WISCONSIN STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS DAY ONE RESULTS

CAMBRIDGE, WI (Friday, September 17, 2021)                  The 41^st annual Wisconsin State Championships kicked off on a beautiful evening in south central Wisconsin. Day One of the two day affair was filled with awesome racing action highlighted by nine different feature events, including the return of the Midwest Truck Series. If the first day was any indication, day two is sure to be an intense, fun-filled night of racing action!

Seth Reamer of Columbus captured the Glassworks of Wisconsin 50 lap Late Model feature event. Reamer and Kyle Smith paced the field to green as they battled wheel to wheel for control. Reamer drove out front for sole possession of the lead on lap seven with Luke Westenberg moving up to second. While Reamer continued to show the way, Dylan Schuyler moved up to challenge Westenberg for second. Schuyler slipped into second on lap 32 with Dale Nottestad following into third a few laps later. Schuyler slowly picked away at Reamer’s advantage while the racing throughout the field was action packed. Jason Erickson drew in behind Nottestad as the due waged a great battle for position. Schuyler closed in behind Reamer in the closing laps, but ran out of time to make a move. At the checkers, it was Reamer for the win with Schuyler coming in a close second. Erickson got by Nottestad to finish third with defending State Champ, Casey Johnson, rounding out the top five.

Edgerton’s Casey Johnson led every lap of the Midwest Truck Series 50 lap feature presented by Seminary Springs Tavern. Starting on the pole, Johnson fired into the lead as the racing began with Jacob Nottestad quickly motoring up to second. The top two began to stretch their advantage over the rest of the field while everyone else jockeyed for position behind them. The two leaders maneuvered through lapped traffic around the halfway point of the event with Nottestad shadowing Johnson each lap. A caution on lap 35 slowed the pace followed by another quick yellow a lap later. Johnson and Nottestad led the field back to green each time with Johnson maintaining the edge. A final yellow on lap 43 set up a seven lap shootout to the finish. Johnson once again put his truck out front on the restart while Nottestad refused to go away. Sticking close to Johnson’s rear bumper, Nottestad spent the remainder of the event searching for a way to draw even with the leader. But Johnson held him at bay, flying under the checkers first to secure the win. Nottestad was forced to settle for second with John Ovadal Jr, James Lynch and Bryce Miller completing the top five.

Jefferson’s Jason Thoma grabbed the win in the 30 lap Sportsman feature event. Tyler Deporter led early with Jay Kalbus up to second and challenging for the top spot. A caution on lap seven put Deporter and Kalbus on the front row for the restart. Deporter moved out front as racing resumed while his father, Mark, pulled up to second. Mark drove under Tyler, stealing the top spot away on lap 11. Thoma followed into second just before another yellow waved on lap 15. While still under caution, Mark Deporter experienced mechanical difficulties, forcing him to retire from the race. Thoma and Tyler Deporter led the field back to green. As racing resumed, Tyler scrubbed the backstretch wall and then slid up into the turn three wall, making hard contact and ending his evening. Thoma led the field back to green for the final time, holding the top spot through the checkers to pick up the win. Robert Hansberry Jr raced up to finish second followed by Chris Jones, Chris Weber and Jordan Lamb.

Devon Dixon of Janesville captured the 20 lap International feature race. Gary Stark Jr led lap one with Dixon already charging up through the field. Dixon got to second on lap ten just as a caution waved the slow the field. Stark and Dixon paced the pack back to green with Dixon pouncing on the lead as racing resumed. Karter Stark followed under Gary Stark to pick up the second position as he tried to close in on Dixon. But Dixon held off his advances to cross the stripe first and get the win. Karter Stark was second followed by Gary Stark, Kyle Stark and Nick Schneider.

Dave Trute of New Lisbon grabbed the win in the 25 lap Hobby Stock main event. Chuck Egli relinquished the lead to Chester Williams on lap six with Johnny Robinson Jr up to second. After a caution on lap ten, Robinson moved out front with Williams remaining close by. Williams drew back even with Robinson, retaking the lead on lap 17 and opening the door for Trute to get alongside Robinson. Trute moved into second with six laps remaining and quickly drew in behind Williams at the front. Trute searched for second with Williams doing everything he could to keep him at bay. On lap 24, Trute got a run to the high side of Williams, drawing even as they flew under the white flag. The duo raced door to door over the final circuit as they charged toward the checkers. At the stripe, it was Trute for the win by inches with Williams settling for second. Chris Flairty finished third with Robinson and Nick Bruley rounding out the top five.

Duel 20 lap Bandit features saw Zach Barned combine finishes of second and first to claim the overall State Championship title. Jon Pettit led flag to flag in the first feature event to get the win. Barnes closed in in the final laps, but Pettit held him off to take the checkers followed by Barnes, Nick Schmidt, Matt Krinke and Ethan Degner. Josh Lenz took the early lead in the second feature event with Barnes quickly driving up to second. Barnes slipped by Lenz on lap eight and survived a caution a lap later to stay out front and get the win. Degner was second followed by Tyler White, Krinke and Nick Newton.

Janesville’s AJ Accardi claimed both 15 lap Road Warrior features en route to being crowned the overall Wisconsin State Champion for his division. Accardi and Matthew Thoma battled for the lead in feature number one with Accardi grabbing control after a late restart. Thoma tried to battle back alongside Accardi, but was unable to make it happen as Accardi crossed the stripe first followed by Thoma, Bill Reynolds, Rodger Stephenson and Garrett Meister. After contact between Reynolds and Thoma while fighting for the lead of the second feature, Accardi took control of the top spot and drove away to secure the victory. Reynolds rebounded to finish second ahead of Meister, Stephenson and Brittney Reynolds.

Night two of the 41^st Wisconsin State Championships begins with time trials for the Legends and Bandoleros at 4pm with the first green flag at 5pm. Double features in all divisions will lead to the crowning of our Wisconsin State Champions. Jefferson Speedway is located halfway between Jefferson and Cambridge on Hwy 18.

WISCONSIN STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS DAY ONE RACE SUMMARY

Late Model-

Qualifying

Qualifiers

Feature

Midwest Truck Series-

Qualifying

Heat Races

Feature

Sportsman-

Qualifying

Feature

International-

Qualifying

Qualifier

Feature

Hobby Stock-

Qualifying

Qualifiers

Feature

Bandit-

Qualifying

Qualifier

Last Chance

Feature #1

Feature #2

Road Warrior-

Qualifying

Feature #1

Feature #2