June 12, 2004;  West Salem, WI - Great weather and a car count totaling 134 led to a fantastic evening of racing Saturday night at La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway.  For the first time in speedway history, the track hosted all three regular divisions and a NASCAR Touring division event on the same evening.

Photo Highlights A capacity crowd was on hand to witness the NASCAR Auto Zone Elite Division Midwest Series Kwik Trip Glazers 150, at the LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway. #29 Justin Diercks and #66 Steve Carlson made up the front row. The whole Diercks family plus the crew joined winner Justin in victory lane at La Crosse. #29 Justin Diercks makes the winning move inside leader Steve Carlson #66. Tim Schendel #21 (who won the Midwest Series race last fall at La Crosse) moves to pass the Bud Pole winner Ryan Hanson (#60). Minnesota drivers #97 A J Rhoads and #99 Brian Roach raced side by side most of the race with Rhoads ending up 12th and Roach 15th. Rookie Sam Andersen (#44) of Melrose, WI  took his first ever Kwik Trip NASCAR Late Model Feature victory. Jimmy Gilster (#33) of West Salem, WI won the Schreck Trucking 15 lap race for the Ray Hutson Chevrolet Grand National Sportsman.

Justin Diercks made it two NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Midwest Series wins in a row, Saturday night at the LaCrosse (Wis.) Fairgrounds Speedway with a dominating performance in the Kwik Trip Glazers 150, presented by Schreck Trucking.

Diercks led all but one lap and cruised to a 2.297 second victory over Steve Carlson. Tim Schendel, Erik Darnell and Eric Fransen rounded out the top five.

Diercks started from the pole position and led all but the first lap in the convincing win.

“The biggest part was just getting control of the race at the start and not let Steve have it,” said Diercks. “I knew if I could do that, I could just ease the pace out and set my race.”

After the mandatory series invert, Diercks started the 150-lap race along side Carlson in row one. Carlson nipped the 24-year-old at the line to lead lap one, but Diercks powered ahead to take the lead on lap two.

Behind them Brian Hoppe, Charlie Menard, making his first Midwest Series start, Schendel and Bud Pole fast qualifier Ryan Hanson jockeyed for position.

Hanson was the first of the quartet to make a charge to the front, but could get no higher than third.

Schendel moved past Hanson on lap 46 to take over the third spot and set sail on the lead duo.

Just two cautions for minor spins slowed the pace. In each case, Diercks and Carlson pulled away at the start, only to see Diercks put substantial real estate between himself and Carlson, the nine-time Midwest Series champion, as the laps wore on.

“We had a really good car,” said Carlson. “Justin just had a better car today. There was nothing I could do with him.”

Schendel was left with third place honors.

“All in all, it was a good points day,” said Schendel. “We just didn’t have enough for Steve or Justin.”

With the win, Diercks moved into the championship point lead for the Midwest Series, but early in the season that is the farthest thing from the youngster’s mind.

“This is really a special feeling,” said Diercks. “I’m just going for wins, I could care less about points right now.”

Darnell’s race day charge started from the eighth position, but his weekend charge started in Kentucky. Darnell had raced Friday evening at Kentucky Motor Speedway in a NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southeast Series race, where he finished eighth. The long journey netted him his best career Midwest Series run.

Fransen moved from his 12th starting position to finish fifth. The advancement earned him POWERade Power Move of the Race honors.

Moving backwards, however, Hoppe raced in the top five all race until he blistered a right rear tire with just fifteen laps to go. Hoppe was able to nurse his Chevrolet home to a ninth place finish.

Local favorite Steve Holzhausen qualified seventh but broke the driveshaft in his Ford as the field took the green flag, ending his night.

The Midwest Series returns to action, Sunday afternoon, June 27, with the running of the AutoZone Midwest Series 200, at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna.

Sam Andersen, a rookie in the NASCAR Kwik Trip Late Model division, had to survive two late race caution flags and a strong charge from Blake Horstman to take the Schreck Trucking 25 Feature.  Andersen started on the pole, and immediately begin to open up a comfortable lead. 

A lead that appeared to be invincible until a caution slowed the field on lap 18.  A three car incident in turn four bunched up the field, bringing teammates Blake Horstman and Kevin Nuttleman right back into the mix.  However,  Andersen was able to hold them off until another caution involving three cars came out on lap 20.  When the race came back under green, Horstman made a bold move to the inside,  nudging the nose of his car along inside Andersen's.  Horstman was unable to make his car stick, and Andersen was able to move out and maintain his narrow advantage all the way to the checkered flag.  Horstman finished second, Nuttleman third, followed by Steve Holzhausen and Charlie Menard.

