By: Paul Reichert
July 3, 2021
Another warm and sultry Saturday night welcomed one of the largest crowds of the season to the LaCrosse Speedway. It was the Fourth of July weekend as we celebrated the birthday of the greatest nation on the planet. We were also entertained with some awesome racing action on both the 5/8-mile and 1/4-mile tracks. Mike Carlson made his move for the lead with four laps to go and drove off with his first feature win in just over a year.
The Kwik Trip 25 lap NASCAR Late Model feature got off to a rough start when Carter Christenson (West Salem, WI) got on the grass in turn four. Matthew Henderson (LaCrosse, WI) got spun out avoiding the contact before getting hit by Darren Wolke (Prior Lake, MN). On try number two to start the race, Justin Mullikin (Holmen, WI) surged ahead of Christenson to take the race lead. Mullikin would have a mirror full of Mike Carlson (West Salem, WI) within five laps. Carlson could not find a way around Mullikin as the rest of the field led by Brent Kirchner (LaCrosse, WI) closed up on the lead duo. Just past the halfway mark, Steve Bachman (Bangor, WI) took over third and slowly reeled in the leaders a few laps later. With five laps to go, Carlson began to nose his way under Mullikin and surged into the lead down the back straight with four to go. Bachman tried to keep pace but Carlson opened up his lead and drove off with his first win of the year. After the race, Carlson said “I was just waiting for the right time to make my move and with five laps to go I took a chance and it paid off.”
Newcomer Jesse Green (Eau Claire, WI) built up a huge lead in the Sportsmen feature and was on his way to scoring his first ever win at LaCrosse. Unfortunately, something broke with two laps to go and he dramatically slowed. Sam Niles (Holmen, WI) was in the right place at the right time as he captured his fifth win in the last six races.
Thomas Farra got around Scott Mahlum halfway through the Hobby Stock feature then fought back Jason Bolster to score his first win of the season.
In the Hornet feature, Tom Luethe shot to the front off an early restart. Michael Wachs, Jr. tried to challenge him late but Luethe held on to claim the win.
Brian Larson made it through the chaos on the opening lap of the Street Stock feature and would not be stopped from taking the checkered flag first.
The wacky Outhouse Race is always entertaining with the drivers doing some interesting things when they come out. Rob Stanfield was all business in this Novelty event as he pulled off a record Outhouse Race run of 18.64 seconds to be the ‘King of the Porta Potty’.
The highlight of the evening was the smashingly fun Shipwreck Boat Race. Ten competitors crashed their way through boats and had a smashing good time. In the end, Adam Kerley got the loudest support of the fans to win the fish trophy.
Action continues next Saturday, July 10 as the big 5/8-mile track has the night off. Next week it is all about the ‘action track’ quarter-mile as the annual Quarter Mile Mania event takes place. The Hobby Stocks, Hornets, Street Stocks, Six Shooters and High School Racing Association will feel like they are running their version of a Daytona 500. The night will also feature Contact Drags and conclude with the popular Demolition Derby. Gates open at 5:30, qualifying for the quarter mile divisions starts at 5:45 and the Quarter-Mile Mania starts at 7.
For more information about LaCrosse Speedway or the 2021 schedule of events, please call the track office at 608-786-1525 or visit us on the web at lacrossespeedway.com. LaCrosse Speedway is proud to be a NASCAR Hometrack, part of the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series.
RESULTS
Kwik Trip NASCAR Late Models
Feature (25 laps): 1. Mike Carlson, 2. Steve Bachman, 3. Steve Carlson, 4. Nick Murgic, 5. Nick Clements, 6. Justin Mullikin, 7. Jerimy Wagner, 8. Brent Kirchner, 9. MIchael Kofoid, 10. Tony Leis, 11. Joseph Scholze, 12. Kenneth Donais, 13. Carter Christenson, 14. Jimmy Summerfield, 15. Mandi McKinney, 16. Cole Howland, 17. Matthew Henderson, 18. Adam Oxborough, 19. Darren Wolke
6-for-6 Dash (6 laps): 1. Matthew Henderson, 2. Steve Bachman, 3. Jerimy Wagner, 4. Adam Oxborough, 5. Michael Kofoid, 6. Nick Clements
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. Steve Carlson, 2. Brent Kirchner, 3. Nick Murgic, 4. Carter Christenson, 5. Mike Carlson, 6. Tony Leis, 7. Justin Mullikin
