Weston notches career first at Jefferson!
By Jeanne & Larry Starr
August 21, 1999; Jefferson, WI. – Rex Weston of Lake Mills claimed the first feature victory, of his Late Model racing career, at in the WFAW / Vos Sentry Foods 35 lap main event on Wisconsin’s Action Track. Starting from the outside of the front row, Weston powered to the early lead, and never looked back, guiding the field, flag-to-flag. As Weston moved to the point, Randy Cusick of Ft. Atkinson followed, for the 2nd spot.
The pair ran nose to tail for the entire race, as the battles for position raged behind them. As they flew past the checkered flag it was Weston for the win, followed by Cusick, Ron Bishofberger of Ft. Atkinson, Andy Wendt of Watertown and Denny Stair of Sullivan.
Jim Jarlsberg of Cambridge set the fast qualifying pace, with a 14.810 second circuit of the quarter mile.
Claiming victory, in the WFAW/Vos Sentry Foods Winners Circle Challenge, 25 lap special event, was Dan Chesmore of Janesville. The starting lineup for this race was made up of Feature winners from throughout the racing season.
Winning 10 lap heat races were, Eric Connell of Palmyra, Mike Taylor of Stoughton and Tom Dorn of Ft. Atkinson.
Rounding out the feature lineup, through the 20 lap Last Chance race were Butch Mierendorf of Waterloo, Jim Gleesing of Whitewater, Ken Piotrowski of Janesville and Brian Sonnenberg of Jefferson.
In International class action Justin Nottestad of Cambridge powered to the feature win, in the 20 lap main event. Starting from the outside of row 6, Nottestad began his trek to the point, as Scott Uttech of Beaver Dam pulled out to the early lead. The first caution came, on lap 3, for a spin in turn 4. On the restart it was Uttech at the point with Bobby Moore of Madison running 2nd, and Nottestad up to the 12th spot.
Uttech lead the field back to green, holding the point through the 2nd caution, on lap 7. Moore claimed the top spot on lap 11, only to give it up, to Darnell Mepham of Ft. Atkinson on lap 12. As Mepham moved to the point, Brent Nottestad of Cambridge powered into 2nd, with Justin moving up to 3rd. The battle for 2nd, between the Nottestad brothers, provided Mepham time to pull out to a healthy lead. Justin Nottestad claimed the 2nd spot, on lap 15, slowly closing the gap on Mepham.
The final caution came on lap 17, for a blown engine, closing the field for the restart. On the restart, Justin Nottestad looked to the inside of Mepham, pulling alongside on the white flag lap. As Justin Nottestad pulled ahead, Mepham and Brent Nottestad tangled, coming out of turn 4 headed for the checkered flag. Mepham hit the wall and Brent Nottestad was scored in last place for his involvement in the incident. At the stripe it was Justin Nottestad for the win, followed by Aaron Rude of Cambridge, Mike Drays of Milton, Moore and Chris Quam of Stoughton.
Justin Nottestad set the mark in qualifying, with a 15.915 second lap on the quarter mile.
Claiming victory, in 10 lap heat races, were Mike Bingham of Jefferson and Drays.
Moving to the feature lineup, via the 10 lap Last Chance race were Mark English of Janesville, Bingham, Mike Hoppe of Milwaukee and Moore.
In Sportsman division action defending track champion Dave Oswald of Cottage grove earned a hard fought victory, in the 25 lap feature. Starting from the inside of row 7, Oswald started the long drive to the front as Noel Ramge of Hellenville pulled out to the early lead. Ramge guided the way for 10 laps, before Chris Ehrhart of Deerfield claimed the point on lap 11.
Ehrhart’s turn at the point was brief, ending with a spin off the back stretch, as Randy Padfield of Stoughton moved into the top spot. Padfield guided the way for 10 laps, as Oswald worked his way through traffic. On lap 23 Oswald closed with Padfield, moving to the bottom, Oswald motored past n lap 24, as they headed to the checkered flag. At the stripe it was Oswald for the win, followed by Padfield, Curt Thompson of Ft. Atkinson, Tony Koepke of Ft. Atkinson and Bob Selsing of Ft. Atkinson.
Chad “Squirt” Stevens of Beloit set the fast qualifying pace, with a 15.671 orbit of the quarter mile speed plant.
Claiming victory, in 10 lap heat races, were Roger Stephenson of Cambridge, Rich Titus of Jefferson and Ehrhart.
Rounding out the feature lineup, from the 15 lap Last Chance race were Stephenson, Dale Padfield of Jefferson, Todd Goldade of Stoughton and Titus.
In Hobby Stock Action, Jim Williams of Milton iced the 20 lap main event. Starting from the inside of row 2, Williams jumped to the early lead, guiding the field flag-to-flag on his way to victory lane. At the stripe it was Williams for the win followed by Lincoln Keeser of Milton, Chris Matz of Watertown, Dan Schmidt of Watertown and Rick Coppernoll of Madison.
Chuck Egli of Waterloo set the fast mark in qualifying with a 17.250 second loop of the quarter mile.
Jim Blucher of Madison and Nick Golich of Hebron were each victorious, in 8 lap heat races.
