October 8, 2004;  West Salem, WI - Brad Powell capped a successful night for La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway local drivers as he took the checkers in the Oktoberfest 25 Feature in the Limited Late Model Division.  Powell started 11th, then took advantage of a late race caution on lap 17 to sweep past leader Ryan Carlson to take the win.  Powell, the 2001 La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway Late Model Champion was in second place on the lap 17 restart, but immediately moved his car inside Carlson's once the green flag waved.  Carlson had no choice but to allow Powell the position.  Kris Kelly was second, Jim Jarlsberg third, with Carlson and Dennis Sebani rounding out the top five.  As of press time, the results were not official as track officials were still inspecting the top finishers.

Jim Jarlsberg led Blake Horstman to the line to win the first Limited Late Model Qualifying Feature race. Jarlsberg was in second place when a lap 10 caution flag brought out when Eric Thompson and Curt Thompson both made contact with the outside retaining wall.  After the caution, Jarlsberg and Horstman quickly moved past race leader Jimmy Syvrud and held their positions until the checkered flag.

Mike Beyer took control on the first lap of the second Limited Late Model Qualifying Feature, and held his position until lap 13, when Brad Powell moved his car to the outside of Beyer, taking the lead down the frontstretch.  Powell started deep in the field, but used aggressive but cautious driving to move his car to the front. Beyer held on to finish second, followed by Kris Kelly.

Dale Smith posted a win in the Last Chance Qualifying race, beating Robb Dubnecay to the line be about 5 car lengths. Blake Horstman paced the field in qualifying, posting a time of 20.200 seconds, 97.203 MPH.  Brad Powell was second quick, Jim Jarisberg third.  

Central Wisconsin Late Models:
2004 La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway Kwik Trip NASCAR Late Model Champion showed he hasn't lost his magic touch in the month he last raced in La Crosse.  Menard started deep in the field of the Oktoberfest 25 Feature, and immediately started moving his way towards the front of the field, passing nearly a car a lap.  With the quickest car in the feature, it seemed inevitable that Menard would eventually challenge for the win.  On lap 18, Menard closed in on his teammate Ben Pettis, who led the 17 laps.  Pettis, who appeared to realize that Menard was much faster than he was, moved over to allow Menard to take the lead.  From there on out, Menard maintained about the lead until the checkered flag.  Pettis followed Menard to finish second, with Jason Weinkauf, Jeremy LePak and Steve Rubeck rounding out the top five.

Veteran driver Bobby Wilberg captured the first CW Late Model Qualifying Feature.   Eight laps in, Wilberg passed early race leader Matthew Mylin.  From there on, Wilberg had a comfortable lead, winning by about 15 car lengths.  Mylin finished second, followed by Menard.

Rod Berew showed he had his car hooked up well in the second Qualifying Feature, as he led from start to finish, easily outdistancing the field to take the victory.  Todd Hansen finished in second, leading a tight group of cars battling for one of the transfer spots to the CW Late Model Oktoberfest 25 Feature.

Dean Cornelius and Jay VanDerGeest picked up the victories in the Last Chance Qualifying races.  Cornelius narrowly edged Brad Powell, who also competed in the Limited Late Model Division.  VanDerGeest picked up the win by a fairly large margin over Jeff Weinfurter, who had trouble in an earlier Qualifying Feature race.

Menard was quickest in qualifying, posting a lap of 19.529 seconds, 100.543 MPH.  An Oktoberfest record 47 CW Late Models were in attendance, easily breaking the old record of 40 set in 1998.

ASA Style Late Models:
Mike Beyer took the lead 10 laps into the Oktoberfest 40 Feature race, and never looked back, leading the last 30 laps to take win.  Beyer started on the outside of row two, and quickly moved up to challenge for the lead, trying hard for several laps to pass early race leader Dan Lensing.  Finally, on lap 10, Beyer moved to the inside in turn four, forcing Lensing to lift which allowed Beyer to take the lead for good.  Landon Cassill finished second, followed by Lensing, Bobby Wilberg and Travis Dassow.

Todd Kluever passed Jared Ziegler with two laps to go to win the ASA Style Heat Race.   Ziegler led the first eight laps starting from the pole.  Kluever got the nose of his car underneath of Ziegler going into turn four, making it stick to take the win.   Landon Cassill was fast timer, clocking in with a time of 19.463 seconds, 100.884 MPH.

Area Sportsman:
Jeff Baker certainly has had a great first two days of the 35th Annual Oktoberfest Race Weekend.  Thursday night, Baker was crowned the 2004 Ray Hutson Chevrolet Sportsman Division Season Champion, then Friday night Baker picked up the checkers in the Area Sportsman Oktoberfest 25 Feature.  Baker certainly has his work cut out for him, after being involved in a multi-car accident of lap six which brought out the first of several race cautions.  Baker's car wasn't any worse for the wear, as he quickly moved towards the front.  One big advantage to Baker came when Tom Thill and Jordan Hess, running first and second, made contact in turn three to bring out the caution and take them both of them out of contention.  Once back greem Baker wasted little time as he quickly put his car out front and held on to the end.  Nick Schroeder finished second, John Korish third, Luke Padfield fourth and Jimmy Gilster fifth. 

