 |
Saturday Night features short
track racing at it's finest at The Fest!
By Pam Haller |
October
6, 2001; West Salem, WI - The
RE/MAX series got the field set for Sunday's Oktoberfest 200. Fast qualifier was West
Salem's own Steve Holzhausen. Holzhausen turned in a time of 19.431 seconds which
translates to 100.973 miles per hour. The semi-feature was won by Scott Hanson of Green
Bay. The competition was tough. Many drivers swapped paint, but the driving skills shown
by those drivers was awesome!
The Wisconsin Late Models also got their field for Sunday's race
set. Paul Menard of Eau Claire claimed fast time at 19.149 seconds or 102.511 miles per
hour. Menard would go on to win the first of four heats. Heat two was won by Jeff Storm of
East Troy, WI and Todd Kluever of Marshall, WI took Heat 3. Several of the cars that began
the night, ended it at the end of a wrecker or even worse - the flatbed. No injuries were
reported.
Also setting the field for Sunday, was the NASCAR Northern Series.
Many of these drivers are accustomed to this track, as it is their home track. The top
time was claimed by 7-time track champion, Kevin Nuttleman. Nuttleman and West Salem's
Steve Carlson took the checkered flags in their heats. These battles looked very similar
to those race fans see at La Crosse every Saturday night. Lots of trying the high and low
grooves, along with a few protecting their lead by strategically m oving the car up or
down the track. This wasn't enough to deter the ambition and drive of Kevin Nuttleman.
The McLeod Mid American Truck series also pleased those looking
for great racing action. They were doing more than swapping paint however. The yellow
flagged flew several times with trucks loosing parts and some ending their night in the
pits.
Gordy Swanson, who only the day before lost his brother very unexpectandtly, was able to
honor his brothers memory by winning the Oktoberfest feature. The crowd fell silent as he
pulled into victory lane and accepted his trophy from the top of his truck. Kim Hedberg
and Dan Heinritz won their heats as well.
The night ended with the McLeod Mid American Stock cars running
their 30-lap feature. This too, looked liked a battle of the gladiators. The yellow flew
many times throughout their race, with many of the cars being hauled back to the pits.
The race ended with Bill Preitzel on his roof between turns one
and two. Preitzel and James Swan were battling for the championship. The outcome was very
close with Swan edging him out at the end. Preitzel, remarkably, would have won the
championship had he not crashed. Tough break for him and his team. He can consider himself
lucky as he was able to walk away.
WISCONSIN LATE
MODEL
Qualifying: 1, Paul
Menard, Eau Claire, 19.149 seconds (102.511 mph); 2, Dave Freiler, DeForest, Wis., 19.192
(102.282); 3. David Prunty, Lomira, Wis., 19.392 (101.227); 4, Jeff Watters, Mineral
Point, Wis., 19.554, (100.388); 5, Bobby Wilberg, Orfordville, Wis., 19.555, (100.383).
Heat 1: 1. Paul Menard, Eau Claire; 2. Eric Hammond, Grand Marsh,
Wis.; 3. Andy Burgess, Eau Claire; 4. Jerry Gille, Madison; 5. Rich Loch, Muskego, Wis.
Heat 2: 1. Jeff Storm, East Troy, Wis.; 2. Andrew Morrissey,
DeForest, Wis.; 3. Ron Breese, Jr., Sycamore, Ill.; 4. Jim Carlson, La Crosse; 5. Ken
Reiser
Heat 3: 1. Todd Kluever, Marshall, Wis; 2. Chris Wimmer, Wausau,
Wis; 3. Kirby Kurth, Nekoosa, Wis; 4. David Prunty, Lomira, Wis.,5. John Raupp, Reedsburg,
Wis.
NASCAR
NORTHERN SERIES
Qualifying: 1. Kevin Nuttleman, Bangor, Wis., 20.259 seconds,
(96.895 mph); 2. Steve Carlson, West Salem, 20.336, (96.528); 3. Tony Bagstad, Cashton,
20.361, (96.409); 4. Kraig Burrows, West Salem, 20.365, (96.390); 5. Blake Horstman,
Bangor, Wis., 20.417, (96.145).
Odd Feature: 1. Kevin Nuttleman, Bangor; 2. J Herbst, West Salem;
3. Shawn Pfaff, Sparta; 4. Mark Lamoreaux, Bloomington, Minn.; 5. Adam Royle, Farmington,
Minn.
Even Feature: 1. Steve Carlson, West Salem; 2. Brent Kirchner, La
Crosse; 3. Steve Holzhausen, Bangor; 4. Troy Wangerin, Jordan, Minn.; 5. Tom McClintock,
Onalaska.
RE/MAX
CHALLENGE SERIES
Qualifying: 1. Steve Holzhausen, Bangor, 19.431 seconds, (100.973
mph); 2. Paul Menard, Eau Claire, 19.488, (100.677); 3. Eddie Hoffman, Wheaton, Ill.,
19.505, (100.590); 4. Jason Schuler, Cambridge, Wis., 19.441 (100.389); 5. Pete Moore,
McFarland, Wis., 19.612, (100.041); 6. Tim Schendel, Sparta, 19.630, (99.949); 7. Dan
Frederickson, Lakeville, Minn., 19.648, (99.857); 8. Johnny Sauter, Necedah, Wis., 19.669,
(99.751); 9. Justin Diercks, Davenport, Iowa, 19.723, (99.478); 10. Ryan Hanson, Beloit,
Wis., 19.740, (99.392); 11. Brian Hoppe, Madison, 19.744, (99.372); 12. Jon Lemke,
Greenfield, Minn., 19.750, (99.342); 13. Steve Carlson, West Salem, 19.752, (99.332); 14.
Mark Kraus, Stratford, Wis., 19.762, (99.281); 15. Ron Breese, Jr., DeKalb, Ill., 19.779,
(99.196); 16. Jeff Kendall, Montello, Wis., 19.787, (99.156); 17. Les Ferris, Northfield,
Minn., 19.803, (99.076); 18. Matt Mylin, Roscoe, IL, 19.804sec,
(99.071mph);<:f><:f200,BArial,>19. Tim Rothe, Appleton, Wis., 19.808,
(99.051); 20. Scott Hansen, Green Bay, Wis., 19.900, (98.593); 21. Nathan Haseleu, Sun
Prairie, Wis., 19.927, (98.459); 22. Jeff Frederickson, Kaukauna, Wis., 19.949, (98.351);
23. Bruce Yackey, Greeley, Colo. 19.986, (98.169); 24. Ronnie White, Springhill, Kan.,
20.046, (97.875); 25. Dave Finney, Sycamore, Ill., 20.067, (97.772); 26. Jeff
VanOudenhoven, Kimberly, Wis., 20.070, (97.758); 27. Joey Miller, Lakeville, Minn.,
20.068, (97.680); 28. Todd Hansen, Minneapolis, Minn., 20.260, (96.841); 29. Jeff Way,
Burlington, Wis., 20.278, (96.755); 30. Barry Tanner, Jr., Bloomington, Minn., 20.290,
(96.698); 31. George Prentice, Jr., Milwaukee, Wis., 20.512, (95.651mph).
25 Lap Last Chance Qualifier: 1.
Scott Hansen, Green Bay, Wis.; 2. Matt Mylin, Roscoe, Ill. 3. Nathan Haseleu, Sun Prairie,
Wis.; 4. Les Ferris, Northfield, Minn.; 5. Bruce Yackey, Greeley, Colo. |
