Herbst Takes Opener! By Pam Haller

April 13, 2002;  West Salem, WI - The 2002 NASCAR weekly racing season officially got under way on Saturday night in front of a crowd of 5,000 dedicated race fans. They were on the edge of their seats as the three divisions got under way. The air was filled with excitement, the smell of food and racing fuel. How bad do you have it?

The night got off to a rough start for several drivers. In the Grand National Sportsman division, Bill Miller and Morris Proctor blew their engines. Doug Lee had problems as his crew noticed that there was water where the oil should be.

The NASCAR Late Models had their share of bad luck. Rookie Jon Barrette blew his motor during practice earlier in the afternoon. Veteran drivers Tim Nelson and Mark Lamoreaux both had problems with the rear differentials. Nelson was able to repair his while Lamoreaux was able to borrow Curt Eckelbergs car.

J. Herbst, a hometown favorite, was able to hold off 2001 NASCAR Late Model Champion, Brad Powell, as he won the feature from the pole. It wasn't as easy as it sounds. Herbst led the field by 20 car lengths until Denis Haugrud brought out the first yellow as he slid up the track between one and two. After the restart, Herbst was again able to pull away from the field, but Powell was coming and coming fast. With twelve laps to go, Powell was in second. Mike Belling and Kraig Burrows came together between three and four causing another yellow. Burrows was unable to finish the race. Herbst took the green for the last time and beat the rest of the field to the checker. Powell ended up second followed by Steve Carlson, Kevin Nuttleman and Andy Burgess.

During the first Late Model heat, everything was going good until Ronnie Hawley, Jr. and Jim Hagel came together out of turn two, leaving Hagel riding the backstretch wall and landing hard in turn three. Tom McClintock moved into first with two laps to go, while rookie John Towner worked his way to second. Racing veteran Mark Lamoreaux, in a borrowed car, finished the race in third.

In the second heat, Brent Kirchner and Greg Croell came together in the middle of turn three and four. Croell drove so far down into the corner that he went through turn 4 in the grass and continued on. A few laps later Greg Scheck learned the hard way how not to win a race as he went from first to last whiling spinning down the front stretch.

The Ray Hutson Chevrolet Grand National Sportsman feature kept the safety crew busy. Many cars were involved in a turn four incident wth 5 to go. The field circled the track several times under yellow before all the pieces could be cleaned up. When the green finally flew, many drivers swapped paint as they tried to make their way to the front. Corey Jankowski of Tomah was the driver that beat them to the line. Tony Ciano ended up second followed by Tom Thill and Jeff Baker.
The wreckers were kept busy during the Sportsman's first race of the season.

With six laps to go in the dash, three cars came out of turn four entangled in each other. Lucas Korish was able to drive his 1998 Silvarado away while Chand Wehling and Larry Bolster, Jr. needed to wait for the wreckers. It was several laps of yellow before the field could continue. Once they restarted, they were racing hard. Tom Thill and Rick Shisler swapped paint several times through the corners and down the front stretch. With one lap to go, Thill had an even greater challenge from Jeff Baker. They raced side by side the entire last lap, with Baker edging out Thill at the checker.

John Edwards of La Crosse won the United Auto Supply Thunderstock feature. Jes Tenner, Jason Bolster, Shane Ulvestad and Scott Voss rounded out the top five.

Upcoming Events
   Saturday, April 20, 2002    Late Models, Sportsman, Thunderstock and Hornets
    Saturday, Aptil 27, 2002        Fireman's Night; Late Models, Sportsman, Thunderstock
    Saturday, May 11, 2002        Ladies in Free; Late Models, Sportsman, Thunderstock


