Wendt Claims Feature Via. Last Chance at Jefferson Speedway!

By Larry Starr

August 30, 2003; Jefferson, Wis. – After starting the night with a qualifying attempt that failed to place him in the feature, Watertown’s Andy Wendt scored a win in the Last Chance race to earn a spot in at the rear of the feature field.

Starting the feature from the outside of row 7, Wendt scored top honors in the “Topel’s Towing & Repair” 35 lap main event. At the green, Don Mattrisch claimed the early lead, as Wendt headed toward the front. Caution came on lap 8, for debris on the front stretch, with Wendt up to the 6th spot for the restart. Motoring past Curt Thompson, for 2nd, on lap 6, Wendt set his sights on Mattrisch. Wendt moved to the inside on lap 17, claiming the point on lap 18, and guided the field from there to the checkered flag. At the stripe it was Wendt, making it three features I a row, followed by Curt Thompson, Chris Purdy, Ron Bishofberger, Mattrisch and Scott Nottestad.

Purdy failed the post race technical inspection, moving the remainder of the field up one spot.

Rookie Late Model driver Dylan Schuyler, of Dousman, claimed the “Tough as Nails” trophy, in the 15 lap special race, for drivers who have been present every night in the 2003 season.

In International action Chris Quam of Stoughton managed a, hard fought, victory in the 20 lap main event. Starting from the outside of row 5, Quam headed toward the point as David Jurczyk grabbed the early lead. Claiming 3rd by lap 5, Quam motored under Chris Chenoweth for 2nd on lap 6. Motoring past Jurzcyk, on lap 8, Quam claimed the point, with Brent Nottestad close behind for 2nd and Aaron Rude claimed 3rd. Nottestad and Rude kept the pressure high, in a 3 way battle for the lead. Quam was up to the challenge, holding off the challengers. At the stripe it was Quam, by inches over Nottestad and Rude. Rounding out the top 5 were Jim Pankow and Derek Bettenhausen.

Cambridge native, Bettenhausen won the, 10 lap, “Tough as Nails” race for the International class.

In Sportsman division action Dave Oswald of Cottage Grove claimed top honors in the 30 lap feature. Starting from the outside of row 6, Oswald began his charge to the front as Jody Purdy drove to the early lead. Oswald was running 7th after the first caution, on lap 2, when a pair of cars tangled on the front stretch. Making his way to 3rd, by lap 17, Oswald closed with Carey Hensel for 2nd. Moving to the inside on lap 19, Oswald motored under Hensel and Purdy, claiming the point on lap 20. The final caution came, on lap 28, for a blown engine and fluid on the track. Oswald handled the Green/White/Checkered finish, followed by Purdy, Trent Erdman, Hensel and Mark English.

Chris Koepke of Fort Atkinson claimed the, 15 lap, “Tough as Nails” award for the Sportsman division.
In Hobby Stock action, Jim Tate of Watertown won the 20 lap feature. Starting from the inside of row 3, Tate headed to the front, as Lincoln Keeser jumped to the early lead. Tate claimed the 2nd spot on lap 3, closing with Keeser. The field slowed for a caution, on lap 4, for a car in the front stretch sand barrier. On the restart Tate closed with Keeser and, after a 4 lap battle, claimed the point on lap 8. At the stripe it was Tate for the win, followed by Jason Deppe, Terry Wangsness, Eaan Carson and Pete Elgas.

Rick Kehoe of Jefferson claimed the “Tough as Nails” trophy for the Hobby Stocks, winning the 15 lap race.

In Bandit action, Steve Dwyer of Iowa, scored the win, in the 18 lap main event. Starting from the inside of row 6, Dwyer headed toward the point, as Keith Peck drove to the early lead. Peck surrendered the point to Brandon Kozak on lap 11, with Dwyer running 5th. Dwyer claimed 2nd on lap 24, and started closing the gap with Kozak. Moving to the outside, at the white flag, Dwyer overtook Kozak before the checkered. Rounding out the top 5 were Brian Paulson, Chris Nelson and Alan Petrie.

Next week Jefferson Speedway hosts the Havill-Spoerl Season Championships, with a 75 lap Late Model feature and extended features in all divisions. This is the final chapter in the 2003 season points battle.
Gates open at 3:00pm, qualifying at 4:30pm and racing is at 7:00pm sharp.

Jefferson Speedway is on highway 18, half way between Cambridge and Jefferson Wisconsin.

