Wendt Captures Late Models, Selsing Notches 2 in a Row in the Sportsman class at Jefferson!

By Jeanne & Larry Starr

August 22, 1998; Jefferson, WI. – Former track champion Andy Wendt of Watertown, stretched his point lead in the Late Model division with victory in the 35 lap UAW Local 95, Late Model feature. Starting from the inside of row 6 Wendt began his drive to the front as Kenny Olson of Ft. Atkinson and Mike Taylor of Stoughton battled for the early lead. There was no clear leader for the first 7 laps as Taylor seemed to have the advantage on the back stretch while Olson held a slight edge on the front.

As this battle raged, Wendt worked his way up to the 6th spot by lap 6, closing with Dan Chesmore of Janesville in his bid for 5th. Taylor pull ahead on lap 8, with Jason Erickson of Cambridge following for the second spot and Wendt, claiming 4th as he closed with Olson. Wendt claimed the third spot, running behind Erickson, before the only caution of the race came, on lap 12, for a spin on the back stretch.

On the restart Erickson pulled up to challenge Taylor as Wendt moved on Erickson. What followed was a 3 way battle for the lead, with Taylor holding the point, until lap 22. On lap 22 Taylor slipped high, opening room for Wendt to move under him for the lead, with Erickson following to claim 2nd. As Wendt guided the way to the checkered flag Taylor found himself locked in a battle for third with Denny Stair of Sullivan. Stair found his way under Taylor on lap 27, to claim the third spot, leaving Taylor locked in the battle for fourth with Chesmore.

An altercation, on the final turn of the white flag lap, removed both Chesmore and Taylor from the front of the field, as Wendt bore down on the checkered flag. Wendt claimed the checkered followed by Erickson, Stair, Eric Gerlach of Palmyra and Charlie Mierendorf of Lake Mills.

Stair set the fast pace in qualifying with a 14.951 second tour of Wisconsin’s Action Track.

Defending track champion Al Papini of Machesney Park IL took home the money in the Squidy’s Sports Bar of Palmyra Dash for Cash.

Claiming victory, in 10 lap heat races, were Mark English of Edgerton, Bruce Clark of Watertown, Olson and Taylor.

Transferring to the Last Chance race via the 10 lap Consolation race were Dave Cresca of Palmyra and English.

Rounding out the feature lineup, via the 20 lap Last Chance race, were Scott Bleeker of Jefferson, Jerry Parker of Palmyra, Clark and John Ovadal of Johnson Creek.

In International action, Chris Quam of Stoughton notched his second main event of the season in the 20 lap feature. Starting from the outside of row 2 Quam moved quickly to 2nd as Rick Neerland of Ft. Atkinson pulled out to the early lead. At the half way point it was still Neerland at the point, with Quam running 2nd and rookie driver Brent Nottestad of Cambridge up to the third spot. Quam pulled to the inside, challenging Neerland for the lead, on lap 12, but Neerland was not ready to give up just yet.

The pair battled side by side, for 3 laps, before Quam managed to pull ahead, claiming the point on lap 15. As Quam set his sights on the checkered flag Neerland battled Nottestad for the second spot. Nottestad moved under Neerland, on lap 18, closing with Quam. As they flew past the checkered flag it was Quam for the win, by a narrow margin over Nottestad, followed by Neerland, Darnell Mepham of Ft. Atkinson, and D. R. Moore of Madison.

Mepham set the fast qualifying pace with a 16.204 second circuit of the quarter mile.

Claiming victory, in 10 lap heat races, were Moore and Neerland.

In Sportsman Division action, Ft. Atkinson’s Bob Selsing claimed his second in a row, in the 25 lap feature. Starting from the outside of row 6 Selsing began the long drive to the front as Tony Koepke of Ft. Atkinson pulled out to the early lead. Koepke’s lead was immediately challenged by Randy Padfield of Stoughton. As Koepke fought off Padfield’s charge, Selsing followed the current point leader, Dave Oswald of Cottage Grove through the field. Selsing claimed the 6th spot before a stalled car, on the front stretch, collected 2 more cars, bringing out the first caution of the race.

