Ron Breese Jr. celebrates Oktoberfest victory in Wisconsin Late Model contest! By Jeffrey Sachse

October 7, 2001;  West Salem, WI -  The Wisconsin Late Models rolled out 27 cars for the start of their 50 lap feature contest during the running of the 32nd Annual Oktoberfest Weekend at the LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway. Breese would complete a charge which would amaze race fans as he came from the tail of the field on lap nine for his involvement in a caution flag and charge through the entire field taking the lead from Todd Kluever with two laps remaining in the contest. Is was a stunning charge which resulted in thunderous applause in victory lane for Breese after the event.

Polesitter Jeff Storm moved to the initial lead pursued by fellow front row starter John Raupp and 2001 Dells Motor Speedway track champion Kirby Kurth. Storm wasted little time in establishing a solid lead. Kurth powered around the outside of Raupp for second on lap four with Jerry Gille and Todd Kluever motoring by Raupp for third and fourth before the end of lap seven.

Storm meanwhile had built a commanding lead. That lead however was erased when Jim Carlson, Ken Reiser and Robb Vanderloop had a meeting coming off turn four, forcing the first caution period of the contest. Just one more lap went into the books when the amber light blinked again when Scott Broughton went around in turn two as he and Ron Breese Jr made contact. At the same time Clint Sillars took a wild slide through the grass on the backstretch. All were able to resume when the race continued.

Storm again set the pace moving out to a six car length lead by lap 12, as Kurth, Gille, and Kluever did battle for second. Kluever stuck well on the challenging outside line and quickly disposed of Gille and Kurth to move to the runner- up spot on lap 15.

Storm who was still setting a blistering pace managed to pull away from the rest of the pack, with the exception of Kluever who slowly reeled in Storm moving up on his rear decklid by lap 23. On the very next lap Raupp, Sillars and Bryan Roach got crossed up in turn two just as the leaders were coming up to lap them. Fortunately the lead cars were able to avoid those which were stalled on the racetrack.

While on earlier restarts Storm was able to pull away, such was not the case with Kluever in the runner-up spot. When the green resumed Storm, Kluever, Kurth, Gille and Chris Wimmer who had started fifteenth on the field occupied the top five positions.

Kluever managed to get a nose under Storm on lap 29 in turn four and slipped ahead for the top spot. Kurth also took advantage of the situation and he followed Kluever past into the runner-up position. Meanwhile, Breese Jr., who had come from the tail of the field after his part in the yellow flag earlier in the contest had worked his way back into the top five.

It was now Kluever who was doing what Storm had earlier, in pulling away from the field. Breese meanwhile continued to pick off cars moving into third position on lap 37. Kluever still enjoyed a quarter-lap advantage on Breese Jr., when Breese rumbled into the runner-up spot at Kurth's expense with 10 laps to go. Kurth would fade another position on lap 42 as Wimmer advanced to third.

Breese Jr., was able to reduce Kluever's lead however it appeared time would run out on his charge. However a final caution on lap 47, put Breese Jr., directly on Kluever's rear bumper for the restart, with Wimmer, Kurth and Gille now within striking distance when the green flag returned creating a sprint to the checkered.

Upon the restart Breese Jr., moved to the outside of Kluever coming off turn four and charged by for the lead taking the top spot on lap 48. Breese Jr., was then able to fend off a final lap dive to the inside to take the win by two car lengths. Kluever would finish second, with Wimmer, Kurth and David Prunty, who made a late charge to claim the top five spots.

Eric Fransen, Gille, Chris Weinkauf, Andrew Morrisey and Paul Menard completed the top ten finishers.

Before the main event, a pair of qualifying races set the 27 car starting field for the 50 lap Wisconsin Late Model feature contest. The top three finishers from each of the events advanced to the main event.

In the first contest which was slowed by a pair of cautions. Jason Hicks, stormed past polesitter Bryan Roach on the opening lap for the lead which he would hold to the finish. Roach would cross the stripe in second and Frank Kreyer claimed third to advance to the main event. Todd Stapleman and Adam Shackelford finished fourth and fifth just missing the show.

In the second and final Last Chance event, Eric Fransen led the contest from wire to wire, while the positions behind him were hotly contested. Robb Vanderloop took over the second position with five laps to go in the contest and closed on Fransen but he would run out of time to mount a challenge and would settle for second by two car lengths. Toby Rott held off Trent Snyder for the third and final transfer position. Kevin Peterson rounded out the top five runners.

WISCONSIN LATE MODELS; 

50 Lap Feature: 1. Ron Breese, Jr., Sycamore, IL.; 2. Todd Kluever, Marshall, Wis.; 3. Chris Wimmer, Wausau, Wis.; 4. Kirby Kurth, Nekoosa, Wis.; 5. David Prunty, Lomira, Wis, 6. Eric Fransen, West Bend, Wis; 7. Jerry Gille, Madison, Wis; 8. Chris Weinkauf, Merrill, Wis; 9. Andrew Morrisey, DeForest, Wis; 10. Paul Menard, Eau Claire, Wis.

Last Chance Heat 1: 1. Jason Hicks, Lake Geneva, Wis.; 2. Bryan Roach, Becker, Minn.; 3. Frank Kreyer, Cottage Grove, Wis.; 4. Todd Stapleman, Wautoma, Wis.; 5. Adam Shackelford, Belleville, Wis.; 6. Clint Sillars, Schofield, Wis. 

Last Chance Heat 2: 1. Eric Fransen, West Bend, Wis.; 2. Rodd Vanderloop, Kaukauna, Wis.; 3. Toby Rott, Slinger, Wis.; 4. Trent Snyder, Ironton, Minn.; 5. Kevin Peterson, Port Edwards, Wis.; 6. Ben Pettis, Eau Claire, Wis.