Scheel Survives to Win Papa Murphy’s 50

JEFFERSON, WI (Saturday, August 24, 2013) Shaun Scheel of Lake Mills survived a major melee at the midway point of the Papa Murphy’s Pizza 50 lap Late Model main event to pick up his first feature win of the season. The win made Scheel the tenth Late Model pilot to taste victory in 2013.

John Ovadal Jr and Bruce Lee paced the field to green with Lee taking the initial lead on lap one. Ovadal tried to fight back on the low side, but Lee held him off to maintain control of the top spot. After the first of four cautions, the leaders remained single file with defending champ, Casey Johnson quickly moving towards the front. But Johnson found the turn four wall, cutting a tire and bringing out the second caution on lap 14. As racing resumed, Ty James slipped by Ovadal to claim second with Trent Erdman in his tracks for third. Contact between James and Erdman on lap 23 ended with both cars into the turn three wall, collecting several competitors in the process. Included in the wreckage was point leader Dale Nottestad as well as several others who were forced to the pit area for repairs. Nottestad returned track side before the green flew again allowing him to remain on the lead lap. Lee restarted on the point, this time with Scheel in his rear view mirror with Ryan Goldade running third. On lap 25, Scheel got a good run on the low side of Lee as they raced out of turn two. Scheel cleared for the top spot a lap later as the top two began to separate themselves from the pack. Zack Riddle made his way to third with Chris Quam in tow and Nottestad already back up into the top five. On lap 36, Riddle drifted high in turn four allowing Quam and Nottestad to slip past for third and fourth respectively. Nottestad spent the remaining laps searching for a way around Quam while Scheel continued to stretch his advantage. A caution on lap 48 set up a green/white/checkered finish, but Scheel stayed strong out front to see the checkers first for the win. Lee finished second followed by Quam, Nottestad and Riddle.

Jason Thoma of Jefferson picked up his second consecutive win in the Sportsman division after claiming the 30 lap feature again this week. Matt Lundberg and Tim Coley led the field to the green as they battle side by side for the lead. Terry Wangsness tried to make it a three way fight for first on lap two, allowing Coley to grab control just before the first of three cautions slowed the field. As racing resumed, Jim Tate Jr began to slice his way through the top five on his way to the front. As Tate pulled into third, Wangsness made a move to the low side of Coley looking to lead. Tate joined the fight on lap six as they raced three wide down the front stretch. Tate emerged with the top spot exiting turn two with Wangsness following into second. After another caution on lap seven, Thoma entered the top five as he looked to close on the leaders. Thoma raced by Coley and Seth Lootans to claim third on lap ten. Thoma dispatched of Wangsness on lap 13 and set his sights on Tate who was enjoying a large lead. But a caution on lap 17 closed Thoma in on Tate’s rear bumper for the final 13 laps. Once racing resumed, Thoma began to search for the best path to the front. After trying the low side, Thoma moved to the high groove. Lap after lap, Thoma inched his way alongside Tate. Thoma drew even with Tate on lap 23 as the duo raced wheel to wheel. Thoma continued to inch his way forward as the laps ticked away. With three to go, Thoma cleared for the lead with Tate trying to fight back from second. But Thoma held him off to see the checkers first and get the win. Tate settled for second followed by Lootans, Mark Deporter and Wangsness.

Mike Lambert of Madison increased his advantage in the standing by winning the International 20 lap main event. Jamie Shelley led early with Casey Strese trying to challenge on the inside. Shelley returned to sole possession of the top spot on lap five as Chris Chenoweth moved up to challenge Strese for second. Chenoweth made the pass on lap seven and continued forward alongside Shelley. After a brief battle, Chenoweth cleared for the lead with Lambert in his tracks for second. Chenoweth stayed on the low side with Lambert know trying to go around the outside of the new leader. Lambert drew even with Chenoweth on lap 14 as he looked to take over the point. Lambert cleared for the lead with four laps remaining as Chenoweth stayed close in second. Chenoweth made one last attempt to reclaim the top spot, but Lambert held him at bay to grab the win. Chenoweth settled for second with Shelley, Strese and Neil Higgins rounding out the top five.