Heat #2 (8 laps): 1. Joseph Scholze, 2. Kenneth Donais, 3. Darren Wolke, 4. Jimmy Summerfield, 5. Mandi McKinney, 6. Cole Howland, 7. Jeff Partington
Qualifying: 1. Adam Oxborough, 2, Jerimy Wagner, 3. Nick Clements, 4. Steve Bachman, 5. Michael Kofoid, 6. Matthew Henderson, 7. Nick Murgic, 8. Mike Carlson, 9. Brent Kirchner, 10. Justin Mullikin, 11. Carter Christenson, 12. Steve Carlson, 13. Tony Leis, 14. Cole Howland, 15. Jeff Partington, 16. Joseph Scholze, 17. Darren Wolke, 18. Kenneth Donais, 19. Mandi McKinney, 20. Jimmy Summerfield
LawnKeepers Sportsmen
Feature (15 laps): 1. Sam Niles, 2. Bill Schott, 3. Justin Berg, 4. Jason Stark, 5. Jamie Dummer, 6. Dave Swanson, 7. Troy Rave, 8. John Larson, 9. Dexter Malin, 10. Jack Litshiem, 11. Denny Schott, 12. Jesse Green, 13. Tom Carlson
Dash (8 laps): 1. Jesse Green, 2. Tom Carlson, 3. Troy Rave, 4. Dave Swanson, 5. Sam Niles, 6. Jack Litshiem
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. Jason Stark, 2. Denny Schott, 3. Bill Schott, 4. Justin Berg, 5. John Larson, 6. Dexter Malin
Qualifying: 1. Troy Rave, 2. Tom Carlson, 3. Sam Niles, 4. Dave Swanson, 5. Jack Litshiem, 6. Jesse Green, 7. John Larson, 8. Travis Gordon, 9. Dexter Malin, 10. Bill Schott (DQ), 11. Denny Schott (DQ), 12. Justin Berg (DQ), 13. Jason Stark (DQ), 14. Jamie Dummer (DQ)
Auto Value Hobby Stocks
Feature (15 laps): 1. Thomas Farra, 2. Jason Bolster, 3. Scott Mahlum, 4. Mark Challet
Dash (8 laps): 1. Thomas Farra, 2. Jason Bolster, 3. Mark Challet, 4. Scott Mahlum
Qualifying: 1. Thomas Farra, 2. Jason Bolster, 3. Mark Challet, 4. Scott Mahlum
ANT’s Complete Pest Control Hornets
Feature (15 laps): 1. Tom Luethe, 2. Michael Wachs, Jr., 3. Kristopher Berg, 4. Jake Schomers, 5. Cheyanne Stanfield, 6. Robert Schliefer, 7. Andy Barney, 8. Marc Luethe, 9. Ben Thurk, 10. Nick Hadler, 11. Keanna Barney, 12. Jacob Iverson, 13. Chris Lofquist, 14. Matthew Miller, 15. Karl Schroeder, 16. Abigail Knaack, 17. Travis Atkinson, 18. Michael Rinartz, 19. Alex Rud, 20. Kyle Cottone, 21. Tyler Stuber, 22. Justin Iverson, 23. Brandon McCarthy
Dash (6 laps): 1. Jake Schomers, 2. Robert Schliefer, 3. Michael Wachs, Jr., 4. Kristopher Berg, 5. Andy Barney, 6. Cheyanne Stanfield
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. Ben Thurk, 2. Keanna Barney, 3. Tom Luethe, 4. Tyler Stuber, 5. Nick Hadler, 6. Christopher Lofquist, 7. Justin Iverson, 8. Karl Schroeder
Heat #2 (8 laps): 1. Marc Luethe, 2. Joey Johnson, 3. Brandon McCarthy, 4. Jacob Iverson, 5. Alex Rud, 6. Matthew Miller, 7. Kyle Cottone, 8. Abigail Knaack, 9. Travis Atkinson, 10. Mitchell Rinartz
Qualifying: 1. Michael Wachs, Jr., 2. Cheyanne Stanfield, 3. Andy Barney, 4. Robert Schliefer, 5. Kristopher Berg, 6. Jake Schomers, 7. Tom Luethe, 8. Tyler Stuber, 9. Justin Iverson, 10. Ben Thurk, 11. Nick Hadler, 12. Keanna Barney, 13. Christopher Lofquist, 14. Karl Schroeder, 15. Alex Rud, 16. Kyle Cottone, 17. Matthew Miller, 18. Brandon McCarthy, 19. Abigail Knaack, 20. Mitchell Rinartz, 21. Travis Atkinson, 22. Marc Luethe, 23. Jacob Iverson (NO TIME), 24. Joey Johnson (NO TIME)
Auto Value Street Stocks
Feature (15 laps): 1. Brian Larson, 2. Rob Stanfield, 3. Alex Liebsch, 4. Steven Brasda, 5. Zach Liebsch, 6. Al Bartels, 7. John Huebner, 8. Chris Larson, 9. Tristan Drazkowski, 10. Steve Scholze, 11. John Clauson, 12. Adam Kerley, 13. Chris Christen, 14. Lester Stanfield, 15. Spencer Ketchum, 16. Clayton Haessig, 17. Peter Thompson, 18. Keith Larson (DQ)
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. Lester Stanfield, 2. John Clauson, 3. Al Bartels, 4. Adam Kerley, 5. Zach Liebsch, 6. Chris Christen, 7. Brian Larson, 8. Clayton Haessig, 9. Spencer Ketchum
Heat #2 (8 laps): 1. Chris Larson, 2. Tristan Drazkowski, 3. Keith Larson, 4, Rob Stanfield, 5. Peter Thompson, 6. John Huebner, 7. Alex Liebsch, 8. Steven Brasda, 9. Steve Scholze
Qualifying: 1. Rob Stanfield, 2. Chris Larson, 3. Steven Brasda, 4. John Huebner, 5. Peter Thompson, 6. Alex Liebsch, 7. Tristan Drazkowski, 8. Keith Larson, 9. Zach Liebsch, 10. Adam Kerley, 11. Al Bartels, 12. Brian Larson, 13. Clayton Haessig, 14. Lester Stanfield, 15. Chris Christen, 16. John Clauson, 17. Spencer Ketchum, 18. Steve Scholze (NO TIME)
Novelty
Outhouse Race: 1. Rob Stanfield, 2. John Clauson, 3. Zach Liebsch, 4. Chris Christen, 5. Adam Kerley, 6. Abigail Knaack
Shipwreck Boat Race (Fan Vote): 1. Adam Kerley, 2. Ryan Rasmussen, 3. John Clauson