|
Jefferson’s Rich History Ideal To ASA Midwest Tour Organizers
Every Saturday night, from April through September, the serene Southern
Wisconsin countryside thunders with the racing action at Jefferson Speedway.
Nestled in the rolling farm land of Jefferson County, Wisconsin's Action Track
boasts a long history of close, fast-paced racing action.
The track has
been the home of Saturday night racers and fans since starting life as a
quarter mile dirt track in 1952 with little but cornfields for boundaries.
Over the years, there have been many improvements. The track was paved as a
small quarter mile with 6 degree banking at both ends in 1964. The walls have
progressed from cornfields, to guardrails to back-filled reinforced concrete
by 1981. The tall yellow scoring tower was erected in 1983 and served through
the 1989 season.
In 1990, turns 3 and 4 were extended, making the track
a true quarter mile around the centerline. The extended turns were graced with
progressive 6, 9 and 12 degree banking, while turns 1 and 2 remained
unchanged, at the original 6 degrees. This unique configuration added a
challenging element to the track, which continues to treat fans to close
racing action. This reconfiguration also had the effect of moving the
start/finish line, making the yellow tower obsolete.
After one season
of scoring from the infield, a new scoring tower was constructed, aligned with
the new start/finish line, in 1991. The old yellow tower now serves as an
observation area for VIP, and other groups.
During the 2000 racing
season, turn 3 was adorned with a new electronic scoreboard and message board.
During the off-season in 2001 a new pavilion was erected, behind the turn 1
grandstands, to provide a shaded area for sponsored picnics, etc. Every
Saturday night a full field of Late Model, Sportsman, International (4
cylinder), Hobby Stocks, and 4 cylinder Bandits compete for bragging rights,
season points and weekly prize money.
In addition to the racing
program, Jefferson Speedway hosts the Jefferson Bargain Fair every Sunday
during the racing season. Over 100 vendors come out weekly, to peddle their
wares. Attention to detail, fairness and hard work has proved to be a winning
combination at Wisconsin's Action Track.
Local hero Rich Bickle has
also registered for the Jefferson 100. Bickle has competed in the top-tier of
NASCAR on and off since 1989 and was runner up to the Craftsman Truck Series
championship in 1997. “It’s just kind of neat to get back to Jefferson
where I started out 30 years ago. I led the first six laps of my first feature
there and Denny Bandt (present owner of FasTrax Racing Magazine) t-boned me
and I flew off into the cornfield. It’s changed quite a bit since then,”
Bickle laughed.
Adult grandstand general admission tickets for the ASA
Midwest Tour Super Late Model Jefferson 100 presented by Lancaster Toyota of
Madison on May 19 are $17 and are available at the track the day of the show.
Fans may redeem a ticket stub from a previous 2007 Jefferson Speedway weekly
program for $2 off admission. Qualifying is scheduled for 4:00PM, followed by
a 45-minute autograph session under the picnic pavilion at 6:00PM. Local
division heats and dashes will also begin at 6:00 prior to opening ceremonies
at 6:45. The program is slated to conclude by 11:00. Posted awards top
$35,000.
The rain date for the Jefferson 100 is Sunday, May 20, at
2:00PM.
Jefferson Speedway history courtesy of www.jeffersonspeedway.com.
To
learn more about the
American Speed Association Midwest Tour please contact the ASA Midwest Tour
office by calling 608-884-0388 or by e-mailing Tim Olson at tim@asamidwesttour.com
or Steve Einhaus at steve@asamidwesttour.com.
Information is also available online at www.asamidwesttour.com.
To
learn more of the Daytona Beach, Florida-based Racing Speed Associates or the
ASA Racing Member Track program, call (386) 258-2221 or send an e-mail to info@asa-racing.com.
For news and information from all the racetracks and regional tours involved
in the ASA, visit www.asa-racing.com.
|
|
|