Luke Padfield took the first Area Sportsman Qualifying Feature race by the narrowest of margins.  Greg Scheck took the lead on the opening lap and appeared to be heading towards a comfortable win, opening a 10 car length lead until Padfield closed the gap.   Padfield started sixth, but with three laps to go, moved to the outside of Scheck down the backstretch. The two battled side by side to the finish as Padfield edged Scheck by a foot to take the checkered flag and a spot in the Oktoberfest 25 Feature.

Dan Gilster survived four cautions flags and numerous on track incidents to take the second Area Sportsman Qualifying Feature.  Gilster started twelvth, but quickly worked his way towards the front, taking the lead for good on lap nine.  After a final caution that bunched up the field with three laps to go, Gilster held on to beat Tom Thill to the line by about a car length.

Tim Lewis and Randy Padfield survived wild Last Chance races to post victories.   Padfield picked up the win when the two leaders made contact in turn four, allowing Padfield to move from third to first and take the win. La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway regular Jimmy Gilster paced the field in qualifying, with a lap of 21.592 seconds, 90.936 MPH.


LA CROSSE FAIRGROUNDS SPEEDWAY

Limited Late Model
   Oktoberfest 25 Feature (24 cars) - 1, Brad Powell, La Crosse; 2, Kris Kelly, Norway, MI; 3, Jim Jarlsberg, Cambridge; 4, Ryan Carlson, Loves Park, IL; 5, Dennis Stebani, Kaukauna; 6, Neil Knoblock, Wausau; 7, Brian Johnson, Jr., Roscoe, IL; 8, Blake Horstman, Rockland; 9, Rob Dubnecay, Maple Grove, Minn; 10, Andy Niles, Holmen; 11, Tim Noble, Janesville; 12, Gene Olson, Jr., Sullivan; 13, Lorin Kurth, Waukon, IA; 14, Paul Block, Wausau; 15, Mike Taylor, Stoughton.
   Qualifying - 1, Blake Horstman, Rockland, 20.200 secs, 97.203 MPH; 2, Brad Powell, La Crosse, 20.262 secs, 96.906 MPH; 3, Jim Jarlsberg, Cambridge, 20.323 secs, 96.615 MPH; 4, Rod Wheeler, Appleton, 20.448 secs, 96.024 MPH; 5, Randy Brunig Columbus, 20.486 secs, 95.846 MPH.
   Qualifying Feature 1 - 1, Jim Jarlsberg, Cambridge; 2, Blake Horstman, Rockland; 3, Jimmy Syvrud, Pardeeville; 4, Richard Schumann, Jr., Portage; 5, Jerry Van Handel, Waupaca.
   Qualifying Feature 2 - 1, Brad Powell, La Crossse; 2, Mike Beyer, Rockford, IL; 3, Kris Kelly, Norway, MI; 4, Tom McClintock, Onalaska; 5, Mike Ehde, Prairie du Chien.
   Last Chance 1 - 1, Dale Smith, Lake Mills; 2, Rob Dubnecay, Maple Grove, Minn,; 3, Mike Merriam, Ringle; 4, Lucas Grosinger, St. Louis Park, Minn,; 5, Paul Block, Wausau.
  
Area Sportsman
   Oktoberfest 25 Feature (25 Cars) - 1, Jeff Baker, Holmen; 2, Nick Schroeder, Cashton; 3, John Korish, La Crosse; 4, Luke Padfield, Edgerton; 5, Jimmy Gilster, West Salem; 6, Lucas Korish, La Crosse; 7, Ken Hutchens, Black River Falls; 8, Tom Thill, West Salem; 9, Scott Hamel, Wisconsin Rapids; 10, Tuffy Myer, Tomah; 11, Josh Millis, Black River Falls; 12, Bryan Turtle, Shakopee, Minn; 13, Brent Kane, Prior Lake, Minn; 14, Randy Padfield, Edgerton; 15, Rob Curran, Rockland; 16, Noel Ramge, Hellenville; 17, Greg Scheck, West Salem; 18, Kevin Turek, Montgomery, Minn; 19, James Kruschke III, Reedsburg; 20, Mark Challet, Bangor; 21, Jordan Hess, Coon Valley; 22, Tim Lewis, Hopkins, Minn; 23, Joe Rinartz, West Salem; 24, Chand Wehling, Stoddard; 25, Matt Hanson, Wonewoc.
   Qualifying - 1, Jimmy Gilster, West Salem, 21.592 secs, 90.936 MPH; 2, Dan Gilster, West Salem, 21.611 secs, 90.857 MPH; 3, Jordan Hess, Coon Valley, 21.746 secs, 90.292 MPH; 4, Ken Hutchens, Black River Falls, 21.861 secs, 89.817 MPH; 5,James Kruschke III, Reedsburg, 21.872 secs, 89.772 MPH.
   Qualifying Feature 1 - 1, Luke Padfield, Edgerton; 2, Greg Scheck, West Salem; 3,
   Qualifying Feature 2 - 1, Dan Gilster, West Salem; 2, Tom Thill, West Salem; 3, Jeff Baker, Holmen; 4, Ken Hutchens, Black River Falls; 5, Chand Wehling, Stoddard.
   Last Chance 1 - 1, Tim Lewis, Hopkins, Minn.; 2, Kevin Turek, Montogmery, Minn.; 3, Noel Ramge, Hellenville; 4, Mark Challet, Bangor; 5, Ken Lewis, Black River Falls.
   Last Chance 2 - 1, Randy Padfield, Edgerton; 2, Rob Curran, Rockland; 3, Raymond Sandgren, New Richmond; 4, Joe Rinartz, West Salem; 5, Robert Challet, Bangor.

