Wendt Claims Winners Circle Challenge Stevens Wins UAW-50 at Jefferson Speedway!

By Jeanne & Larry Starr

August 26, 2000; Jefferson, WI. – Nick Wendt of Watertown claimed top honors in the WFAW/Vos Sentry Foods Winner’s Circle Challenge 25 lapper at Jefferson Speedway. Starting in the front row, Wendt moved ahead on lap 1, only to surrender the lead, on the 3rd lap, to Scott Bleecker of Jefferson. Bleecker guided the way through lap 6, before Wendt was able to reclaim the point.

From lap 7 on, Wendt showed the way to the checkered flag. At the finish it was Wendt for the win, followed by Jim Jarlsberg of Cambridge, Bleecker, Ron Bishofberger of Ft. Atkinson and Chad “Squirt” Stevens of Beloit.

Stevens rebounded from a fifth place finish to a win in the UAW Local 95, 50 lap main event. Starting from the inside of row 2, Stevens grabbed the lead on lap 1 and never looked back, guiding the way to the checkered flag over 50, caution free, laps. Stevens did not have a free ride, as Jason Erickson of Cambridge moved into second at the start, keeping the pressure on all the way to the finish.

Erickson made many runs, to the inside, but was never able to pull ahead. The battles raged, hot and heavy, behind the leaders, for 3rd through 7th place. In the heat of those battles were Luke Westenberg of Palmyra, Ken Olson of Ft. Atkinson, Andy Wendt of Watertown, Jim Jarlsberg of Cambridge and the current point leader Dan Chesmore of Janesville. As they flew past the checkered flag it was Stevens, by a fender, over Erickson followed by Wendt, Westenberg, Jarlsberg and Chesmore.

Jarlsberg turned in the top effort in qualifying, with a 14.830 second orbit of the quarter mile.

Chesmore claimed top honors in the Krentz Auto Mart “Dash for Cash.”

Claiming victories, in 10 lap heat races were Don Mattrisch of Whitewater, Russ Goodwin of Beloit Ken Olson of Ft. Atkinson and Rex Weston of Lake Mills.

Moving to the Last Chance race, from the 10 lap Consolation Race, were Don Mattrisch of Whitewater and Bryan Sonnenberg of Jefferson.

Joining the feature lineup, from the 20 lap Last Chance race were Beau Sanden of Janesville, Goodwin, Denny Stair of Sullivan and Mike Taylor of Stoughton.

In International division action, Ed Wolf III of Watertown claimed top honors in the 20 lap feature. Starting from the outside of row 6, Wolf started his trek to the point as Derek Bettenhausen of Cambridge grabbed the early lead. Caution came early, with a 3 car tangle, in turn 4 on the first lap, setting up a complete restart. Bettenhausen led the restart with Scott Uttech of Beaver Dam close behind.

Darnell Mepham moved up to second on lap 7, closing with Bettenhausen, with Wolf close behind for the 3rd spot. Mepham claimed the point on lap 10, with Wolf rolling into the 2nd spot. Caution came twice, on lap 13, first for a spin on the back stretch and then for a turn 4 spin on the first restart attempt. On the restart, Wolf moved to the inside of Mepham, in his bid for the lead. Mepham held on for 2 more laps before Wolf found the opening he needed, motoring under Mepham to make the winning pass on lap 17. At the stripe it was Wolf for the win, followed by Mepham, Aaron Rude of Cambridge, Mike Drays of Milton and Bettenhausen.

Drays set the high mark in qualifying, with a 16.053 second circuit of the quarter mile.

Mepham claimed victory in the WFAW/Vos Sentry Foods “Dash for Cash.”

Claiming victory, in 10 lap heat races, were Charles Dixon of Waukesha and Mepham.

In Sportsman division action Todd Goldade of Stoughton claimed top honors in the 25 lap main event. Starting from the pole Goldade dropped to 2nd, as Noel Ramge of Hellenville pulled out to the early lead. Goldade fought back, claiming the point after a 4 lap battle. Caution came on lap 11, when a pair of cars tangled in turn 4, triggering a melee that collected 5 cars.

