Schendel Wins Oktoberfest 250, Carlson Claims Ninth Midwest Series Championship! By David Morgan

October 5, 2003;  West Salem, WI -  Tim Schendel, of Sparta, Wis., recorded his second career NASCAR Elite Division, International Truck and Engine Corporation Midwest Series victory by winning the Oktoberfest 250, Sunday at LaCrosse (Wis.) Fairgrounds Speedway. Schendel led 154 of the event’s 250 laps and collected $5,250 for the victory. It was Schendel’s first Midwest Series score since July 2002, when he earned his first win at Pikes Peak International Raceway in Fountain, Colo.

Photo Highlights Tim Schendel had an afternoon he'll never forget, as he won both the NASCAR ITEMS 250 lap main event as well as the Wisconsin Late Model feature. Newly crowned 2003 NASCAR ITEMS champion Steve Carlson (#66) finished third in the main event.  He's shown passing the 2003 "Rookie of the Year" Eric Fransen (#16) who had a solid showing claiming fifth in the contest. Tim Schendel (#21) slips under Steve Carlson (#66) on his way to winning the main event during the 34th running of the Oktoberfest weekend. Ryan Hanson (#60) closed within a couple car lengths of Tim Schendel (#21) during the closing laps of the ITEMS 250 lap feature race, but Schendel was able to hold on for the victory.  Hanson would settle for second. Jon Lemke (#17) ran strong early in the ITEMS feature, before falling off pace.   He's showing working past Eddie Hoffman (#8) and Ron Breese Jr. (#01). Justin Directs (#29) claimed fourth place on the day.  He's showing doing battle with Steve Holzhausen (#78) and Tim Sauter (#52).

To win during LaCrosse’s 34th annual Oktoberfest race weekend was especially sweet for Schendel, who lives and works just 10 miles from the Speedway.

“This means everything. LaCrosse is my home track; it’s just awesome to win in front of the home town crowd, where all my sponsors are and where all my family’s from,” Schendel said.

“It’s awesome to win at Oktoberfest, Matt Kenseth and a lot of big name guys have won this race so it feels great to win it,” Schendel said.

Bud Pole winner Ryan Hanson, of Beloit, Wis., started eighth after the field was inverted for the start of the race, but he worked his was back in to the top five and was, at times, Schendel’s biggest challenger. Hanson led laps 106-149 before surrendering the lead the Carlson when the leaders pitted under caution.

While Hanson and Carlson led, Schendel stuck to his race strategy and patiently plotted his next move.

“It’s 250 laps. We needed to save the left side tires because we knew we could get right side tires but I didn’t want to burn that left rear tire up,” Schendel said. “I kind of laid back a little bit because I knew Ryan was coming so I let him go when the time came.

“We made a little bit of an adjustment during the pit stop and I had a little but faster car than Steve did when we got back out on the track,” Schendel said.

By virtue of his third-place finish, Steve Carlson, of West Salem, claimed the 2003 International Truck and Engine Corporation Midwest Series championship – his fifth NASCAR title in the last six years.  Carlson now owns nine series championships, including four he won before the series was first sanctioned by NASCAR in 1998. Eric Fransen, of West Bend, Wis., finished fifth and clinched the Victory Circle Chassis rookie of the year award for the Midwest Series.

Results

Oktoberfest 250 - NASCAR Elite Division, International Truck and Engine Corporation Midwest Series

LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway    October 5, 2003

(Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, driver name, driver hometown, manufacturer, laps completed, money won)

  1.  (4) TIM SCHENDEL, Sparta Wis., Chevrolet, 250, 96.666 mph, $5,250
  2.  (8) RYAN HANSON, Beloit Wis., Ford, 250, $3,775
  3.  (3) STEVE CARLSON, West Salem Wis., Chevrolet, 250, $3,050
  4. (13) JUSTIN DIERCKS, Davenport Iowa, Chevrolet, 250, $2,250
  5.  (2) ERIC FRANSEN, West Bend Wis., Chevrolet, 250, $2,150
  6.  (1) STEVE HOLZHAUSEN, Bangor Wis., Ford, 250, $1,800
  7. (14) TIM SAUTER, Nedecah Wis., Ford, 250, $1,700
  8. (17) NATHAN HASELEU, Arlington Wis., Ford, 250, $1,850
  9.  (9) RON BREESE, JR, DeKalb Ill., Chevrolet, 250, $1,850
10.  (6) EDDIE HOFFMAN, Wheaton Ill., Chevrolet, 250, $1,850
11. (19) BRIAN HOPPE, Madison Wis., Chevrolet, 250, $1,650
12. (25) JEREMY LEPAK, Wausau Wis., Chevrolet, 249, $2,275
13. (16) DAN FREDRICKSON, Elko Minn., Chevrolet, 249, $1,250
14. (20) JOSH VADNAIS, White Bear Lake Minn., Chevrolet, 248, $1,275
15. (10) J. HERBST, West Salem Wis., Chevrolet, 248, $1,200
16. (11) CLINT BOWYER, Emporia Kan., Chevrolet, 248, $1,350
17. (15) KIRBY KURTH, Wisconsin Rapids Wis., Chevrolet, 248, $1,140
18. (12) TONY BAGSTAD, Cashton Wis., Chevrolet, 248, $1,130
19.  (7) JON LEMKE, Greenfield Minn., Chevrolet, 246, $1,420
20. (23) BRYAN ROACH, Becker Minn., Chevrolet, 246, $1,310
21. (26) MARK VOIGT, Marine Ill., Chevrolet, 245, $1,300
22. (27) DAVID FINNEY, Sycamore Ill., Chevrolet, 213, $1,300
23. (21) A J RHOADS, II, Hastings Minn., Chevrolet, 198, $1,350
24.  (5) BRENT KIRCHNER, LaCrosse Wis., Chevrolet, 162, $1,000
25. (18) PETE MOORE, McFarland Wis., Chevrolet, 116, $1,250
26. (22) TODD HANSEN, Minneapolis Minn., Chevrolet, 97, $1,050
27. (24) JEFF WAY, Burlington Wis., Chevrolet, 59, $1,200
28. (28) LES FERRIS, Northfield Minn., Chevrolet, 39, $1,200

Failed to Qualify: (3) CHAD BARKER (#38), RUSS BLAKELEY (#22), DAN BEDARD * (#77).

Time of Race: 1 hrs., 36 mins, 59 secs
Average Speed: 96.666 mph

Margin of Victory: 1.796 BUD POLE AWARD: RYAN HANSON, 60 Wehrs Machine Ford POWERADE POWER MOVE OF THE RACE: JEREMY LEPAK *, 67 Metro Milwaukee Auto Auction Chevrolet

Lap Leaders: ERIC FRANSEN * 1-37, TIM SCHENDEL 38-105, RYAN HANSON 106-149, STEVE CARLSON 150-164, TIM SCHENDEL 165-250.

Total Laps Led: TIM SCHENDEL 154, RYAN HANSON 44, ERIC FRANSEN * 37, STEVE CARLSON 15. 4 changes involving 4 drivers.