(West Salem, WI - August 13, 2005) - When 2004 track champion Charlie Menard took the lead from Bill Niles on lap three, there were probably a few fans in the stands at the La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway who thought the race was over, and Menard would take his fourth win of the season. Menard did take win number four, but it was anything but easy, especially in the middle of the race, as he, Mark Lamoreaux and Kevin Nuttleman swapped the top spot several times, before Menard regained the lead on lap 21, and held on for the final ten laps for the victory in the Kwik Trip 30.

Photo Highlights A gaggle of Ray Hutson Chevrolet Grand National Sportsman cars exit turn four during preliminary action. Tom Hauser #05 leads a 3-wide battle into turn three during a United Auto Supply Thunderstox division heat race.

Lamoreaux had two turns leading the pack, and Nuttleman one as the three cars swapped spots for the middle ten laps, leading the rest of the field by about 5 lengths for most of the battle. Menard had the power to outgun Lamoreaux with nine laps remaining, putting the three cars back in the order they started the battle in, and held on the rest of the way for the win.

Bill Niles took the squad car to the front of the field early, as pole-sitter Tom McClintock slipped back, but as Niles ducked to the inside lane in the top spot, Menard quickly went to the outside, and motored by Niles in turn three of the third lap. While Menard opened up a 5-car advantage, Niles battled Lamoreaux hard for several laps before the veteran moved by into second on lap seven. Nuttleman followed a lap later, but the two found themselves 8-car lengths back of the leader.

That lead evaporated on lap nine, when Chris Skrede, Steve Holzhausen and John Towner tangled in turn one, with Towner and Skrede taking the brunt of the damage. Lamoreaux set up on the inside of Menard on the restart, and moved to the lead in turn two of lap 11 with Nuttleman following into second. They would lose those positions quickly, however, as the yellow flew when J. Herbst slamed the wall in turn four, bringing out the caution before the lap was complete.

Lamoreaux went inside again on the restart, taking the lead for real this time, and Nuttleman followed back into second a lap later, as Menard had to settle in third, just in front of Niles. On lap 14, Nuttleman went to the outside, taking the lead from Lamoreaux coming out of turn four, looking for his 96th carreer win at La Crosse.It was not to be, as Lamoreaux was able to work underneath the NJ4 of Nuttleman two laps later, taking over the point on the backstretch, with Menard following into second.

The final caution flew on lap 19, as Adam Degenhardt came to a stop on the backstretch, setting up another restart, with Menard chasing Lamoreaux this time. Lamoreaux got the jump on the restart, but Menard went to the outside on lap 21, taking the lead for good as the cars came out of turn four.

Lamoreaux held off Nuttleman for second, with fast-timer Mike Belling settling for fourth behind the lead trio. Andy Burgess was fifth, followed by Dan Steele, Niles, Tony Bagstad, Holzhausen and Sam Andersen.

Belling was quick timer for the first time this year, turning in a 98.200 MPH lap at a quick 19.995 seconds. Tim Nelson claimed the B-Feature, while John Towner and Andy Niles claimed the qualifying heat races. Belling and Jeff Baker took the wins in the Bud Dashes.

Trent Boettcher became the second driver in the Ray Hutson Chevrolet Sportsman division to claim win number three, having taken three of the last seven features in the division. Boettcher outraced Aaron Hass at the start, and once again after a lap 13 caution, and held off a late charge by John Olson for the win. Olson was second, followed by hass, Dan Gilster and Tony Leis. Gilster is the other driver with three wins on the season.

Gilster was also fast timer, the second-straight week he has earned that honor, tripping the clock at 22.125 seconds, or 88.746 MPH. 2004 Thunderstox champion Matt Inglett claimed the B-Main, and Tim Steinhoff took the checkers in the non-qualifying heat. Qualifying heats went to Randy hass and Mike Millis, while Boettcher and Dan Linnehan took the Bud Dashes.

Three cars pulled away from the field early in the United Auto Supply Thunderstox feature, but at the end, none of the three were a factor. Mary Schill pulled into the pits on lap 3, Lance Lee slowed dramatically on a lap 11 restart, and although Rusty Winchel crossed the finish line first, he failed post-race inspection,handing the win over ty Tony Wheeler. Wheeler moved up to challenge Winchel on the restart as well, and held off Kyle Voss and Dan Erdman at the finish. Chad Oehler was fourth, followed by Henry Vian.