Tim Hagen was the B-Feature winner in the Late Model division. 

Ray Hutson Chevrolet Sportsman driver started on the outside pole in the Schreck Trucking 15, and led every lap in picking up his first feature win of the season.  Chand Wehling and Rick Steinhoff finished in a close battle for second and third.  Jeff Baker and Jes Tenner finished fourth and fifth. 

The United Auto Supply Thunderstox ran two feature races Saturday night.  Charles Vian picked up the win in the first race. Justin Berg, Jamie Dummer, Jerry Aylsworth and Emily Sue Steck rounded out the top five.  Wayne Smith took the checkered flag in the second race, follwowed by Henry Vian, Greg Lindvig, Tony Wheeler and Mary Schill.  In the second feature, Way

The NASCAR AutoZone Elite Midwest Series made the first of two trips this year to the speedway.  Justin Diercks passed Steve Carlson on lap three of the Kwik Trip Glazers 150 to take the lead.  Diercks then patiently worked his way through lapped traffic to win his second straight Midwest Series race.  Carlson finished second, but was never able to mount a serious charge to take the lead.  Tim Schendel, Erik Darnell and Eric Fransen rounded out the top five finishers.

As a result of running the Midwest Series race, no qualifying or heat races were held for Late Models, Sportsman or Thunderstox divisions.

Saturday, June 26          ///NASCAR  Late Models, Sportsman, Thunderstox, Second Over The Line Wins
Friday, July 2                ///NASCAR   Night Of Thrills, Hornets, School Bus Race, Fireworks
Saturday, July 3           ///NASCAR   Late Models, Sportsman, Thunderstox, Recliner Race, Fireworks

For complete results from the RACESTAT computer click here

LA CROSSE FAIRGROUNDS SPEEDWAY

Kwik Trip "Glazers" 150, presented by Schreck Trucking
NASCAR AUTOZONE ELITE DIVISION, MIDWEST SERIES
Lacrosse Fairgrounds Speedway June 19, 2004

Finish with starting positions in parenthesis, hometown, car make, laps completed, average speed, status and money won

1. (1) Justin Diercks, Davenport Iowa, Chevrolet, 150, 101.995 mph, $3,835
2. (2) Steve Carlson, West Salem Wis, Chevrolet, 150, $3,090
3. (5) Tim Schendel, Sparta Wis, Chevrolet, 150, $2,435
4. (8) Erik Darnell, Beach Park Ill, Chevrolet, 150, $1,735
5. (12) Eric Fransen, West Bend Wis, Chevrolet, 150, $2,435
6. (6) Ryan Hanson, Beloit Wis, Ford, 150, $1,835
7. (10) Eddie Hoffman, Wheaton Ill, Chevrolet, 149, $1,510
8. (4) Charlie Menard, Eau Claire Wis, Chevrolet, 149, $950
9. (3) Brian Hoppe, Madison Wis, Chevrolet, 149, $1,235
10. (11) Nathan Haseleu, Marshall Wis, Ford, 149, $1,085
11. (16) David Finney, Sycamore Ill, Chevrolet, 148, $985
12. (15) A J Rhoads, II, Hastings Min, Chevrolet, 148, $935
13. (17) Andrew Morrissey, DeForest Wis, Chevrolet, 148, $650
14. (18) Josh Vadnais, White Bear Lake Min, Chevrolet, 147, $860
15. (20) Bryan Roach, Becker Min, Chevrolet, 147, $860
16. (13) Jeff Way, Burlington Wis, Chevrolet, 147, $835
17. (24) Russ Blakeley *, Palmyra Wis, Chevrolet, 146, $525
18. (9) Brent Kirchner *, LaCrosse Wis, Chevrolet, 146, $500
19. (21) Les Ferris, Northfield Min, Chevrolet, 146, $735
20. (19) Justin Hirt *, Tigerton Wis, Chevrolet, 145, $500
21. (22) Greg Fowler, Longmont Col, Chevrolet, 144, $500
22. (14) Tim Rothe, Appleton Wis, Chevrolet, 37, Handling, $735
23. (7) Steve Holzhausen, Bangor Wis, Ford, 0, Drive Shaft, $500
24. (23) Dave Bean, Westby Wis, Chevrolet, 0, Engine, $735


