CARLSON CONQUERS THE LACROSSE OPENER FOR A SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR

By: Paul Reichert

May 20, 2023

It seems like the weather always tries to run afoul of the start of a new racing season. Rising rivers, rain that just hangs around for several days and even that darn ‘S’ word can throw a monkey into the wrench for race fans hungry to hit the gas. A picture picture perfect weather day welcomed race fans back to the LaCrosse Speedway to get the 2023 racing season fired up. Mike Carlson had an awesome 2022 season that gave him his first track championship and that momentum continued today. Carlson powered by Tony Bagstad with eight laps remaining to score the season opening feature win for a second straight year.

Tony Bagstad (Westby, WI) surged past Chad Walen (Prior Lake, MN) on lap two to take command of the Budweiser 25 lap NASCAR Late Model feature. As Bagstad opened up his advantage on the field, Cole Howland (LaCrosse, WI) was gaining positions to settle into second by the one-third mark of the race. Another driver making fast progress forward through the field was Skylar Holzhausen (Bangor, WI). After setting fast time earlier in the day, Skylar got up to fourth before something broke in the car just before halfway. That allowed defending track champ Mike Carlson (West Salem, WI) to get this chance to contend for the win. Carlson surged by Howland for second on lap 15, then only needed two more laps to drive by Bagstad for the top spot. Jacob Goede (Carver, MN) was also advancing rapidly through the field as he caught Howland with six laps to go. Howland got loose coming out of turn four with five laps left, bounced off Goede and tagged the inside wall to bring out the caution. Carlson quickly pulled away from Bagstad on the final restart to begin this season with a feature win just like he did on opening day of last season. After the race Carlson said “The car felt really good today, and thanks to all of my crew’s hard work we may have the car to beat again this year.”

The NASCAR Sportsmen feature saw Andy Barney (West Salem, WI) drive past both Nathan Borchardt (Prior Lake, MN) and Travis Gordon (LaCrescent, MN) to move into the lead. Five laps into the race Barney’s mirrors would be full of the bright yellow machine of Bob Fort (Fountain City, WI). Fort looked high without success, then low with no opening to squeeze into. The motor problems that plagued Barney at the start of last season were a thing of the past. Barney put on a masterful drive to claim his first checkered flag of the season.

Starting deep in a feature on the ‘action track’ quarter-mile is a monumental task, but for defending Hornet champ Lester Stanfield it was a piece of cake. After starting 16th Stanfield shot past newcomer Terry Lafleur with nine laps remaining to start his title defense off the right way with a feature victory.

The Hobby Stock feature witnessed a hard fought ‘battle of the 19s’ between Andy Moore and visiting race Mike Stoer. Stoer led the opening five circuits, but Moore charged by him to assume command on lap six. Moore had his hands full with Stoer the rest of the way but stood his ground to win the feature.

A battle between father Rob Stanfield and son Ryan highlighted the Six Shooter feature. Ryan led the early going before Rob took charge of the race on lap five. Rob showed why he is a master of the quarter mile as he saw the checkered flag first at the finish of the feature.

The first Novelty event of the year was the Spin to Win race. Some may have not gotten the memo that you have to spin twice during the race. Luckily Alex Liebsch did do his required spins to take his ‘moo-moo’ car home to Altra Federal Credit Union Victory Lane.

Action continues next Saturday, May 27 with the Street Stocks and Mini-Vans racing for the first time this year along side of the NASCAR Late Models, NASCAR Sportsmen and NASCAR Hornets. We salute America and our veterans with the Flagpole Race as next week’s Novelty event. Gather up all the dollar bills and quarters you have laying around the house for Buck-Buck Night. All concession items are just $2, and the cold, frosty beers are $3. College students will get an even greater bang for their buck thanks to $5 admission for them with a valid school ID. Gates open at 5:30, qualifying revs up at 5:45 and racing takes the green flag at 7.

To learn more about the LaCrosse Speedway or the 2023 schedule of events, please call the track office at 608-786-1525 or visit our web site 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. Chad Walen, 3. Tony Bagstad, 4. Adam Bendzick, 5. Michael Ostdiek, 6. Brad Powell, 7. Adam Degenhardt, 8. Jerimy Wagner, 9. Steve Carlson, 10. Nick Clements, 11. Steve Bachman, 12. Nicholas Beaver, 13. Michael Haggar, 14. Jacob Goede, 15. Michael Beamish, 16. Tom Carlson, 17. Don Turner, 18. Ridge Oien, 19. Gregory Borchardt, 20. Joe Nuttleman, 21. Cole Howland, 22. Skylar Holzhausen, 23. Tony Leis, 24. Jimmy Summerfield
6-for-6 Dash (6 laps): 1. Adam Degenhardt, 2. Skylar Holzhausen, 3. Mike Carlson, 4. Steve Bachman, 5. Nick Clements, 6. Jacob Goede
Heat #1 (8 laps):  1. Chad Walen, 2. Tony Bagstad, 3. Michael Beamish, 4. Cole Howland, 5. Brad Powell, 6. Adam Bendzick, 7. Michael Haggar
Heat #2 (8 laps):  1. Jerimy Wagner, 2. Michael Ostdiek, 3. Nicholas Beaver, 4. Tom Carlson, 5. Don Turner, 6. Steve Carlson, 7. Adam Oxborough
Heat #3 (8 laps): 1. Ridge Oien, 2. Gregory Borchardt, 3. Joe Nuttleman, 4. Jimmy Summerfield, 5. Chris Skrede
Qualifying:  1. Skylat Holzhausen, 2. Nick Clements, 3. Jacob Goede, 4. Mike Carlson, 5. Steve Bachman, 6. Adam Degenhardt, 7. Adam Bendzick, 8. Brad Powell, 9. Michael Haggar, 10. Cole Howland, 11. Michael Beamish, 12. Tony Bagstad, 13. Chad Walen, 14. Michael Ostdiek, 15. Steve Carlson, 16. Jerimy Wagner, 17. Nicholas Beaver, 18. Adam Oxborough, 19. Tom Carlson, 20. Don Turner, 21. Gregory Borchardt, 22. Joe Nuttleman, 23. Ridge Oien

