July 24, 2004;  West Salem, WI -  Sometimes you have to take a step back before you can forge ahead. Sometimes you have to learn how to take yourself out of a championship race before you can win one.

Photo Highlights AKwik Trip NASCAR Late Model points leader Charlie Menard leads the late models during a Bud Dash. John Olson (41)  leads Jimmy Gilster during sportsman heat race action. The Thunderstox cars of Charles Vian (#1) and Jason Bolster (#8) battle between turns three and four during the evening's program.

 J. Herbst, one of many rising young stars at the La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway,  learned this lesson the hard way, but he said the important thing is that he did indeed learn it. It would be hard to argue with the West Salem, Wis., man after his performance Saturday night before 4,300 thoroughly entertained fans at the La Crosse Speedway.

Herbst, who would like to forget the last month of the season when he wrecked two race cars, gained a bit of redemption as he won the Kwik Trip Late Model feature. It was Herbst's second feature win of the season, seven weeks after he won his first, and the eighth of his five-year Late Model career.

"We definitely learned how to lose a championship. Some of it was my own fault and some of it wasn't," Herbst said. "We had a team meeting about it, and maybe I was trying too hard. This win tonight, this was 100 percent for the team. They have worked their butts off the last month to get me out here. From here on out, having the car in one piece when we leave is the goal."

 Herbst was able to avoid crashes on laps 4 and 10, and won by three car-lengths over Bangor's Kevin Nuttleman, who grabbed second place. He was fortunate to hold off the talented and savy Nuttleman, who is still in the hunt for what would be a ninth track title.

 Late Model points leader Charlie Menard, who entered the night as the leader in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Midwest Region as well, held off a hard-charging Steve Holzhausen for third place. Holzhausen and Tim Hagen rounded out the top five.

 "We could have used another yellow at the end," Nuttleman said. "We tried some (setup) things in the heat race. Some of them I liked and some of them I didn't. We've tried things all summer long, probably more than we have in any other summer. You need to do that to keep up with the 17 (Menard) and 78 (Holzhausen). The thing about it is, everybody is competitive. There is not a car here you can look past, and that makes it good for the people on the hill (fans watching)."
 Nuttleman wasn't blowing smoke either, as Troy Goodenough, a veteran driver from Mindoro, Wis., led the first 11 laps. He lost his momentum, however, on a restart on Lap 10 when Herbst came charging through the pack on the outside groove. Herbst was able to pick off Todd Korish and Sam Andersen on the restart, then powered his way to the front on Lap 12.

 "The second restart was a golden opportunity to get a couple of guys that would have been hard to pass," Herbst said. "You have to take a chance when you get it. You might not get another one."

 Herbst said it was the rocket-start he got on the first re-start, and the sometimes risky decision to take the outside groove on the second re-start were likely the difference.

 "Those two opportunities are what won us the race. That and my crew," Herbst said. "It sure feels good to have fun again. It wasn't fun for awhile."

Jes Tenner won his first Ray Hutson Chevrolet Sportsman Division feature race of the season, beating Mike Albrecht, Jr., and Chris Skrede across the line. Dan Linnehan and Jimmy Gilster rounded out the top five.

In what was a memorable night for Chris Skrede, the Rockland, Wis., who made his Late Model debut, finishing a respectable 18 in a very deep and talented 25-car Late Model field. Skrede also finished third in a nail-biting Ray Hutson Chevrolet Sportsman Division feature event.

For complete results from the RACESTAT computer click here

Saturday, July 31        United Auto Supply Presents:  ///NASCAR   Late Models, Sportsman, Thunderstox, Trailer Race of Destruction
Saturday, August 7     Trane Federal Credit Union Presents:   ///NASCAR  Late Models, Sportsman, Thunderstox, Road Construction Race                                         Novelty Event
Saturday, August 14    Bob Johnson Lubricants Presents: ///NASCAR   Late Models, Sportsman, Thunderstox,Bus Race