On the restart it was Koepke at the point, followed by Padfield and Oswald. On lap 7 Padfield moved to the inside, making his successful bid for the lead. As Padfield claimed the point, Oswald moved under Koepke for second, with Selsing up to the third spot. Selsing moved around Koepke on lap 9, closing with Oswald in the battle for 2nd. Selsing quickly found the right line, moving past Oswald on lap 11, and closing with Padfield. Padfield held on for two more laps before surrendering the spot to Selsing on lap 13.

Oswald moved under Padfield, to claim 2nd on lap 14, as Selsing guided the way to the checkered flag. A loose wheel, on the back stretch, brought the final caution of the race, on lap 22. On the restart it was Selsing holding off Oswald, as they wound down the final 3 laps. At the stripe it was Selsing for the win, followed by Oswald, Padfield, Kyle Munro of Ft. Atkinson and Chad Stevens of Beloit.

Selsing set the fast pace in qualifying with a 16.088 second orbit of the quarter mile speed plant.

Claiming victory, in 10 lap heat races, were Dylan Schuyler of Dousman, Joe Wendorf of Jefferson and Ryan Ley of Sullivan.

Transferring to the feature via the 10 lap Last Chance race were Bill Kettle of Janesville, Alan McBride of Janesville, Wendorf and Bo Sanden of Newville.

In Hobby Stock action Jeff Kohlhoff closed the gap in the point battle, with his fourth feature win of the season, in the 20 lap main event. Starting from the outside or row 6, Kohlhoff began his drive to the front, as Nick Golich of Hebron claimed the early lead. A spin, on the first lap, brought out the only caution of the race. On the restart it was Golich in the lead with Kohlhoff up tot 6th and current point leader Jim Pfeifer of Ft. Atkinson 3 spots behind, in 9th.

Kohlhoff moved around Bill Bush of Johnson Creek for 2nd on lap 4, closing with Golich. As Kohlhoff worked his way behind Golich, Pete Elgas of Janesville claimed the third spot, with Pfeifer claiming 4th. Kohlhoff moved under Golich, claiming the lead on lap 8 as Pfeifer and Elgas battled for 4th. As Kohlhoff guided the way to the checkered flag, Pfeifer moved ahead of Elgas, and took on Golich for second.

Pfeifer claimed the 2nd spot on lap 11, working his way up to Kohlhoff. Pfeifer caught Kohlhoff by lap 15, looking to the inside but was never able to make the pass, as the pair battled toward the checkered flag. At the line it was Kohlhoff followed by Pfeifer, Elgas, Golich and Gerald Chapman of Juneau.

Pfeifer set the fast qualifying pace with a 17.089 second lap on the quarter mile.

Claiming victory in 8 lap heat races were Jason Ayers of Stoughton and Elgas.

Transferring to the feature from the 8 lap Last Chance race were Ayers, Randy Strasburg of Ft. Atkinson, Ron Coppernoll of Madison and Scott Carson of Whitewater.

Rounding out the nights’ racing action were the One on One Spectator Drags, competition in 4 cylinder, 6 cylinder and 8 cylinder cars and trucks. Claiming victory in the 4 cylinder class was B. J. Schumacher of Cambridge. Jason Thom of Ft. Atkinson claimed victory in the 6 cylinder class. The 8 cylinder car class was claimed by Chris Rawley of Cottage Grove while the 8 cylinder truck class went to Branden Gustafson of Madison.

Next week at Jefferson Speedway presents the Jon Green Motorsports 50 lap Late Model feature. The final round of the Rollover Contest, for 1998 will round out the evening’s entertainment.

