By: Ashley Iwanski and Kevin Ramsell
(West Salem, WI – October 8, 2009) The air was cool but the racing was hot for the first night of the 40th Annual Oktoberfest Race Weekend at La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway. Multiple divisions were out racing including the La Crosse Sportsmen and Thunderstox divisions who were racing for a championship.

The La Crosse Kwik Trip NASCAR Late Model division came out Thursday to participate in a 40-lap feature. Emily Sue Steck quickly moved into the lead while Steve Carlson and Todd Oliver weaved their way through the field. Henderson got to the back of Steck but was unable to pass her before he was passed by Carlson. At the half way point Carlson was about to finish a pass on Steck when Oliver hit the wall bringing out the first caution. On the restart Carlson was again going to pass Steck when Henderson hit the wall in turn three completely destroying the front end of his car. Steck was in the lead for the restart, but within a lap Carlson had gotten past her. After that the battle moved back into the field where Kevin Nuttleman and Thor Anderson were battling back and forth for the forth position. In the end Carlson was 1st, Steck 2nd, Shawn Pfaff 3rd, Nuttleman 4th and Anderson 5th.

Darren Wolke was the early leader in the “Futures” 25-lap Super Late Model feature event. Wolke began to show smoke on lap four and was black flagged the next lap. Joel Theissen took over the top spot but that didn’t last long as Terry Shoppenhorst went to the outside of Theissen to challenge for the lead. Wolke slowed coming off of turn two to adhere to his black flag as Theissen was behind him. Theissen would fall back to fourth. Shoppenhorst continued to lead with Nick Panitzke now in second. The first caution flew at the halfway mark when Bobby Williams spun coming off of turn four. On the side-by-side restart, Shoppenhorst and Panitzke made contact going into turn one. Shoppenhorst would get loose and spin into the turn one wall taking about six other cars with him to bring out the second caution. Panitzke would take over the lead after the caution with Dennis Prunty in second and fast qualifier Mike Carlson in third. Panitzke would jump out to a huge lead on the restart but his engine wasn’t sounding like it was on all cylinders. Panitzke continued to lead while behind him Mike Carlson and Keith Bohmsach were battling for third going into turn one when it appeared the two made contact sending Bohmsack hard into the outside wall. Bohmsack was able to walk away. Carlson was sent to the rear for his involvement. On the re-start, Panitzke continued to lead with Prunty right on his back bumper. With five laps to go, Prunty would go on the inside of Panitzke and take over the top spot. His lead would grow to five car lengths. Prunty described the winning pass, “I had a good a run on him and stuck my nose in there and I watched him close and I zipped right by.” At the checkers it was Prunty with the win while Panitzke held off a last lap challenge from Becca Kasten for second. Chad Selk was fourth with Greg Van Gool rounding out the top-five. “I have traveled before and I never had a car work this good,” a smiling Prunty said in victory lane, “we put on some new shocks and the car felt real good.”

A Championship title was on the line for the North Country Contractors Sportsmen drivers. John Olson jumped to an early lead followed by Dan Gilster and Larry Bolster Jr. Just when Gilster and Bolster caught up to Olson a car spun in turn four. As a result multiple cars were piled up including Rob Curran, Jeff Bagstad, Greg Scheck and Randy Humfeld. Curran was dragged away with severe front end damage. Point leader Jes Tenner restarted in the fourth position. By lap nine Tenner was up to second. Just then a third caution came out; something uncharacteristic of a Sportsmen race. With four to go, Tenner was trying to run down race leader Gilster. On the final lap Tenner was on the bumper of Gilster looking low, but a bobble prevented him from completing the pass. Gilster walked away the race winner while Tenner took the North Country Contractors Sportsmen Championship.

Joey Johnson Sr. was the early leader in the 15-lap La Crosse Thunderstox feature. That was until on lap 2 when he and Rusty Winchel made contact coming out of turn four causing Johnson to spin, both were sent to the rear. This handed the lead over to Jake Krueger. On the restart, it was Krueger and Jason Schaller breaking away from the rest of the pack in a two-car battle until the second caution flew on lap 8 as Raymond Hardy’s car came to a stop in turn three. Krueger continued to lead as the green flag flew on the restart. Krueger would lead while Schaller was trying to hold off Harley Jankowski and Charles Vian Jr. for second. Krueger would go on to take the Oktoberfest La Crosse Thunderstox Feature win with Schaller holding on to second. Jankowski was third with Brad Warthan in fourth. Charles Vian Sr. rounded out the top-five. Jason Stark took home the 2009 La Crosse Speedway Thunderstox championship.

