By: Paul Reichert
June 1, 2024
As the old saying goes “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”. However, the veterans of the racing scene may still have something left in the tank and may surprise us that they can still get the job done. Around the LaCrosse Speedway that veteran that can still get the job done is the “King of the Short Tracks”, Steve Carlson. Soon Steve will mark 50 years of racing at his hometown race track, and you never know when his opportunity to strike will happen. That opportunity happened tonight as Carlson dominated the NASCAR Late Model feature to continue a long streak of at least one feature win a season for at least a decade.
The start of the 25 lap Altra Federal Credit Union NASCAR Late Model feature saw Chris Skrede (Rockland, WI) power by Don Turner (LaCrosse, WI) to lead his first Late Model feature laps. The only yellow flag flew on lap three for a tangle between Joe Nuttleman (West Salem, WI) and Nick Clements (West Salem, WI) in turn four. Michael Haggar (Hanover, MN) wasted little time in passing Skrede for the lead on lap three. Soon Haggar would have to deal with Steve Carlson (West Salem, WI) for the lead. Carlson shot around Haggar to take the lead on lap six. As the field reached the halfway point of the race, Mike Carlson (West Salem, WI) was battling his way through traffic and moved into second spot. Adam Degenhardt (Coon Valley, WI) was powering through the field and shot past Mike Carlson to take over second with ten laps to go. Degenhardt tried to cut into Steve Carlson’s lead over those final ten laps, but Carlson built up too large of a lead that no one had an answer for the “King of the Short Tracks”. After the race Carlson said “The competition here at LaCrosse keeps me coming back and that’s why I still love racing here.”
Mark Challet (Sparta, WI) led the first half of the NASCAR Sportsmen feature. Bob Fort (Fountain City, WI) powered around Challet on the outside to take the lead at the halfway point of the race. Late in the race Justin Berg (Bangor, WI) was challenging Ford for the win, but Fort got the better of Berg to take his third consecutive feature win.
It looked for a while that the NASCAR Hornet feature would have a second first time winner. Nick Hadler led much of the race before Thomas Farra caught Hadler and powered by him entering turn one with two laps to go to drive away with the victory.
John Huebner would have his hands full with Jay Raines over the second half of the Six Shooter feature. Huebner kept Raines a safe distance behind him down the stretch to see the checkered flag first.
The wild and wooly 2nd Over the Line Wins Race was this week’s Novelty event for the Six Shooters. You never know who is going to jump the gun at the finish of the race, and that would be John Heubner. You then have to watch who will pounce on that mistake, and that was Kyle Cottone as he captured his first Novelty event victory.
Get out to the LaCrosse Speedway early next Saturday, June 8 with your goody bags for our annual Fan Photo and Autograph Night. All the drivers from the Late Models, Sportsmen, Hornets, Street Stocks and the High School Racing Association will be lined up on the front straight with autographed hero cards and free treats. A few teams will even have giveaways for the kids and the adults. In addition to those divisions competing, the Novelty division will run the Tag Team Race and area pastors will compete in the annual Fastor Pastor Races. Gates open at 5:30, the Fan Photo and Autograph Session starts at 5:45 and the high octane racing action fires up at 7..
For more information about the LaCrosse Speedway or the 2024 schedule of events, call the track office at 608-786-1525 or visit our website at lacrossespeedway.com. LaCrosse Speedway is proud to be a NASCAR Hometrack, part of the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Racing Series.
RESULTS
Kwik Trip NASCAR Late Models
Feature (25 laps): 1. Steve Carlson, 2. Adam Degenhardt, 3. Mike Carlson, 4. Jacob Goede, 5. Adam Bendzick, 6. Steve Bachman, 7. Michael Haggar, 8. Skylar Holzhausen, 9. Nick Beaver, 10. Bryan Wrolstad, 11. Tom Luethe, 12. Andy Barney, 13. Don Turner, 14. Brian Lee, 15. Cam Dezelske, 16. Ryan Brown, 17. Nick Clements, 18. Chris Skrede, 19. Joe Nuttleman, 20. Billy Mohn (DQ)
