By: Paul Reichert
May 27, 2023
This is the weekend that we remember our fallen veterans, the veterans of past wars and the currently serving military personnel here and abroad. The weather gods smiled down on our veterans to kick off the Memorial Day weekend at the LaCrosse Speedway. Mike Carlson and Skylar Holzhausen were rookies back in 2005 with the NASCAR Late Models. Now they are veterans, with Mike Carlson claiming the 2022 championship at LaCrosse and Skylar winning several big money events across the Midwest. Now they are renewing an old rivalry to start the season. Mike started his title defense with a second straight opening day win, and Skylar captured his first checkered flag at LaCrosse since the 2015 TUNDRA race.
The 25 lap State Bank Financial NASCAR Late Model feature saw Jerimy Wagner (Onalaska, WI) surge past Tom Luethe (West Salem, WI) for the race lead. As Wagner began to open up his lead on the field, Skylar Holzhausen (Bangor, WI) began to make his way forward through the pack. On lap four Holzhausen used the outside lane to zoom past Adam Bendzick (New Prague, MN) for third, then two laps later he made quick work of Brad Powell (LaCrosse, WI) for the runner-up spot. Holzhausen slowly began to eat away at Wegner’s lead and by lap 11 he stuck to the outer groove to power his way into the top spot. As Holzhausen began to slowly pull away from Wegner, the best battle on the track was over third between Bendzick and Sgteve Bachman (Rockland, WI). Bendzick was doing everything he could to hold Bachman at bay to maintain the final podium position. Back up front Wegner had no answer for Holzhausen as he opened up a nearly full second lead to cross the finish line first. After the race Holzhausen said, “I am blessed by the grace of God for this race car, my sponsors, my crew and my race fans that are supporting me in my return to racing competition at LaCrosse.”
The NASCAR Sportsmen feature saw Mark Challet (Sparta, WI) lead for the first two-thirds of the race. Bob Fort (Fountain City, WI) powered by Challet to move into the top spot with four laps to go. Justin Berg (Bangor, WI) climbed through the pack and made a daring move on the outside of Fort coming out of turn four to claim his first checkered flag win of the season.
Jacob Iverson built up a huge lead in the NASCAR Hornet feature, then a yellow changed everything with two laps remaining. Iverson had to deal with both rookie champ Carter Horstman and defending champ Lester Stanfield, but he pulled away from both drivers to score his first ever checkered flag victory.
Marshall Rinartz and John Huebner locked horns for the win in the closing laps of the Street Stock feature. Rinartz stuck to the inside lane and held the advantage over Huebner over the final laps to win the main event.
The Mini-Van feature saw a three-way fight for the lead and the win between Jay Raines, Rob Stanfield and Zach Liebsch. Former Mini-Van champion Raines kept both Stanfield and LIebsch at bay to see the checkered flag first.
A flagpole was set up in the middle of turn one for the Street Stock drivers to go around every lap in the Flagpole Novelty Race. It came down to a battle of brotherly love as Zach Liebsch outdueled Alex Liebsch to claim the victory.
Next Saturday, June 3 will be all about the kids during the annual Kids’ Night. All kids 11 and under will get in free, plus they will get the thrill of a lifetime riding in a stock car during the KQ98 Kids’ Rides after qualifying. The highlight of the night will be the first round of twin 20 lap features for the NASCAR Late Models. The High School Racing Association will make their season debut and join the NASCAR Sportsmen, NASCAR Hornets, Six Shooters and the crazy 2nd Over the Line Wins Novelty race. Gates open at 5:30, drivers start their qualifying runs shortly after that and the full throttle racing action commences at 7.