Josh Weir of Cottage Grove ended up crashed into the front stretch wall, with the front of his car erupting in flames. The track crew quickly extinguished the flames and Weir appeared uninjured in the incident. Goldade guided the field back to green and on to the checkered flag, While Jeff Kohlhoff of Watertown batted through the field toward the front. At the line it was Goldade for the win followed by Kohlhoff, Ramge, Dylan Schuyler of Dousman and Dale Padfield of Jefferson.

Kohlhoff set the fast pace in qualifying with a 15.809 second tour of the half mile speed plant.

Josh Weir claimed top honors in the WFAW/Vos Sentry Foods “Dash for Cash.”

Claiming victory, in 10 lap heat races, were Randy Padfield of Stoughton, Dan Schmidt of Farmington and Josh Courtney of Janesville.

Joining the Last Chance race, from the 8 lap Consolation race, were Mike Acheson of Watertown and Rick Rothwell of Madison.

Moving to the feature lineup, via the 15 lap Last Chance race, were R. C. Coppernoll of Madison, Randy Padfield, Rich Titus of Jefferson and Dan Schmidt of Farmington.

In Hobby Stock action Lincoln Keeser of Milton scored the win, in the 20 lap main event. Starting from the inside of row 2, Keeser headed for the front as Brett Carson of Ft. Atkinson grabbed the early lead.

Keeser made the winning pass on lap 2 and never looked back, guiding the field to the finish. Caution came on lap 14, for a car crashing into the back stretch wall. At the stripe it was Keeser for the win, followed by Ernie Witte of Johnson Creek, Brett Schmidt of Farmington, Jim Pfeifer of Ft. Atkinson and Carson.

Pfeifer set the fast pace in qualifying with a 17.022 second loop of the quarter mile.

Roger Stephenson of Cambridge, Jeremy Hartwig of Cottage Grove and Witte each claimed victory, in 8 lap heat races.

Joining the feature lineup, from the 12 lap Last Chance race were Brent Moe of Deforest, Stephenson, Hartwig and Jay Finnegan of Milton.

The night’s entertainment ended with the 2000 Rollover Contest Finale, where Roy Pfeifer Jr. of Ft. Atkinson claimed the win, and Angela Starr of Ft. Atkinson finished 2nd, in her first time out.

Next week Jefferson Speedway hosts the “Custom Finishes of Sullivan 50”, with a 50 lap Late Model feature and a full racing program in all divisions. The nights racing activity will culminate with the Great American Trailer Race finale.

Gates open at 4:00, qualifying at 5:30 and racing at 7:30 sharp.

Back by popular demand; Sunday, September 3, will see the second “Tournament of Destruction” at Wisconsin’s Action Track.

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

RESULTS

Late Model Winner’s Circle Challenge:
Laps: 25
1. 46 Nick Wendt (Watertown)
2. 97 Jim Jarlsberg (Cambridge)
3. 98 Scott Bleecker (Jefferson)
4. 76 Ron Bishofberger (Ft. Atkinson)
5. 82 Chad “Squirt” Stevens (Beloit)
6. 62 Scott Null (Lake Mills)

Late Model Feature Finish:
Laps: 50
1 82 Chad “Squirt” Stevens (Beloit)
2. 14 Jason Erickson (Cambridge)
3. 18 Andy Wendt (Watertown)
4. 16 Luke Westenberg (Palmyra)
5. 97 Jim Jarlsberg (Cambridge)
6. 27 Dan Chesmore (Janesville)
7. 68 Ken Olson (Ft. Atkinson)
8. 62 Scott Null (Lake Mills)
10. 76 Ron Bishofberger (Ft. Atkinson)
9. 46 Nick Wendt (Watertown)
11. 41 Mike Taylor (Stoughton)
12. 44 Roger Behlke (Jefferson)
13. 4 Denny Stair (Sullivan)
14. 106 Chris Purdy (Milton)
15. 11 Russ Goodwin (Beloit)
16. 11 Beau Sanden (Janesville)
17. 77 Ryan Ley (Rome)
18. 52 Duane Deppe (Waterloo)

FAST QUALIFIER
#97 Jim Jarlsberg (Cambridge): 14.830 seconds.

