Kirchner Rallies to Capture the Ray Hutson Chevrolet Crown! By Pam Haller

July 13, 2002;  West Salem, WI - Brent Kirchner continued to be one of the fastest drivers during the past two months at the LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway. Kirchner caught and passed leader Rick Wateski in the late stages of the Ray Hutson Chevrolet 25 at in front of an estimated 3,800 fans.

Outside front row starter Wateski jumped out to an early lead, and led until the first incident which came on lap four.  A multi-car spin in turn one involved the cars of Troy Goodenough, John Towner, Jeff Krueger, Jim Hagel and Bill Niles.   Three laps after racing resumed is when things got interesting.  Tim Hagen broke loose in turn three, causing several cars to scramble for position, allowing Wateski to jump out to a ten car-length lead. 

The remainder of the race concluded without any yellows.  Wateski appeared to have things in control, but Kirchner, Blake Horstman and Andy Burgess closed in rapidly in the final ten laps.  Once Kirchner removed Wateski from the top spot on lap 18, he never looked back.  A late race charge by Andy Burgess kept the fans on their feet, wondering if he would close in before the conclusion, but he ran out of time.  As Kirchner took the checkers, rounding out the top five were Burgess, Wateski, Brad Powell, and Horstman.

Fifteen laps for the Ray Hutson Chevrolet Grand National Division was just enough for Sparta's Rick Steinhoff.  Had the race gone any longer, he probably wouldn't have celebrated another win.  The race's only yellow happened on lap one, as the pickup of Lucas Korish spun in turn three.  When the race resumed, Steinhoff took control and narrowly fended off the hard-charging Sam Andersen at the finish.  Chand Wehling, Jeff Baker, and points leader Corey Jankowski completed the top five.  

The Ray Hutson Chevrolet 15 lap feature for the United Auto Supply Thunderstox division went wire to wire without any cautions.  Dean Ashbacher, of Rockland, started on the pole and led from start to finish.  It was a sweet victory for Ashbacher, whose car was too bent to even compete last week.  With a little luck, he finally was able to claim a victory.

The Features Sports Bar & Grill Hornet division was in competition, as Rick Schermerhorn, Andre Klonecki and Jason Dummer claimed the feature events. 

Upcoming Events
Friday, July 19 - Fairtime Enduro 200 - Presented by Children's Miracle Network - 200 laps of non-stop 4-cylinder mayhem!
Saturday, July 20 - Brickl Bros. Design/Builders Presents:  Kwik Trip NASCAR Late Models, Ray Hutson Chevrolet Sportsman, United Auto Supply Thunderstox, 50 LAP Late Model Feature!
Saturday, July 27 - Budweiser Presents:  NASCAR Late Models, Sportsman, Thunderstox, Novelty Event
Oct. 3-4-5-6 - Oktoberfest Race Weekend, Featuring over 14 divisions, 500 race cars and four days of fun and 'Festivities!

For complete results from the RACESTAT computer click here

RESULTS FROM JULY 13, 2002

KWIK TRIP ///NASCAR  LATE MODELS: 
Ray Hutson Chevrolet 25 1. Brent Kirchner, LaCrosse 2.  Andy Burgess, Fall Creek,  3. Rick Wateski, LaCrosse  4.  Brad Powell, LaCrosse; 5.  Blake Horstman, Bangor  6.  Tim Hagen, LaCrescent MN  7.  Tim Nelson, LaCrescent MN  8.  Charlie Menard, Eau Claire  9.  Paul Proksch, Stoddard  10. Kevin Nuttleman, Bangor  11.  Steve Holzhausen, Bangor  12.  Mike Belling,  LaCrosse 13.  Tony Bagstad, Cashton   14.  Kurt Thicke,  West Salem  15.  Dan Steele, West Salem   16.  J. Herbst, West Salem  17. Troy Goodenough, Mindoro  18.   Kraig Burrows, West Salem  19.  Bill Niles, Holmen  20.  Jim Christenson, LaCrosse
Semi-Feature: 1. Dan Steele, West Salem  2.  Mark Lamoreaux,   Bloomington, MN  3.  Kraig Burrows, West Salem  4.  Bill Niles, Holmen  5.  Kevin Eddy,  Sparta
Qualifying Heat 1: 1. Jim Christenson, Holmen  2.  Todd Korish,   LaCrosse  3. Jim Hagel, Holmen  4.  Bill Niles,  Holmen   5.  Tom McClintock,  Onalaska
Qualifying Heat 2:  1. Jeff Krueger, LaCrescent MN 2.  John Towner, Trempealeau  3.  Kraig Burrows, West Salem  4.  Dan Steele, West Salem  5.  Mark Lamoreaux, Bloomington MN
Odd Bud Dash: 1. J. Herbst,  West Salem  2. Steve Holzhausen, Bangor  3.  Tim Nelson, LaCrescent MN  4.  Kurt Thicke, West Salem   5.  Kevin Nuttleman, Bangor
Even Bud Dash: 1. Troy Goodenough, Mindoro  2.  Tony Bagstad, Cashton  3.  Blake Horstman, Bangor  4.  Brent Kirchner, LaCrosse   5.  Tim Hagen, LaCrescent MN
Qualifying: 1. Andy Burgess, Fall Creek;  20.187 sec.;  2.   Mike Belling, LaCrosse, 20.383 sec.;  3.  Charlie Menard, Eau Claire,   20.420 sec.;  4.  Brad Powell, LaCrosse, 20.427 sec.;  5.   Kevin Nuttleman, Bangor, 20.429 sec.;  6.  Paul Proksch, Stoddard, 20.447 sec.;  7.  Kurt Thicke, West Salem, 20.482 sec.;  8.  Blake Horstman, Bangor, 20.524 sec.;  9.  Tim Nelson, LaCrescent, MN,  20.533 sec.;   10.  Brent Kirchner, LaCrosse, 20.538 sec. 

