Horstman comeback closes second night of Oktoberfest! By David Morgan

October 3, 2003;  West Salem, WI -  Blake Horstman made an amazing comeback in the final feature race of Friday night action at the Oktoberfest race weekend, coming from fourth place, and seven car-lengths down in the final six laps to catch Lorin Kurth after a late yellow, and take the feature race. With the win, he joined Eddie Hoffman, James Kruschke, III and Roy Aitchison as Friday night Oktoberfest feature winners.

Photo Highlights Blake Horstman (#75) sweeps past Lorin Kurth (#22) during the closing laps of the Limited Late Model feature to take the win. Eddie Hoffman (#8) warmed up for a long weekend of racing by taking top honors in the CWRA Late Model feature.  He's shown leading Bobby Wilberg (#28) to the victory. The CWRA Late Model feature didn't go as planned for everybody.  Here A.J. Rhoads (#97), Dean Lapointe (#15), Dean Schultz (#34) and Brad Mueller (#89) get tangled during the contest. Jim Kruschke III (#20) wheels to the outside of Lucas Grosinger (#55) during the AREA Sportsman main event.  Kruschke would go on to take the win. Roy Aitchison (#1) works traffic during the Modified main event.  Aitchison was able to find the way to the front of the pack and secure the victory. Dale Prunty (#17) would finish second. Jeff Steenbergen (#62) captured one of the Limited Late Model qualifying races. Chad Walen (#52) scored a victory in the Modified heat event this evening.

Kruschke took his win in the Area Sportsman race, which was red flagged on lap three, after a frontstretch accident saw Jason Thoma crash into, and over the inside retaining wall, hitting pit members for one of the Modified teams. The race was stopped as medical crews tended to the injured crew members. One was airlifted to a local hospital, and another was taken by ambulance.

Horstman’s run gave fans something to cheer about after the accident in the Area Sportsman feature. Horstman was fourth with six laps remaining, got by both Jim Jarlsberg and Chris Kelly on lap 21, and quickly began reeling in Kurth, who had led since the green flag fell.

Although he closed the gap, Horstman needed help, and he got it with two laps remaining when the yellow flew for a fronstretch accident. On the restart, Horstman first looked outside, then ducked inside of Kurth on the backstretch to take the lead, and came away with the win.

In the first of two qualifying features, the top two cars pulled away, leaving ten cars battling to stay in the top eight, and advance to the feature. While Jeff Steenberg and Dale Smith cruised, the next pack took several laps to sort themselves out.

A lap seven accident in turn four took out a lot of the car who were battling to advance in the second qualifier, as Lorin Kurth and David Van Straetor led an eight-car breakaway on the restart, as other cars battled to get back the spots they were in before the incident. Mike Belling was the first to recover his spot, taking eight on lap 12, when Mike Beyer slowed.

After a first start that nearly took out half of the field, the CWRA-style late models kicked off their 25-lap Oktoberfest feature a little more careflully, with Trent Snyder moving to the frong, and Rick Grunden following int second. On lap five, Grunden and Bryan Roach touched in turn two, sending both cars into the grass and bringing out the yellow.

Eddie Hoffman made a quick move on the restart to take second from John Knaus, while cars swapped spots behind the lead pair. On lap nine, Hoffman went to the outside, and blew by Snyder, taking over the top spot, as Adam Royal took second.

On lap ten, Todd Stapleman went up into Knaus heading into turn one, and while those two cars survived the incident, nine others did not, as they ended up piled into the wall in turn one. Included in the incident were Monte Gress, A.J. Rhoads, Jay VanDerGeest, Dean Schultz, Dean LaPointe, Rick Grunden, Scott Bleecker, Eugene Gregorich, Jr., and Jerry Freeman.

Bobby Wilberg and Chris Weinkauf were the cars on the move on the restart, and took just six laps to move up into second and third. On lap 18, Wilberg began the assault on Hoffman, looking high and low for a way around the Lisa Thomas Salon Chevy. Hoffman held off the intial challenge, then held him at bay, taking the Oktoberfest feature win.

La Crosse’s Jim Carlson completely checked out on the field in the first of two qualifying features, jumping to a ten-length advantage over Monte Gress. Bobby Wilberg and John Knaus put on a show, as they battled for second behind Carlson, with Wilberg winning that battle by a quarter panel for second.

Eugene Gregorich, Jr. led the entire way in the second qualifier, but the battle raged for the final transfer spot, with Adam Royal, Brad Mueller, Eddie Hoffman and others battling hard for that position.

In the Last Chance Race, Dean Schultz left little to doubt, taking command from the start, as he, Brad Mueller, Jay VanDerGeest and Jeremy Hartwig advanced to the feature.