KWIK TRIP LATE MODELS:
QUALIFYING: 1. Kevin Nuttleman, Bangor, 19.925 sec ( 98.519mph); 2. Andy Burgess, Rice Lake, 19.961 sec (98.3 42mph); 3. Steve Holzhausen, Bangor, 20.082 sec, (97.749mph); 4. Blake Horstman, Bangor, 20.164 sec, (97.352mph); 5. Steve Carlson, West Salem, 20.166 sec, (97.342mph); 6. Brad Powell, La Crosse, 20.221sec, (97.077mph); 7. Tim Schendel, Sparta, 20.231 sec, (97.029mph); 8. Rick Wateski, La Crosse, 20.285sec, (96.771mph); 9. Mike Belllng, La Crosse, 20.296sec, (96.719mph); 10. Kraig Burrows, West Salem, 20.310 sec, (96.652mph); 11. Kurt Thicke, Rockland, 20.324sec, (96.585mph); 12. Todd Oliver, Bangor, 20.331sec, (96.552mph); 13. J. Herbst, West Salem, 20.343sec, (96.495mph); 14. Todd Korish, La Crosse, 20.384sec, (96.301mph); 15. Denis Haugrud, Cashton, 20.455sec, (95.967mph); 16. Dan Steele, West Salem, 20.458sec (95.953mph); 17. Ronnie Hawley, Jr., Winona, 20.466sec, (95.915mph); 18. Tim Hagen, La Crescent, 20.514sec (95.691mph); 19. Troy Goodenough, Mindoro, 20.531sec, (95.612mph); 20. Tony Bagstad, Cashton, 20.540sec (95.570mph)

Budweiser 25 1. J. Herbst, West Salem; 2. Brad Powell, La Crosse; 3. Steve Carlson, West Salem; 4. Kevin Nuttleman, Bangor; 5. Andy Burgess, Rice Lake; 6. Todd Oliver, Bangor; 7. Rick Wateski, La Crosse; 8. Tim Schendel, Sparta; 9. Steve Holzhausen, Bangor; 10. Blake Horstman, Bangor; 11. Brent Kirchner, La Crosse; 12. Dan Steele, West Salelm; 13. Tony Bagstad, Cashton; 14. Mike Belling, La Crosse; 15. Tom McClintock, La Crosse

Semi-Feature: 1. Tony Bagstad, ; 2. Ronnie Hawley, Jr., Winona; 3. Greg Croell, Holmen; 4. Tim Hagen, La Crescent;
5. Troy Goodenough, Mindoro

Qualifying Heat 1: 1. Tom McClintock, Onalaska ; 2. John Towner, Trempealeau; 3. Mark Lamoreaux, Bloomington;
4. Dean Bean, Westby; 5. Ronnie Hawley, Jr., Winona

Qualifying Heat 2: 1. Jeff Krueger, La Crescent; 2. Brent Kirchner, La Crosse; 3. Bill Niles, Holmen; 4. Tim Hagen,
La Crescent; 5. Greg Croell, Holmen

Bud Dash 1: 1. J. Herbst, West Salem; 2. Kevin Nuttleman, Bangor; 3. Mike Belling, La Crosse; 4. Tim Schendel, Sparta; 5. Steve Carlson, West Salem

Bud Dash 2: 1. Todd Korish, La Crosse; 2. Todd Oliver, Bangor; 3. Brad Powell, La Crose; 4. Kraig Burrows, West Salem; 5. Rick Wateski, La Crosse

RAY HUTSON CHEVROLET SPORTSMAN:
Qualifying: 1. Jeff Baker, Holmen, 22.678 sec (86.560mph); 2. Trent Boettcher, La Crescent, 22.762 sec (86.240mph); 3. Chand Wehling, Stoddard, 22.834 sec ( 85.968); 4. Dan Gilster, West Salem, 22.842 sec (85.938 mph); 5. Tom Thill, West Salem, 22.902, ( 85.713mph); 6. Tony Ciano, La Crosse, 22.963 sec, (85.485 mph); 7. Jimmy Gilster, West Salem, 22.969 sec ( 85.463 mph); 8. Corey Jankowski, Tomah, 23.040 sec, (85.200 mph); 9. Larry Bolster, Sparta, 23.052 sec, (85.155 mph); 10. John Korish, La Crosse, 23.057, ( 85.137mph); 11. Lucas Korish, La Crosse, 23.079 sec, (85.056mph); 12. Aaron Hass, La Crosse, 23.128 sec, ( 84.875mph); 13. Adam Degenhardt, Coon Valley, 23.234, (84.488 mph); 14. Randy Steinhoff, Cashton, 23.252 sec, (84.423 mph); 15. Rick Shisler, La Crosse, 23.288 sec (84.292 mph); 16. Mike Albrecht, Jr., La Crescent, 23.306 sec, (84.227 mph); 17. Branden Berg, North Bend, 23.326 sec, (84.155 mph); 18. Marv DeGarmo, Chaseburg, 23.328 sec, (84.148 mph); 19. Mike Campbell, Bangor, 23.344, (84.090mph); 20. Jes Tenner, 23.371 sec, (83.993 mph)

