October
10, 2004; West Salem, WI - Wisconsin Late Models:
It seems nothing these days can stop Eau Claire, WI driver Charlie Menard. Any division,
any time, anywhere. Menard won just about every event he entered, three feature wins and
two fast qualifying times.
Menard started deep in the field in the Oktoberfest 50 Wisconsin Late
Model Feature race, and although it took some time, it seemed inevitable that Menard would
eventually take the lead and the win.
It did take some time, 38 laps to be exact, but he got it done. Starting in 12th, Menard
moved up methodically, taking advantage of a couple cautions and a 10 car accident that
occurred before the start of the race, taking out some very strong cars. The 10 car melee
happened in turn four as the field was coming down to get the green flag.
Jason Schuler started on the pole and ran strong early, warding off challenges from
several drivers. On lap 11, Jacob Humphrey moved to the inside, racing side by side with
Schuler several laps before taking over the point. However, Humphrey's led was short lived
as he was tapped from behind by Nathan Haseleu on lap 18 allowing Haseleu to take the lead
away.
As this was going on, Menard was inching closer to the race lead, which he took away as he
pulled alongside Haseleu in turn four to take the lead for good. Once assuming the lead,
Menard steadily pulled away to win by about 15 car lengths to take his second feature win
of the weekend, with one more to go. Chris Weinkauf was second, Jacob Humphrey fourth and
Dan Fredrickson rounded out the top five.
Last Chance Wisconsin Late Model Heat Race wins went to Bryan Roach and Kris Kelly.
La Crosse Late Models:
Once again, Menard started in the middle of the field, but this time it only took him 24
laps to take the lead, as he charged past veteran driver Steve Holzhausen to capture this
third and final feature win of Oktoberfest Race Weekend.
Holzhausen and Menard started 10th and 12th respectively, but immediately charged to the
front from the drop of the green flag. On lap 15, Holzhausen moved past early race leader
Kevin Nuttleman to take the top spot. Holzhausen pulled Menard around the track for nine
laps with Menard just inches behind, looking for the right spot to make his move.
On lap 24 he found it. Coming out of turn four, Menard moved to the inside and beat
Holzhausen to the line by about a foot. From there on out, Menard pulled away, with
clearly the best car in the field underneath him. A spin by Jim Hagel on lap 38 allowed
Holzhausen another chance to take the lead, but Menard was simply to strong. A late race
move by Menards teammate Andy Burgess allowed him to finish second, followed by
Holzhausen, Nuttleman and J. Herbst.
LA CROSSE FAIRGROUNDS SPEEDWAY
Wisconsin Late Models
Oktoberfest 50 Feature - 1, Charlie Menard, Eau Claire, WI; 2, Nathan Haseleu,
Pardeeville, WI; 3, Chris Weinkauf, Merrill, WI; 4, Jacob Humphrey, Lake Geneva, WI; 5,
Dan Fredrickson, Elko, MN; 6, Todd Kluever, Marshall, WI; 7, Tim Schendel, Sparta, WI; 8,
Steve Carlson, West Salem, WI; 9, Jeff Kendall, Montello, WI; 10, Bob Danes, New Holstein,
WI; 11, John Nutley, Jr., Midlothian, IL; 12, Kris Kelly, Norway, MI; 13, Don Turner, La
Crosse; 14, Dean Cornelius, Chaska, MN; 15, Dean LaPointe, Marshfield, WI; 16, Blake
Horstman, Rockland, WI; 17, Travis Dassow, West Bend, WI; 18, Jason Schuler, Cambridge,
WI; 19, Tommy Pacaro, Janesville, WI; 20, Todd Hansen, Minneapolis, MN; 21, Terry
Schoppenhorst, Berlin, WI; 22, Jeremy LePak, Wausau, WI; 23, Trent Snyder, Ironton, MN;
24, Jeff Weinfurter, Wisconsin Rapids, WI; 25, Andy Burgess, La Crosse, WI; 26, Ben
Pettis, Eau Claire, WI.
Last Chance 1 - 1, Frank Kreyer, Pardeeville; 2, Blake Horstman, Rockland; 3, Trent
Snyder, Ironton, MN; 4, Jeff Weinfurter, Wisconsin Rapids; 5, Bruce Havel, Deerfield.
Last Chance 2 - 1, Kris Kelly, Norway, MI; 2, Jeremy LePak, Wausau; 3, Ben Pettis, Eau
Claire; 4, Andy Burgess, Eau Claire; 5, Tommy Pecaro, Janesville.
La Crosse Late Models
Oktoberfest 50 Feature - 1, Charlie Menard, Eau Claire, WI; 2, Andy Burgess, Eau Claire,
WI; 3, Steve Holzhausen, Bangor, WI; 4, Kevin Nuttleman, Bangor, WI; 5, J. Herbst, West
Salem, WI; 6, Mike Belling, La Crosse, WI; 7, Shawn Pfaff, Sparta, WI; 8, Chris Skrede,
Rockland, WI; 9, Todd Oliver, Bangor, WI; 10, Dexter Bean, Westby, WI; 11, Lorin Kurth,
Waukon, IA; 12, Andy Niles, Holmen, WI; 13, Tim Nelson, La Crescent, MN; 14, Ryan Carlson,
Loves Park, IL; 15, Lucas Grosinger, St. Louis Park, MN; 16, J.J. Meyer, Holmen, WI; 17,
Shane Ulvestad, Holmen, WI; 18, Tom Thill, West Salem, WI; 19, Kevin Eddy, Sparta, WI; 20,
Jim Hagel, Holmen, WI; 21, John Olson, Sparta, WI; 22, Travis Proksch, La Crosse, WI; 23,
Mark Lamoreaux, Bloomington, MN; 24, Bill Niles, Holmen, WI; 25, John Towner, Trempealeau,
WI; 26, Shawn Lockington, La Crosse, WI. |