots respectively just past the halfway point of the race. Jarlsberg moved up to third with Riddle in tow on lap 36. Ten laps later, Jarlsberg and Riddle got by Erdman for second and third with Pendleton now enjoying a half lap lead. Pendleton continued to cruise lap after lap until finally seeing the checkers to pick up the victory. Jarlsberg finished second with Riddle, Erdman and Dale Nottestad rounding out the top five.

Jim Tate Jr of Deforest claimed another clean sweep in the Sportsman division after capturing the 30 lap feature as well a heat win and quick time on the evening. Jim Taylor and Jason Kubicz opened up the action on the front row with Taylor taking the early lead on lap one. Terry Wangsness followed into second with Mark Deporter in tow for third. On lap four, Deporter drove to the low side as he made his way past Wangsness for second. Deporter continued forward as he slid under Taylor looking to lead. Deporter cleared for the top spot on lap six with Jason Thoma in his tracks for second. A lap later, Tate joined the leaders in third as he began to challenge Thoma for the runner up position. Tate got a good run under Thoma on lap eight, clearing for second a lap later and setting his sights on Deporter. Tate closed the gap lap after lap until finally catching Deporter on lap 14. After a brief side by side battle, Tate cleared for the lead on lap 15. Tate remained the leader through a late caution as he hung on to get the win. Deporter came home second followed by Thoma, Steven Sauer and Robert Hansberry.

Watertown’s Neil Higgins survived a late race challenge to get the victory in the 25 lap International feature event. Dylan Buckingham and Merek Pankow made up the front row at the start as they raced wheel to wheel on lap one. Higgins joined the fight for the lead on lap two as they raced three wide down the backstretch. Higgins and Pankow emerged door to door with Higgins finally taking control on lap four. Mark English quickly made his way up to second on lap six, bringing Chris Chenoweth along for third and Mike Lambert following into fourth. Lambert drove around the outside of Chenoweth to claim third on lap 11, but Chenoweth battled right back to reclaim the position on lap 15. Chenoweth used his momentum to charge up alongside English, claiming the second spot on lap 17. Chenoweth began to close in on Higgins on the point as the laps ticked away. Chenoweth found himself on the rear bumper of the leader as they approached the white flag. Chenoweth motored under Higgins as they entered turn one on the final circuit. They raced side by side down the backstretch and into turn three. But Higgins gained a slight advantage as they exited turn four and held it to the stripe to get the win. Chenoweth settled for second with Lambert, Dan Birkett and Joe Cross completing the top five.

Tony Ciano of Janesville had a successful evening as he not only picked up the win in the 30 lap Mid-Season Championship Hobby Stock feature, but also claimed the 25 lap make-up feature that was rained out two weeks prior. Scott Riemer took the early lead in the 30 lapper from the pole with Nick Smalley dropping into second. Mike Manley moved past Smalley on lap five with Phil Wuesthoff in tow for third. Wuesthoff wasted little time in third, passing Manley a lap later just before the caution waved on lap seven. On the restart, Lucas Buckingham drove to the high side around Manley for third while Wuesthoff looked to the outside of Riemer at the front. Wuesthoff claimed the top spot on lap ten with Ciano up to battle Buckingham for third. Ciano slid past Buckingham and alongside Riemer on lap 12. Ciano continued forward as he drew even with the leader on lap 14 with Buckingham watching from third. Ciano cleared for the lead before the second caution of the race appeared on lap 18. On the restart, Buckingham lost a wheel to force the final caution with ten laps remaining. Ciano brought the field back to green with Wuesthoff running second. James Helmer made a late race charge, passing Wuesthoff on lap 22 for second. But Ciano stayed strong on the point to see the checkers first for the win. Helmer finished second followed by Ken Scott, Chester Williams and Wuesthoff.