LA CROSSE FAIRGROUNDS SPEEDWAY RESULTS

Kwik Trip NASCAR Late Model
Ray Hutson Chevrolet 25 (25 cars): 1, J. Herbst, West Salem; 2, Kevin Nuttleman, Bangor; 3, Charlie Menard, Eau Claire; 4, Steve Holzhausen, Bangor; 5, Tim Hagen, La Crescent; 6, Sam Andersen, Melrose; 7, Troy Goodenough, Mindoro; 8, Todd Korish, Holmen; 9, Mike Belling, La Crosse; 10, Adam Degenhardt, Coon Valley; 11, Mark Lamoreaux, Bloomington, Minn,; 12, Bill Niles, Holmen; 13, Blake Horstman, Rockland; 14, Jeff Krueger, La Crescent; 15, Ken Hutchens, Black River Falls; 16, Todd Oliver, Bangor; 17, Joe Scholze, Holmen; 18, Chris Skrede, Rockland; 19, Kevin Eddy, Hatfield, Wis.; 20, Jim Hagel, Holmen; 21, Tom McClintock, Onalaska; 22, Tim Nelson, La Crescent; 23, Ronnie Hawley, Jr., Winona, Minn.; 24, John Towner, Trempealeau; 25, Kraig Burrows, Onalaska.
Semi-feature: 1, Bill Niles, Holmen; 2, Ken Hutchens, Black River Falls; 3, Kevin Eddy, Hatfield, Wis.; 4, Tim Nelson, La Crescent; 5, Kraig Burrows, West Salem.
Heat 1: 1, Jim Hagel, Holmen; 2, Todd Oliver, Bangor; 3, Tom McClintock, Onalaska; 4, Joe Scholze, Holmen; 5, Bill Niles, Holmen.
Bud Dash 1: 1, Tim Hagen, La Crescent; 2, Troy Goodenough, Mindoro; 3, Steve Holzhausen, Bangor; 4, J. Herbst, West Salem; 5, Sam Andersen, Melrose.
Bud Dash 2: 1, Charlie Menard, Eau Claire; 2, Mark Lamoreaux, Bloomington, Minn.; 3, Todd Korish, Holmen; 4, Jeff Krueger, La Crescent, Minn.; 5, Adam Degenhardt, Coon Valley.
Qualifying: 1, Blake Horstman, Bangor, 20.255 seconds; 2, Charlie Menard, Eau Claire, 20.261; 3, Steve Holzhausen, Bangor, 20.280; 4, Kevin Nuttleman, Bangor, 20.311; 5, Mike Belling, La Crosse, 20.485.


Ray Hutson Chevrolet Sportsman
Ray Hutson Chevrolet 15: 1, Jes Tenner, Melrose; 2, Michael Albrecht, Jr., La Crescent; 3, Chris Skrede, Rockland; 4, Daniel Linnehan, Sparta; 5, Jimmy Gilster, West Salem; 6, Larry Bolster, Jr., Sparta; 7, Nicholas Schroeder, Cashton; 8, Rick Steinhoff, Sparta; 9, Chand Wehling, Stoddard; 10, Randy Steinhoff, Cashton; 11, Aaron Hass, La Crosse; 12, Lucas Korish, La Crosse; 13, Tom Thill, West Salem; 14, Jeff Baker, Holmen; 15, John Olson, Sparta.
Semi-feature: 1, Jeff Winterfield, Westby; 2, Jason Dummer, Holmen; 3, Rob Christen, Onalaska; 4, Todd Lockington, Mindoro; 5, Brandon Berg, Mindoro.
Qualifying heat 1: 1, Randy Steinhoff, Sparta; 2, Aaron Hass, La Crosse; 3, Josh Millis, Black River Falls; 4, Jeff Winterfield, Coon Valley; 5, Joe Rinartz, La Crosse.
Qualifying heat 2:  1, Boomer Olson, Viroqua; 2, Nick Clements, 3, Jason Dummer, Holmen; 4, Ken Lewis, Black River Falls; 5, Branden Berg, North Bend.
Odd Bud Dash: 1, Larry Bolster, Jr., Sparta; 2, Jes Tenner, Melrose; 3, Tom Thill, West Salem; 4, Dan Linnehan, Sparta; 5, Rick Steinhoff, Sparta.
Even Bud Dash: 1, John Olson, Sparta; 2, Mike Albrecht, Jr., La Crescent; 3, Jimmy Gilster, West Salem; 4, Nick Schroeder, Cashton; 5, Jeff Baker, Holmen.
Qualifying: 1, Daniel Linnehan, Sparta, 22.703 seconds; 2, Michael Albrecht, Jr., La Crescent, 22.731; 3, Tom Thill, West Salem, 22.789; 4, Jeff Baker, Holmen, 22.797; 5, Chris Skrede, Rockland, 22.803.