FAST DASH: 8 Lap
27 Dan Chesmore (Janesville)

CONSI: 10 Lap:
56 Don Mattrisch (Whitewater)
10 Bryan Sonnenberg (Jefferson)

LAST CHANCE: 20 Lap
11 Beau Sanden (Janesville)
11 Russ Goodwin (Beloit),
4 Denny Stair (Sullivan)
41 Mike Taylor (Stoughton)

Heats: 10 lap: (Winners Only)
1) 52 Don Mattrisch (Whitewater)
2) 11 Russ Goodwin (Beloit)
3) 68 Ken Olson (Ft. Atkinson)
4) 35 Rex Weston (Lake Mills)

International Feature: Laps: 20
1. 89 Ed Wolf III (Watertown)
2. 12 Darnell Mepham (Ft. Atkinson)
3. 9 Aaron Rude (Cambridge)
4. 48 Mike Drays (Milton)
5. 10 Derek Bettenhausen (Cambridge)
6. 39 Tim Woollen (Madison)

FAST QUALIFIER
#48 Mike Drays (Milton): 16.053 seconds

FAST DASH:
6 Lap – 12 Darnell Mepham (Ft. Atkinson)

Heats: 10 laps: (Winners Only)
1) 71 Charles Dixon (Waukesha)
2) 12 Darnell Mepham (Ft. Atkinson)

Sportsman Feature:
Laps: 25
1 9 Todd Goldade (Stoughton)
2. 98 Jeff Kohlhoff (Watertown)
3. 17 Noel Ramge (Hellenville)
4. 33 Dylan Schuyler (Dousman)
5. 27 Dale Padfield (Jefferson)
6. 11 Trent Erdman (Ft. Atkinson)

FAST QUALIFIER
#98 Jeff Kohlhoff (Watertown): 15.809 seconds

FAST DASH: 8 Lap
52 Josh Weir (Cottage Grove)

CONSI: 8 lap:
82 Mike Acheson (Watertown)
53 Rick Rothwell (Madison)

LAST CHANCE: 15 lap
36 R.C. Coppernoll (Madison)
2 Randy Padfield (Stoughton),
21 Rich Titus (Jefferson), 24 Pete Olson (Ft. Atkinson)

Heats: 10 lap: (Winners Only)
1) 2 Randy Padfield (Stoughton)
2) 19 Dan Schmidt (Farmington)
3) 21 Josh Courtney (Janesville)

Hobby Stock Feature:
Laps: 20
1. 99 Lincoln Keeser (Milton)
2. 02 Ernie Witte (Johnson Creek)
3. 9 Bret Schmidt (Farmington)
4. 11 Jim Pfeifer (Ft. Atkinson)
5. 1 Brett Carson (Ft. Atkinson)
6. 66 Nick Golich (Hebron)

FAST QUALIFIER
#11 Jim Pfeifer (Ft. Atkinson); 17.022 seconds.

FAST DASH: 6 Lap
57 Jason Ayers (Stoughton)

LAST CHANCE: 12 laps
22 Brent Moe (Deforest)
88 Roger Stephenson (Cambridge),
6 Jeremy Hartwig (Cottage Grove)
98 Jay Finnegan (Milton)

Heats: 8 laps (Winners Only)
1) 88 Roger Stephenson (Cambridge)
2) 6 Jeremy Hartwig (Cottage Grove)
3) 02 Ernie Witte (Johnson Creek)

Rollover Winner:
Roy Pfeifer Jr. (Ft. Atkinson)
2nd) Angela Starr (Ft. Atkinson)