Wendt tops Late Models, Stevens and Stevenson claim first wins!

By Jeanne & Larry Starr

May 8, 1999; Jefferson, WI. – Defending track champion Andy Wendt of Watertown motored to the front, from the outside of row 7, in the 35 lap main event at Jefferson Speedway.

At the green flag rookie driver Randy Breunig of Columbus claimed the early lead, as Mike Taylor of Stoughton led Wendt through the field. Taylor moved up to the 4th spot, before being caught in traffic, on lap 11, leaving Wendt the opening he needed to grab the 4th spot. Wendt motored under Eric Gerlach of Palmyra, for third, on lap 13, Luke Westenberg of Palmyra for 2nd on lap 14 and closed with Breunig, claiming the lead on lap 16.

Taylor followed Wendt to the point, motoring under Breunig on lap 20, but was never able to find his way past Wendt. Wendt and Taylor lead the charge to the checkered flag. At the stripe it was Wendt for the win, followed by Taylor, Denny Stair of Sullivan, Breunig and Westenberg.

Wendt set the fast pace in qualifying with a 14.749 second tour of the quarter mile and scored the win in the 8 lap, Performance Fabrication, fast dash.

Victors, in 10 lap heat races, were Butch Mierendorf of Waterloo, John Ovadal of Johnson Creek and Nick Wendt of Watertown.

Transferring to the feature via the 20 lap Last Chance race were Bart Reinen of Jefferson, Butch Mierendorf of Waterloo, Scott Bleeker of Jefferson and Gene Olson Jr. of Jefferson.

In International class action Justin Nottestad of Cambridge narrowly edged his brother Brent Nottestad of Cambridge for the win, in the 20 lap main event. Starting from the outside of row 5, Justin Nottestad moved through the field, as Tory Adams of Madison sped out to the early lead. By lap 9 Adams had opened up a comfortable lead, and looked like a sure bet for victory lane. Adams lead vaporized, on lap 9, as three cars tangled in turn 2 bringing out the first caution of the race.

On the restart it was Adams at the point, followed by Rick Neerland of Ft. Atkinson, Justin and Brent Nottestad. As the green flag flew, the Nottestad brothers motored under Neerland claiming 2nd and 3rd on lap 10, closing with Adams. Adams put up a good fight, as the three raced two and three wide before Justin Nottestad claimed the point on lap 13.

On lap 14 Brent Nottestad claimed the 2nd spot and set his sights on the win. As they flew past the checkered flag Brent’s aim proved to be just a few inches short as Justin claimed the victory. Rounding out the top five were Adams, Matt Frey of Cambridge and Darnell Mepham of Ft. Atkinson.

Brent Nottestad set the pace in qualifying with a 16.207 second circuit of Wisconsin’s Action Track.

Scoring victories, in 8 lap heat races, were Adams of Madison and Mike Drays of Milton.

In Sportsman action Chad “Squirt” Stevens of Beloit held off defending track champion Dave Oswald, in the 25 lap main event, claiming his career first feature. Starting from the outside of row 6, Stevens wound his way through the field as Brett Carson of Ft. Atkinson took early lead. Randy Padfield of Stoughton had closed with Carson, on lap 11, challenging for the lead, with Stevens up to the third spot. Stevens motored around both cars, on lap 12, claiming the point as Oswald challenged Padfield for second.

Oswald claimed 2nd, on lap 17, closing with Stevens, but was never able to find his way around. The field closed up for one caution, on lap 19, with Stevens at the point and Oswald right on his bumper. As the green flag flew, it was Stevens guiding the way to the checkered with Oswald looking for a way around. At the stripe it was Stevens making his first drive to victory lane, followed by Oswald, Kyle Munro of Ft. Atkinson, Padfield and Rick Coppernoll of Madison.

Oswald turned in a track record pace, in qualifying, blistering the quarter mile speed plant with a 15.693 second lap.

Claiming victory, in 10 lap heat races, were Chris Ehrhart of Deerfield, Joe Wendorf of Jefferson and Rick Coppernoll of Madison.

Moving to the feature via the 12 lap Last Chance race were Chris Purdy of Milton, Roger Stephenson of Cambridge Dylan Schuyler of Dousman and Scotty Johnson of Deforest.

