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5 Divisions Square Off
Against Each Other and the Rain at LaCrosse!
By Philip Jahnke and Gary
Vercauteren |
October
5, 2002; West Salem, WI - Great driving and a bit of
luck was the key for LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway Saturday. LaCrosse featured five
divisions to include the RE/MAX Challenge Series, the NASCAR Northern Series, The Power
Pages Mid American cars and trucks, and the Wisconsin Late Models.
Most races on Saturday were qualifying for the big features to be held on
Sunday. Lets start off in the RE/Max Challenge series as they qualified and competed in a
25 lap qualifying semi-feature that fielded some great racing. In early qualifying, Justin
Diercks ended up being the fast qualifier with a lap time of 19.571. The Semi-feature
ended, David Finney drove into victory lane, and the RE/MAX drivers packed up their cars
and were looking forward to tomorrow's 250 lap feature.
In the Wisconsin Late Models Division the field is set for the for the Oktoberfest 50 on
Sunday.
The race action featured qualifying with Steve Holzhausen of Bangor who
ran a time of 19.522 sec which turned out to be the quick time in the Wisconsin Late
Models Division. The two features Saturday produced eight transfer spots per race that
added up to Dan Turner, Scott Ollerman, Jason Schuler, Eric Fransen, Jason Hicks, Ron
Beese Jr. ,Tim Schendel, Dan Topel, Mike DeKeuster, Eddie Hoffman, Johnn Sauter, Paul
Menard, Rich Loch, Charlie Menard, Boris Jurkovic, Robb Vanderloop, Steve Holzhausen, and
Andrew Morrissey in the Oktoberfest 50 on Sunday.
In the Mid-American Stock Cars the battle for the championship came down
to the 30 lap feature, which was delayed a while due to rain, where Rod Brewe was able to
finish far enough ahead of Peter Hernandez to win the season championship. Brewe ended the
season with 1672 and Hernandez ended with 1658. Hernandez, leading the points going into
Oktoberfest, developed a fluid leak in his car just after the halfway point and did not
finish. Brewe also broke Rick Corso's one-lap record with a time of 20.580.
Brewe joins former champions Eddie Hoffman (1993-1994-1995), Mark Pluer (1996), Jeff Storm
(1997, 1998), Rick Corso (1999), Bill Prietzel (2000) and James Swan (2001).
Josh Bauer from Random Lake, Wisconsin ended the season with a win in the Oktoberfest 30
lap feature. Bauer managed to take the lead on lap 23 and held on to the bitter end for
the win.
Four heat races were featured to decide who would advance to the Oktoberfest feature later
in the night. The winners were Andy Duggen, Brian Baker, Steve Moenck, and point's leader
Peter Hernandez who narrowly got the win feet before the finish line.
The Planet Pages Mid American Cars set a record at LaCrosse with having 46 cars qualify.
In the Mid-American Trucks, Andy Jirik was able to capitalize on a caution
thrown on lap nine giving him the chance to pull past Mark Eberhardt for the lead and the
win in the Oktoberfest 30 lap feature. The win was Jirik's second of his career with the
Planet Page Mid-American Truck Series. The he trucks unlike the cars have yet another race
next week at the I-94 Speedway in Sauk Centre, Minnesota.
NASCAR Northern Series racing was also held on Saturday featuring
qualifying and an odd and even feature. Adam Royle from Farmington, MN clocked in the fast
qualifying time with 20.396 sec to start out the great racing that was to follow.
Competition was fierce for the all important transfer spots in the odd and even features
for the Oktoberfest 50 coming up on Sunday.
Steve Carlson of LaCrosse would come out with a victory in the odd dash
and a trip to the 50. In the even dash race leader Andy Burgess from Eau Claire got caught
up and spun out with a couple other cars coming into turn two on the last lap to forfeit
the win to Mark Lameroux from Bloomington, Minnesota.
Great race action to continue tomorrow with a pancake breakfast to be held
in the exhibition building starting at 7:30. Gates open at 8:30 and racing is to begin at
12 noon. Sunday will feature a 250 lap RE/MAX Challenge Series feature presented by
ALLTEL. Also the Northern and Wisconsin Late model Oktoberfest 50's. Ray Hutson Chevrolet
Gran National Sportsman racing that was postponed on Thursday will commence following the
RE/MAX feature, subject to time.
Upcoming Events:
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. Ray Hutson Chevrolet Gran National Sportsman Division make up events after the RE/MAX
250.
