April 23, 2005;  West Salem, WI -  What is the best remedy for a freezing cold April night? Red-hot racing.
That is what many fans at the La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway witnessed Saturday night as two track records fell in what was an action-packed race program from start to finish. Andy Burgess, expected to one of the top guns in the Kwik Trip Late Model Division this season, established a track record when he turned an amazing 19.656-second lap, shattering the previous track mark of 19.757 set by Blake Horstman on April 10, 2004.

Photo Highlights #10 Ken Hutchens Leads the way during a NASCAR Late Model Heat Race. Sam Andersen (44) leads Mark Lamoreaux of Bloomington,MN (26) during NASCAR Late Model action. Andy Burgess ran into trouble after colliding with another car during a heat race.   Burgess set a new track record in qualifying earlier in the evening.

Burgess, one half of the powerful Team Menard race team, ran into trouble in his heat race, however, when something in his front suspension broke, catapaulting him into the backstretch wall in a spectacular - and scary - crash. Burgess was not injured, and borrowed a car from fellow competitor Adam Degenhardt. It didn't matter, however, as his teammate, Charlie Menard, who was making his first appearance at the track this season after winning the Kwik Trip Late Model title last season, started on the pole. That was bad news for the rest of the 24-car, talent-laden field, as Menard was able to hold the lead through four cautions, then hold off gallant charges from eight-time track champion Kevin Nuttleman of Bangor, Wis., and Mark Lamoreaux of Bloomington, Minn., for the checkered flag.

It was the 11th regular-season feature win for the 31-year-old Menard in the last three seasons. Nuttleman, driving the Miller Lite/Midwest Fuels No. 4, appeared on the verge of swiping the lead from Menard on several occasions, and even had the inside groove on the 24th lap, but couldn't overtake the No. 17 Menard car. Lamoreaux, the feature winner two weeks ago (last week's program was rained out) brought much of the crowd to its feet when he dashed and darted through the f ield and appeared ready to challenge Nuttleman before running out of laps.

It was a night to forget for another of the expected front runners as Bangor's Steve Holzhausen was involved in a six-car crash on Lap 4 of the feature, and was forced into the pits with heavy damage to the front end of his No. 78 car.
Other heat race winners were Brent Kirchner, Bill Niles, Charlie Menard, and Steve Holzhausen. The semi-feature event winner of the evening was John Towner. Andy Burgess was the quick qualifier of the evening reaching a speed of 99.756 miles per hour.

With only one caution in the Ray Hutson Chevrolet Grand National Sportsman Division feature race, Dan Gilster took home the feature win. Aaron Hass started out in the lead with contenders right on his bumper. Close in his rear view mirror were Tony Leis and Dan Gilster. After an incredible battle, Gilster steered his car into Victory Lane. Gilster is a two-time Sportsman Division track champion who is back for a third.

Ray Hutson Sportsman Division heat races winners for the night were Randy Steinhoff, Larry Bolster, Bill Miller, and Jimmy Gilster. Dan Linnehan was the semifeature winner of the night. Jes Tenner of Melrose broke his own track qualifying record when he turned a fantastic lap of 22.014 seconds.

There was considerable three-wide racing in the United Auto Supply Thunderstock Division. Sparta's Brad Warthan was able to take home a checkered flag in the feature race. Jason Schaller led the pack for three-fourths of the race. In lap 10, he spun into the wall and Warthan took control for the remaining laps.

Thunderstox heat race winners were Charlie Vian, Justin Berg, Adam Moore, Charles Vian Jr., and Jason Bolster. The semi-feature winner went to Mary Schill, who won the season-opening feature race. In the Dash, Wayne Smith powered his car to victory.

The Hornets delivered with some crazy racing action before Chris Johnson, Rick Schermerhorn and Matt Moore left with feature wins. The car of Keenan Stitt flew completely over the wall during one of the three features that were run in a field which drew 73 cars. The car of Jenny Snell was a little more fortunate as only half her car hung over the wall. Both drivers were uninjured. Jerry Lemke, Nate Towner, Chris Johnson, and Rick Schermerhorn each won heat races in the Hornets.

Action resumes next Saturday night at the area's playground of power.