Gates open at 4:00, qualifying at 5:30 and racing to begin at 7:30 sharp. Jefferson Speedway is located on highway 18 half way between Jefferson and Cambridge.

Late Model Division
“UAW Local 95” 35 Lap Feature Event
1. #18 Andy Wendt (Watertown)
2. #96 Jason Erickson (Cambridge)
3. #43 Denny Stair (Sullivan)
4. #55 Eric Gerlach (Palmyra)
5. # 1 Charlie Mierendorf (Lake Mills)
6. #44 Roger Behlke (Jefferson)
7. #62 Scott Null (Lake Mills)
8. #39 Al Papini (Machesney Park, IL)
9. # 2 Tom Dorn (Fort Atkinson)
10. #76 Roy Aitchison (Deerfield)
11. #16 Luke Westenberg (Palmyra)
12. #98 Scott Bleeker (Jefferson)
13. # 2 Jerry Parker (Palmyra)
14. #27 Dan Chesmore (Janesville)
15. #41 Mike Taylor (Stoughton)
16. #68 Kenny Olson (Fort Atkinson)
17. #71 John Ovadal (Johnson Creek)
18. # 7 Bruce Clark (Watertown)

20 Lap Last Chance:
1.) Bleeker
2.) Parker
3.) Clark
4.) Ovadahl

10 Lap Consolation:
1.) Dave Cresca
2.) Mark English

First 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Mark English

Second 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Bruce Clark

Third 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Kenny Olson

Fourth 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Mike Taylor

Squidy’s Sports Bar Dash for Cash:
1.) Al Papini

Fast Qualifier:
#43 Denny Stair, Sullivan,……….14.951 Seconds

Internationals
20 Lap Feature Event
1. # 4 Chris Quam (Stoughton)
2. #25 Brent Nottestad (Cambridge)
3. #24 Rick Neerland (Fort Atkinson)
4. #12 Darnell Mepham (Fort Atkinson)
5. # 1 D.R. Moore (Madison)
6. #15 Scott Nottestad (Cambridge)

First 10 Lap Heat:
1.) D.R. Moore

Second 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Rick Neerland

Fast Qualifier:
#12 Darnell Mepham, Fort Atkinson, WI,……..16.204 Seconds

Sportsman
25 Lap Feature Event
1. #42 Bob Selsing (Ft. Atkinson)
2. #31 Dave Oswald (Cottage Grove)
3. #27 Randy Padfield (Stoughton)
4. #30 Kyle Murno (Fort Atkinson)
5. #82 Chad Stevens (Beloit)
6. # 6 Curt Thompson (Palmyra)

10 Lap Last Chance:
1.) Bill Kittle
2.) Alan McBride
3.) Joe Wendorf
4.) Ryan Ley

First 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Dylan Schuyler

Second 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Joe Wendorf

Third 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Ryan Ley

Fast Qualifier:
#42 Bob Selsing, Fort Atkinson,………15.914 Seconds

Hobby Stocks
20 Lap Feature Event
1. #98 Jeff Kohloff (Watertown)
2. #58 Jim Pfiefer (Fort Atkinson)
3. #52 Pete Elgas (Janesville)
4. #66 Nick Golich (Hebron)
5. # 7 Gerald Chapman (Juneau)
6. #11 Trent Erdman (Fort Atkinson)

Last Chance:
1.) Jason Ayers
2.) Randy Strasburg
3.) Ron Coppernoll
4.) Scott Carson

First 8 Lap Heat:
1.) Jason Ayers

Second 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Pete Elgas

Fast Qualifier:
#58 Jim Pfiefer, Ft. Atkinson, WI,…….17.089 Seconds

Spectator Drags

4 Cylinder:
1.) B.J. Schumacher, Cambridge

6 Cylinder:
1.) Jason Thom, Fort Atkinson

8 Cylinder-Cars:
1.) Chris Rawley, Cottage Grove

8 Cylinder-Trucks:
1.) Branden Gustafsen, Madison