Steve Dwyer edged out Phil Malouf to win the Hornet/Bandit 15-lap feature. Dwyer drove a Bandit to take home their win while Heath Weissenberger claimed the Hornet portion of the feature. Andy Barney was the early leader of the feature event until Steve Bornitz drove past him on the outside going down the backstretch for the lead on lap 3. Two laps later, Weissenberger went to the outside of Weissenberger to take over the lead coming out of turn four. With six laps to go, Dwyer made his way to the top by getting past Weissenberger for the top spot with Malouf following him to second. Malouf would stay tight to the rear bumper of Dwyer as they came to the finish. The two came into the final turn and had to dodge a spinning lapped car. Dwyer went low and Malouf went high and at the line it was Dwyer with the win. Weissenberger was third in the race to take the Hornet portion of the win. Larry Holets was fourth with Bornitz in fifth.

The R.A.Y.S. (Run All Your Stuff) cars were out to join the fun on the first night of Oktoberfest racing. They didn’t hold back either. A caution came out before the first lap was finished when multiple cars got together in turn two. On the restart they were back on the gas pedal hard. It wasn’t long before they were trading paint while racing three wide in the corners. Three laps in another caution came out when Andrew Welter spun in turn three. Jason Dummer and Brett Wenzel quickly opened a gap as they race for the lead. Wenzel was trying high and low to take the lead from Dummer. The two were pushing and shoving each other all over the track until Dummer spun out on lap thirteen giving Wenzel the lead and the win.

Joe Rinartz ran away with the Double - O feature win. Rinartz started at the back of the 19-car field and he correctly took one lap on the 1/4-mile track and then headed out to the 5/8-mile track for the second lap. Most of the field took an extra lap on the 1/4-mile giving Rinartz a huge lead and the easy win.
The Oktoberfest Race Weekend continues Friday, Saturday and Sunday with exciting racing from multiple Late Model and Sportsmen divisions along with Vintage Cars, R.A.Y.S., and Modifies. For more information about La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway please visit www.lacrossespeedway.com or contact the office at (608) 786-1525 or lacrossespeedway@yahoo.com.

LA CROSSE FAIRGROUNDS SPEEDWAY
Kwik Trip NASCAR Late Models
CC 106.3 40 Feature — 1, Steve Carlson, West Salem; 2, Emily Sue Steck, Holmen; 3, Shawn Pfaff, Sparta; 4, Kevin Nuttleman, Bangor; 5, Thor Anderson, Bondurant, IA.; 6, Brad Powell, La Crosse; 7, Ty Reedy, La Crosse; 8, Paul Proksch, Stoddard; 9, Brent Kirchner, La Crosse; 10, Todd Oliver, Bangor; 11, Mike Carlson, West Salem; 12, Todd Korish, Holmen; 13, Bill Niles, Holmen; 14, Ken Christenson Jr., West Salem; 15, Tim Nelson, La Crescent, Minn.; 16, Chris Bires, Necedah; 17, Matthew Henderson, La Crosse; 18, Jimmy Summerfield, Bangor; 19, Kyle Peters, La Crosse.
Qualifying — 1, Steve Carlson, 20.229 secs, 97.064 MPH; 2, Bradley Powell, 20.532 secs, 95.631 MPH; 3, Paul Proksch, 20.688 secs, 94.910 MPH; 4, Mike Carlson, 20.690 secs, 94.901 MPH; 5, Kevin Nuttleman, 20.703 secs, 94.841 MPH; 6, Bill Niles; 7, Thor Anderson; 8, Todd Korish; 9, Todd Oliver; 10, Matthew Henderson; 11, Shawn Pfaff; 12, Emily Sue Steck; 13, Ty Reedy; 14, Ken Christenson Jr.; 15, Chris Bires; 16, Kyle Peters; 17, Brent Kirchner; 18, Tim Nelson; 19, Jimmy Summerfield; 20, Paul Mahlum.
Odd Bud Dash — 1, Brent Kirchner; 2, Todd Oliver; 3, Ty Reedy; 4, Shawn Pfaff; 5, Thor Anderson.
Even Bud Dash — 1, Todd Korish; 2, Emily Sue Steck; 3, Matthew Henderson; 4, Tim Nelson; 5, Ken Christenson Jr.
Fast Dash — 1, Kevin Nuttleman; 2, Paul Proksch; 3, Steve Carlson; 4, Bill Niles; 5, Brad Powell.

