Carlson takes second straight LaCrosse Opener! By David Morgan

April 14, 2001;  West Salem, WI -   The streaks continue for hometown favorite Steve Carlson. He got by Tony Bagstad on the opening lap of the Budweiser 25 for the Midwest Fuels NASCAR Late Models, and held off challenges from Kevin Nuttleman and Mark Lamoreaux to take his second-straight season-opening win in West Salem. The win also marks his second-straight feature win at La Crosse, as he ended the 2000 season by taking the Oktoberfest 200. Carlson also made headlines earlier this season with his seventh-straight NASCAR Re/Max Challenge Series win at the Rockford Speedway.

Carlson started third, and followed Bagstad through turns one and two on the opening lap, then went outside of Bagstad
entering turn three, edging across the line to lead the first lap. Kevin Nuttleman and Brad Powell, who battled for the track
championship last season, both made quick early moves, as Nuttleman climbed to third by lap two, with Powell and Lamoreaux in tow. On lap five, Nuttleman and Powell went outside to bypass Bagstad, with Lamoreaux moving by the 27 car a lap later to take fourth.

Carlson had built a five-car advantage at the front by that time, but Nuttleman closed to his rear bumper by lap ten, before Powell started looking for a way around Nuttleman for second. Nuttleman held his ground, but as the two cars battled for second, Carlson opened up his lead again. Lamoreaux also took advantage of the battle for second, as he went to the outside of Powell on lap 18 to move up to third.

Lamoreaux went to the outside again in turns one and two on lap 22, and was able to put defending track champ Nuttleman in his rear vier mirror as the cars roared down the backstretch through lapped traffic. He closed on Carlson down the stretch, but ran out of time as Carlson took his second-straight opening win.

Lamoreaux finished second, followed by Nuttleman, Powell and Bagstad. Todd Korish took sixth, followed by Rick Wateski, Jeff Krueger, Isaak Owen and Kraig Burrows. Fast timer Mike Belling finished 12th.

Greg Croell and Greg Scheck tangled coming out of turn four on lap four of the semi, triggering an accident that also collected Ronnie Hawley, Jr., Jim Christenson and Bill Niles. Marv DeGarmo survived that incident, and came away with the semi win to advance to the feature. Tom McClintock, J. Herbst and Jim Christenson also advanced to the feature.

Prelminary winners in the Late Model division included heat winners Steve Holzhausen and Mike Ehde, while the twin Bud Dashes went to Jeff Krueger and Steve Carlson. Mike Belling was the fast timer, clocking a 97.428 MPH lap around the 5/8-mile oval.

Three cars equally split the lead in the 15-lap Budweiser feature for the Ray Hutson Chevrolet Sportsman drivers, but it was Jimmy Gilster who earned the win, despite the fact that Sam Andersen led the final laps of the race. Andersen failed post-race inspection, handing the win over to Gilster, the brother of last year's Sportsman champion Dan Gilster. Gilster
had led laps six through ten after taking the lead from Rick Steinhoff on lap six, while Steinhoff led the opening five feature laps of the season before finishing fourth. Jon Barrette finished second, followed by Jeff Baker, Steinhoff and Rick Shisler.

Perennial quick-timer Blake Horstman had a slow start to the season, but got things worked out in time to make his way into the feature by taking the semi win, as he, Kevin Eddy, and rookies Les Stanfield and Lucas Korish advanced to the feature.

In Sportsman prelims, Mike Campbell and Mike Albrecht, Jr. took heat wins, while Chand Wehling and Sam Andersen took checkereds in the dashes. Corey Jankowski was quick timer at 86.531 MPH.

Rob Curran chased John Edwards for all 15 laps of the United Auto Supply Thunderstox feature, and was only able to take the checkered when he passed post-race inspection and Edwards failed tech. Joey Johnson finished second, followed by Al Bartels, John Olson and Jason Stark.

Heat winners in the division included Dan Secor, John Olson, Ron Heller and Jason Stark, while Olson also took the checkered in the Second Over the Line Wins Novelty event. Joey Johnson held on for the Bud Dash win, while the semi-feature went to Jeff Schaitel.

For complete results from the RACESTAT computer click here