Tenner Didn't Let It Rain on His Oktoberfest Parade!

Tenner Didn't Let It Rain on His Oktoberfest Parade!
By Philip Jahnke

October 3, 2002; West Salem, WI - A wet night to start of the 33rd annual Oktoberfest Race Weekend featured the ever popular United Auto Supply Thunderstox division, the Junior Motorsports Division, and a 75 lap 4-cylinder enduro Thursday night at the LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway. The Ray Hutson Chevrolet Grand National Sportsman race action was suspended due to unsatisfactory track conditions, but fortunately the races will be re-run on Sunday after the 250 Lap Re/Max feature.

Photo Highlights

What a way to start out the Oktoberfest Race Weekend than with great race action on the 1/4 mile track. The championship was decided Thursday night in the Thunderstox division with a battle between Ron Heller and Jes Tenner. All Tenner had to do was finish 6 cars behind Heller to take the track championship.

Ron Heller took off with an early lead over Tenner but Tenner closed in on Heller to finish 9th, Heller took 7th, to take the Thunderstox division championship for the 2002 racing season. Jes Tenner, a Melrose native, also r aces as a rookie in the Grand National Sportsman division. Chad Rosendahl took the checkered flag in the last Thunderstox feature of the season. Tim Steinhoff, Bill Inglett, Joey Johnson, and Matt Inglett would finish out the top five.

Paul Schmudlach of Cross Plains took the checkered flag in the Junior Motorsports division feature Thursday night. Schmudlach raced hard and won despite a caution and a wet track. The Junior Motorsports are quite the site and are a nice addition to the great race action during the Oktoberfest race weekend.

After a last chance effort to dry off the track fore the Sportsman division, the Budweiser 75 lap enduro feature took to the track. The driver of the 5M car from Kimberly, WI, Matthew Maynard took the checkered flag in the Budweiser 75 lap enduro.

The great racing continues this weekend with the onslaught of the NASCAR Northern, RE/MAX Challenge Series, Wisconsin Late Models, Planet Pages Mid American cars and trucks, IMCA Modified, area Sportsman, and CWRA race action all weekend long. The speedway also features a wide array of vendors and food stands, and a post race party in the exhibition building both Friday and Saturday nights.

Oktoberfest Weekend Upcoming Events
Friday: Kwik Trip Day - Race action starts at 6 pm, with ticket sales starting at 4:30. Friday night will feature Area Sportsman, CWRA, IMCA Modified, and Limited Late Model features. Post race party sponsored by Budweiser and CC106 starting around 9:30 pm.

Saturday: Budweiser Day - Race action starts at 5:00 with the gate opening at 1:30. Saturday will feature NASCAR Northern Series, Wisconsin Late Models, Planet Pages MA Stock Car and Truck Features, and a RE/MAX semi feature. Post Race party sponsored by Budweiser and CC106 starting around 9:30pm.

Sunday: Alltel Day - Race action kicks off at 12:00 featuring the NASCAR Northern Series Oktoberfest 50, Wisconsin Late Model Oktoberfest 50, and the RE/MAX Oktoberfest 250.

RESULTS FROM THURSDAY OCTOBER 3RD

RAY HUTSON CHEVROLET SPORTSMAN DIVISION

Oktoberfest 25: 1. *** ALL SPORTSMAN DIVISION RACES CALLED OFF DUE TO WET TRACK CONDITIONS. ***
**Sportsman racing will be re-run after the Re/Max 250 lap feature, Sunday Afternoon***

UNITED AUTO SUPPLY THUNDERSTOX
Oktoberfest 15: 1. Steve Scholtze, Sparta; 2. Tim Steinhoff, Cashton; 3. Bill Inglett, LaCrosse; 4. Joey Johnson, West Salem; 5. Matt Inglett, laCrosse; 6. Jermiy Wagner, Melrose; 7. Ron Heller, Onalaska; 8. Nicholas Schroeder, Cashton; 9. Jes Tenner, Melrose; 10. jason Schaller, LaCrosse
Semi-feature: 1. Chad Rosendahl, Hokah, Mn; 2. Tony Leis, Bangor; 3. Scott Voss, laCrescent, MN; 4. Jason Schaller, LaCrosse; 5. Dan Erdman, Holmen
Heat 1: 1. Jeremy Hartwig, Cottege Grove, MN; 2. Jerry Mesch; 3. Corey Butler, JR, Rosemount, MN: 4. rick Anderson, Sparta; 5. Brenden Klueckman, Neillsville
Heat 2: 1. Bill Inglett, LaCrosse; 2. Steve Scholtze, Sparta; 3. Greg Lindvig, Holmen; 4. Joey Johnson, West Salem; 5. Shane Ulvestad, Holmen
Heat 3: 1. Adam Moore, Sparta; 2. Jerimy Wagner, Melrose; 3. Brad Warthan, Sparta; 4. Tim Steinhoff, Cashton; 5. Tony Leis, Bangor
Heat 4: 1. Ron Heller, Onalaska; 2. Ben Allen, Bangor; 3. Jake Arneson, Taylor; 4. Eugene Vian, Sparta; 5. Kurt Jankowski, Sparta
Heat 5: 1. Al Bartels. Tomah; 2. Nick Schroeder, Cashton; 3. Jes Tenner, Melrose; 4. Matt Inglett, LaCrosse; 5. Travis Schendel, Cashton

Compact Car Enduro
Budweiser 75 Lap Enduro: 1. Matthew Maynard, Kimberly; 2. Jake Closch, Waukon, IA; 3. Todd Toycen, Cottege Grove; 4. Jim Rohrbeck, Burnett; 5. Jeremy Havlerson, Sping Grove, MN

Junior Motorsports:
Oktoberfest Feature: 1. Paul Schmudlach, Cross Plains; 2. Ray Kreyer, Poynette; 3.Jim Poehnelt, Sun Prairie; 4. Ben Kreyer, Poynette; 5. Lee Kreyer, Schatfield, Mn; 6 Jeff Wagner, Waterloo; 7. Shayne Poehnelt, Spring Green; 8. Chris Rada, Adams; 9. Keith Ringlestetter, Arlington; 10. Jim Long, Rio
Heat 1: Lee Keryer, Schatfield, MN; 2. Keith Ringlestter, Arlington; 3. Steve Rist, Sun Prairie; 4. Jim Poehnelt, Sun Prairie; 5. Chris Rada, Adams
Heat 2: Jeff Wagner, Waterloo; 2. Jim Long, Rio; 3. Ray Kreyer, Poynette; 4. Nick Maerez, Sprin Green; 5. Paul Scmudlach, Cross Plains