Despite the long red-flag delay, and another quick caution a few laps later, the Area Sportsman put on a good show, with a lot of hard racing as cars worked their way to the front. Lucas Grosinger led most of the way, but Kruschke patiently worked his way up through the field, and caught Grosinger with three laps remaing to take the win. Travis Sauter had an impressive run as well, coming back to finish second, nipping Grosinger at the line.

Russ Hebel took control at the start of the first qualifying feature, but Adam Degenhart ducked under him on a lap four restart, with Greg Scheck and Rbrian Schutzer follwoing by. With two laps remaining, five cars battling for position near the number eight transfer spot tangled in turn one, but all of them managed to keep it off the wall as the yellow flew. In the last two laps, 2002 La Crosse Sportsman Champion Corey Jankowski bolted to the outside, passing Scheck and Degenhardt for the win.

Sam Andersen and Lucas Korish pulled to the front in the second heat, with Andersen taking total command by lap five. A midrace caution tighted the field, and Dan Linnehan pushed Andersen down the stretch, but could not make the pass, as Andersen took the win.

While Jes Tenner contolled the first Last Chance race for the win, there were two cautions in the first lap of the second last Chance, cutting the field to just nine cars. Jamie Millis survived the melees to take the win, with Russ Hebel second.

The entire Modified field shuffled in the first two laps of the Modified Oktoberfest 40, with Steve Aitcheson moving to the front quickly, and Dale Printy taking over second. Printy closing in down stretch, and might have made a run for the win had their been five more laps, but Aitcheson held him off for the win. Jim Kulseth and Steve Johanneck had a hard battle the second half of the race behind the leaders, going back and fourth before Kulseth claimed the position. Chad Walen won the Modifieds heat race.

Saturday, Apr. 10 ///NASCAR Late Models, Sportsman, Thunderstox, 2004 Season Opener

For complete results from the RACESTAT computer click here

RESULTS

CWRA-Style Late Models

Oktoberfest 25 Feature (25 Cars) - 1, Eddie Hoffman, Wheaton, Ill.; 2, Bobby Wilberg, Orfordville; 3, Chris Weinkauf, Merrill; 4, Adam Royle, Farmington, Minn.; 5, Todd Hansen, Minneapolis, Minn.; 6, Clint Sillars, Schofield; 7, Trent Snyder, Ironton, Minn.; 8, Todd Stapleman, Wautoma; 9, Wayne Breitenfeldt, Wausau; 10, Jason Weinkauf, Merrill; 11, Brian Roach, Beckler, Minn.; 12, A.J. Rhoads, Hastings, Minn.; 13, Eugene Gregorich, Jr.; Kewaukee; 14, Dean Cornelius, Bloomington, Minn; 15, Jon Hornby, Sun Prairie

Last Chance - 1, Dean Schultz, Juneau; 2, Brad Mueller, Random Lake; 3, Jay VanDerGeest, Merrill; 4, Jeremy Hartwig, Cottage Grove; 5, Scott Bleekcker, Madison; 6, Dean LaPointe, Marshfield; 7, Monte Gress, Neillsville; 8, Jon Hornby, Sun Prairie.

Qualifying - 1, Jason Weinkauf, Merrill, 19.361 seconds, 101.415 mph (New Track Record); 2, Bobby Wilberg, Orfordville, Ill., 19.598 secs, 100.189 mph; 3, Todd Stapleman, Wautoma, 19.669 secs, 99.827 mph; 4, Chris Weinkauf, Merrill, 19.710 secs, 99.619 mph; 5, Adam Hoyle, Farmington, Minn., 19.774 secs, 99.297 mph.

Odd Qualifying Feature - 1, Jim Carlson, La Crosse; 2, Bobby Wilberg, Orfordville, Ill.; 3, John Knaus, Rockford, Ill.; 4, Chris Weinkauf, Merrill; 5, Bryan Roach, Beckler, Minn; 6, Trent Snyder, Ironton, Minn.; 7, Todd Hansen, Minneapolis, Minn.; 8, Clint Sillars, Schofield.

Even Qualifying Feature - 1, Eugene Gregorich, Jr., Kewaukee; 2, Jerry Freeman, Burlington; 3, A.J. Rhoads, Hastings, Minn.; 4, Adam Royle, Farmington, Minn.; 5, Wayne Breitenfeldt, Wausau; 6, Rick Grunden, Arpin; 7, Eddie Hoffman, Wheaton, Ill.; 8, Todd Stapleman, Wautoma.

Limited Late Models

Oktoberfest 15 Feature (25 Cars) - 1, Blake Horstman, Bangor; 2, Jeff Steenberg, Waupun; 3, Chris Kelly, Noway, Mich.; 4, Andy Thompson, Merrill, WI; 5, Mike Beyer, Rockford; 6,Greg Hauser, Little Chute; 7, Tony Bagstad, Cashton; 8, Derk Dombeck, Eland; 9, Kevin Eddy, Sparta; 10, Brady Liddle, Oregon; 11, Dale Smith, Lake Mills; 12, Kurt Clapper, Dane; 13, Eric Thompson, Kaukauna; 14, Curt Thompson, Fort Atkinson; 15, Dylan Schuyler, Dousman.