One of the most exciting races of the night each week takes place in the Hobby Stock division. This week was no different as Chester Williams picked up the 25 lap feature win in a wild race. Rodger Stephenson took the early lead on lap one with Jeff LeFave and Scott Riemer battling side by side for second behind him. On lap four, LeFave charged up alongside Stephenson with Lucas Buckingham now up to third. LeFave cleared Stephenson for the lead on lap six with Buckingham in tow for second. Buckingham quickly moved up to challenge the new leader, drawing even on lap eight. A lap later, Buckingham was out front while Williams made his way to second and Tony Ciano battled with Kyle Stark for third. On lap 14, Williams drove to the low side of Buckingham looking to steal the top spot. Williams and Buckingham continued to race fender to fender over the next several laps until Williams grabbed control on lap 19. A late caution slowed the pace with three laps to go, but Williams hung on despite a heavy challenge from Ciano and Dustin Ward in the final laps. Ciano nipped Ward at the stripe to finish second with Buckingham and Phil Wuesthoff completing the top five.

Bill Reynolds of Watertown captured the 15 lap Road Warrior main event. Rodger Stephenson and Jordan Lamb brought the field to green with Bill Bush making it a three way fight for first on lap one. Bush and Stephenson emerged side by side with Stephenson eventually taking control of the point on lap five. Reynolds made his way to second a lap later and quickly began to challenge Stephenson on the point. After a brief battle Reynolds claimed the top spot just before the sole caution of the race waved on lap seven. On the restart, Bill Sweeney got past Stephenson for second as the top two broke away from the field. Sweeney closed in on Reynolds in the final laps, but Reynolds held him off to see the checkers first for the win. Sweeney was second followed by Stephenson, Bush and Brett Carson.

Brandon DeLacy of Fort Atkinson got the win following a late race caution in the 20 lap Bandit feature event. Tyler Deporter led early from the pole with Noah Pankow up to second. The top two ran nose to tail over the first half of the race until DeLacy joined them on the outside groove. DeLacy pulled up next to Pankow, claiming second on lap 15 and sliding up alongside Deporter for the lead. On lap 17, Pankow slipped under Deporter as they exited turn two, taking over the top spot as they raced through turns three and four. A caution set up a two lap shootout to the finish with Pankow now out front and Nick Schmidt up to second. On the restart, Schmidt and Pankow made contact resulting in Pankow spinning to bring out another yellow. Both drivers were forced to the rear on the restart with DeLacy now on the point and Dustin Yanke in second. DeLacy hung on as racing resumed to cross the stripe first for the win with Yanke second. Rounding out the top five were Trent Rueth, Justin Thomas and Josh Marx.

Next Saturday, August 31, is a full program in all divisions highlighted by the Labor Day 50 lap Late Model feature as well as the Big Rig Trailer Race of Doom. It is also Bike Night with kids age 11 and under having a chance to go home with a new bike courtesy of Jefferson Speedway race teams and sponsors. 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-

Papa Murphy’s Pizza 50 lap Feature Results- 1) Shaun Scheel, Lake Mills 2) Bruce Lee, Cambridge 3) Chris Quam, Stoughton 4) Dale Nottestad, Cambridge 5) Zack Riddle, Brooklyn 6) Ryan Goldade, Stoughton 7) Jerry Eckhardt, Johnson Creek 8) John Ovadal Jr, Watertown 9) Mike Lange, West Allis 10) Kyle Smith, Lake Mills 11) Casey Strese, Johnson Creek 12) Chad Stevens, Orfordville 13) Brandon Pendleton, Helenville 14) Ty James, Oconomowoc 15) Casey Johnson, Stoughton 16) Trent Erdman, Fort Atkinson 17) Stephen Scheel, Lake Mills 18) Dylan Schuyler, Jefferson