Jason Bolster won the B-Main, while Oehler won the Bud Dash in the division. heat wins went to Robert Stanfield, Tom Phillips, Schill and Lee.

Action continues this week as the School Bus Race returns, along with a full slate of NASCAR Kwik Trip Late Model, Ray Hutson Chevrolet Sportsman and United Auto Supply Thunderstox action. Qualifying starts at 5:05 p.m., with the first race at 7:15.

Saturday, Aug. 20 ///NASCAR Late Models, Sportsman, Thunderstox, School Bus Race
Saturday, Aug. 27 ///NASCAR Late Models, Sportsman, Thunderstox, Hornets
Saturday, Sept. 3 ///NASCAR Late Models, Sportsman, Thunderstox, 100-lap late model feature

For complete results from the RACESTAT computer click here

LA CROSSE FAIRGROUNDS SPEEDWAY

Kwik Trip NASCAR Late Models

Kwik Trip 30 Feature (24 Cars) — 1. Charlie Menard, Eau Claire; 2. Mark Lamoreaux, Bloomington, Minn.; 3. Kevin Nuttleman, Bangor; 4. Mike Belling, La Crosse; 5. Andy Burgess, Fall Creek; 6. Dan Steele, West Salem; 7. Bill Niles, Holmen; 8. Tony Bagstad, Cashton; 9. Steve Holzhausen, Bangor; 10. Sam Andersen, Melrose; 11. Shawn Pfaff, Sparta; 12. Jeff Baker, Holmen; 13. Isaak Owen, La Crosse; 14. Todd Korish, Holmen; 15. Andy Niles, Holmen; 16. Jim Hagel, Holmen; 17. Lorin Kurth, Waukon, Ia.; 18. Tim Nelson, La Crescent, Minn.; 19. David Tradup, Viola, Minn.; 20. Chris Skrede, Cashton; 21. Adam Degenhardt, Coon Valley; 22. Tom McClintock, Onalaska; 23. J. Herbst, West Salem; 24. John Towner, Trempealeau.

B-Feature — 1. Tim Nelson, La Crescent, Minn.; 2. Lorin Kurth, Waukon, Ia.; 3. Adam Degenhardt, Coon Valley; 4. Ken Hutchens, Black River Falls; 5. Nick Schroeder, Cashton.

Qualifying —1, Mike Belling, La Crosse, 19.995 seconds, 98.200 MPH; 2, Andy Burgess, Fall Creek, 20.037 secs, 97.994 MPH; 3, Dan Steele, West Salem, 20.143 secs, 97.478 MPH; 4, Isaak Owen, La Crosse, 20.150 secs, 97.444 MPH; 5, Sam Andersen, Melrose, 20.181 secs, 97.294 MPH;

Qualifying Heat 1 — 1. John Towner, Trempealeau; 2. Shawn Pfaff, Sparta; 3. Nick Schroeder, Cashton; 4. Adam Degenhardt, Coon Valley; 5. Steve Miller, Onalaska.

Qualifying Heat 2 — 1. Andy Niles, Holmen; 2. Jim Hagel, Holmen; 3. Todd Oliver, Bangor; 4. Troy Goodenough, Mindoro; 5. David Tradup, Viola, Minn.

Odd Bud Dash — 1. Mike Belling, La Crosse; 2. Steve Holzhausen, Bangor; 3. Tony Bagstad, Cashton; 4. Kevin Nuttleman, Bangor; 5. Sam Andersen, Melrose.

Even Bud Dash — 1. Jeff Baker, Holmen; 2. Mark Lamoreaux, Bloomington, Minn; 3. Bill Niles, Holmen; 4. Andy Burgess, Fall Creek; 5. J. Herbst, West Salem.

Ray Hutson Chevrolet Sportsman

Kwik Trip 15 Feature (24 Cars) — 1. Trent Boettcher, La Crescent, Minn.; 2. John Olson, Sparta; 3. Aaron Hass, La Crosse; 4. Dan Gilster, West Salem; 5. Tony Leis, Middle Ridge; 6. Emily Sue Steck, Holmen; 7. Lucas Korish, La Crosse; 8. Dan Linnehan, Sparta; 9. Jes Tenner, Melrose; 10. Tom Thill, West Salem; 11. Mike Albrecht, Jr., La Crescent, Minn.; 12. Branden Berg, Melrose; 13. Jmmy Gilster, West Salem; 14. Boomer Olson, Viroqua; 15. Don Hess, La Crosse.