Budweiser 15 1. Corey Jankowski, Tomah; 2. Tony Ciano, La Crosse; 3. Tom Thill, West Salem; 4. Jeff Baker, Holmen; 5. Randy Steinhoff, Cashton; 6. Mike Albrecht, Jr., La Crescent; 7. Adam Degenhardt, Coon Valley; 8. Dave Steensen, La Crosse; 9. Sam Anderson, Melrose; 10. Trent Boettcher, La Crescent

Semi-Feature: 1. Todd Lockington, Mindoro; 2. Mike Campbell, Bangor; 3. Doug Lee, Holmen; 4. Scott Stingl, Mindoro; 5. Sam Anderson, Melrose;

Heat: 1. Sam Anderson, Melrose ; 2. Ken Lewis, Black River Falls; 3. Al Bartels, Tomah; 4. Mark Olson, Lewiston; 5. Shawn Lockington, La Crosse

Qualifying Heat 1: 1. Dan Linnehan, West Salem; 2. Branden Berg, North Bend; 3. Mike Campbell, Bangor; 4. Jason Backus, Tomah; 5. Jamie Schlintz, Bangor

Qualifying Heat 2: 1. Rick Steinhoff, Sparta; 2. Dave Steensen, La Crosse; 3. Marv DeGarmo, Chaseburg; 4. Todd Lockington, Mindoro; 5. Jes Tenner

Bud Dash 1: 1. Jeff Baker, Holmen; 2. Tom Thill, West Salelm; 3. Rick Shisler, La Crosse ; 4. Jimmy Gilster, West Salem; 5. Adam Degenhardt, Coon Valley

Bud Dash 2: 1. Randy Steinhoff, Cashton; 2. Dan Gilster, West Salelm; 3. Mike Albrecht, Jr., La Crescent; 4. Tony Ciano, La Crosse; 5. Corey Jankowski, Tomah


United Auto Supply Thunderstock:
Budweiser 15 1.

Semi-Feature: 1. Greg Lindvig, Holmen; 2. Tony Leis, Middle Ridge; 3. Ed Senn, La Crosse; 4. Dan Erdman, Holmen; 5. Taje Burrows, La Crosse

Heat 1 - 1. John Grosskopf, La Crosse; 2. Ron Heller, Onalaska; 3. John Hendrickson; 4. Joey Johnson, Mindoro; 5. John Edwards, La Crosse

Heat 2 - 1. Les Stanfield, La Crosse; 2. Chad Rosendahl, Hokah; 3. Scott Voss, La Crescent; 4. Mark Challat; 5. Al Bartels, Tomah

Heat 3 - 1. Jake Arneson, Taylor; 2. Fred McDaniel, La Crosse; 3. Dean Ashbacher, Rockland; 4. Kurt Jankowski, Sparta; 5. Shane Ulvestad, Onalaska

Heat 4 - 1. Jason Bolster, Sparta; 2. Jason Schaller, La Crosse; 3. Jes Tenner, Melrose; 4. Jerimy Wagner, Melrose; 5. Taje Burrows, La Crosse

Bud Dash : 1. Jason Bolster, Sparta; 2. Fred McDaniel, La Crosse; 3. Jason Schaller, La Crosse; 4. Les Stanfield, La Crosse; 5. Jake Arneson, Taylor

For complete results from the RACESTAT computer click here