Moving to the feature lineup from the 10 lap Last Chance race were John Shane of Waukesha, Blucher, Jason Ayers of Deerfield, Jim Schultz of Ft. Atkinson and Jason Thom of Johnson Creek.
Rounding out the nights racing action were two heats of the Women’s Challenge Race. Melanie Bishofberger of Ft. Atkinson claimed top honors in the Sportsman division while Tiffany Pietsch of Stoughton topped the Hobby Stock ranks.
Next Week Jefferson Speedway presents the UAW Local 95 Night at the races, with a 50 lap Late Model feature and the Rollover Contest.
Gates open at 3:30, qualifying at 5:30 and racing at 7:30 sharp. Jefferson Speedway is located between Cambridge and Jefferson on highway 18.
Results – VFAW / Vos Sentry Foods 35
Late Model Feature Finish: Laps: 35
1. 35 – Rex Weston (Lake Mills)
2. 25 – Randy Cusick (Ft. Atkinson)
3. 76 – Ron Bishofberger Ft.Atkinson)
4. 18 – Andy Wendt (Watertown)
5. 43 – Denny Stair (Sullivan)
6. 44 – Roger Behlke (Jefferson)
7. 27 – Dan Chesmore (Janesville)
8. 97 – Jim Jarlsberg (Cambridge)
9. 62 – Scott Null (Lake Mills)
10. 7 – Bill Leindecker (Janesville)
11. 2 – Jerry Parker (Palmyra)
12. 16 – Luke Westenberg (Palmyra)
13. 46 – Nick Wendt (Watertown)
14. 55 – Eric Gerlach (Palmyra)
15. 88 – Jim Gleesing (Whitewater)
16. 12 – Butch Mierendorf (Waterloo)
17. 6 – Ken Piotrowski (Janesville)
18. 10 – Brian Sonnenberg (Jefferson)
FAST QUALIFIER
97 – Jim Jarlsberg (Cambridge): 14.810 sec.
FAST DASH: 8 Lap
18 – Andy Wendt (Watertown)
WINNERS CIRCLE Challenge: 25 Laps:
27 – Dan Chesmore (Janesville)
LAST CHANCE: 20 Lap
12 – Butch Mierendorf (Waterloo)
88 – Jim Gleesing (Whitewater)
6 – Ken Piotrowski (Janesville)
10 – Brian Sonnenberg (Jefferson)
Heats: 10 lap:
1) – 22 – Eric Connell (Palmyra)
2) – 41 – Mike Taylor (Stoughton)
3) – 2 – Tom Dorn (Ft. Atkinson)
International Feature: Laps: 20
1. 15 – Justin Nottestad (Cambridge)
2. 9 – Aaron Rude (Cambridge)
3. 48 – Mike Drays (Milton)
4. 28 – Bobby Moore (Madison)
5. 4 – Chris Quam (Stoughton)
6. 74 – Scott Uttech (Beaver Dam)
FAST QUALIFIER – 15 – Justin Nottestad (Cambridge): 15.915 sec.
LAST CHANCE: 10 lap
57 – Mark English (Janesville)
17 – Mike Bingham (Jefferson)
55 – Mike Hoppe (Milwaukee)
28 – Bobby Moore (Madison)
Heats: 10 lap:
1) – 17 – Mike Bingham (Jefferson)
2) – 48 – Mike Drays (Milton)
Sportsman Feature: Laps: 25
1. 31 – Dave Oswald (Cottage Grove)
2. 27 – Randy Padfield (Stoughton)
3. 6 – Curt Thompson (Ft. Atkinson)
4. 32 – Tony Koepke (Ft. Atkinson)
5. 42 – Bob Selsing (Ft. Atkinson)
6. 21 – Josh Courtney (Janesville)
FAST QUALIFIER
82 – Chad “Squirt” Stevens (Beloit): 15.671 sec.
LAST CHANCE: 15 lap
88 – Roger Stephenson (Cambridge)
4 – Dale Padfield(Jefferson)
9 – Todd Goldade (Stoughton)
21 – Rich Titus (Jefferson)
Heats: 10 lap:
1) – 88 – Roger Stephenson (Cambridge)
2) – 21 – Rich Titus (Jefferson)
3) – 6 – Chris Ehrhart (Deerfield)
Hobby Stock Feature: Laps: 20
1. J10 – Jim Williams (Milton)
2. 99 – Lincoln Keeser (Milton)
3. 72 – Chris Matz (Watertown)
4. 19 – Dan Schmidt (Watertown)
5. 72 – Rick Coppernoll (Madison)
6. 02 – Ernie Witte (Watertown)
FAST QUALIFIER
22 – Chuck Egli (Waterloo): 17.250 sec.
LAST CHANCE: 10 lap
11 – John Shane (Waukesha)
93 – Jim Blucher (Madison)
57 – Jason Ayers (Stoughton)
76 – Jim Schultz (Ft. Atkinson)
0 – Jason Thom (Johnson Creek)
Heats: 8 lap:
1) – 93 – Jim Blucher (Madison)
2) – 66 – Nick Golich (Hebron)
Ladies Challenge Race:
1) Melanie Bishofberger (Ft. Atkinson)