Super Late Models Futures
CC 106.3 25 Feature — 1, Dennis Prunty, Knowles; 2, Nick Panitzke, Sauk Centre, Minn.; 3, Rebecca Kasten, Germantown; 4, Chad Selk, Chili; 5, Greg Vangool, Saskatoon, SK, Can.; 6, Dan Jung, Slinger; 7, Steve Apel, Colgate; 8, Mike Egan, Slinger; 9, Jimmy Dragich, Germantown; 10, Heath Herman, Jordan; 11, Jerry Schneider, Menasha; 12, Jesse Bernhagen, Markesan; 13, Andy Nile, Holmen; 14, Bobby Williams, Blue Springs, MO.; 15, Ronnie Rihn, Bloomer; 16, Rob Myers, Hartford; 17, Jay VanderGeest, Merrill; 18, Keith Bohmsach, Wisconsin Rapids; 19, Mike Carlson, West Salem; 20, Terry Shoppenhorst, Berlin; 21, John Baumeister Jr., Lake Geneva; 22, Gregg Haese, Manitowoc; 23, Brian Goddwin, Tomah; 24, Joel Theisen, Maple Grove; 25, Steve Litchfeld, Pardeeville; 26, Darren Wolke, Belle Plaine, Minn.; 27, Joey Garafalo, Lakeville, Minn.
Qualifying — 1, Mike Carlson, 19.293 secs, 101.773 MPH; 2, Keith Bohmsach, 19.388 secs, 101.274 MPH; 3, Rebecca Kaste, 19.464 secs, 100.879 MPH; 4, Dennis Prunty, 19.631 secs, 100.020 MPH; 5, Heath Herman, 19.649 secs, 99.929 MPH; 6, Nick Panitzke; 7, John Baumeister Jr.; 8, Joel Theisen; 9, Terry Shoppenhorst; 10, Darren Wolke; 11, Greg Vangool; 12, Mike Egan; 13, Steve Apel; 14, Gregg Haese; 15, Jimmy Dragich; 16, Dan Jung; 17, Jesse Bernhagen; 18, Brian Goddwin; 19, Chad Selk; 20, Jerry Schneider; 21, Bobby Williams; 22, Andy Niles; 23, Rob Myers; 24, Steve Litchfeld; 25, Ronnie Rihn; 26, Joey Garafalo; 27, Matt Tennessen.

North Country Contractors Sportsmen
CC 106.3 15 Feature — 1, Dan Gilster, West Salem; 2, Jes Tenner, Melrose; 3, Larry Bolster Jr., Sparta; 4, Jake Arneson, Taylor; 5, Tony Leis, Onalaska; 6, Rick Schermerhorn, Westby; 7, Jerimy Wagner, Ettrick; 8, Jimmy Gilster, West Salem; 9, Nick Clements, Holmen; 10, John Olson, Sparta; 11, Greg Scheck, La Crosse; 12, Keaton Hilby, Bangor; 13, Jamie Millis, Black River Falls; 14, Jason Dummer, Holmen; 15, Matt Inglett, La Crosse; 16, Jerrod Loging, West Salem; 17, Michael Hanson, Burnsville, Minn.; 18, Todd Lockington, Mindoro; 19, Steve Bachman, West Salem; 20, Branden Berg, Melrose; 21, Mark Challet, Bangor; 22, Jeffrey Bagstad, La Crosse; 23, Rob Curran, Rockland; 24, Randy Humfeld, Chaseburg; 25, Rob Mason, Preston, Minn.
B-Feature — 1, Greg Scheck; 2, Keaton Hilby; 3, Nick Clements; 4, Rob Mason; 5, Jerrod Loging.
Qualifying — 1, Jes Tenner, 21.846 secs, 89.879 MPH; 2, Larry Bolster Jr., 22.037 secs, 89.100 MPH; 3, Rick Schermerhorn, 22.043 secs, 89.076 MPH; 4, Jake Arneson, 22.045 secs, 89.068 MPH; 5, Dan Gilster, 22.114 secs, 88.790 MPH; 6, Jimmy Gilster; 7, Branden Berg; 8, John Olson; 9, Jamie Millis; 10, Tony Leis; 11, Jason Dummer; 12, Randy Humfeld; 13, Rob Curran; 14, Jerimy Wagner; 15, Jeffrey Bagstad; 16, Steve Bachman; 17, Rob Mason; 18, Nick Clements; 19, Jerrod Loging; 20, Keaton Hilby; 21, Matt Inglett; 22, Greg Scheck; 23, Daniel Linnehan; 24, Todd Lockington; 25, Jamie Dummer; 26, Joe Rinartz; 27, Mark Challet; 28, Michael Hanson; 29, Jamie Schlintz; 30, Ralph Cottone; 31, Justin Mullikin; 32, Rob Christen; 33, Adam Gallagher.
Qualifying Heat 1 — 1, Mark Challet; 2, Matt Inglett; 3, Rob Mason; 4, Jerrod Loging; 5, Jamie Dummer.
Qualifying Heat 2 — 1, Michael Hanson; 2, Todd Lockington; 3, Nick Clements; 4, Keaton Hilby; 5, Joe Rinartz.
Odd Bud Dash — 1, Rob Curran; 2, Jeffrey Bagstad; 3, Rick Schermerhorn; 4, Dan Gilster; 5, Jason Dummer.
Even Bud Dash — 1, Tony Leis; 2, Steve Bachman; 3, Larry Bolster Jr.; 4, Jerimy Wagner; 5, Jimmy Gilster.

