LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway Race Report

Knoblock and Back Capture Fest Wins!
By Kevin Ramsell

(West Salem, WI - Friday, October 6, 2006) - Neil Knoblock and Brian Back took home feature wins on the second day of the 37th Annual Oktoberfest Race Weekend at the La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway.

Photo Highlights
 

Knoblock grabbed the lead at the start of the 40-lap Central Wisconsin Late Model feature event. 

Knoblock would pull out to a huge lead over polesitter Nick Hammer.  The large crowd in attendance would keep a close eye on Charlie Menard as he would charge from his eighth starting spot towards the front.

Menard would move into the top five on lap 17 as he passed Eddie Hoffman for the position.  Two laps later, he would get by Kenny Richards for fourth.  He would then get past Hammer for third on lap 23.  It was only two laps later; he would get past Ben Pettis for second.

But Knoblock had checked out to his own zip code in the caution free event as he went on to win the event with Menard in second.  Pettis would finish third by holding off Jeremy Lepak and Eddie Hoffman at the stripe.

Back set a new track earlier in the day for the Area Sportsman with a time of 20.836 seconds (94.236 mph).  He backed that up by taking home the Area Sportsman feature event.

Ricky Bilderback took the early lead in the 25-lap feature event.  Back, who started 14th quietly worked his way to the front.  

Bilderback would hold off a late challenge from Don Hess until the caution flew with nine laps to go when Corey Jankowski blew his right front tire coming out of turn two.  On the final re-start, Bilderback held on to the lead while Back rolled around the outside of Hess for second with six laps to go.  A lap later he would go past Bilderback for the lead coming off of turn four.

Back would lead the field to the checkered flag with Bilderback holding on to second over Hess.

The racing action continues on Saturday with qualifying starting at 12:35 p.m.  The racing action will get underway at 4:00 p.m. with the La Crosse Sportsman, ASA Late Models North Series, Wisconsin Late Models, and Mid-American Series in action.

LA CROSSE FAIRGROUNDS SPEEDWAY

Central Wisconsin Late Models
40 Lap Feature — 1. Neil Knoblock, Green Bay; 2. Charlie Menard, Eau Claire; 3. Ben Pettis, Elk Mound; 4. Nick Hammer, Madison; 5. Eddie Huffman, Orland Park; 6. Eugene Gregorich, Amherst; 7. Trent Snyder, Ironton; 8. Kenny Richard, Montello; 9. Trevor Stewart, St Cloud; 10. Brandon Hill, Lake Geneva; 11. Tim Rothe, Appleton; 12. Jonathan Eilen, Hampton; 13. Jeremy Lepak, Wausau; 14. Blake Horstman, Bangor; 15. Jason Weinkauf, Merrill; 16. Jacob Goede, New Germany; 17. Nathan Haseleu, Pardeeville; 18. Steve Carlson, West Salem; 19. Rob Dabnecay, Maple Grove; 20. Tim Olson, Hamel; 21. David Prunty, Brownsville; 22. Don Turner, La Crosse; 23. Jason Hicks, Elkhorn; 24. Robert Werkmeister, Braceville; 25. Chris Skrede, Sparta; 26. Jason Schnieder, New Market; 27. Adam Royle, Farmington; 28. Ken Reiser, Waukon.

Qualifying — 1. Blake Horstman, Bangor, 19.064 seconds, 102.995 MPH; 2,Trent Snyder, Ironton MN,19.185 secs, 102.346 MPH; 3, Tim Rothe, Appleton, 19.214 secs, 102.191 MPH; 4, Jonathan Eilan, Hampton, MN, 19.237 secs, 102.069 MPH; 5, Eugene Gregorich, Amherst, 19.265 secs, 101.921 MPH; 6, Jeremy Lepak, 19.292 secs, 101.778 MPH; 7, Jakob Goede, New Germany, 19.296 secs, 101.757 MPH; 8, Charlie Menard, Eau Claire,19.317 secs, 101.646 MPH; 9, Eddie Hoffman, Orland Park, 19.340 secs, 101.525 MPH; 10, Trevor Stewart, St Cloud,19.353 secs, 101.457 MPH.