RE/MAX Challange Series:
Qualifying semi-feature: 1. Eric Fransen, West Band; 2. Jeff Kendall,
Montello; 3. Les Ferris, Northfield; 4. Nathan Hasselou, Palington; 5. Pete Moore,
McFarland; 6. Ronnie White II, Springhill, KS; 7. Bryan Roach, Becker, MN; 8. David
Finney, Sycamore, IL; 9. Dudley Fleck, Cedar Rapids, IA; 10. Russ Blakey, Palmyra
Qualifying: 1. Justin, Diercks, Davenport, IA; 19.571 sec; 2. Johnny
Sauter, Salisbury, NC; 19.609 sec; 3. Steve Holzhausen, Bangor; 19.647 sec; 4. Eddie
Hoffman, Wheaton, IL; 19.669 sec; 5. Jon Lemke, Greenfield, MN; 19.680 sec; 6. Steve
Carlson, West Salem; 19.713 sec; 7. Tony Bagstad, Cashton; 19.796 sec; 8. Mark Kraus,
Stratford;19.804 sec; 9. Nathan Haseleu. Arlington; 19.823 sec; 10. Ron Breese, DeKalb,
Ill.; 19.845 sec
RE/MAX Challenge Series Oktoberfest 250 presented by ALLTEL Starting Lineup
Row # Driver # Driver
Row 1 O1 Ron Breese JR. 98 Nathan Haseleu
Row 2 9 Mark Kraus 32 Tony Bagstad
Row 3 66 Steve Carlson 17 Jon Lemke
Row 4 8 Eddie Hoffman 78 Steve Holzhausen
Row 5 52 Johnny Sauter 29 Justin Diercks
Row 6 22 Tim Rothe 18 Paul Menard
Row 7 45 Jeremy LePak 11 Josh Vadnais
Row 8 60 Ryan Hanson 19 Eric Fransen
Row 9 OO Jeff Kendall 4 Les Ferris
Row 10 96 John Nutley 21 Tim Schendel
Row 11 86 Pete Moore 33 Mike Belling
Row 12 99 Bryan Roach 26 Dave Finney
Row 13 88 Jeff Way 95 Ronnie White
Row 14 2 George Prentice Jr. 51 Brian Hoppe
Planet Pages Mid-American Stock Cars:
Oktoberfest Feature: 1. Josh Bauer, Random Lake; 2. Steve Campbell,
Lisle, IL; 3. Jay Mikel, Oswego, Il; 4. Shawn Wiltger; Gary, IN; 5. Chris Cooling,
Joiliet, IL; 6. Rod Brewe, Kakauna; 7. Bill Prietzel, Franklin; 8. Jake Ryan, lakeville,
MN; 9. Steve Moenck, Mokena, IL; 10. Bobby Gutnecht, Oak Creek
Heat 1: 1. Andy Duggan, Marion, IA; 2. Ron Weyer, Hubertus; 3. Gordy
Swanson, Apple Valley, MN; 4. Duane Halvorson, Rosemount, MN; 5. Ryan Manthei, Green Bay
Heat 2: 1. Brian Baker, Springfield; 2. Shawn Utphall, Racine, WI; 3.
Andy Duggan, Marion, IA; 4. Tom Knippenberg, Channahon, IL; 5. Jake Ryan, Lakeville, MN
Heat 3: 1. Peter Hernandez, Mokena, Il; 2. Ken Joosten, Wonder Lake, IL;
3. Keith Sterkowitz, Cedar Lake, IN; 4. Kevin Lee, Homestead, IA; 5. Josh Bauer, Random
Lake
Heat 4: 1. Steve Moenck, Mokena, IL; 2. James Swan, Lake Geneva; 3. Dave
Gentile Jr., Elwood, IL; 4. Jeremy Spoonmore, Somonauk, IL; 5. Kevin Moenck, New Lenox, IL
Last Chance 1: 1. Brian Baker, Springfield; 2. Doug Brown Savage, MN; 3.
Denny Norton Jr, Woner Lake,IL; 4. Ryan Manthei, Green Bay; 5. Ken Joosten, Wonder Lake,
IL
Last Chance 2: 1.Mike Skaja, New Prague, MN; 2. Scott Ascher, Sussex; 3.