RAY HUTSON CHEVROLET SPORTSMAN:
Ray Hutson Chevrolet 15 1. Rick Steinhoff, Sparta  2.  Sam Andersen,  Melrose  3.  Chand Wehling,  Stoddard  4.  Jeff Baker, Holmen 5.  Corey Jankowski, Tomah  6.  Dan Linnehan, Sparta  7.   Tom Thill, West Salem  8.  Trent Boettcher, LaCrescent MN,  9.   Jimmy Gilster, West Salem  10.  Aaron Hass, LaCrosse  11.    John Korish, LaCrosse  12.  Dan Gilster, West Salem  13.   Randy Steinhoff, Cashton  14.  Larry Bolster, Sparta  15.  Doug Lee, LaCrosse 16.  Adam Degenhardt, Coon Valley,  17.  Marv DeGarmo, Chaseburg  18.  Tony Ciano, LaCrosse  19.  John Olson, Sparta   20.  Jes Tenner, Melrose
B Semi-Feature: 1.  Bill Miller, Sparta  2.  Jes Tenner, Melrose  3.  Larry Bolster Jr.  Sparta  4.  Lucas Korish,   LaCrosse  5.  Jamie Millis, Black River Falls
C Semi-Feature: 1. Scott Clark, Onalaska  2.  Paul Mahlum Jr.   Holmen  3.  Laurel Viera,  Eagle Lake MN  4.  Ken Lewis, Black River Falls  5.  David Steensen, Cashton
Non-Qualifying Heat: 1. Mark Olson, Lewiston, MN  2.  Randy Hass, LaCrosse  3.  Scott Clark, Onalaska  4.  Maynard Rave, Black River Falls  5.  Al Dobbs, Onalaska
Qualifying Heat 1: 1. Randy Steinhoff, Sparta  2.  Adam Degenhardt, Coon Valley  3.  Larry Bolster Jr., Sparta  4.  Jason Backus, Tomah  5.  Todd Lockington,  Mindoro
Qualifying Heat 2: 1.Jamie Millis, Black River Falls  2.  Doug Lee, LaCrosse  3.  Scott Beckler, Sparta  4.  Bill Miller, Onalaska   5.  Branden Berg, North Bend
Odd Bud Dash: 1. Sam Anderson, Melrose; 2. Jeff Baker, Holmen; 3. Trent Boettcher, La Crescent; 4. Adam Degenhardt, Coon Valley; 5. Chand Wehling, Stoddard
Even Bud Dash: 1. Tom Thill, West Salem; 2. Jimmy Gilster, West Salem; 3. Corey Jankowski, Tomah; 4. Rick Shisler, La Crosse; 5. Dan Linnehan, Sparta
Qualifying: 1. Trent Boettcher, LaCrescent, MN  22.807 sec.;   2.  Corey Jankowski, Tomah,  22.816 sec.;  3.  Dan Gilster, West Salem,  22.979 sec.;  4.  Jeff Baker, Holmen, 23.009 sec.; 5.   Dan Linnehan, West Salem, 23.028;  6.  Rick Shisler, LaCrosse, 23.034 sec.;  7.  Aaron Hass, LaCrosse, 23.050 sec.;  8.  Chand Wehling, Stoddard, 23.069 sec.;  9.  Jimmy Gilster, West Salem, 23.108 sec.:  10.   Marv Degarmo, Chaseburg, 23.109 sec.