Qualifying Heat 1 — 1.Tim Olson, Hamel, MN; 2. Jason Wienkof, Merrill;3. Adam Royal, Farmington;  4. Dean Cornelius, Chaska; 5. James Carlson, La Crosse; 6. Rob Vanderloop, Kaukauna; 7. Matt Gawronske, Reedsburg; 8. Anthony Brewer, Shokopee; 9. Bo Benish, Gleason; 10. Darren Wolke, Prior Lake, MN; 

Qualifying Heat 2 — 1. Rob Dabnecay, Maple Grove, MN; 2. Robert Werkmiester, Braceville; 3. Chris Skrede, Sparta; 4. Joe Berthiaume, Roseville, MN; 5. Chris Grimes, Pulaski; 6. Brad Hartman, Corover; 7. Erik Wisz, Mosinee; 8. Jim Weber, Roseville, MN;

Qualifying Heat 3 — 1. Jason Hicks, Elkhorn; 2. Jason Schnieder, New Market, MN; 3. Don Turner, La Crosse; 4. Bryan Roach, Goodhue, MN; 5. Monte Gress, Neilsville; 6. John Totzke Jr, Wisconsin Rapids; 7. Maxwell Schultz, Reedsville; 8. Chad Devine, Appleton; 9. Robert Maynor, Colgate; 10. Collin Bamke, Slinger;

Qualifying Heat 4 — 1. Ken Reiser, Waukon, IA; 2. David Prunty, Brownsville,MN; 3. Steve Rubeck, Morroe Center; 4. Branden Hill, Lake Geneva; 5. Jay Van Der Geest, Merrill; 6. Darak Gress, Nielsville; 7. Mike Dekuester, Franksville; 8. Bill Shavlick, West Bend; 9. Andy Niles, Holmen; 10. Jeff Lofquist, Fergus Falls;

Last Chance 1 — 1. Adam Royle, Farmington, MN; 2. Don Turner, La Crosse; 3. Dean Cornelius, Chaska, MN;  4. Bryan Roach, Goodhue, MN; 5. Robb Van Derloop, Kaukauna;  

Last Chance 2 — 1. Brandon Hill, Lake Geneva; 2. Chris Skrede, Sparta; 3. Steve Rubeck, Morroe Center; 4. Joe Berthiame, Roseville, MN; 5. Jay Van Dergeest, Merril;

Odd Bud Dash — 1. Kenny Richard, Montello; 2. Eddie Huffman, Orland Park, IL; 3. Eugene Gregorich Jr, Amherst; 4. Steve Carlson, West Salem; 5. Blake Horstman, Bangor; 6. Nick Hammer, Madison; 7. Tim Rothe, Appleton; 8.Jacob Goede, New Germany, MN

Even Bud Dash — 1. 1.Neil Knoblock, Green Bay; 2. Nathan Haseleu, Pardeeville; 3. Charlie Menard, Eau Claire; 4. Trevor Stewart, St Cloud; 5. Ben Pettis, Elk Mound; 6.Jeremy Lepak; 7. Trent Snyder, Ironton; 8. Jonathan Eilen, Hampton, MN; 

Area Sportsman
Coca-Cola 25 Feature (26 Cars) — 1.Brian Back, Rudolph, MN; 2. Ricky Bilderback, Rockton, IL; 3. Don Hess, Coon Valley; 4. Travis Hancock, Mauston; 5. Mark Ewsein, Wisconsin Rapids; 6. Dave Trute, new Lisbon; 7. Dan Linnehan, Sparta 8. Dan Gilster, West Salem; 9. James Kruschke III, Reedsburg; 10. Lucas Korish, La Crosse; 11. Travis Zvolena, Pittsville; 12. Brent Kane, Lonsdale, MN; 13. Scott Hamel, Wisconsin Rapids; 14. Brad Muller, Hillsboro; 15. John Zuch, Baraboo; 16. Rod Brewe, Menomonie; 17. Boomer Olson, Viroqua; 18. Emily Sue Steck, Holmen; 19. Ken Hutchens, Black River Falls; 20. Randy Humfeld, Chaseburg; 21. Bryan Turtle, Chaska, MN; 22. Josh Olson, Arkdale; 23. Brian Schmutzer, Wisconsin Rapids; 24. Corey Jankowski, Tomah; 25. Emily Sue Steck, Holmen; 26. Jerimy Wagner, Melrose; 

