Doug Hornickel Photo | fastlapphoto.comby Kari Shear-Carlson
A season long points battle ended in a tie this past weekend at LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway for the ASA Midwest SCAG Truck Tour. Jerry Wood was named the 2011 Champion and Austin “The Ace” Luedtke was crowned Rookie of the Year.

Jerry Wood entered the 2011 season with a lot of momentum after winning almost 40 percent of the events in 2010. He was ready to go for two consecutive championships. But there was one young driver who was not going to go down without a fight.

Jerry Wood started off his season with three top-tens and two top-fives in the first four events. But it did not take long before Wood was back in victory lane. Jerry won the GrandStay Summer Clash at Elko Speedway.

However, in just the second event of the season, Austin “The Ace” Luedtke came charging onto the scene with his first of two consecutive second place finishes. In the fourth event, Luedtke captured his first win, tightening up the points battle.

By mid-season, Wood’s consistency started to pay off. The two remained in a tight points battle, each with one victory. It was the seventh race of the ten race schedule that became the championship winning event. Jerry Wood took home victory number two at Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Heading into championship weekend, Wood held a three point lead over Luedtke. After the heat races, only one point separated the two heading into the feature event.

A big wreck on the first lap of the feature saw both of them heading to the pit area for minor repairs. Both were able to return before the green flag fell. As Austin continued to run in the top five, Wood had reentered the pit area putting him 15 laps down.

A fantastic turn out of championship drivers and other celebrities attended the Champions Reunion October 9th, which was held as part of the 42nd Annual Oktoberfest Racing weekend at La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway, West Salem, WI.

Doug Hornickel Photo - fastlapphoto.comby Kevin Ramsell
Every year, Johnny Sauter looks at his calendar and makes his plans for one event, the Oktoberfest Race Weekend at La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway. Today, he led every lap to finally win the Oktoberfest 100 main event.

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver held off his nephew Travis Sauter to win the main event on the final day of the four-day race weekend. The event was slowed by two cautions with the Sauters putting on a show for the large crowd in attendance. Chris Weinkauf was third with Skylar Holzhausen in fourth. Erik Darnell rounded out the top five.

Andrew Morrissey finished 20th and secured the 2011 ASA Midwest Tour championship. A full report is available at www.asamidwesttour.com

Zack Riddle showed his muscle in the first segment as he went from seventh to first in ten laps to win the first of three 21-lap segments. Bobby Wilberg took the lead at the drop of the green flag and pulled away from polesitter Ryan Carlson. Riddle got by Carlson for second on lap eight and two laps later, passed Wilberg on the inside going into turn one to take over the lead and the win. Cory Kemkes was second with Kyle Shear in third. Wilberg was fourth and James Swan rounded out the top-five.

The field was inverted for the start of the second segment. The action got wild on lap two when Skylar Holzhausen backed his late model into the outside wall in turns three and four. Holzhausen was able to walk away. Nick Clements started on the outside of the front row and led the first 16 laps. The second caution flew on lap 16 when Cory Kemkes and Travis Stanley went around in turn four. On the restart, Jason Schuler would get on the inside of Clements and take over the top spot. J. Herbst followed Schuler to take over second. Herbst would get to Schuler’s bumper but would fail to get around as Schuler won the second segment. Kyle Shear came from 18th to finish third while Clements was fourth. Riddle, who started shotgun on the field, finished fifth.

Andrew Morrissey Crowned the 2011 ASAMT Season Champion and Skylar Holzhausen Crowned ASAMT Rookie of the Year

by Kari Shear-Carlson
Johnny Sauter was crowned the 46th Annual Oktoberfest Champion in American Speed Association® Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment and GrandStay Hospitality season championship this afternoon at LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway.

by Kevin Ramsell
Speed was on display tonight for the third day of the 42nd Annual Livewire Energy Oktoberfest Race Weekend. Skylar Holzhausen came from the middle of the field to take the Big 8 Series win. Dan Jung showcased his strong car in the OUTLAWZ feature and James Swan capped off his 2011 Mid-American Series season with a win and a championship.

Skylar Holzhausen put on a show as he went from his 16th starting position to victory lane in the Big 8 Series Oktoberfest 68-lap feature. Veteran driver Jon Lemke started on the pole and took the lead at the start of the feature event.

Holzhausen was on the move as soon as the green flag dropped in the caution-free race. By lap 24, he moved into the fifth position. Two laps later he got past Steve Rubeck for the fourth position.
Zack Riddle, who started ninth, was also moving through the field but his progress was slowed as Holzhausen bolted by him on lap 44 to take over the second position. With 20 laps to go, Lemke had about a 20-car length lead over Holzhausen. Lap after lap, Holzhausen would inch closer and closer to the leader.

Holzhausen would catch up to Lemke’s bumper with nine laps to go in the event. A lap later, Holzhausen would go on the inside of Lemke coming out of turn two to make the winning move. Holzhausen would lead the final eight laps and take the checkered flag.

Riddle would get by Lemke with six laps to go and finish second while Lemke finished third.

With his 13th place finish, Steve Rubeck became the 2011 Big 8 Series Champion.

by Ashley Iwanski & Kevin Ramsell
Neil Knoblock put his name in the history books as the fifth different winner of the Dick Trickle 99 at the 42nd Annual Livewire Energy Oktoberfest Race Weekend. Knoblock joins Steve Holzhausen (2007), Nathan Haseleu (2008), Chris Weinkauf (2009) and Dan Fredrickson (2010) as winners of this popular event.

It was a wild start to the first segment, as it appeared that Fredrickson and fast qualifier Griffin McGrath got together at the green flag. McGrath went for a spin into the outside wall and collected Nathan Haseleu. The field doubled up for the restart with Fredrickson and Schendel on the front row. Fredrickson would take the lead. Four laps later Schendel moved to the inside of Fredrickson and took over the top spot. Schendel held on to the lead for six laps before Fredrickson went back to the top of the scoring pylon and would drive to the first segment win. Neil Knoblock and Erik Darnell would get by Schendel to finish second and third. Boris Jurkovich rounded out the top five.

Colin Reffner was on a Friday night cruise in the second segment. He took over the lead on lap four from Steve Carlson and didn’t look back. A multi-car wreck on lap ten when the field checked when Frank Kreyer and Dennis Prunty got together in turns one and two. Some involved were Fredrickson, Chris Eggleston, and Mark Kraus. On the restart, Reffner pulled away from Brandon Hill and went out to about a straightaway lead. Tim Schendel was able to move through the field and finish second with Hill in third. Erik Darnell was fourth with Andrew Morrissey rounding out the top-five.