Saturday, Apr. 30 Harter's Quick Clean-Up Presents: Late Models, Sportsman, Thunderstox, School Bus Race
Saturday, May 7 Christen Farm Nursery Presents: ///NASCAR Late Models, Sportsman, Thunderstox
Saturday, May 14 Pischke Motors Presents: ///NASCAR Late Models, Sportsman, Thunderstox

For complete results from the RACESTAT computer click here

LA CROSSE FAIRGROUNDS SPEEDWAY

Kwik Trip NASCAR Late Models
Dodge 25 Feature (34 Cars) - 1. Charlie Menard, Eau Claire; 2. Kevin Nuttleman, Bangor; 3. Mark Lamoreaux, Bloomington, MN; 4. Sam Andersen, Melrose; 5. Tony Bagstad, Cashton; 6. Brent Kirchner, La Crosse; 7. Mike Belling, La Crosse; 8. Tom Mc Clintock, La Crosse; 9. Todd Oliver, Bangor; 10. Troy Goodenough, Mindoro; 11. Curt Eckelberg, West Salem; 12. Andy Niles, Holmen; 13. Bill Niles, Holmen; 14. Jeff Baker, Holmen; 15. Joseph Scholze, Holmen; 16. Ronnie Hawley, Winona; 17. John Towner, Trempealeau; 18. Todd Korish, Holmen; 19. Tim Nelson, La Crescent; 20. Andy Burgess, Fall Creek; 21. Steve Holzhausen, Bangor; 22. Nick Schroeder, Cashton; 23. Shawn Pfaff, Sparta; 24. Kraig Burrows, West Salem.
B-Feature - 1. John Towner, Trempealeau; 2. Kraig Burrows, West Salem; 3. Nicholas Schroeder, Cashton; 4. Jeff Krueger, La Crescent; 5. Chris Skrede, Rockland.

Qualifying - 1. Andy Burgess, Fall Creek, 99.756 MPH; 2. Kevin Nuttleman, Bangor, 98.773 MPH; 3. Mark Lamoreaux, Bloomington, MN, 98.278 MPH; 4. Steve Holzhausen, Bangor, 98.224 MPH; 5. Tony Bagstad, Cashton, 97.872.
Qualifying Heat 1 - 1. Brent Kirchner, La Crosse; 2. Andy Niles, Holmen; 3. Kraig Burrows, West Salem; 4. John Towner, Trempealeau; 5. Chris Skrede, Rockland, WI.

Qualifying Heat 2 - 1. Bill Niles, Holmen; 2. Curt Eckelberg, West Salem; 3. Ken Hutchens, Black River Falls; 4. Quinn Arnoldy, Arcadia; 5. Adam Degenhardt, Coon Valley.

Odd Bud Dash - 1. Charlie Menard, Eau Claire; 2. Shawn Pfaff, Sparta; 3. Mark Lamoreaux, Bloomington, MN; 4. Todd Korish, Holmen; 5. Tony Bagstad, Cashton.

Even Bud Dash - 1. Steve Holhausen, Bangor; 2. Troy Goodenough, Mindoro; 3. Kevin Nuttleman, Bangor; 4. Todd Oliver, Bangor; 5. Jeff Baker, Holmen.

Ray Hutson Chevrolet Sportsman
Dodge 15 Feature (24 Cars) - 1. Danny Gilster, West Salem; 2. Aaron Hass, La Crosse; 3. Mike Albrecht Jr., La Crescent; 4. Jimmy Gilster, West Salem; 5. Lucas Korish, La Crosse, 6. Randy Steinhoff, Cashton; 7. Trent Boettcher, La Crescent; 8. Josh Millis, Black River Falls; 9. John Olson, Sparta; 10. Jerimy Wagner, Melrose; 11. Larry Bolster, Sparta; 12. Branden Berg, Melrose; 13. Ken Lewis, Black River Falls; 14. Boomer Olson, Viroqua; 15. Emily Sue Steck, Holmen.

B-Feature - 1. Daniel Linnehan, Sparta; 2. Rob Mason, La Crescent; 3. 4. Rob Curran, Rockland; 5. Jerrod Loging, West Salem.

Qualifying - 1. Jes Tenner, Melrose, 89.193 MPH; 2. Trent Boettcher, La Crescent, 88.610 MPH; 3. Dan Gilster, West Salem 88.315 MPH; 4. Michael Albrecht, La Crescent 88.034 MPH; 5. Tony Leis, Bangor 88.006 MPH.

Qualifying Heat 1 - 1. Randy Steinhoff, Cashton; 2. Ken Lewis, Black River Falls; 3. Jason Dummer, Holmen; 4. Nick Clements, Onalaska; 5. Daniel Linnehan, Sparta.

Qualifying Heat 2 - 1. Larry Bolster Jr., Sparta; 2. Boomer Olson, Viroqua; 3. Rob Curran, Rockland; 4. Rob Christen, Holmen; 5.

Odd Bud Dash - 1. Bill Miller, Sparta; 2. Dan Gilster, West Salem; 3. Branden Berg, North Bend; 4. Jes Tenner, Melrose; 5. Josh Millis, Black River Falls.

Even Bud Dash - 1. Jimmy Gilster, West Salem; 2. Aaron Hass, La Crosse; 3. Mike Albrecht Jr., La Crescent; 4. Trent Boettcher, La Crescent; 5. Lucas Korish, La Crosse.