Jeff LeFave led early on in the make-up 25 lap Hobby Stock feature with Cody Buchs right behind in second. Bobby Selsing Jr and Ciano made it a three way fight for second on lap three. After some contact, Selsing and Ciano emerged side by side for second with LeFave still showing the way. On lap four, Selsing drove to the outside of LeFave with Ciano watching from third. Selsing cleared for the lead on lap five with Ciano following into second. Ciano began stalking Selsing at the front, searching for a way into the lead. On lap 12, Ciano got a run on the low side, drawing even with Selsing for the top spot. Two laps later, Ciano was out front as Selsing tried to fight back. But Ciano held him at bay to get the win with Selsing, Chester Williams, Buchs and Phil Wuesthoff rounding out the top five.

Bill Sweeney of Edgerton picked up the win in the 22 lap Road Warrior feature event. Kenny Storkson led lap one as Travis Schneeberg, Rodger Stephenson and Jordan Lamb battled for second. The sole caution of the event waved on lap two when Tadd Douglas spun in turn two. Storkson restarted on the point with Lamb in second and Stephenson third. As racing resumed, Schneeberg charged up to second behind Storkson. Schneeberg moved under Storkson on lap five to take over the lead with Sweeney flying into third. Sweeney got by Storkson for second and set his sights on Schneeberg at the front. On lap 12, Sweeney drove to low side of Schneeberg, claiming the top spot a lap later. Tim Ellis made his way to second with five laps to go, but Sweeney was already well on his way to picking up the checkers and the win. Ellis was second with Schneeberg in third. Bill Reynolds and Chris Gottschalk completed the top five.

Janesville’s Derek Dixon got the front of the 25 lap Bandit feature and drove away to get the win. Brian Cook led early from the pole with Tyler Deporter up to second. Josh Lenz grabbed second from Deporter on lap three as he brought Dixon along for third. A lap later, Dixon charged under Lenz to grab second with Nick Schmidt in tow for third. Dixon pulled up alongside Cook on lap six, clearing for the top spot as they entered turn three. Dixon immediately began to check out from the field while Schmidt worked his way up to second with Jamie Kohn behind for third. Dixon cruised over the remaining laps to pick up the feature win with Schmidt, Kohn, Brandon DeLacy and Cook rounding out the top five.

Next Saturday, July 13, is a full program of racing in all division sponsored by Tired Iron Promotions as well as the Inferno Steel Wall Crash. Time trials begin at 5pm with racing at 7pm sharp. 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) Brandon Pendleton, Helenville 2) Kyle Jarlsberg, Jefferson 3) Zack Riddle, Brooklyn 4) Trent Erdman, Fort Atkinson 5) Dale Nottestad, Cambridge 6) Chris Quam, Stoughton 7) Tory Bagley, Stoughton 8) Shaun Scheel, Lake Mills 9) Dylan Schuyler, Jefferson 10) Jerry Eckhardt, Johnson Creek 11) Stephen Scheel, Lake Mills 12) Kyle Smith, Lake Mills 13) Luke Westenberg, Jefferson 14) Craig Phillips, Edgerton 15) Jody Krueger, Edgerton 16) John Ovadal Jr, Watertown 17) Ryan Goldade, Stoughton 18) Chuck Duncan, Milwaukee 19) Tyler Peterson, Lake Geneva 20) Roger Behlke, Jefferson

Fast Qualifier- Zack Riddle—14.615 seconds

Last Chance- John Ovadal Jr, Luke Westenberg, Chuck Duncan, Jody Krueger

Heat Winners- 1) Jerry Eckhardt 2) John Ovadal Jr 3) Ryan Goldade

Sportsman-

Feature Results- 1) Jim Tate Jr, Deforest 2) Mark Deporter, Fort Atkinson 3) Jason Thoma, Jefferson 4) Steven Sauer, Waterloo 5) Robert Hansberry Jr, Beloit 6) Jim Taylor, Stoughton 7) Seth Lootans, Kenosha 8) Terry Wangsness, Jefferson 9) Jason Dunn, Sun Prairie 10) Jason Kubicz, Whitewater 11) Tim Coley, Madison 12) Mike Bleecker, Lake Mills