Line-X NASCAR Sportsmen

Feature (15 laps): 1. Andy Barney, 2. Bob Fort, 3. Jamie Dummer, 4. Justin Berg, 5. Taylor Goldman, 6. Nathan Borchardt, 7. Travis Gordon, 8. Andy Muller
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. Justin Berg, 2. Bob Fort. 3. Taylor Goldman, 4. Jamie Dummer, 5. Andy Barney, 6. Nathan Borchardt, 7. Travis Gordon, 8. Andy Muller
Qualifying: 1. Taylor Goldman, 2. Andy Barney, 3. Nathan Borchardt, 4. Justin Berg, 5. Travis Gordon, 6. Andy Muller, 7. Bob Fort DQ

Skyline Fireworks NASCAR Hornets

Feature (15 laps):  1. Lester Stanfield, 2. Ben Thurk, 3. Michael Wachs, Jr., 4. Brandon Olson, 5. Keanna Barney, 6. Jake Schomers, 7. Justin Iverson, 8. Jeff Von Ruden, 9, Jaydin Schock, 10. Nick Hadler, 11. Thomas Farra, 12. Bentley Knaack, 13. Carter Horstman, 14. Abigail Knaack, 15. Terry Lafleur, 16. Jacob Iverson, 17. Shawn Breese, 18. Jace Lafleur, 19. Chirstopher Lofquist, 20. Brandon McCarthy, 21. Kendon Thurk
6-for-6 Dash (6 laps): 1. Ben Thurk, 2. Jacob Iverson, 3. Lester Stanfield, 4. Michael Wachs, Jr., 5. Jake Schomers, 6. Jaydin Schock
Heat #1 (8 laps):  1. Terry Lafleur, 2. Justin Iverson, 3. Nick Hadler, 4. Shawn Breese, 5. Jeff Von Ruden, 6. Thomas Farra, 7. Chirstopher Lofquist
Heat #2 (8 laps):  1. Brandon McCarthy, 2. Keanna Barney, 3. Jace Lafleur, 4. Brandon Olson, 5. Abigail Knaack, 6. Bentley Knaack, 7. Carter Horstman, 8. Kendon Thurk
Qualifying:  1. Lester Stanfield, 2. Jacob Iverson, 3. Michael Wachs, Jr., 4. Ben Thurk, 5. Jaydin Schock, 6. Jake Schomers, 7. Christopher Lofquist, 8. Nick Hadler, 9. Shawn Breese, 10. Justin Iverson, 11. Jeff Von Ruden, 12. Terry Lafleur, 13. Thomas Farra, 14. Keanna Barney, 15. Jace Lafleur, 16. Bentley Knaack, 17. Brandon McCarthy, 18. Abigail Knaack, 19. Kendon Thurk NO TIME

Auto Value Hobby Stocks

Feature (15 laps):  1. Andy Moore, 2. Mike Stoer, 3. Jason Bolster, 4. Julie Jorgenson, 5. Jimmie Jorgenson
Heat #1 (8 laps):  1. Julie Jorgenson, 2. Jason Bolster, 3. Andy Moore, 4. Jimmie Jorgenson, 5. Mike Stoer, 6. Bryon Olson
Qualifying:  1. Jimmie Jorgenson, 2. Andy Moore, 3. Julie Jorgenson, 4. Jason Bolster, 5. Mike Stoer, 6. Bryon Olson

Auto Value Six Shooters

Feature (15 laps): 1. Rob Stanfield, 2. Alex Liebsch, 3. Ryan Stanfield, 4. Landon Lockington, 5. Matthew Miller, 6. Zach Liebsch, 7. Kreg Miller, 8. Kyle Cottone
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. Matthew Miller, 2. Zach Liebsch, 3. Rob Stanfield, 4. Ryan Stanfield, 5. Alex Liebsch, 6. Landon Lockington, 7. Kreg MIller, 8. Kyle Cottone
Qualifying: 1. Rob Stanfield, 2. Alex Liebsch, 3. Zach Liebsch, 4. Ryan Stanfield, 5. Matthew Miller, 6. Landon Lockington, 7. Kyle Cottone. 8 Kreg MIller

Novelty

Spin to Win Race: 1. Alex Liebsch, 2. Zach Liebsch, 3. Rob Stanfield, 4. Lester Stanfield, 5. Ryan Stanfield