by Dave Noelke
(West Salem, WI – July 10, 2010) On a track where the unpredictable can happen, it did. 25 Laps was the Kwik Trip NASCAR Late Model race distance. However, that’s not a lot of time to get to the front - in any division. With the aid of a couple yellows and some quick thinking, J. Herbst earned his second feature win of the 2010 season.
Jeff Baker and Kyle Peters started the Festival Foods 25 on the front row, but both were not able to keep up the pace early on with several of this season’s championship contenders. Brad Powell jumped from 3rd to take the lead on lap one. Herbst, meanwhile, started in the ninth position, right behind Steve Carlson, and next to point leader Shawn Pfaff.
The race’s first yellow occurred when Travis Christenson spun in turn one. When the cars lined up for the restart, Herbst chose the high side and moved up to fourth. A few laps later into the race, Tim Nelson and Kyle Peters tangled and crashed in turn three. As the cars doubled up for the second restart, Carlson, surprisingly, took the bottom groove while running second, and 3rd place Mike Koeneke followed Carlson. Herbst watched his competitors and with some quick thinking, took the high lane for the restart, jumping from fourth to second. On the restart, Herbst battled with leader Brad Powell side by side and took the lead with ten laps remaining, and was able to cruise home to the win, on his Birthday.
“I was awestruck that Carlson went to the bottom for the restart. And then when Mike (Koeneke) followed, it was like a birthday gift to me” (being able to re-start on the front row). We were very happy with the car, it was very sporty tonight, and we didn’t change a thing,” concluded a jubilant Herbst.
The North Country Contractors Festival Foods 15 had plenty of action as well. Rookie Brian Hesselberg and Jerrod Loging started on the front row. Loging slipped back through the field, and Hesselberg took out a sizeable lead. Matt Inglett broke out of the pack meanwhile and cut down Hesselberg’s lead, until he passed for the lead on lap five.
The only yellow came out when Hesselberg was slipping back, and tried to fall in line in front of Loging, the two tangled, sending both into a spin. On the restart, Inglett got back into the lead, with Nick Clements and Rob Mason in tow. Mason got loose, nearly wrecking several cars in turn two, but applied his dirt track skills, and saved it. The Gilsters, Dan and Jimmy, snuck by as Mason was saving his car, while Inglett took home the win.
Adam Gallagher won the United Auto Supply Thunderstox Festival Foods 15. The race’s only incident occurred when Andy Moore spun his number 19 car, but was able to continue without caution. Dustin Bagstad, Chris Weber, Adam Moore and Charles Vian Jr. rounded out the top five.
Jeff Heaney and Jack Litsheim both won a Festival Foods 15 for the Window World Hornet Division. John Clements, Kevin Turner, Mike Gratz, Matt Moore, Paul Mahlum III, Wayne Moore, Dave Clements, and Tim Murphy Sr. were all top five finishers in the two features that put on a thrill for the fans.
Join us for all the fun next weekend, for another doubleheader of action. On Friday, July 16th is the annual Interstate Fair Street Drags Special, including a new Mini-Van Drags Bracket. Then, on Saturday night, July 17th, the NASCAR Late Models will run two 20-Lap Feature races, in addition to all the action of the Grand National Sportsmen and Thunderstox. Plus, a Burnout Contest will take place on both nights. For more information about LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway and the 2010 schedule of events, call the Speedway office at (608) 786-1525 or visit the speedway on the web at www.lacrossespeedway.com.
This article was posted to the website on July 10th, 2010