B-Feature — 1. Matt Inglett, La Crosse; 2. Boomer Olson, Viroqua; 3. Chad Rosendahl, Hokah, Minn.; 4. Jerimy Wagner, Melrose; 5. Jason Dummer, Holmen.

Qualifying — 1. Dan Gilster, West Salem, 22.125 secs, 88.746 MPH; 2, Lucas Korish, La Crosse, 22.270 secs, 88.168 MPH; 3, Branden Berg, Melrose, 22.306 secs, 88.026 MPH; 4, Emily Sue Steck, Holmen, 22.309 secs, 88.014 MPH; 5, Tony Leis, Middle Ridge, 22.314 secs, 87.994 MPH.

Non-Qualifying Heat 1 — 1. Tim Steinhoff, Cashton; 2. Randy Steinhoff, Cashton; 3. Mark Challet, Bangor; 4. Danielle Neary, La Crosse ; 5. Tim Groth, Ridgeway, Minn.

Qualifying Heat 1 — 1. Randy Hass, La Crosse; 2. Mike Carlson, West Salem; 3. Chad Rosendahl, Hokah, Minn.; 4. Larry Bolster, Jr., Sparta; 5. Jerimy Wagner, Melrose.

Qualifying Heat 2 — 1. Mike Millis, Black River Falls; 2. Nick Clements, Onalaska; 3. Boomer Olson, Viroqua; 4. Rob Mason, La Crescent, Minn.; 5. Matt Inglett, La Crosse.

Odd Bud Dash — 1. Trent Boettcher, La Crescent, Minn.; 2. Tom Thill, West Salem; 3. Dan Gilster, West Salem; 4. Chand Wehling, Stoddard; 5. Branden Berg, Melrose.

Even Bud Dash — 1. Dan Linnehan, Sparta; 2. Jes Tenner, Melrose; 3. Jeff Winterfield, Westby; 4. Mike Albrecht, Jr., La Crescent, Minn.; 5. Emily Sue Steck, Holmen.

United Auto Supply Thunderstox

Kwik Trip 15 Feature (24 cars) — 1. Tony Wheeler, La Crosse; 2. Kyle Voss, La Crescent, Minn.; 3. Dan Erdman, Holmen; 4. Chad Oehler, La Crosse; 5. Henry Vian, Sparta; 6. Adam Moore, Sparta; 7. Ron Heller, Coon Valley; 8. Chris Vinson, Holmen; 9. Greg Lindvig, Holmen; 10. Jerry Aylsworth, La Crosse; 11. Jason Bolster, Sparta; 12. Al Bartels, Tomah; 13. Mark Krueger, Hillsboro; 14. Ed Senn, La Crosse; 15. Charles Vian, Jr., Sparta.

B-Feature — 1. Jason Bolster, Sparta; 2. Greg Lindvig, Holmen; 3. Jerry Aylsworth, La Crosse; 4. Ron Heller, Coon Valley; 5. Wayne Smith, La Crosse.

Bud Dash — 1. Chad Oehler, La Crosse; 2. Adam Moore, Sparta; 3. Chris Vinson, Holmen; 4. Robert Stanfield, La Crosse; 5. Al Bartels, Tomah.

Heat 1 — 1. Lance Lee, Galesville; 2. Chad Oehler, La Crosse; 3. Charles Vian, Jr., Sparta; 4. Dan Erdman, Holmen; 5. Tony Wheeler, La Crosse.

Heat 2 — 1. Mary Schill, Cashton; 2. Chris Vinson, Holmen; 3. Kyle Voss, La Crescent, Minn.; 4. Ed Senn, La Crosse; 5. Justin Berg, Bangor.

Heat 3 — 1. Robert Stanfield, La Crosse; 2. Adam Moore, Sparta; 3. Brad Warthan, Sparta; 4. Mark Krueger, Hillsboro; 5. Rusty Winchel, Sparta.

Heat 4 — 1. Tom Phillips, La Crosse; 2. Al Bartels, Tomah; 3. Justin Berg, Bangor; 4. Matt Inglett, La Crosse; 5. Henry Vian, Sparta.