Wendt claims Blackhawk 50 at Jefferson Speedway!

By Jeanne & Larry Starr

July 22, 2000; Jefferson, WI. – Andy Wendt of Watertown claimed top honor in the WFAW Blackhawk 50 on Wisconsin’s Action Track. Starting from the inside of row 7 Wendt started his drive to the front as Mike Taylor of Stoughton pulled out to the early lead.

The first caution came on lap 4, for a multi-car crash in turn 1, which removed several cars from competition, including the current point leader Dan Chesmore of Janesville. On the restart it was Taylor at the point with Wendt up to the 7th spot. Wendt moved under Roger Behlke of Jefferson, for the 5th spot on lap 21, closing with Denny Stair of Sullivan. The battle for 3rd, resulted in the 2nd caution of the race on lap 25 as Stair tangled with Tom Dorn of Ft. Atkinson in turn 2.

On the restart Wendt was up to 3rd, behind Chad “Squirt” Stevens of Beloit, with Taylor guiding the way. Wendt battled Stevens for 3 laps, claiming 2nd on lap 28. Closing with Taylor by lap 30, Wendt launched his bid for the lead. Moving to the inside Wendt battled Taylor for 2 laps before making the winning pass on lap 32, as Behlke moved past Stevens for 3rd. Caution came again on lap 40, for a crash on the back stretch wall, coming out of the 2nd turn.

On the restart Taylor closed with Wendt, trying to reclaim the lead. Taylor made several good runs, but Wendt proved up to the challenge. At the stripe it was Wendt for the win followed by Taylor, Behlke, Chris Purdy of Milton and Stevens.

In the post-race interview Wendt indicated that he had a tire going down and had all he could do to hold off Taylor.

Chesmore set the fast qualifying pace, with a 14.777 second tour of the quarter mile.

Jim Jarlsberg of Cambridge took home the money from the Krentz Auto Mart. Dash for Cash.

Claiming victories, in 10 lap heat races, were Ryan Ley of Rome, Jerry Parker of Palmyra, Mike Taylor of Stoughton and Scott Null of Lake Mills.

Moving to the feature lineup, from the 20 lap Last Chance race, were Gene Olson Jr. of Jefferson, Terry Morgan of Delafield, Ken Piotrowski of Milton and Scott Nottestad of Cambridge.

Moving to the Last Chance race, from the 10 lap Consi, were Jim Gleesing of Whitewater and Jasper Gronert of Jefferson.

n International Division action, Brent Nottestad of Cambridge made it five in a row, with his victory in the 20 lap main event. Starting from the outside of row 6 Nottestad started the long drive to the front as Jerry Efferding of Cottage grove drove out to the early lead. The only caution of the race came on lap 5, when a spin out of 2nd turn collected another car and carried the two into the back stretch wall.

On the restart it was Efferding at the point with Nottestad up to the 6th spot. Pete Weston moved to the inside of Efferding on lap 6 as Nottestad motored past Chris Quam of Stoughton for the 3rd spot. Nottestad closed with the leaders launching a 3 wide battle for the top spot. Finding an opening on lap 15 Nottestad claimed the top spot with Weston fighting back. As the flew past the checkered flag it was Nottestad for the win, followed by Weston, Efferding, Darnell Mepham of Ft. Atkinson and Aaron Rude of Cambridge.

Nottestad set the fast qualifying pace with a 15.771 second, track record, circuit of the quarter mile.

Claiming victory, in 10 lap heat races, were Pete Seitz of Edgerton and Chris Quam of Stoughton.

Moving to the feature lineup from the 8 lap Last Chance race were Bobby Moore of Edgerton, Seitz, Mike Dixon of Omro and Ken Edmundson of Lima Center.

In Sportsman Division action Trent Erdman of Ft. Atkinson inherited the 25 lap feature win. Starting from the inside of row 6, Erdman started his drive to the front as Dustin Ward of Beaver Dam pulled out to the early lead. Starting from the outside of row 1, Ward guided the field, flag to flag, as Erdman worked his way through traffic. Caution came on lap 4, as the current point leader, Dave Oswald of Cottage Grove, lost a tire in the 2nd turn.

On the restart it was Ward opening up the lead with the battle for positions fading behind. Erdman motored under Dale Padfield of Stoughton for 3rd on lap 18 and claimed 2nd from Mike Landers of Johnson Creek on lap 19. Erdman closed with Ward over the final laps, coming within a fender of making the pass. At the stripe it was Ward, followed by Erdman, Jeff Kohlhoff of Watertown, Tony Koepke of Ft. Atkinson and Josh Courtney of Janesville.

Ward failed the post race technical inspection, handing the official win to Erdman.

Oswald set the high mark in qualifying with a 15.722 second orbit of the quarter mile.

Claiming victories, in 10 lap heat races, were Judy Weir of Cottage Grove, Shane Radtke of Hellenville and Rick Coppernoll of Madison.

Joining the feature lineup from the 15 lap Last Chance race were Joe Wendorf of Jefferson, Kevin Thompson of Palmyra, Shane Radtke of Hellenville and Tom Collins of Lake Mills.

In Hobby Stock action, Tim Noble of Janesville made it two in a row in the 20 lap feature. Starting from the outside of row 6, Noble started his drive to the front as Brett Schmidt of Farmington pulled out to the early lead. The only caution of the race came on lap 5, for a spin. On the restart Schmidt continued to lead as Noble battled his way up from the 6th spot. Noble moved steadily toward the front claiming 3rd, behind Nick Golich of Hebron, on lap 11.