Last Chance - 1, Isaac Owen, La Crosse; 2, Kurt Clapper, Dane; 3, 41 8 9 100 18L 14 33 19

Qualifying - 1, Blake Horstman, Bangor, 20.755, seconds, 94.604, mph; 2, Jim Jarlsberg, , Cambridge, 20.825, secs, , 94.286, mph; 3, Mike Beyer, Rockford, Ill., 20.859, secs, , 94.132, mph; 4, Tony Bagstad, , Cashton, 20.915, secs, , 93.880, mph; 5, Kevin Eddy, Sparta, 20.951, secs, , 93.719, mph.

Odd Qualifying Feature - 1, Jeff Steenberg, Waupun; 2, Dale Smith, Lake Mills; 3, Tony Bagstad, Cashton; 4, Kurt Clapper, Dane, WI; 5, Justin Woller, Wausau; 6, Jake Ryan, Lakeville, Minn.; 7, Dave VanStreator, Appleton; 8, Gene Olson.

Even Qualifying Feature - 1, Lorin Kurth, Waukon, Ia.; 2, Chris Kelly, Norway, MI; 3, Kyle Jarlsberg, Cambridge; 4, Mike Ehde, Prairie du Chien; 5, Blake Horstman, Bangor; 6, Josh Helfrand, Rockford, Ill.; 7, Mike Belling, La Crosse; 8, Derk Dombeck, Elland.

Area Sportsmans

Oktoberfest 25 Feature ( cars)- 1, James Kruschke, III, Reedsburg; 2, Travis Sauter, Necedah; 3, Lucas Grosinger, St. Louis Park, Minn.; 4, Corey Jankowski, Tomah; 5, Tom Thill, West Salem; 6, Dan Linnehan, Sparta; 7, Chand Wehling, Stoddard; 8, Brian Schutzer, Wisconsin Rapids; 9, Ken Hutchens, Black River Falls; 10, Adam Degenhardt, Coon Valley; 11, Troy Anderson, Galesville; 12, Greg Scheck, West Salem; 13, Lucas Korish, La Crosse; 14, Chris Skrede, Rockland; 15, John Olson, Sparta.

Last Chance #1 - 1, Jes Tenner, Melrose; 2, Trent Erdman, Fort Atkinson; 3, Tom Reents, Janesville; 4, Ken Lewis, Black River Falls; 5, Joseph Monti, Irma.

Last Chance #2 - 1, Jamie Millis, Black River Falls; 2, Russ Hebel, Endeavor; 3, Chris Skrede, Rockland; 4, Brad Muller; John Olson, Sparta.

Qualifying - 1, Travis Sauter, Necedah, 21.859 seconds, 89.826 mph; 2, Tom Thill, West Salem 21.943 secs, 89.482 mph; 3, Ken Hutchens, Black River Falls, 22.066 secs, 88.983 mph; 4, Corey Jankowski, Tomah, 22.071 secs, 88.963 mph; 5, Eric Melby, Endeavor, 22.141 secs, 88.682 mph.

Even Qualifying Feature - 1, Corey Jankowski, Tomah; 2, Adam Degenhardt, Coon Valley; 3, Tom Thill, West Salem; 4, Greg Scheck, West Salem; 5, Robert Challet, Bangor; 6, James Kruschke, Reedsburg; 7, Jason Thoma, Jefferson; 8, Cale Laessig, Marshfield.

Odd Qualifying Feature - 1, Sam Andersen, Melrose; 2, Dan Linnehan, Sparta; 3, Lucas Grosinger, St. Louis Park, Minn.; 4, Jimmy Gilster, West Salem; 5, Travis Sauter, Necedah; 6, Ken Hutchens, Black River Falls; 7, Eric Melby, Endeavor; 8, Lucas Korish, La Crosse.

Modifieds

Oktoberfest 20 Feature - 1, Roy Aitchison, Deerfield; 2, Dale Printy, Allenton; 3, Jim Kulseth, Rosemount, Ill.; 4, Steve Johanneck, Litchfield, Minn.; 5, David Neumann, Waunakee; 6, Jason Feyereisen, Random Lake; 7, Chad Walen, Prior Lake, Minn.; 8, John Paul Odegaard, Brooklyn Center, Minn.; 9, Darin Toot, Albert Lea, Minn.; 10, Alan Jantz, Kenosha.

Heat 1, Chad Walen, Prior Lake, Minn.; 2, Jason Feyereisen, Random Lake; 3, Roy Aitchison, Deerfield; 4, Steve Johanneck, Litchfield, Minn.; 5, Dave Naumann, Wanakee.