October 10, 2004;  West Salem, WI -Brian Hoppe, of Madison, Wisconsin, won the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Midwest Series, Oktoberfest 250, Sunday afternoon at LaCrosse (Wis) Fairgrounds Speedway.

Hoppe dominated the race for his second victory of the season, leading 184 of the 250 laps that made up the Midwest Series finale. However, Hoppe was the last of the leaders to pit and needed a late race caution to secure the win.

Hoppe took the lead on lap five and pulled away from the rest of the field. All the leaders, except Hoppe and Eddie Hoffman, of Wheaton, Illinois, pitted during one of the first two caution periods.

"We were fortunate to get that caution when Jeff Way ran out of gas, because it looked liked we weren't going to get one," said Hoppe. "We needed that because we were going backwards pretty fast."

Hoppe's pit strategy was to pit late and it paid off as, with fresh tires, he blasted through the field to take the impressive win.

Steve Carlson, of West Salem, Wisconsin, took second away from Beach Park, Illinois driver, Erik Darnell, on the final circuit. Tim Schendel, of Sparta, Wisconsin and Eric Fransen, of West Bend, Wisconsin, rounded out the top five.

Justin Diercks, of Davenport, Iowa, finished seventh in the 250-lap race and claimed his first career NASCAR Midwest Series championship, but it didn't come easy.

Diercks broke a right front wheel early in the race and lost a lap to the leaders while pitting under green. Diercks was then involved in two on track incidents, the second coming while circling the speedway under caution.

"There was a time during that race where I thought I wouldn't be standing here as a champion," said Diercks. "After that second caution, I told myself to settle down and just ride around in the back and stay out of trouble."

Oktoberfest 250

NASCAR AUTOZONE ELITE DIVISION, MIDWEST SERIES

Lacrosse (Wisc.) Fairgrounds Speedway October 10, 2004

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

1. (2) Brian Hoppe, Madison Wis, Chevrolet, 250, 88.360 mph, $5,350
2. (8) Steve Carlson, West Salem Wis, Chevrolet, 250, $3,950
3. (3) Erik Darnell, Beach Park Ill, Chevrolet, 250, $2,400
4. (5) Tim Schendel, Sparta Wis, Chevrolet, 250, $2,600
5. (17) Eric Fransen, West Bend Wis, Chevrolet, 250, $2,850
6. (15) Andrew Morrissey, DeForest Wis, Chevrolet, 250, $2,000
7. (1) Justin Diercks, Davenport Iowa, Chevrolet, 250, $2,250
8. (6) Ryan Hanson, Beloit Wis, Ford, 250, $2,200
9. (13) Eddie Hoffman, Wheaton Ill, Chevrolet, 250, $1,800
10. (18) Josh Vadnais, White Bear Lake Min, Chevrolet, 249, $1,600
11. (12) A J Rhoads, Hastings Min, Chevrolet, 249, $1,550
12. (19) Russ Blakeley *, Palmyra Wis, Chevrolet, 249, $1,525
13. (16) Nathan Haseleu, Marshall Wis, Ford, 249, $1,450
14. (10) Brent Kirchner *, LaCrosse Wis, Chevrolet, 248, $1,425
15. (23) David Finney, Sycamore Ill, Chevrolet, 246, $1,400
16. (27) Molly Rhoads, Hastings Min., Chevrolet, 244, $1,150
17. (25) Les Ferris, Northfield Min, Chevrolet, 243, $1,340
18. (22) Justin Hirt *, Tigerton Wis, Chevrolet, 206, $1,380
19. (4) Steve Holzhausen, Bangor Wis, Ford, 203, Damage, $1,120
20. (21) Josh Bauer, Random Lake Wis, Chevrolet, 203, Steering, $1,110
21. (14) Jake Ryan, Farmington Min., Chevrolet, 185, Fatigue, $1,100
22. (26) Jeff Way, Burlington Wis, Chevrolet, 178, Ignition, $1,300
23. (20) Todd Hansen, Chevrolet, 145, Handling, $1,100
24. (11) Bryan Roach, Becker Min, Chevrolet, 113, Engine, $1,250
25. (28) Dave Bean, Westby Wis, Chevrolet, 85, Electrical, $1,000
26. (24) Greg Fowler, Longmont Col, Chevrolet, 43, Rear End, $1,200
27. (9) Brad Powell, LaCrosse Wis, Chevrolet, 7, Engine, $1,000
28. (7) Tony Bagstad, Westby Wis, Chevrolet, 6, Electrical, $1,000


Time of Race: 1 hrs., 46 mins, 6 secs Average Speed:88.360 mph

Margin of Victory: 4.051 Seconds

BUD POLE AWARD: Ryan Hanson, Swiss Colony/Prairie Avenue Concrete Ford

FEATHERLITE MOST IMPROVED DRIVER: Tim Schendel, Mathew's Archery/Midwest Fuels Chevrolet

POWERADE POWER MOVE OF THE RACE: Eric Fransen, Sonya's Rose Floral & Gifts/Motor Masters Chevrolet

Caution Flags: Laps 72-80 (19 spin); 102-107 (45 and 99 spin); 182-194 (68 stopped on back stretch); 195-200 (78 and 66 spin); 216-220 (11spin). 5 for 39 laps.

Lap Leaders: Justin Diercks 1-4, Brian Hoppe 5-153, Tim Schendel 154-215, Brian Hoppe 216-250.

Total Laps Led: Brian Hoppe 184, Tim Schendel 62, Justin Diercks 4. 3 changes involving 3 drivers.

Top 10 Driver Points: Justin Diercks 2211, Steve Carlson 2163, Brian Hoppe
2015, Tim Schendel 1972, Eddie Hoffman 1943, Ryan Hanson 1693, A J Rhoads 1634,
Bryan Roach 1618, Russ Blakeley * 1615, Justin Hirt * 1613

Next Race: Season Concluded

* Denotes Rookie of the Year Contender