For more information about 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. Skylar Holzhausen, 2. Jerimy Wagner, 3. Adam Bendzick, 4. Steve Bachman, 5. Brent Kirchner, 6. Tony Bagstad, 7. Nick Clements, 8. Mike Carlson, 9. Michael Beamish, 10. Michael Haggar, 11. Steve Carlson, 12. Nichoials Beaver, 13. Cole Howland, 14. Brad Powell, 15. Tom Carlson, 16. Chris Skrede, 17. Ridge Oien, 18. Tom Luethe, 19. JImmy Summerfield, 20. Joe Nuttleman
6-for-6 Dash (6 laps): 1. Skylar Holzhausen, 3. Steve Carlson, 3. Michael Beamish, 4. Brent Kirchner, 5. Nick Clements, 6. Steve Bachman
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. Brad Powell, 2. Tony Bagstad, 3. Cole Howland, 4. Mike Carlson, 5. Adam Bendzick, 6. Michael Haggar, 7. Tom Luethe
Heat #2 (8 laps): 1. Tom Carlson, 2. Jerimy Wagner, 3. Nicholas Beaver, 4. Chris Skrede, 5. Ridge Oien, 6. Joe Nuttleman, 7. Jimmy Summerfield
Qualifying: 1. Brent Kirchner, 2. Steve Bachman, 3. NIck Clements, 4. Michael Beamish, 5. Steve Carlson, 6. Skylar Holzhausen, 7. Michael Haggar, 8. Adam Bendzick, 9. Tony Bagstad, 10. Mike Carlson, 11. Cole Howland, 12. Brad Powell, 13. Tom Luethe, 14. Jerimy Wagner, 15. Chris Skrede, 16. Nicholas Beaver, 17. Tom Carlson, 18. Ridge Oien, 19. Joe Nuttleman, 20. Jimmy Summerfield
Line-X NASCAR Sportsmen
Feature (15 laps): 1. Justin Berg, 2. Bob Fort, 3. Andy Barney, 4. Mark Challet, 5. Travis Gordon
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. Mark Challet, 2. Justin Berg, 3. Andy Barney, 4. Travis Gordon, 5. Bob Fort DQ
Qualifying: 1. Andy Barney, 2. Bob Fort, 3. Justin Berg, 4. Mark Challet, 5. Travis Gordon
Skyline Fireworks NASCAR Hornets
Feature (15 laps): 1. Jacob Iverson, 2. Lester Stanfield, 3. Michael Wachs, Jr., 4. Carter Horstman, 5. Ben Thurk, 6. Kendon Thurk, 7. Thomas Farra, 8. Brandon Olson, 9. Jake Schomers, 10. Jaydin Schock, 11. Terry Lafleur, 12. Keanna Barney, 13. Joey Johnson III, 14. Nick Hadler, 15. Damian Swenson, 16. Shawn Breese, 17. Jeffrey Von Ruden, 18. Jace Lafleur, 19. Bentley Knaack, 20. Abigail Knaack, 21. Michelle Weaver, 22. Darren Pahl, 23. Christopher Lofquist, 24. Al Bartels
6-for-6 Dash (6 laps): 1. Kendon Thurk, 2. Carter Horstman, 3. Ben Thurk, 4. Michael Wachs, Jr., 5. Jaydin Schock, 6. Lester Stanfield
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. Keanna Barney, 2. Jacob Iverson, 3. Brandon Olson, 4. Thomas Farra, 5. Terry Lafleur, 6. Shawn Breese, 7. Joey Johnson III, 8. Nick Hadler, 9. Jake Schomers
Heat #2 (8 laps): 1. Jace Lafluer, 2. Bentley Knaack, 3. Jeffrey Von Ruden, 4. Christopher Lofquist, 5. Darren Pahl, 6. Abigail Knaack, 7. Al Bartels, 8. Damian Swenson, 9. Michelle Weaver
Qualifying: 1. Lester Stanfield, 2. Ben Thurk, 3. Michael Wachs, Jr., 4. Carter Horstman, 5. Jaydin Schock, 6. Kendon Thurk, 7. Joey Johnson III, 8. Brandon Olson, 9. Jake Schomers, 10. Shawn Breese, 11. Jacob Iverson, 12. Terrty Lafleur, 13. Thomas Farra, 14. Nick Hadler, 15. Keanna Barney, 16. Abigail Knaack, 17. Darren Pahl, 18. Christopher Lofquist, 19. Bentley Knaack, 20. Jeffrey Von Ruden, 21. Damion Swenson, 22. Al Bartels, 23. Michelle Weaver, 24. Jace Lafleur
Auto Value Street Stocks
Feature (15 laps): 1. Marshall Rinartz, 2. Keith Larson, 3. John Huebner, 4. Zach Liebsch, 5. Matthew Bornheimer, 6. Alex Liebsch, 7. Steven Brasda, 8. Kyle Cottone
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. Zach Liebsch, 2. Marshall Rinartz, 3. Keith Larson, 4. Steven Brasda, 5. Alex Liebsch, 6. John Huebner, 7. Matthew Bornheimer, 8. Kyle Cottone
Qualifying: 1. Keith Larson, 2. Alex Liebsch, 3. Matthew Bornheimer, 4. John Huebner, 5. Steven Brasda, 6. Zach Liebsch, 7. Marshall Rinartz, 8. Kyle Cottone
Mountain Dew Mini-Vans
Feature (15 laps): 1. Jay Raines, 2. Rob Stanfield, 3. Zach Liebsch, 4. Marshall Rinartx, 5. Al Bartels, 6. Matthew Miller, 7. Jake Lisowski, 8. Matt Parent, 9. Kyle Cottone
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. Rob Stanfield, 2. Matthew Miller, 3. Al Bartels, 4. Zach Liebsch, 5. Ryan Stanfield, 6. Marshall Rinartz, 7. Jake Lisowski, 8. Kyle Cottone, 9. Matt Parent, 10. Jay Raines
Qualifying: 1. Rob Stanfield, 2. Jay Raines, 3. Ryan Stanfield, 4. Zach Liebsch, 5. Al Bartels, 6. Matthew Miller
Novelty
Flagpole Race: 1. Zach Liebsch, 2. Alex Liebsch, 3. Steven Brasda, 4. John Huebner