United Auto Supply Thunderstox
Dodge 15 Feature (24 cars) - 1. Brad Warthan, Sparta; 2. Justin Berg, Bangor; 3. Jerry Aylsworth, La Crosse; 4. Jeff Rentz, Bangor; 5. Adam Moore, Sparta; 6. Andy Moore, Sparta, 7. Jason Bolster, Sparta; 8. Charlie Vian, Sparta; 9. Jason Chandler, Black River Falls; 10. Mary Schill, Cashton; 11. Steve Bolster, Holmen; 12. Wayne Smith, La Crosse; 13. Greg Lindvig, Holmen; 14. Denise Miller, Sparta; 15. Dan Erdmann, La Crosse.

B-Feature - 1. Mary Schill, Cashton; 2. Ron Heller, Chaseburg; 3. Ed Senn, La Crosse; 4. Steve Bornitz, Holmen; 5. Henry Vian, Sparta.

C-Feature - 1. Travis Schendel, Cashton; 2. Kurt Abbott, Sparta; 3. Kris Buldhaupt, La Crosse; 4. Steven Cleveland, Sparta; 5. Jeff Stumlin, Mindoro.

Bud Dash - 1. Wayne Smith, Barre Mills; 2. Charlie Vian, Sparta; 3. Andy Moore, Sparta; 4. Al Bartels, Tomah; 5. Brad Warthan, Sparta.

Heat 1 - 1. Charlie Vian, Sparta; 2. Brad Warthan, Sparta; 3. Jamie Dummer, Holmen; 4. Jamie Dummer, Holmen; 5. Ben Allen, Bangor.

Heat 2 - 1. Justin Berg, Bangor; 2. Wayne Smith, Barre Mills; 3. Greg Lindvig, Holmen; 4. Jason Schaller, La Crosse; 5. Travis Schendel, Cashton.

Heat 3 - 1. Adam Moore, Sparta; 2. Andy Moore, Sparta; 3. Jeff Rentz, Bangor; 4. Lonnie Klonecki, Arcadia; 5. Tony Wheeler, La Crosse.

Heat 4 - 1. Charles Vian Jr., Sparta; 2. Al Bartels, Tomah; 3. Jerry Aylsworth, La Crosse; 4. Denise Miller, Sparta; 5. Mary Schill, Cashton.

Heat 5 - 1. Jason Bolster, Sparta; 2. Rusty Winchel, La Crosse; 3. Joey Johnson, Mindoro; 4. Dan Erdman, Westby; 5. Ron Heller, Chaseburg.


Features Sports Bar Hornets
Dodge 15 Feature 1 (22 cars) - 1. Chris Johnson, West Salem; 2. Wade Elliott, Galesville; 3. John Eron, Merrillan; 4.Timothy Klug, Caledonia; 5. Eric Komperud, Galesville; 6. Reggie Lawson, New Albin; 7. Chris Diehlmann, Onalaska; 8. Ron Amann, West Salem; 9. Ben Hehl, Whitehall; 10. Matt Storlie, La Crosse.

Dodge 15 Feature 2 (20 cars) - 1. Rick Schermerhorn, La Crosse; 2. Jeff Heaney, Caledonia; 3. Jim Schermerhorn, Coon Valley; 4. Jerry Lemke, Rochester, MN; 5. Nicki Hagen, La Crescent; 6. Andrew Scholze, Melrose; 7. Melissa Mc Carthy, Holmen; 8. Matt Faucett, Onalaska; 9. Greg Hertzfeldt, Melrose; 10. Trevor Chilson, La Crosse.

Dodge 15 Feature 3 (19 cars) - 1. Matt Moore, Tomah; 2. Alan Van Vleet, Galesville; 3. Shane Finnerud, Altura; 4. Derrick Hammer, Galesville; 5. Pete Muenkel, Caledonia; 6. Kevin Turner, La Crosse; 7. Chris Sampson, La Crosse; 8. Jason Mork, Osseo; 9. Joey Johnson, Holmen; 10. Dana Berg, Ettrick.

Heat 1 - 1. Jerry Lemke; 2. John Eron; 3. Damian Kelly; 4. Kevin Turner; 5. Jeff Rud

Heat 2 - 1. Nate Towner; 2. Kim Strem; 3. Matt Moore; 4. Joey Johnson; 5. Larry Burroughs

Heat 3 - 1. Chris Johnson; 2. Jeff Heaney; 3. Nicki Hagen; 4. Dana Berg; 5. Eugene Hager

Heat 4 - 1. Rick Schermerhorn; 2. Jim Schermerhorn; 3. Wade Elliott; 4. Heath Weissenberger; 5. Matt Moore