United Auto Supply Thunderstox:
Ray Hutson Chevrolet 15 1. Dean Ashbacher, Rockland 2.  Bill Inglett, LaCrosse  3.  Jason Bolster, Sparta  4.  Andy Moore, Sparta   5.  Ed Senn, LaCrosse  6.  Tony Leis,  Bangor  7.   Greg Lindvig, Holmen  8.  Jerimy Wagner,  Melrose  9.   Jake Arneson, Taylor  10.  John Hendrickson, LaCrosse  11.    Nicholas Schroeder, Cashton  12.  Scott Voss, LaCrescent, MN   13.  Chad Rosendahl, Hokah, MN  14.  Al Bartels, Tomah  15.   Dan Erdman, Holmen  16.  Jes Tenner, Melrose  17.  Ron Heller, Onalaska  18.  Danielle Neary, LaCrosse  19.  Mary Schill, Minneapolis, MN  20.  Troy Schnitzler, Onalaska
Semi-Feature: 1. Scott Voss, LaCrescent MN  2.  Al Bartels, Tomah  3.  Chad Rosendahl, Hokah MN  4.  Dan Erdman, Holmen  5.   Jason Schaller, LaCrosse
Heat 1 - 1. Troy Schnitzler, Onalaska  2.  Jason Bolster, 3.   Dean Ashbacher, Rockland  4.  Tim Steinhoff, Sparta  5.  Mary Schill, Minneapolis, MN
Heat 2 - 1.  Matt Inglett, LaCrosse  2.  Jes Tenner, Melrose  3.  Joey Johnson, West Salem  4.  Tony Leis, LaCrosse   5.  Danielle Neary, LaCrosse
Heat 3 - 1.  Andy Moore, LaCrosse  2.  Bill Inglett, LaCrosse  3.  Lorne Klonecki, Arcadia  4.  Ron Heller, Onalaska   5.  Jerimy Wagner, LaCrosse
Heat 4 - 1.  John Hendrickson, LaCrosse  2.  Ed Senn, LaCrosse  3.  Nicholas Schroeder, Cashton  4.  Greg Lindvig, Holmen   5.  Jake Arneson, Taylor
Bud Dash : 1. Jason Bolster, Sparta; 2. Jes Tenner, Melrose; 3. Bill Inglett, La Crosse; 4. Matt Inglett, LaCrosse; 5. Ed Senn, LaCrosse

FEATURES SPORTS BAR & GRILL HORNETS:
Ray Hutson Chevrolet 15 (Feature 1) 1.  Rick Schermerhorn, LaCrosse   2.  Todd Lemke, Caledonia MN  3.  Kevin Turner, LaCrosse  4.   Pat Burchell, Fountain City  5.  Rick Placek, Jr.  6. Hans Gilbertson, Arcadia  7. Ren Revels, Necedah  8.  Mark Bornitz, Holmen   9.  Shane Anderson, Holmen  10.  Steve Bornitz, Holmen
Ray Hutson Chevrolet 15 (Feature 2) 1.  Andre Klonecki, Winona MN   2.  Keith Kirchner, LaCrosse  3.  Troy Opsahl, Caledonia MN  4.   Jerrod Loging, West Salem  5.  Wade Elliott, Ettrick  6.  Nate Towner, Trempealeau  7.  Jim Schermerhorn, Coon Valley 8.  Rick Eirschele, Cashton  9.  Ben Hehl  10.  Ryan Lockington,  Bangor
Ray Hutson Chevrolet 15 (Feature 3) 1. Jason Dummer, Onalaska  2.   Robbie Loging  3.  Eric Komprud,  4.  Heath Wissenberger, West Salem  5.  Matt Moore  6.  Jerry Hohlfeld, Reedsburg  7.   Gary Towner, Galesville  8.  Joe Scholze, Holmen  9.  Joel Von Haden  10.  Jamie Dummer, Holmen
Heat 1 - 1.  Jerry Hohlfeld,  2.  Robbie Loging,  3.   Ron Amann,  4.  Joel Von Haden,  5.  Andy Barney
Heat 2 - 1.  Nate Towner,  2.  Andy Welke,  3.   Aaron Vinson, 4.  Matt Moore,  5.  Dan Hundorf
Heat 3 - 1.  Corey Klink, 2.  Wade Elliott, 3.  Jerry Schomers, 4.  Rick Eirschele; 5.  Jason Dummer
Heat 4 - 1.  Andre Klonecki,  2.  Todd Lemke, 3.   Kevin Turner,   4.  Pat Burchell, 5.  Rick Placek, Jr.