Poynette's Schwanbeck wins Legends feature

Wisconsin Dells pilot, Michael Grueneberg, scored his first feature win of the season on Saturday evening at Jefferson Speedway.

Grueneberg came from the outside of row four and claimed the lead following a late caution to net the win in the Legacy Auto Sales 50 lap Late Model main event at Wisconsin’s Action Track.

Tim Coley and Seth Reamer paced the field to green with Reamer grabbing the early lead on lap one. Chris Chenoweth followed into second on lap two as the leaders lined up single file.

Grueneberg made his way into the top five and up to fourth by lap 10 while Reamer continued to show the way. On lap 20, Chenoweth dove to the low side, drawing even with Reamer for the lead. After a brief battle, Chenoweth moved ahead to take over the point.

A caution around the halfway point of the race slowed the pace as the field regathered for the second half. Chenoweth and Karter Stark brought the pack back to green with Chenoweth taking the lead once again.

Grueneberg joined the battle, sticking his nose under Chenoweth. Grueneberg was forced to settle in second behind the leader as the laps began to tick away. Another yellow waved on lap 34, closing the field back up for the final 16 laps.

Chenoweth chose the outside line on the restart, opening the door for Grueneberg to go inside. The pair of drivers battled wheel to wheel as racing resumed with Grueneberg trying to gain the advantage.

After inching forward for a few laps, Grueneberg cleared for the top spot as they raced off turn four on lap 38. Chenoweth continued to shadow the new leader over the final laps, but Grueneberg remained in control to see the checkers first.

Chenoweth came home second with Shane Radtke Jr, Shaun Scheel and Stephen Scheel rounding out the top five.

Shane Strothman of South Beloit, Illinois, got the win in the 30 lap Hobby Stock feature event. Braeden Yelland took the lead on lap one from the pole with Ethan Degner back to second.

Yelland began to stretch his lead while Strothman made his trek toward the front of the field. Strothman got to second on lap 11 as he looked to close the gap on Yelland out front.

By lap 15, Strothman was on Yelland’s rear bumper. Strothman got under the leader as they exited turn four on lap 18. After a good battle, Strothman cleared for the top spot just before the caution flew on lap 22.

Strothman and Tony Ciano led the field back to green with Strothman moving into control of the lead. Yelland moved into second just before another yellow flew, setting up a shootout to the finish. Strothman reclaimed the top spot on the restart with Ciano in second and Jim Tate Jr challenging for third.

Tate used the high line to draw even with Ciano as he looked to challenge Strothman for the lead. As they raced to complete the final circuit, Tate continued to show good momentum on the outside of the leader through turns three and four.

As they flew to checkers, it was Strothman holding on to a slight advantage to take the win with Tate settling for second. Ciano was third followed by Robbie Rucks and Yelland.

Watertown’s Jason Uttech claimed the 20 lap International main event. Timothy Higgins led lap one from the pole with Davey Pennel up to second on lap two. Tyler Deschaine followed into third just before the sole caution of the race slowed the field.

Higgins and Pennel paced the field back to green as they battled side by side for the lead. Deschaine dove to the low side of the speedway to make it a three wide fight for first on lap five.

After battling for a couple laps, Deschaine emerged with the top spot with Uttech trying to follow into second. Uttech completed the pass for the runner up position on lap eight as he closed in on Deschaine. Blake Nottestad joined the battle at the front on lap 12 as the three leaders raced under a blanket.

Uttech began to mount a challenge on the outside of Deschaine, drawing even with the leader with less than five laps to go. Uttech charged into the lead on lap 17, hanging on from there to cross under the checkers first. Nottestad got by Deschaine for second in the closing laps with Mark Dewey and Higgins completing the top five.

Dillon Schwanbeck of Poynette captured the 25 lap Legends feature event. Ben Massman led early from the pole with Ryan Laatsch quickly up to second. Laatsch moved to the lead on lap two as Schwanbeck began to approach the top five.

Schwanbeck moved into fifth on lap 5, continuing forward into fourth a lap later. Schwanbeck found himself behind the leader in second by lap ten, as he continued to close in on Laatsch. Schwanbeck began to apply heavy pressure to the leader on lap 15.

A caution one lap later slowed the pace, pitting Laatsch and Schwanbeck side by side for the restart. Laatsch jumped ahead as racing resumed with Schwanbeck clearing Travis Rose for second.

On lap 18, Schwanbeck drove to the low side of Laatsch, moving out front a lap later. Schwanbeck hung on to the point through two more caution periods to secure the victory. Lincoln Cain made his way to second in the closing laps with Jayden Johnson, Rose and Laatsch rounding out the top five.

West Salem’s Bentley Thompson scored the win in the 15 lap Bandolero feature event. After dropping to second on the opening lap, Gage Kubicz drove back by Carter Stein to claim the lead on lap four.

Thompson followed Kubicz to second and quickly made his move to the front of the pack a lap later. Thompson dove under Kubicz entering turn one on lap five, driving into the lead down the back stretch.

Harley Johnsson followed into second as they pair lined up and began to pull away from the pack. The duo raced nose to tail for the remainder of the event with Thompson picking up the win. Johnson was second followed by Kubicz, Stein and Kaeden Wangsness.

Racing resumes next Saturday, July 6 with time trials at 4 p.m. and racing at 6 p.m. Please visit jeffersonspeedway.com for more information.