Fast Qualifier- Jim Tate Jr—15.222 seconds

Heat Winners- 1) Terry Wangsness 2) Jim Tate Jr

International-

Feature Results- 1) Neil Higgins, Watertown 2) Chris Chenoweth, Watertown 3) Mike Lambert, Madison 4) Dan Birkett, Jefferson 5) Joe Cross, Sun Prairie 6) Casey Strese, Jefferson 7) Jamie Shelley, Edgerton 8) Merek Pankow, Jefferson 9) Dylan Buckingham, Whitewater 10) Josh Kubicz, Whitewater 11) Keith Bell, Brodhead 12) Mark English, Edgerton 13) Mike Storkson, Evansville 14) Seth Reamer, Waupun

Fast Qualifier- Mike Lambert—16.593 seconds

Heat Winners- 1) Josh Kubicz 2) Seth Reamer

Hobby Stock-

Feature Results- 1) Tony Ciano, Janesville 2) James Helmer, Beaver Dam 3) Ken Scott, Rio 4) Chester Williams, Waukesha 5) Phil Wuesthoff, Beaver Dam 6) Dustin Ward, Columbus 7) Bobby Selsing Jr, Edgerton 8) Scott Riemer, Brookfield 9) Rodger Stephenson, Cambridge 10) Mike Manley, Fort Atkinson 11) Jim Wolf, Watertown 12) Jeff LeFave, Fort Atkinson 13) Craig Mertes, Antioch (IL) 14) Nick Smalley, Antioch (IL) 15) Kevin Henderson, 16) Lucas Buckingham, Whitewater 17) Cody Buchs,

Fast Qualifier- James Helmer—15.912 seconds

Last Chance- Ken Scott, Bobby Selsing Jr, Rodger Stephenson, Kevin Henderson

Heat Winners- 1) Gary Paulick 2) Chester Williams 3) Dustin Ward

Make-up Feature Results- 1) Tony Ciano, Janesville 2) Bobby Selsing Jr, Edgerton 3) Chester Williams, Waukesha 4) Cody Buchs, 5) Phil Wuesthoff, Beaver Dam 6) Jeff LeFave, Fort Atkinson 7) Justin Kumbier, Fort Atkinson 8) Jim Wolf, Watertown 9) Gary Paulick, Union Grove 10) Scott Riemer, Brookfield 11) Mike Manley, Fort Atkinson 12) Kevin Henderson,

Road Warrior-

Feature Results- 1) Bill Sweeney, Edgerton 2) Tim Ellis, S.Beloit (IL) 3) Travis Schneeberg, Cottage Grove 4) Bill Reynolds, Watertown 5) Chris Gottschalk, Jefferson 6) Tadd Douglas, Jefferson 7) Kenny Storkson, Evansville 8) Chad Olds, Whitewater 9) Jordan Lamb, Fort Atkinson 10) Mike Storkson, Evansville 11) Rodger Stephenson, Cambridge

Fast Qualifier- Chris Gottschalk—16.852 seconds

Heat Winners- 1) Jordan Lamb 2) Tim Ellis

Bandit-

Feature Results- 1) Derek Dixon, Janesville 2) Nick Schmidt, Oak Creek 3) Jamie Kohn, Columbus 4) Brandon DeLacy, Fort Atkinson 5) Brian Cook, Janesville 6) Josh Lenz, Lake Mills 7) Jeremy Bredeson, 8) Dennis Wuesthoff, Beaver Dam 9) Josh Rusch, Fort Atkinson 10) Tyler Deporter, Fort Atkinson 11) Noah Pankow, Jefferson 12) Jared PInnow, Jefferson 13) Trent Rueth, Jefferson 14) Josh Marx, Jefferson

Fast Qualifier- Devon Dixon—14.225 seconds

Heat Winners- 1) Noah Pankow 2) Josh Marx