October 3, 2005;  West Salem, WI  - Loves Park, IL- Big 8 Series officials have announced that transponders will be used during Sunday's practice in order to determine the starting grid for qualifying heats at the Oktoberfest Race Weekend at La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway October 9. The top eight drivers in series points that are competing will be automatically locked into the starting field for the 40 lap Championship Feature Sunday afternoon.

Drivers who are not locked into the feature will have transponders attached to their cars for the practice sessions Sunday which are slated for 11:05 am. The best overall lap turned by each driver will then be used as that driver's qualifying time. Transponders are devices that record the time associated with each lap completed by a car.

Qualifying heat races will have their starting field determined by these times with an inversion of three. The last chance race starting order will be determined by the qualifying heat finishes. The top six drivers from two heat races and the top four from the last chance race will earn a starting position in Sunday's feature event.

"With the busy schedule of racing on Sunday at Fest, we wanted our teams to have a chance to qualify their cars in order to create competitive race line-ups." Commented Big 8 Series Technical Director Greg Folk. "By using transponders, we are able to do this, which allows drivers from all over the region to join our series for this great event." The series has averaged forty cars at their first five events.

The Big 8 Series will crown their first Champion at the conclusion of the FEST 40 on Sunday. Jon Reynolds, Jr. currently leads Mike Beyer and Ryan Carlson in the point standings. Lake Geneva Big 8 Race Winner Rick Corso, Jefferson Champion Jason Erickson, Lake Geneva Champion Josh Wallace, National Short Track Champion Tim Noble and five time defending Rockford Speedway Champion Ricky Bilderback are all expected to compete. Complete point standings,
rules and more can be found at www.big8series.com or by calling the Series Office at 815-633-1500.

The Oktoberfest Race Weekend features fifteen divisions of racing including the NASCAR AutoZone Midwest Series, ASA Late Models, Wisconsin Late Models in the ARTGO Reunion 100, Midwest Modifieds, Big 8 Series and Area Sportsman. Racing action begins this Thursday night and continues through Sunday afternoon. For more information visit www.lacrossespeedway.com or call the Speedway Box Office at 608-786-1525.