By: Ashley Iwanski and Kevin Ramsell (West Salem, WI – October 11, 2009)
On the last day of Oktoberfest Race Weekend fans found their 40th Annual Oktoberfest Champion in 27 year old Travis Sauter.

Travis Sauter etched his family name into the Oktoberfest Race Weekend record books as he held off Steve Carlson to win the 40th Annual Oktoberfest Race Weekend Championship by claiming the American Speed Association Midwest Tour’s Oktoberfest 100. Travis took the lead on lap 30 from his father Tim and held off a late challenge from Steve Carlson to win the event. Carlson’s second place finish was enough to become the 2010 ASAMT Champion. More details can be found at www.asamidwesttour.com.

Larry Fitzsimmons came from the back of the field to win the USST North Truck series Oktoberfest feature. Todd Lockington took the lead early; a lead which Lockington managed to hold onto throughout the first half of the race. At the half way point the #73 car was side by side with Lockington and passed him on the inside for the first position. Meanwhile John Woods, who started in the back of the field, was working his way to the front. With six to go, Fitzsimmons came out of nowhere to take the lead. Two laps later Woods and Conrad Jorgenson were bumping each other as they raced door handle to door handle for two laps. As the field came around to the checkered flag Jorgenson passed Woods for the third place finish. Woods finished 4th and Bill Collins 5th.

The Modifies had a small field but they made the most of it. Steve Johanneck shot from the back to the second place for the first lap was in the books. On the next lap Johanneck moved to the lead. Larry Clausen was on the tail of Johanneck looking high and low for the lead. The six car field was stretched over three quarters of the 5/8 oval. The top two cars stayed within four car lengths of each other. The checkered flag dropped for Johanneck right when Clausen caught up to him. Johanneck went home with the win followed by Clausen and Tony Robertson.

Chris Lobery jumped to an early lead in the Vintage Oktoberfest feature. After leading the most laps Chris Lobery went spinning into the grass in turns one and two on the last lap of the race. He was running second after Ken Hutchens took the lead in turn four on lap 10. Bob Heine, who started outside of the top five, struggled to get to the front around Ken Visring.

Lobery spun as Heine moved to the third position. As a result Heine left with a 2nd place finish as Hutchens took the win. Visring took 3rd and Bob Lee 4th.

The 75-lap Enduro ended the 40th Annual weekend. As like any Enduro it was a wild one. On lap 21, Bonnie Gabrick went for a wild ride as she rolled her car on the front stretch. She was all right and walked away. Andy Barney took the lead at the start but Mike Carlson caught up to him with 15 laps to go. With seven laps to go, Barney’s left rear tire was starting to go down and this allowed Carlson to go by on the outside to take the lead and go on to take the victory.

Bo Bennish surged to the front to win the R.A.Y.S. IV feature. He slowly worked his way into the top five. Then with only two laps to go the front leaders were jumbled up after a crash that took out two cars. On the restart Bennish saw his opportunity to pass the leaders. He did with one to go putting Brad Conant in 2nd place and Peter Carlson fell back to 4th.

Next weekend will be the last event of the season for La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway. The Bracket Nationals, formerly known as Friday Night Street Drags, are Saturday, October 17th. The gates open at 12:30 p.m. and the event will start at 2 p.m. The 2009 Awards Banquet will take place at Stoney Creek Inn on January 22, 2010 (tentatively). For more information about La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway please visit www.lacrossespeedway.com or contact the office at (608) 786-1525 or lacrossespeedway@yahoo.com.