In Hobby Stock action Dale Stevenson of Beloit notched his first career feature win, in the 20 lap main event. Starting from the pole, Stevenson moved to the early lead and never looked back, guiding the field all the way to the checkered. At the stripe it was Stevenson for the win, followed by Pete Elgas of Janesville, Jim Pfeifer of Ft. Atkinson, Dennis Gaserude of Oregon and Dan Schmidt of Watertown.

Elgas set the fast qualifying pace with a 17.114 second orbit of the quarter mile, while Stevenson and David Gigl of Johnson Creek claimed victory in 8 lap heat races.

Rounding out the nights racing action, Donna Steyskal of Edgerton took top honors in the, 8 lap, Ladies Challenge Race.

Next week Jefferson Speedway hosts a special night of racing entertainment with One on One Street Drags, all cars must be street legal, with no racing tires allowed. Also on tap are Autograph and Picture Day, giving fans the chance to meet their favorite drivers. Finally, next Saturday, will be Jefferson Speedway’s “Armed Forces Day Salute”, all past and present members of the Armed Forces will be admitted for 1/2 price (proof of service is required).

Due to the Autograph and Picture session the times for next week have been adjusted. Gates open at 3:00PM, Qualifying at 5:30PM, Autograph session at 6:30PM and racing at 7:30PM sharp. Jefferson Speedway is located, on hwy. 18, between Jefferson and Cambridge.

Late Model Division
“Mothers Day Special” – 35 Lap Feature
1. #18 Andy Wendt Watertown
2. #41 Mike Taylor Stoughton
3. #43 Denny Stair Sullivan
4. #76 Randy Breunig Columbus
5. #16 Luke Westenberg Palmyra
6. #11 Russ Goodwin Beloit
7. #62 Scott Null Lake Mills
8. #76 Ron Bishofberger Fort Atkinson
9. # 7 Bill Leindecker Janesville
10. # 6 Bart Reinen Jefferson
11. #71 John Ovadal Johnson Creek
12. # 5 Butch Mierendorf Waterloo
13. #55 Eric Gerlach Palmyra
14. #44 Roger Behlke Jefferson
15. #37 Gene Olson Jr. Whitewater
16. #27 Dan Chesmore Janesville
17. #25 Randy Cusick Fort Atkinson
18. #98 Scott Bleeker Jefferson

20 Lap Last Chance:
1.) Reinen
2.) Mierendorf
3.) Bleeker
4.) Olson Jr.

First 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Beau Sanden

Second 10 Lap Heat:
1.) John Ovadal

Third 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Nick Wendt

Dash:
1.) Andy Wendt
Fast Qualifier: #18 Andy Wendt, Watertown,……….14.749 Seconds

Internationals
20 Lap Feature Event
1. #15 Justin Nottestad Cambridge
2. #25 Brent Nottestad Cambridge
3. #128 Tory Adams Madison
4. # 2 Matt Frey Cambridge
5. #12 Darnell Mepham Fort Atkinson
6. # 9 Aaron Rude Cambridge

First 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Tory Adams

Second 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Mike Drays
Fast Qualifier: #25 Brent Nottestad, Cambridge,……..16.027 Seconds

Sportsman
25 Lap Feature Event
1. #82 Chad Stevens Beloit
2. #31 Dave Oswald Cottage Grove
3. #30 Kyle Munro Fort Atkinson
4. #27 Randy Padfield Stoughton
5. #36 Rick Coppernoll Madison
6. #32 Tony Koepke Fort Atkinson

12 Lap Last Chance:
1.) Chris Purdy
2.) Roger Stephenson
3.) Dylan Schuyler
4.) Scotty Johnson

First 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Chris Ehrhart

Second 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Joe Wendorf

Third 10 Lap Heat:
1.) Rick Coppernoll
Fast Qualifier: #31 Dave Oswald, Cottage Grove,………15.693 Seconds (new track record)

Hobby Stocks
20 Lap Feature Event
1. #70 Dale Stevenson Beloit
2. #52 Pete Elgas Janesville
3. #58 Jim Pfeifer Fort Atkinson
4. #18 Dennis Gaserude Oregon
5. #19 Dan Schmidt Watertown
6. #02 Ernie White Johnson Creek

First 8 Lap Heat:
1.) Dale Stevenson

Second 10 Lap Heat:
1.) David Gigle
Fast Qualifier: #52 Pete Elgas, Janesville,…….17.114 Seconds

Ladis Challenge Race: (8 Laps)
Donna Steyskal, Edgerton