Noble motored around Golich, for 2nd, on lap 12, closing the gap with Schmidt. Moving to the inside on lap 14, Noble took 2 laps to make the winning pass. As they streaked by the checkered flag it was Noble for the win, followed by Jim Pfeifer of Ft. Atkinson, Schmidt, Golich and Kevin Quale of Jefferson.

Noble Set the fast qualifying pace, with a 16.918 second loop of the quarter mile speed plant.

Claiming victories, in 8 lap heat races, were Jay Finnegan of Milton, John Shane of Waukesha and Lincoln Keeser of Milton.

Moving to the feature lineup, from the 12 lap Last Chance race, were Jeremy Hartwig of Cottage Grove, Brett Carson of Ft. Atkinson, Eaan Carson of Ft. Atkinson and Shane.

Rounding out the nights racing activities were the One on One Street Drags were Mike Jarlsberg of Cambridge won in the 8 cylinder car division. Jim Taylor of Stoughton won the 8 cylinder Trucks. Cory Corin won the 6 cylinder division and Dan Hein won in the 4 cylinders.

Next Week Jefferson Speedway hosts the Bumper to Bumper 50 lap late Model feature, WIBA Night and Bubble Gauntlet round 2.

Gates open at 4:00, qualifying at 5:30 and racing at 7:30 sharp. Jefferson Speedway is on highway 18 between Jefferson and Cambridge Wisconsin.

Late Model Feature Finish:
Laps: 50
1. 18 Andy Wendt (Watertown)
2. 41 Mike Taylor (Stoughton)
3. 44 Roger Behlke (Jefferson)
4. 106 Chris Purdy (Milton)
5. 82 Chad Stevens (Beloit)
6. 97 Jim Jarlsberg (Cambridge)
7. 76 Ron Bishofberger (Ft. Atkinson)
8. 14 Jason Erickson (Cambridge)
9. 2 Tom Dorn (Ft. Atkinson)
10. 11 Russ Goodwin (Beloit)
11. 62 Scott Null (Lake Mills)
12. 4 Denny Stair (Sullivan)
13. 5 Terry Morgan (Delafield)
14. 16 Luke Westenberg (Palmyra)
15. 14 Scott Nottestad (Cambridge)
16. 98 Scott Bleecker (Jefferson)
17. 27 Dan Chesmore (Janesville)
18 37 Gene Olson Jr. (Jefferson)

FAST QUALIFIER
#27 Dan Chesmore (Janesville): 14.777 seconds

FAST DASH: 8 Lap
97 Jim Jarlsberg (Cambridge)

CONSI: 10 Lap:
88 Jim Gleesing (Whitewater)
22 Jasper Gronert (Jefferson)

LAST CHANCE: Lap
37 Gene Olson Jr. (Jefferson)
5 Terry Morgan (Delafield)
6 Ken Piotrowski (Milton)
14 Scott Nottestad (Cambridge)

Heats: 10 lap: (Winners Only)
1) 77 Ryan Ley (Rome)
2) 2 Jerry Parker (Palmyra)
3) 41 Mike Taylor (Stoughton)
4) 62 Scott Null (Lake Mills)

International Feature: Laps: 25
1. 25 Brent Nottestad (Cambridge)
2. 53 Pete Weston (Ft. Atkinson)
3. 39 Jerry Efferding (Cottage Grove)
4. 12 Darnell Mepham (Ft. Atkinson)
5. 9 Aaron Rude (Cambridge)
6. 4 Chris Quam (Stoughton)

FAST QUALIFIER
#25 Brent Nottestad (Cambridge): 15.771 seconds (Track Record)

LAST CHANCE: 8 lap
28 Bobby Moore (Edgerton)
57 Pete Seitz (Edgerton)
11 Mike Dixon (Omro)
59 Ken Edmundson (Lima Center)

Heats: 10 laps: (Winners Only)
1) 57 Pete Seitz (Edgerton)
2) 4 Chris Quam (Stoughton)

Sportsman Feature:
Laps: 30
1 11 Trent Erdman (Ft. Atkinson)
2. 98 Jeff Kohlhoff (Watertown)
3. 8 Mike Landers (Johnson Creek)
4. 32 Tony Koepke (Ft. Atkinson)
5. 21 Josh Courtney (Janesville)

FAST QUALIFIER
#31 Dave Oswald (Cottage Grove): 15.722 seconds

LAST CHANCE: 15 lap
3 Joe Wendorf (Jefferson)
99 Kevin Thompson (Palmyra)
18 Shane Radtke (Hellenville)
8 Tom Collins (Lake Mills)

Heats: 10 lap: (Winners Only)
1) 52 Judy Weir (Cottage Grove)
2) 18 Shane Radtke (Hellenville)
3) 75 Rick Coppernoll (Madison)

Hobby Stock Feature:
Laps: 20
1. 71 Tim Noble (Janesville)
2. 11 Jim Pfeifer (Ft. Atkinson)
3. 9 Brett Schmidt (Farmington)
4. 66 Nick Golich (Hebron)
5. 76 Kevin Quale (Ft. Atkinson)
6. 72 Chris Matz (Watertown)

FAST QUALIFIER
#71 Tim Noble (Janesville): 16.918 seconds

LAST CHANCE: 12 lap
6 Jeremy Hartwig (Cottage Grove)
1 Brett Carson (Ft. Atkinson)
7 Eaan Carson (Ft. Atkinson)
11 John Shane (Waukesha)

Heats: 8 laps: (Winners Only)
1) 98 Jay Finnegan (Milton)
2) 11 John Shane (Waukesha) 3) 99 Lincoln Keeser (Milton)

One-on-One Street Drags:
8 Cyl Cars: Mike Jarlsberg (Cambridge)
8 Cyl Truck: Jim Taylor (Stoughton)
6 Cyl: Cory Corbin
4 Cyl: Dan Hein