Kevin Lee, Homestead, IA; 4. James Swan, Lake Geneva; 5. Andy Duggan, Marion, IA
Qualifying: 1. Rod Brewe, Kaukauna;20.582 sec; 2. Bobby Gutnecht, Oak
Creek, WI;20.623 sec 3. Kevin Moenck, New Lenox, IL;20.682 sec 4. Chris Cooling, Joliet,
IL;20.698 sec 5. Jake Ryan, Lakeville,MN;20.710 sec 6. Dave Gentile Jr, Elwood, IL;20.812
sec 7. Mike Skaja, New Prague, MN;20.816 sec 8. James Swan, Lake Geneva; 9. Steve Moenck,
Mokena, IL;20.858 sec; 10. Jeremy Spoonmore, Somonauk, IL:20.871 sec
Planet Pages
Mid-American Trucks:
Oktoberfest Feature: 1. Andy Jirik, Lonsdale, MN; 2. Larry Fitzsimmons,
Farmington, MN; 3. Danny Heinritz, Green bay; 4. Gordy Swanson, Northfield, MN; 5. Jeff
Steenbergen, Waupon; 6. Mark Soronen, Fairbault, MN; 7. Donnie Woler, Merrill; 8. Jamie
Farrell, New Prague, MN; 9. Mark Eberhrt, Ripon; 10. Jonathan Eilen
Heat 1: 1. Tony Holm, Prior Lake, MN; 2. Michael Schmitz, Northfield; 3.
Mark Eberhardt, Ripon; 4. Danny Johnson, Rosemount, MN; 5. Art Christoffersen, Toddville
Heat 2: 1. Andy Jirik, Lonsdale, MN; 2. Mark Soronen, Fairbault, MN; 3.
Larry Fitzsimmons, Farmington, MN; 4. Jamie farrell, New Prague, MN; 5. Gordy Swanson,
Northfield, MN
Qualifying: 1. Gordon Swanson, Northfield, MN; 20.828 sec; 2. Jeff
Steenbergen, Waupun; 20.965 sec; 3. Terry Marzofka, Port Edwards; 20.982 sec; 4. Jamie
Farrell, New Prague, MN; 21.024 sec; 5. Danny Heinritz, Green Bay; 21.148 sec; 6. Mark
Soronen, Fairbault; 21.176 sec; 7. Bill Prietzel, Franklin; 21.197 sec; 8. Larry
Fitzsimmons, Farmington, MN; 21.207 sec; 9. Andy Jirik, Lonsdale, MN:21.252 sec; 10. Mark
Eberhart, Ripon; 21.340 sec
NASCAR Northern Series:
Odd Feature: 1. Steve Carlson, West Salem; 2. Brad Powell, LaCrose; 3.
Mike Belling, laCrosse; 4. Dan Steele, West Salem; 5. Blake Horstman, Rockland; 6. Mike
Beyer, Rockland, IL; 7. Gib Scharpf, LaCrosse; 8. Adam Royle, Farmington, MN; 9. Tim
Hagen, LaCrescent, MN; 10. John Towner, Trempeleau
Even Feature: 1. Mark Lameroux, Bloomington,MN; 2. Johnny Spaw, Cedar
Rapids, IA; 3. Steve Holzhausen, Bangor; 4. Charlie Menard, Eau Claire; 5. Kevin
Nuttleman, Bangor
Qualifying: 1. Adam Royle, Farmington, MN; 20.396 sec; 2. Kevin
Nuttleman, Bangor; 20.402 sec; 3. Rick Wateski, LaCrosse; 20.479 sec; 4. Johnny Spaw,
Cedar Rapids, IA; 20.488 sec; 5. Brad Powell, LaCrosse; 20.505 sec; 6. Andy Burgess, Eau
Claire; 20.522 sec; 7. Blake Horstman, Rockland; 20.535 sec: 8. Steve Holzhausen,Bangor;
20.538 sec; 9. Greg Scheck, West Salem; 20.557 sec; 10. Jon Lemke, Greenfield, MN; 20.587
sec
Wisconsin Late Models:
Odd Feature: 1. Eric Fransen, West Bend; 2. Ryan Mathews, Lake Geneva; 3.
#5; 4. Charlie Menard, Eau Claire; 5. Robb Vanderloop, Kaukauna
Even Feature: 1. Boris Jurkovic, Monee, IL; 2. Jason Hicks, Delavan; 3.
Jason Schuler, Cambridge; 4. Rob Vanderloop, Kaukauna; 5. Don Turner, LaCrosse
Qualifying: 1. Steve Holzhausen, Bangor; 19.522 sec; 2. Paul Menard, Eau
Claire; 19.525 sec; 3. Johnny Sauter, 19.563 sec; 4. Eddie Hoffman, Wheaton, IL; 19.572
sec; 5. Andrew Morissey, De Forest, 19.625 sec; 6. Mike Dekeuster, Racine; 19.666 sec; 7.
Dan Topel, Lake Mills; 19.685 sec; 8. Eric Hammond, Grand Marsh; 19.689 sec; 9. Greg
Haese, Two Rivers; 19.693 sec; 10. Bobby Wilberg, Orfordville; 19.701 sec |