Jefferson Speedway – Date: August 30, 2003 – Event: Topel’s Towing and Repair Night at the Races

Late Model Feature Finish: Laps: 35
1. 18 Andy Wendt (Watertown) 10. 62 Scott Null (Lake Mills)
2. 100 Curt Thompson (Ft. Atkinson) 11. 52 Steve Dobbratz (Rio)
3. 76 Ron Bishofberger (Ft. Atkinson) 12. 22 Tony Schuchardt (Belleville)
4. 56 Don Mattrisch (Whitewater) 13. 94 Nick Wendt (Watertown)
5. 14 Scott Nottestad (Stoughton) 14. 13 Shane Radtke (Watertown)
6. 11 Beau Sanden (Janesville) 15. 33 Dylan Schuyler (Dousman)
7. 71 John Ovadal Jr. (Watertown) 16. 12 Greg Bowers (Waterloo)
8. 82 Chad “Squirt” Stevens (Orfordville) 17. 8 Aaron Wilke (Marshall)
9. 44 Roger Behlke (Jefferson) 18. 7 Chris Purdy (Milton)
FAST QUALIFIER : 14 Scott Nottestad (Stoughton): 14.849 seconds
FAST DASH: 8 Lap (B&M Electric): 82 Chad “Squirt” Stevens (Orfordville)
Iron Man: 15 Lap : 33 Dylan Schuyler (Dousman)
LAST CHANCE: 20 Lap : 18 Andy Wendt (Watertown), 13 Shane Radtke (Watertown), 62 Scott Null (Lake Mills), 8 Aaron Wilke (Marshall)
Heats: 10 lap: 1) 62 Scott Null (Lake Mills) ????? 2) 52 Steve Dobbratz (Rio) 3) 18 Andy Wendt (Watertown)

International Feature: Laps: 20
1. 4 Chris Quam (Stoughton) 4. 16 Jim Pankow (Oregon)
2. 25 Brent Nottestad (Cambridge) 5. 10 Derek Bettenhausen (Cambridge)
3. 9 Aaron Rude (Cambridge) 6. 97 Chris Chenoweth (Watertown)
FAST QUALIFIER : 9 Aaron Rude (Cambridge): 15.873 seconds
Iron Man: 10 Lap : 10 Derek Bettenhausen (Cambridge)
Heats: 10 lap: 1) 97 Chris Chenoweth (Watertown) 2) 10 Derek Bettenhausen (Cambridge)

Sportsman Feature: Laps: 30
1. 31 Dave Oswald (Cottage Grove) 4. 55 Carey Hensel (Stoughton)
2. 7 Jody Purdy (Milton) 5. 57 Mark English (Janesville)
3. 11 Trent Erdman (Ft. Atkinson) 6. 19 Chad Reimer (Oconomowoc)
FAST QUALIFIER : 28 Mark Deporter (Ft. Atkinson): 15.596 seconds
Iron Man: 15 Lap : 23 Chris Koepke (Ft. Atkinson)
CONSI: 10 Lap : 29 Tyson Grossman (Ft. Atkinson), 21 Tony Chase (Columbus)
LAST CHANCE: 15 Lap : 17 Tim Noble (Janesville), 2 Randy Padfield (Stoughton), 9 Tod Goldade (Stoughton), 42 Bob Selsing (Ft. Atkinson)
Heats: 10 lap: 1) 100 Kevin Thompson (Ft. Atkinson) 2) 17 Noel Ramge (Hellenville) 3) 31 Dave Oswald (Cottage Grove) 4) 26 Scott “Chico” Riedner (Waunakee)

Hobby Stock Feature: Laps: 20
1. 27 Jim Tate (Watertown) 4. 2 Eaan Carson (Ft. Atkinson)
2. 71 Jason Deppe (Waterloo) 5. 52 Pete Elgas (Janesville)
3. 55 Terry Wangsness (Delavan) 6. 19 Dennis Schmidt (Johnson Creek)
FAST QUALIFIER : 6 Jeramy Hartwig (Cottage Grove): 16.547 seconds (New Track Record)
Iron Man: 15 Lap : 70 Rick Kehoe (Jefferson)
CONSI: 8 Lap : 56 Randy Strasburg (Jefferson), Dan Sperloan (Stoughton), 43 Jay Finnegan (Milton)
LAST CHANCE: 12 Lap : 58 Dave Ryan, 01 Justin Bowey (Sullivan), 44 Jesse Ayers (Stoughton), 35 Mike Punzel (Ft. Atkinson)
Heats: 8 lap: 1) 26 Faye Riedner (Waunakee) 2) 01 Justin Bowey (Sullivan) 3) 44 Jesse Ayers (Stoughton)

Bandit Feature: Laps: 18
1. 42 Steve Dwyer ( IA ) 4. 73 Chris Nelson (Cottage Grove)
2. 02 Brandon Kozak (Whitewater) 5. 12 Alan Petrie
3. 41 Brian Paulson (Edgerton) 6. 67 Joe Cross (Sun Prairie)
FAST QUALIFIER : 73 Chris Nelson (Cottage Grove): 15.126 seconds
Iron Man: 8 Lap : 57 Tim Seitz (Edgerton)
LAST CHANCE: 12 Lap : 92 Kyle Stark (Waterloo), 20 Bobby Bishofberger (Ft. Atkinson), 75 Paula Seitz (Edgerton), 21 Justin Punsel (Cambridge)
Heats: 8 lap: 1) 39 Jessie Clark (Watertown) 2) 29 Mark Joyner (Whitewater) 3) 57 Tim Seitz (Edgerton)
Great American Bartender’s Race: 19 Mitch Schuenke (Capn’s Corner)