Time of Race: 0 hrs., 55 mins, 9 secs Average Speed: 101.995 mph
Margin of Victory: 2.297 Seconds
BUD POLE AWARD: Ryan Hanson, 60 Prairie Avenue Concrete/Swiss Colony Ford
FEATHERLITE MOST IMPROVED DRIVER: Tim Schendel, 21 Mathew's Archery/Midwest Fuels Chevrolet
POWERADE POWER MOVE OF THE RACE: Eric Fransen, 16 Sonya's Rose Floral & Gifts/Motor Masters Chevrolet
AUTOMETER ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Russ Blakeley, Premier Real Estate Development Chevrolet
Caution Flags: Laps 17-20 (45 spin); 87-90 (45 spin). 2 for 8 laps.
Lap Leaders: Steve Carlson 1, Justin Diercks 2-150.
Total Laps Led: Justin Diercks 149, Steve Carlson 1. 1 changes involving 2 drivers.
Top 10 Driver Points: Justin Diercks 510, Steve Carlson 510, Brian Hoppe 473, Tim Schendel 462, Ryan Hanson 457, Eddie Hoffman 413, Bryan Roach 394, David Finney 391, A J Rhoads, II 375, Josh Vadnais 366
Next Race: June 27, Wisconsin Int'l Raceway, Kaukauna, Wisconsin

Kwik Trip NASCAR Late Models
   Schreck Trucking 25 Feature - 1, Sam Andersen, Melrose; 2, Blake Horstman, Rockland; 3, Kevin Nuttleman, Bangor; 4, Steve Holzhausen, Bangor; 5, Charlie Menard, Eau Claire; 6, Mike Belling, La Crosse; 7, Rick Wateski, La Crosse; 8, Jim Hagel, Holmen; 9, Todd Oliver, Bangor; 10, Todd Korish, Holmen; 11, Shawn Pfaff, Sparta; 12, Bill Niles, Holmen; 13, Dan Steele, West Salem; 14, Adam Degenhardt, Coon Valley; 15, Troy Goodenough, Mindoro; 16, Quinn Arnoldy, Arcadia; 17, Andy Niles, Holmen; 18, Tom McClintock, La Crosse; 19, J. Herbst, West Salem; 20, Tim Hagen, La Crosse; 21, John Towner, Trempealeau; 22, Jon Barrette, La Crosse; 23, Kraig Burrows, West Salem.
   B-Main - 1, Tim Hagen, La Crescent, Minn; 2, John Towner, Trempealeau; 3, Jon Barrette, La Crosse; 4, Dan Steele, West Salem; 5, Andy Niles, Holmen.
 
Ray Hutson Chevy Sportsman
   Schreck Trucking 15 Feature (25 Cars) - 1, Jimmy Gilster, West Salem; 2, Chand Wehling, Stoddard; 3, Rick Steinhoff, Sparta; 4, Jeff Baker, Holmen; 5, Jes Tenner, Melrose; 6, Tom Thill, West Salem; 7, John Olson, Sparta; 8, Larry Bolster, Jr; Sparta; 9, Chris Skrede, Rockland; 10, Rick Shisler, La Crosse; 11, Randy Steinhoff, Cashton; 12, Scott Beckler, Sparta; 13, Nicholoas Schroeder, Cashton; 14, Tony Leis, Bangor; 15, Branden Berg, Melrose.
   B-Main - 1, Aaron Hass, La Crosse; 2, Bill Miller, Sparta; 3, Tony Leis, Middle Ridge; 4, Todd Lockington, Mindoro; 5, Ken Lewis, Black River Falls.
 
United Auto Supply Thunderstox
   Schreck Trucking 15 Feature (23 Cars) - 1, Charles Vian, Sparta; 2, Justin Berg, Bangor; 3, Jamie Dummer, Holmen; 4, Jerry Aylsworth, Holmen; 5, Emily Sue Steck, Holmen; 6, Adam Moore, Sparta; 7, Bill Inglett, La Crosse; 8, Dwayne Anderson, Sparta; 9, Jason Pulham, Sparta; 10, Al Bartels, Tomah; 11, Les Stanfield, La Crosse; 12, Josh Inglett, La Crosse; 13, Steve Bornitz, Holmen; 14, Jake Krueger, Sparta; 15, Brad Warthan, Sparta.
   Feature 2 - 1, Wayne Smith, La Crosse; 2, Henry Vian, Norwalk; 3, Greg Lindvig, Holmen; 4, Tony Wheeler, La Crosse; 5, Mary Schill, Cashton; 6, Aaron Vinson, La Crosse; 7, Tim Steinhoff, Cashton; 8, Travis Schendel, Cashton; 9, Steve Scholze, Sparta; 10, Kevin Burr, La Crescent, Minn; 11, Andy Moore, Sparta; 12, Jason Bolster, Sparta; 13, Jason Schaller, La Crosse; 14, Danielle Neary, La Crosse; 15, Ray Hardy, Sparta.