June 16,
2001; West Salem, WI - After
rain washed out part of the action two weeks ago, and all of the features last week at the
La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway, you could expect drivers to be a little bit more
aggressive as they took to the track on Saturday night. Flagman Greg Oliver had his yellow
flag at the ready, but only needed it three times in nearly
Kurt Thicke outgunned Denis Haugrud at the start, and threatened to pull away from the field early as he opened a four-car advantage. Tim Hagen held on to second for five laps, as he battled Todd Oliver, then Belling behind the leader. Belling ducked underneath Hagen in turn three for the second spot on lap six, and Powell followed through the hole. Further back in the pack, points leader Mark Lamoreaux started to make a move, but after getting up to sixth, he had trouble getting by Tony Bagstad until late in the race. Belling and Powell slowly closed in on Thicke at the front of the field, and Belling went to the outside on lap 17, but couldn't make the pass in the turn. two laps later, he went to the outside down the backstretch, and pulled into the lead, again pulling Powell along. Powell tried twice to get by Belling, before Troy Goodenough spun on the front stretch with two laps left, setting up a three lap dash to the finish. Thicke made the first move on the restart, trying to get underneath Powell for second, but the lead two cars quickly pulled away. Powell tried the outside on Belling twice, but couldn't pull alongside, as he settled for second. Lamoreaux made the big move on the restart, moving from fifth to third in the final two laps, finally getting by Bagstad, and then sliding by Thicke on the final lap. Thicke was fourth, followed by Bagstad, J. Herbst, Todd Oliver, Kevin Nuttleman, Rick Wateski and Brent Kirchner. Tim Nelson dominated the field in the semi, and track points leader Mark Lamoreaux started off the night as fast timer at 96.565 MPH, edging Mike Belling in time trials. Jim Hagel and Isaak Owen won qualifying heats, while Bud Dash wins went to Brent Kirchner, and Kevin Nuttleman. When Kevin Eddy outdueled Rick Shisler at the start of the Sportsman
feature, little did he know it would the be only battle he would face the entire race.
Eddy pulled out to a six-car advantage as Shisler separated himself from a battle with
Tony Ciano for second, but was never able to seriously challenge the rest of the way.
Shisler finished second, followed Jankowski was quick qualifier for the sportsman drivers, clocking an 85.977 MPH lap around the paved oval. Qualifying heats went to Todd Lockington and John Towner, and the twin Bud Dashes were won by Rick Shisler and Kevin Eddy. Mike Campbell and Chad Goldbeck took the top two positions in the semi to advance to the feature. Robert Challet managed to to hold onto the lead for the first two laps of the United Auto Supply Thunderstox feature, but Jason Stark had other plans, as he followed Shane Ulvestad by on lap three, then opened up a huge lead before a yellow flew on lap eight for a four-car incident in turn three. Stark had no trouble on the restart, as he cruised to the win ahead of Shane Ulvestad, Dean Ashbacher, Matt Inglett and Kelly Schendel. Heat winners included John Olson, Randy Steinhoff, Troy Anderson and Jes Tenner, while Jason Lindvig came away with the Bud Dash win. Dan Secor won the semi for the Thunderstox. Race Summary Midwest Fuels
NASCAR Late Models Semi-Feature - 1. Tim Nelson, La Crescent, MN; 2. Ken Christenson, Jr., La Crosse; 3. Jim Christenson, Holmen; 4. Greg Croell, Holmen; 5. Ken Hutchens, Black River Falls Qualifying - 1. Mark Lamoreaux, Bloomington, MN, 20.318 secs., 96.565 MPH; 2. Mike Belling, La Crosse, 20.343 secs., 96.446 MPH; 3. Tony Bagstad, Cashton, 20.383 secs., 96.257 MPH; 4. Brad Powell, La Crosse, 20.468 secs., 95.857 MPH; 5. Todd Oliver, Bangor, 20.485 secs., 95.777 MPH Qualifying Heat 1 - 1. Jim Hagel, Holmen; 2. Todd Korish, La Crosse; 3. Greg Croell, Holmen; 4. Curt Eckleberg, West Salem; 5. Jim Christenson, Holmen Qualifying Heat 2 - 1. Iaaak Owen, La Crosse; 2. Bill Niles, Holmen; 3. Ken Christenson, Jr., La Crosse; 4. Marv DeGarmo, Chaseburg, 5. Ken Hutchens, Black River Falls Odd Bud Dash - 1. Brent Kirchner, La Crosse; 2. Kurt Thicke, West Salem; 3. Troy Goodneough, Mindoro; 4. Kraig Burrows, West Salem; 5. Todd Oliver, Bangor Even Bud Dash - 1. Kevin Nuttleman, Bangor; 2.