Fast Qualifier- Dale Nottestad—14.425 seconds

Consi- Craig Phillips, Luke Westenberg

Last Chance- Chad Stevens, Chris Quam, Mike Lange, Jerry Eckhardt

Heat Winners- 1) Luke Westenberg 2) Jerry Eckhardt 3) Chris Quam 4) Ryan Goldade

Sportsman-

Feature Results- 1) Jason Thoma, Jefferson 2) Jim Tate Jr, Deforest 3) Seth Lootans, Kenosha 4) Mark Deporter, Fort Atkinson 5) Terry Wangsness, Jefferson 6) Kyle Chwala, Lake Mills 7) Robert Hansberry, Beloit 8) Tim Coley, Madison 9) Matt Lundberg, Rockford 10) Jason Dunn, Sun Prairie 11) Russ Nicholson, Madison 12) Randy Rahn, Brillion 13) Brent Knight, Lake Mills 14) Jim Taylor, Stoughton 15) Kody Hubred, Cambridge 16) Brandon Skolaski, Madison 17) Adam Bleskan, Menomonee Falls

Fast Qualifier- Jason Thoma—15.147 seconds

Heat Winners- 1) Seth Lootans 2) Jim Tate Jr

International-

Feature Results- 1) Mike Lambert, Madison 2) Chris Chenoweth, Watertown 3) Jamie Shelley, Edgerton 4) Casey Strese, Johnson Creek 5) Neil Higgins, Watertown 6) Dan Birkett, Jefferson 7) Joe Cross, Sun Prairie 8) Keith Bell, Brodhead 9) Dylan Buckingham, Whitewater 10) Merek Pankow, Jefferson 11) Brandon Wachal, Jefferson

Fast Qualifier- Mike Lambert—16.377 seconds

Heat Winners- 1) Jamie Shelley 2) Dan Birkett

Hobby Stock-

Feature Results- 1) Chester Williams, Waukesha 2) Tony Ciano, Janesville 3) Dustin Ward, Columbus 4) Lucas Buckingham, Whitewater 5) Phil Wuesthoff, Beaver Dam 6) Jeff LeFave, Fort Atkinson 7) Scott Riemer, Brookfield 8) Rodger Stephenson, Cambridge 9) Mike Manley, Fort Atkinson 10) Jim Wolf, Watertown 11) Kevin Henderson, 12) Bobby Selsing Jr, Edgerton 13) Kyle Stark, Waterloo 14) Cody Buchs, Mazomanie 15) Peter Shelley, Edgerton

Fast Qualifier- Kyle Stark—15.835 seconds

Heat Winners- 1) Scott Riemer 2) Phil Wuesthoff

Road Warrior-

Feature Results- 1) Bill Reynolds, Watertown 2) Bill Sweeney, Edgerton 3) Rodger Stephenson, Cambridge 4) Bill Bush, Jefferson 5) Brett Carson, Fort Atkinson 6) Jordan Lamb, Fort Atkinson 7) Joe Cross, Sun Prairie 8) Doug O’Grady, Jefferson 9) Chris Gottschalk, Jefferson

Fast Qualifier- Bill Sweeney—16. 859 seconds

Heat Winners- 1) Brett Carson 2) Bill Sweeney

Bandit-

Feature Results- 1) Brandon DeLacy, Fort Atkinson 2) Dustin Yanke, Fort Atkinson 3) Trent Rueth, Fort Atkinson 4) Justin Thomas, Waukesha 5) Josh Marx, Dousman 6) Tyler White, Edgerton 7) Josh Rusch, Fort Atkinson 8) Matt Rusch, Fort Atkinson 9) Noah Pankow, Jefferson 10) Nick Schmidt, Oak Creek 11) Cory Skolaski, Madison 12) Tyler Deporter, Fort Atkinson 13) Dennis Wuesthoff, Beaver Dam 14) Tiffany Desjarlais, Columbus 15) Steve Privett, Madison

Fast Qualifier- Josh Marx—14.269 seconds

Heat Winners- 1) Dennis Wuesthoff 2) Nick Schmidt