United Auto Supply Thunderstox
Ray Hutson Chevrolet 15: 1, Andy Barney, West Salem; 2, Justin Berg, Bangor; 3, Jamie Dummer, Holmen; 4, Al Bartels, Tomah; 5, Danielle Neary, La Crosse; 6, Charles Vian, Sparta; 7, Adam Moore, Sparta; 8, Jason Stark, La Crosse; 9, Andy Moore, Sparta; 10, Matt Inglett, La Crosse; 11, Ed Senn, La Crosse; 12, Tony Wheeler, La Crosse; 13, Bill Inglett, La Crosse; 14, Jason Bolster, Sparta; 15, Greg Lindvig, Holmen.
Semi-feature (B): 1, Emily Sue Steck, Holmen; 2, Bill Inglett, La Crosse; 3, Jerry Aylesworth, Holmen; 4, Wayne Smith, Barre Mills; 5, Steve Bornitz, Holmen.
Bud Dash: 1, Charles Vian, Sparta; 2, Jason Bolster, Sparta; 3, Jason Stark, Sparta; 4, Adam Moore, Sparta; 5, Jamie Dummer, Holmen.
Heat 1: 1, Jason Stark, Sparta; 2, Charlie Vian, Sparta; 3, Jason Schaller, Holmen; 4, Tim Steinhoff, Cashton; 5, Al Bartels, Tomah.
Heat 2: 1, Andy Moore, Sparta; 2, Jamie Dummer, Holmen; 3, Andy Barney, West Salem; 4, Ben Allen, Bangor; 5, Ed Senn, La Crosse.
Heat 3: 1, Adam Moore, Sparta; 2, Jason Bolster, Sparta; 3, Kyle Voss, La Crescent; 4, Greg Lindvig, Holmen; 5, Brandy Eddy, Sparta.
Heat 4: 1, Justin Berg, Bangor; 2, Tony Wheeler, La Crosse, 3, Ed Senn, La Crosse; 4, Matt Inglett, La Crosse; 5, Danielle Neary, La Crosse.


Features Sports Bar & Grill Hornets
Feature 1: 1, Pete Muenkel, Caledonia; 2, Mike Lavigne; 3, Jerry Schomers, La Crescent; 4, Carroll Hundorf, Winona, Minn.; 5, Dana Berg, Etrrick; 6, Gary Roberts; 7, John Benson, Caledonia; 8, Brenda Bauer, Kellogg, Minn.; 9, Jim Weissenberger, Sparta; 10, Wayne Moore, Millston, Wis.
Feature 2: 1, Tammy Schermerhorn, Holmen; 2, Jeff Rud, Caledonia; 3, Jeff Stumlin, Mindoro; 4, Brandon Helgeson, Holmen; 5, Randy Levigne; 6, Trevor Chilson, La Crosse; 7, Brock Towner, Trempealeau; 8, Keenan Stitt, West Salem; 9, Carl Anderson, Sparta; 10, Eugene Hagen, Winona, Minn.
Feature 3: 1, Jared Heaney, Rochester, Minn.; 2, Jerrod Loging, West Salem; 3, Pete Arentz, Coon Valley; 4, Nate Towner, Trempealeau; 5, Todd Lemke, Caledonia; 6, Alan Van Vleet, Galesville; 7, Kevin Turner, La Crosse; 8, Eric Komperud, Galesville; 9, Damian Kelly, De Pere, Wis.; 10, Jason Mork, Osseo, Wis.
Heat 1: 1, Matt Moore, 2, Brandon Helgeson, 3, Brenda Bauer, 4, Wayne Moore, 5, Eugene Hager, Eyota, Minn.
Heat 2: 1, Tammy Schermerhorn, 2, Ryan Lockington, Bangor; 3, Jerry Schomers, 4, Jim Weissenberger, 5, Jeff Rud.
Heat 3: 1, Kevin Turner, 2, Pete Muenkel, 3, Jason Mork, 4, Carroll Hundorf, 5, Chris Sampson.
Heat 4: 1, Jim Schermerhorn, Middle Ridge; 2, Jeff Heaney, Caledonia; 3, Alan Van Vleet, Galesville; 4, Todd Lemke, Caledonia; 5, John Eron, Merrillan, Wis.