Brad Powell, La Crosse; 3. Jeff Krueger, La Crescent, MN; 4. Rick Wateski, La Crosse; 5.
Mike Belling, La Crosse Semi-Feature - 1. Mike Campbell, Bangor; 2. Chad Golbeck, La Crosse; 3. Adam Degenhardt, Coon Valley; 4. Jason Bolster, Sparta; 5. Ken Lewis, Black River Falls Qualifying - 1. Corey Jankowski, Tomah, 22.820 secs., 85.977 MPH; 2. Jeff Baker, Holmen, 22.835 secs., 85.921 MPH; 3. Jon Barrette, La Crosse, 22.856 secs., 85.842 MPH; 4. Jimmy Gilster, West Salem, 22.933 secs., 85.554; 5. Blake Horstman, Bangor, 22.985 secs., 85.360 MPH Qualifying Heat 1 - 1. Todd Lockington, Mindoro; 2. Paul Smith, Bangor; 3. Adam Degenhardt, Coon Valley; 4. Lucas Korish, La Crosse; 5. Chad Goldbeck, La Crosse Qualifying Heat 2 - 1. John Towner, Trempealeau; 2. Mike Albrecht, Jr., La Crescent, MN; 3. David Steensen, Melrose; 4. Mike Campbell, Bangor; 5. Les Stanfield, La Crosse Odd Bud Dash - 1. Rick Shisler, La Crosse; 2. Corey Jankowski, La Crosse; 3. Blake Horstman, Bangor; 4. Jon Barrette, La Crosse; 5. Trent Boetcher, La Crescent, MN Even Bud Dash - 1. Kevin Eddy, Hatfield; 2. Rick
Steinhoff, Sparta; 3. Sam Andersen, Melrose; 4. Chand Wehling, Stoddard; 5. Jeff Baker,
Holmen Semi-Feature - 1. Dan Secor, West Salem; 2. Al Bartels, Tomah; 3. Ed Rinartz, Holmen; 4. Jake Arneson, Taylor; 5. Ron Heller, Onalaska Bud Dash - 1. Jason Lindvig, La Crosse; 2. Matt Inglett, La Crosse; 3. Jason Stark, Sparta; 4. Dean Ashbacher, Rockland; 5. Troy Anderson, West Salem Heat 1 - 1. John Olson, Sparta; 2. Jason Lindvig, La Crosse; 3. Robert Challet, Bangor; 4. Chad Rosendahl, Hokah, MN; 5. Mary Schill, Burnsville, MN Heat 2 - 1. Randy Steinhoff, Cashton; 2. Matt Inglett, La Crosse; 3. Danielle Neary, La Crosse; 4. Kelly Schendel, Cashton; 5. Mark Challet, Bangor Heat 3 - 1. Troy Anderson, West Salem; 2. Dean Ashbacher, La Crosse; 3. Ed Senn, La Crosse; 4. Ken McHenry, La Crosse; 5. Scott Voss, La Crescent, MN Heat 4 - 1. Jes Tenner, Melrose; 2. Jason Stark, Sparta; 3. Joe Rinartz, Holmen; 4. Grant Kutchara, Winona, MN; 5. Rob Curran, Rockland |