United Auto Supply Thunderstox
CC 106.3 15 Feature — 1, Jake Krueger, Sparta; 2, Harley Jankowski, Sparta; 3, Brad Warthan, Sparta; 4, Charles Vian Sr., Sparta; 5, Kayla Steinhoff, Rockland; 6, Josh Inglett, La Crosse; 7, Danielle Neary, La Crosse; 8, Jason Stark, Sparta; 9, Jason Bolster, Sparta; 10, Chris Swenson, Tomah; 11, Wayne Smith, Onalaska; 12, Adam Moore, Sparta; 13, Nathan White, Camp Douglas; 14, Justin Berg, Bangor; 15, Kaleb Miller, Sparta; 16, Joey Johnson Sr.; North Bend; 17, Rusty Winchel, Sparta; 18, Mark Challet, Bangor; 19, Steve Owen, West Salem.
Heat 1 — 1, Jason Bolster; 2, Joey Johnson Sr.; 3, Jake Krueger; 4, Brad Warthan; 5, Steve Owen.
Heat 2 — 1, Wayne Smith; 2, Danielle Neary; 3, Chris Swenson; 4, Kaleb Miller; 5, Nathan White.

Hornets vs. Bandits
CC 106.3 15 Feature — 1, Name, Town;
B-Feature — 1, ; 2, Richard Babcock; 3, ; 4, ; 5, Scott Mahlum.
Hornet Heat 1 — 1, Travis Lee; 2, Ron Amann; 3, Jim Schermerhorn; 4, Steve Bornitz; 5, Tim Murphy Sr.
Hornet Heat 2 — 1, Heath Weissenberger; 2, Matthew Moore; 3, Joey Johnson Sr.; 4, ; 5, Jeffrey Martin.
Bandit Heat 1 — 1, Phil Malouf; 2, David Treu Sr.; 3, Jason Lindvig; 4, ; 5, Peter Carlson.

R.A.Y.S.
CC 106.3 15 Feature — 1, Brett Wenzel, Two Rivers; 2, Daniel Linnehan, Leon; 3, Jason Dummer, Holmen; 4, Jason Bolster, Sparta; 5, Brad Warthan, Sparta; 6, Josh Inglett, La Crosse; 7, Andrew Welter, Cedarburg; 8, Jake Krueger, Sparta; 9, Chad Rosendahl, Houston; 10, Ben Passa, Galesville.
Qualifying — 1, Jason Dummer, 14.833 secs, 60.676 MPH; 2, Chad Rosendahl, 15.008 secs, 59.968 MPH; 3, Brent Wenzel, 15.011 secs, 59.956 MPH; 4, Brad Warthan, 15.548 secs, 57.885 MPH; 5, Ben Passa, 15.714 secs, 57.274 MPH; 6, Daniel Linnehan; 7, Andrew Welter; 8, Jason Bolster; 9, Josh Inglett; 10, Jim Tate Jr.; 11, Jeff Marshall; 12, Jake Krueger.
Heat 1 — 1, Andrew Welter; 2, Jason Bolster; 3, Jake Krueger; 4, Josh Inglett.
Heat 2 — 1, Brent Wenzel; 2, Chad Rosendahl; 3, Jason Dummer; 4, Daniel Linnehan; 5, Brad Warthan.

Double-O
CC 106.3 12 Feature — 1, Joe Rinartz; 2, Justin Mullikin; 3, Charles Vian; 4, Daniel Linnehan; 5, Jason Stark; 6, Jason Bolster; 7, Jake Krueger; 8, Nick Clements; 9, Harley Jankowski; 10, Branden Berg; 11, Chris Swenson; 12, Chris Weber; 13, Kayla Steinhoff; 14, Andrew Welter; 15, Rusty Winchel; 16, Brad Warthan; 17, Jim Tate Jr.; 18, Kaleb Miller; 19, Adam Moore.