Central Wisconsin Late Model
   Oktoberfest 25 Feature Feature (24 Cars) - 1, Charlie Menard, Eau Claire; 2, Ben Pettis, Eau Claire; 3, Jason Weinkauf, Merrill; 4, Jeremy LePak, Wausau; 5, Steve Rubeck, Cherry Valley, IL; 6, Todd Kluever, Marshall; 7, Bobby Wilberg, Orfordville; 8, Mark Eswein, Wisconsin Rapids; 9, Andy Burgess, Eau Claire; 10, Jeff Weinfurter, Wisconsin Rapids; 11, Dan Fredrickson, Elko, Minn; 12, Matthew Mylin, Rockton, IL; 13, Trent Snyder, Ironton, Minn; 14, Jacob Humphrey, Lake Geneva; 15, Dean Cornelius, Chaska, Minn; 16, Bryan Roach, Becker, Minn; 17, Todd Hansen, Minneapolis, Minn; 18, Jay VanDerGeest, Merrill; 19, Terry Schoppenhorst, Berlin; 20, chris Weinkauf, Merrill; 21. Jeff Kendall, Montello; 22, Chad Walen, Prior Lake, Minn; 23, Robb Vanderloop, Kaukauna; 24, Brad Powell, La Crosse.
   Qualifying - 1, Charlie Menard, Eau Claire, 19.529 seconds, 100.543 MPH; 2, Andy Burgess, Eau Claire, 19.554 secs, 100.414 MPH; 3, Dan Fredrickson, Elko, Minn., 19.627 secs, 100.041 MPH; 4, Terry Schoppenhorst, Berlin, 19.674 secs, 99.802 MPH; 5, Neil Knoblock, Wausau, 19.722 secs, 99.559 MPH.
   Qualifying Feature 1 - 1, Bobby Wilberg, Oxfordville; 2, Matthew Mylin, Rockton, IL; 3, Charlie Menard, Eau Claire; 4, Jacob Humphrey, Lake Geneva; 5, Todd Kluever, Marshall.
   Qualifying Feature 2 - 1, Rod Berew, Menomonee; 2, Todd Hansen, Minneapolis, Minn; 3, Trent Snyder, Ironton, Minn; 4, Jason Weinkauf, Merrill; 5, Ben Pettis, Eau Claire.
   Last Chance 1 - 1, Dean Cornelius, Chaska, Minn.; 2, Brad Powell, La Crosse; 3, Chris Weinkauf, Merrill; 4, Chad Walen, Prior Lake, Minn.; 5, John Knaus, Rockford, IL.
   Last Chance 2 - 1, Jay VanDerGeest, Merrill; 2, Jeff Weinfurter, Wisconsin Rapids; 3, Robb Vanderloop, Kaukauna; 4, Jeff Kendall, Montello; 5, Dean Schultz, Juneau.

ASA Style Late Model
   Oktoberfest 40 Feature - 1, Mike Beyer, Rockford, IL; 2, Landon Cassill, Fairfax, IA; 3, Dan Lensing, Rockford, IL; 4, Bobby Wilberg, Orfordville; 5, Travis Dassow, West Bend; 6,
   Qualifying - 1, Landon Cassill, Fairfax, IA, 19.463 seconds, 100.884 MPH; 2, Chad Wood, Madison, 19.785 secs, 99.242 MPH; 3, Bobby Wilberg, Orfordville, 19.925 secs, 98.545 MPH; 4, Pete Moore, McFarland, 20.046 secs, 97.950 MPH; 5, Travis Dassow, West Bend, 20.054 secs, 97.911 MPH.
   Heat Race 1 - 1, Todd Kluever, Marshall; 2, Jared Ziegler, Madison; 3, Travis Sauter, Necedah; 4, Pete Moore, McFarland; 5, Travis Dassow, West Bend.

Budweiser 75 Enduro (Late Friday Results) - 1, Dan Rozek; 2, Steve Reaben; 3, Mark Bornitz; 4, Nick Hammer; 5, Mitch Houden; 6, Jason Dummer; 7, Tony Waltemath; 8, Scott Bleecker; 9, Jeremy Halverson; 10, Reed Powers; 11, Jason Wintoch; 12, Drew Budde; 13, Kevin Fossum; 14, Tony Fluette; 15, Tom Bleecher.