Qualifying — 1, Brian Back, Rudolph, 20.836 seconds, 94.236 MPH; 2, Corey Jankowski, Tomah, 20.980 secs, 93.589 MPH; 3, Mark Ewsien, Wisconsin Rapids, 21.316 secs, 92.114 MPH; 4, Dan Linnehan , Sparta, 21.562 secs, 91.063 MPH; 5, Travis Zsolena,  Pittsville, 21.563 secs, 91.059 MPH; 6, Dan Gilster, West Salem, 21.606 secs, 90.878 MPH; 7, Travis Hancock, Mauston, 21.621 secs, 90.814 MPH; 8, James Krueske lll, Reedsberg, 21.675 secs, 90.588 MPH; 9, Don Hess , Coon Valley , 21.685 secs,  90.546 MPH; 10, Josh Olson, Arkdale, 21.692 secs, 90.517 MPH.

Qualifying Heat 1 — 1. Rod Brewe, Menominee; 2. Boomer Olson, Viroqua; 3. Emily Sue Steck, Holmen; 4. Jerimy Wagner, Melrose; 5. Kevin Turck, Montgomery, MN; 6. Derek Ludington, Zumbrota, MN; 7. Ken Lewis, Black River Falls; 8. Bob Jacobs, De Forest; 9. Tim Lewis, Hopkins; 10. Bob Gereau, Wausau; 11. Lonnie Klonecki, Arcadia;

Qualifying Heat 2 — 1. Don Whitebear, Redwing, MN; 2. Ken Hutchens, Getz; 3. Heath Hermon, Jordan, MN; 4. James Lindgren, Apple Valley; 5. Nick Clements, Onalaska; 6. Matt Inglett, La Crosse; 7. Dale Schultz, Mauston; 8. Mark Challtt, Bangor; 9. Joe Rinartz, La Crosse;

Qualifying Heat 3 —1. Brad Muller, Hilsboro; 2. Randy Humfeld, Chaseburg; 3. Jes Tenner, Melrose; 4. Bryan Turtle, Chaska; 5. Jim Bates, Wisconsin Dells; 6. Rob Curran, Rockland, IL; 7. Chris Erhart, Deerfield; 8. Jimmy Gilster, West Salem; 9. Tony Jirik, Lonsdale, MN; 10. Jeff Stumlin, Holmen;

Odd Bud Dash —1. Scott Hamel, Wisconsin Rapids; 2. Don Hess, Coon Valley; 3. Brent Kane, Lonsdale, MN; 4. Dave Truit, New Lisbon; 5. Travis Hancock, Mauston; 6. Travis Zvolena, Pittsville; 7. Mark Ewsein, Wisconsin Rapids; 8. Brian Back, Rudolph;

Even Bud Dash —1. Ricky Bilderback, Rockton, IL; 2. Corey Jankoswki, Tomah; 3. Tony Jirik, Lonsdale, MN; 4. Dan Gilster, West Salem; 5. Lucas Korish, La Crosse; 6. Dan Linnehan, Sparta; 7. James Kruschke lll, Reedsburg; 8. Josh Olson, Arkdale;
Last Chance 1 — 1. Emily Sue Steck, Holmen; 2. Jes Tenner, Melrose; 3. Ken Lewis, Black River Falls; 4. Kevin Turck, Montgomery, MN; 5. Jeff Stumlin, Holmen;

Last Chance 2  — 1.Heath Hermon, Jordan, MN; 2.Bryan Turtle, New Lisbon;  3. Derick Ludington, Zumbrota, MN; 4. Rob Curran, Rockland, IL; 5. Bob Jacobs, De Forest;