Barrette takes Grand National Sportsman title during Oktoberfest Opening Night at LaCrosse! By Pam Haller

October 4, 2001;  West Salem, WI -   Jon Barrette of La Crosse claimed his second track championship Thursday night in front of an estimated 2500 diehard race fans.

Photo Highlights Corey Jankowski (#31) topped the action in the Grand National Sportsman division. In spite of his efforts Jankowski finished second in the final standings to Jon Barette who finished the race in fourth. Greg Lindvig (#80) earned a trip to victory lane after a hard fought win in the Thunderstox main event. The survivor!  Rick Schermerhorn (# 8), hung on to win the 75 lap Enduro. Over 100 cars were entered in that event. Ben Kreyer captured top honors in the Junior Motorsports feature race. Small cars, maximum action.  The Junior Motorsports events were full of thrills, spills and close racing. Jason Bolster (#88) topped the action packed "Double O" race. During the Enduro event, it was sometime easy to lose your way with 100 cars on the track!!

Barrette won the Thunderstock championship in 1995 and now the Ray Hutson Grand National Sportsman Championship. Barrette showed great patience as he settled in to the middle of the pack and rode, around for the twenty five laps. By virtue of a couple cautions he was able to move up and finish the feature fourth. Corey Jankowski and Jeff Baker rounded out the top three in the championship race.

Kelly Schendel literally fought his way through the night to win the United Auto Supply Thunderstock championship. Schendel and John Olson came together hard with five laps to go, securing both drivers a spot in the last row at the resart. This left the points race extremely close. Schendel entered the feature two points ahead and finished the season four points ahead. John Olson and Al Bartels tied for second with Jes Tenner and Dean Ashbacher rounding out the top five in the Thunderstock Championship.

The first night of the Oktoberfest races was a great success! The remaining days this weekend should prove to be just as exciting!

Ray Hutson Chevrolet Grand National Sportsman
Qualifying: 1. Dan Gilster, West Salem, 22.627sec; 2. Tony Ciano,La Crosse,22.629 sec;  3. Jeff Baker, Holmen, 22.677sec; 4. Jon Barrette, La Crosse,22.734 sec; 5. Chand Wehling, Stoddard, 22.802sec.
Feature (25 Laps): 1. Corey Jankowski, Tomah; 2. Sam Andersen, Melrose;  3. Jeff Baker, Holmen; 4. Jon Barrette, La Crosse; 5. Tom Thill, West Salem; 6. Dan Gilster, West Salem;  7, Trent Boettcher, La Crescent; 8. Kevin Eddy, Sparta;  9. Chand Wehling, Stoddard; 10. Conrad Jorgenson
Semi-Feature: 1. Jamie Millis; 2. Jason Lindvig, La Crosse; 3. Todd Lockington, Mindoro; 4. Laurel Viera, Eagle Lake; 5. Jamie Schlintz, Bangor
Heat 1: 1. David Steensen, La Crosse; 2. Lucas Korish, La Crosse; 3. Al Bartels, Tomah; 4. Jason Bolster, Sparta; 5. Jeff Williams
Heat 2: 1. Branden Berg, North Bend; 2. Greg Scheck, West Salem; 3. Lucas Grosinger; 4. Laurel Viera, Eagle Lake; 5. Todd Lockington, Mindoro
Heat 3: 1. Mike Campbell, Bangor; 2; Dan Linnehan, West Salem; 3. Duan Halvorson; 4. Jamie Millis,; 5. Jes Tenner
Odd Bud Dash : 1. Jeff Baker, Holmen; 2. Tom Thill, West Salem; 3. Kevin Eddy, Sparta; 4.Chand Wehling, Stoddard; 5. Randy Steinhoff, Cashton
Even Bud Dash : 1. Sam Andersen, Melrose; 2. Corey Jankowski, Tomah;  3. Trent Boettcher, La Crescent; 4. John Towner, Termpealeau;  5. Tony Ciano, La Crosse

United Auto Supply Thunderstox
Feature: 1. Greg Lindvig, Holmen; 2. Ron Heller, Onalaska; 3. Al Bartels, Tomah;  4. David Plagge; 5. Jesemy Tenner, Melrose
Semi-Feature: 1. John Hendrickson, La Crosse; 2. Ed Senn, La Crosse; 3. Robert Stanfield, Sparta; 4. Steve Anderson; 5. Maynard Rave
Heat 1 : 1. Greg Lindvig, Holmen; 2. Al Bartels, Tomah; 3. Chad Rosendahl, Hokah; 4. Joey Johnson; 5. Robert Curran, Rockland
Heat 2 : 1. Troy Anderson, Galesville; 2. Jason Stark, Sparta; 3. Ron Heller, La Crosse; 4. Mary Schill, Bloomington; 5. Dan Secor, West Salem
Heat 3 : 1. Jesemy Tenner, Melrose; 2. Joe Rinartz, La Crosse;   3. David Plagge; 4. Matt Inglett, La Crosse; 5. Jake Arneson, Taylor
Heat 4 : 1. John Olson, Sparta; 2. Scott Voss, La Crescent; 3. Kelly Schendel, Cashton;  4. Bill Inglett, La Crosse; 5. Dean Ashbacher, Rockland