Riedner and Papini Score Career Firsts as Mother Nature Shortens the Show at Jefferson Speedway

By Larry Starr

July 1, 2006; Jefferson WI – A good crowd was on had for the 4th of July festivities at Wisconsin’s Action Track. The early qualifying time worked to make time for the kid’s Stock Car rides. The infield was aglow with young smiles as the drivers chauffeured the young ones around the track. The races ran, without a hitch up to intermission. The Big-Wheel races ran, for all the young competitors.

Alas, somewhere along the way, the threat of rain became a concern. The show kept moving along, and the Fireworks were not, yet, ready to go. There was a short rain delay, during the International feature, but that race finished. With 3, of 5, feature races in the books, and the “Kearns Motor Car Co. 50” taking to the track, the skies opened up, washing away any hope of completing the program tonight.

In International action Brandon Riedner, of Waunakee notched his first feature win, in the 20 lap main. Starting from the pole Riedner grabbed the early lead and never looked back, guiding the field all the way to the checkers. As they breezed past the finish it was Riedner for the win followed by Chris Gottschalk, Scotty Hoeft, Mike Winters and Mark Joyner.

In Sportsman action Jay Kalbus of Oconomowoc scored top honors in the 30 lap feature. Starting inside row 5, Kalbus started his drive to the point as James Helmer claimed the early lead. Helmer surrendered the point to Brent Gergen on lap 9, only to see Trent Erdman claim the top spot by the 10th circuit. Erdman showed the way for 9 laps before succumbing to Kalbus. With Kalbus at the point the battles raged, for position, behind him. At the stripe it was Kalbus for the win followed by Mark DePorter, Erdman, Mike Heelein, Dave Oswald and Gergen. Erdman had been shown the Black Flag, for smoking, and was not scored on the final lap, dropping him to 13th in the official finish.

In Hobby Stock action Alex Papini of Machesney Park IL scored his first feature win, in the 20 lap main event. Starting outside row 2, Papini snagged the lead on lap 1, guiding the field from there to the checkers. The race slowed for 1 caution, for a crash coming off turn 4. Papini led the restart, holding off the challenge of Lincoln Keeser. At the stripe it was Papini for the win, followed by Keeser, Alan Dorn, Kyle Stark and Larry Moen.

Next week Jefferson Speedway will start the program with the remainder of this week’s program, the “Kearns Motor Car Co. 50” and the Bandit Feature. This will lead into the, regularly scheduled, “Miller Lite 50” Late Model feature, highlighting a full racing program, in all divisions. The Fireworks are rescheduled to next week as well.

Also on tap, to end the night’s activity is the latest addition to the arsenal of “Stupid Human Automotive Tricks,” with the “Ring Around the Rosie” race. This race will involve some sort of water filled obstacle on each straightway, that the cars must circle.

Gates open at 2:00 Qualifying at 4:30 and the first green flag at 7:00PM sharp.

Jefferson Speedway is half way between Jefferson and Cambridge Wisconsin, on highway 18. Find us on the World Wide Web at www.jeffersonspeedway.com.

Jefferson Speedway Race Summary – 07/01/2006 Independence Day Special

Late Model Division
Fast Qualifier: 94 Jason Erickson : 14.485 seconds
Fast Dash: 33 Dylan Schuyler (Jefferson)
LastChance: 27 Tom Schuette, 12 Allen Petrie Jr, 68 Ken Olson, 32 Tony Koepke
Heats: Qual1) 12 Allen Petrie Jr, Qual2) 71 John Ovadal Jr, Qual3) 66 Curt Thompson

International Division
Feature Finish
1) 4D Brandon Riedner (Waunakee) 2) 61 Chris Gottschalk (Jefferson)
3) 00 Scotty Hoeft (Watertown) 4) 77 Mike Winters (Sun Prairie)
5) 4 Mark Joyner (Elkhorn) 6) 42 Bill Sweeney (Janesville)
Fast Qualifier: 4 Mark Joyner (Elkhorn) : 16.788 seconds
Fast Dash: 77 Mike Winters (Sun Prairie)
LastChance: 27 James Bell, 05 Ashley Smith, 18 Adam Johnson, 98 John Remsik
Heats: Qual1) 98 John Remsik, qual2) 57 Mark English, qual3) 4D Brandon Riedner

Sportsman Division
Feature Finish
1) 27 Jay Kalbus (Watertown) 2) 28 Mark DePorter
3) 11 Trent Erdman 4) 8 Michael Heelein (Fort Atkinson)
5) 31 David Oswald (Cottage Grove) 6) 38 Brent Gergen (Jefferson)
Fast Qualifier: 26 Scott Riedner (Waunakee) : 15.462 seconds
Fast Dash: 31 David Oswald (Cottage Grove)
Heats: Qual1) 55 Terry Wangsness, qual2) 27 Jay Kalbus, qual3) 28 Mark DePorter

Hobby Stock Division
Feature Finish
1) 39 Alex Papini (Machesney Park, IL 2) 99 Lincoln Keeser (Whitewater)
3) 96 Alan Dorn (Waterloo) 4) 92 Kyle Stark (Waterloo)
5) 10 Larry Moen (Madison) 6) 52 Peter Elgas (Janesville)
Fast Qualifier: 33 Jim Robinson : 16.568 seconds
Fast Dash: 10 Larry Moen (Madison)
LastChance: 56 Randy Strasburg, 75 Travis Schneeberg, 5 Jon Bue Ira, 41 Nick Newton
Heats: Qual1) 75 Travis Schneeberg, qual2) 62 Bret Carson, qual3) 52 Peter Elgas

Bandit Division
Fast Qualifier: 5 Casey Johnson (Stoughton) : 14.694 seconds
Fast Dash: 5 Casey Johnson (Stoughton)
LastChance: 42 Bobby Selsing, 22 Brady Lilly, 7 Dennis Johnson Jr, 86 Jeff Ciano
Heats: Qual1) 89 Chad Olds, qual2) 77 Sean Watters, qual3) 7 Kyle Watters