6-for-6 Dash (6 laps): 1. Jacob Goede, 2. Tom Leuthe, 3. Skylar Holzhausen, 4. Adam Bendzick, 5. Steve Bachman, 6. Bryan Wrolstad
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. Steve Carlson, 2. Adam Degenhardt, 3. Billy Mohn, 4. Mike Carlson, 5. MIchael Haggar, 6. Nick Beaver, 7. Don Turner
Heat #2 (8 laps): 1. Nick Clements, 2. Chris Skrede, 3. Andy Barney, 4. Ryan Brown, 5. Brian Lee, 6. Cam Dezelske, 7. Joe Nuttleman, 8. Ryan Kamish
Qualifying: 1. Skylar Holzhausen 19.425, 2. Jacob Goede 19.490, 3. Adam Bendzick 19.689, 4. Steve Bachman 19.728, 5. Bryan Wrolstad 19.745, 6. Tom Luethe 19.825, 7. Billy Mohn 19.832, 8. MIke Carlson 19.869, 9. Adam Degenhardt 19.896, 10. Steve Carlson 20.108, 11. Nick Beaver 20.189, 12. Michael Haggar 20.287, 13. Don Turner 20.288, 14. Chris Skrede 20.299, 15. Ryan Kamish 20.389, 16. Andy Barney 20.455, 17. Ryan Brown 20.547, 18. Nick Clements 20.621, 19. Cam Dezelske 20.791, 20. Brian Lee 20.892
NASCAR Sportsmen
Feature (15 laps): 1. Bob Fort, 2. Justin Berg, 3. Mark Challet, 4. Travis Gordon, 5. Bill Schott, 6. Zach Oliver, 7. Jason Bolster, 8. Andy Muller, 9. Tina Lodermeier, 10. Julie Jorgenson (DQ), 11. Jason Stark (DQ)
6-for-6 Dash (6 laps): 1. Mark Challet, 2. Bill Schott, 3. Julie Jorgenson, 4. Justin Berg, 5. Travis Gordon
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. Bob Fort, 2. Tina Lodermeier, 3. Zach Oliver, 4. Jason Bolster, 5. Andy Muller, 6. Jason Stark (DQ)
Qualifying: 1. Justin Berg 22.022, 2. BIll Schott 22.026, 3. Trtavis Gordon 22.029, 4. Julie Jorgenson 22.043, 5. Mark Challet 22.061, 6. Bob Fort 22.074, 7. Tina Lodermier 22.168, 8. Jason Bolster 22.532, 9. Andy Muller 23.657, 10. Zach Oliver 24.184, 11. Jason Stark (DQ)
Skyline Fireworks NASCAR Hornets
Feature (15 laps): 1. Thomas Farra, 2. Nick Hadler, 3. Jacob Lodermeier, 4. Christopher Lofquist, 5. Shane Kohlmeier, 6. Jimmy Bjorkman, 7. Jace Lafleur, 8. Austin Albrecht, 9. Justin Iverson, 10. Jake Schomers, 11. Dakota Clauson, 12. Jacob Iverson, 13. Brandon Olson, 14. Ben Thurk, 15. Shaw Strangstalien, 16. Abigail Knaack, 17. Paityn Barney, 18. Bentley Knaack, 19. Doyle Cavender, Jr., 20. Mitchell Rinartz, 21. James Tobias, 22. Terry Lafleur, 23. Scott Mahlum
6-for-6 Dash (6 laps): 1. Shane Kohlmeier, 2. Thomas Farra, 3. Jacob Iverson, 4. Jimmy Bjorkman, 5. Abigail Knaack, 6. Ben Thurk
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. Dakota Clauson, 2. Mitchell Rinartz, 3. Nick Hadler, 4. Jace Lafleur, 5. Justin Iverson, 6. Christopher Lofquist, 7. Brandon Olson, 8. Jacob Lodermeier, 9. Austin Albrecht
Heat #2 (8 laps): 1. Scott Mahlum, 2. Terry Lafleur, 3. Jake Schomers, 4. Shaw Strangstalien, 5. Bentley Knaack, 6. Paityn Barney, 7. James Tobias, 8. Doyle Cavender, Jr.
Qualifying: 1. Jimmy Bjorkman 15. 627 (NEW TRACK RECORD), 2. Ben Thurk 15.713, 3. Abigail Knaack 15.890, 4. Thomas Farra 15.927, 5. Jacob Iverson 15.993, 6. Shane Kohlmeier 16.009, 7. Jacob Lodermeier 16.053, 8. Nick Hadler 16.054, 9. Christopher Lofquist 16.171, 10. Jace Lafleur 16.245, 11. Brandon Olson 16.249, 12. Mitchell Rinartz 16.411, 13. Dakota Clauson 16.527, 14. Austin Albrecht 16.603, 15. Jake Schomers 16.679, 16. Jaydin Schock 16.693, 17. Terry Lafleur 16.769, 18. Shaw Strangstalien 17.070, 19. Bentley Knaack 17.117, 20. Doyle Cavender, Jr. 17.240, 21. Paityn Barney 17.365, 22. Scott Mahlum 20.107, 23. James Tobias 20.174
Auto Value Six Shooters
Feature (15 laps): 1. John Huebner, 2. Jay Raines, 3. Matthew Parent, 4. Cody Bell, 5. Carlie Rinartz, 6. Kyle Cottone, 7. John Clausen, 8. Joey Miller, 9. Matthew Miller, 10. Josh Heyer, 11. Bryon Olson
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. Jay Raines, 2. John Huebner, 3. Cody Bell, 4. Carlie Rinartz, 5. Matthew Parent, 6. Matthew Miller
Heat #2 (8 laps): 1. Joey Miller, 2. John Clausen, 3. Kyle Cottone, 4. Josh Heyer, 5. Bryon Olson
Qualifying: 1. Jay Raines 16.392, 2. Matthew Parent 16.778, 3. John Huebner 16.810, 4. Cody Bell 16.925, 5. Carlie Rinartz 17.042, 6. Matthew Miller 17.212, 7. Kyle Cottone 17.440, 8. Bryon Olson 18.442, 9. Josh Heyer 18.748, 10. Joey Miller 18.947, 11. John Clausen 23.988
Novelty
2nd Over the Line Wins: 1. Kyle Cottone, 2. John Clauson, 3. Jay Raines, 4. Cody Bell, 5. Carlie Rinartz, 6. Bryon Olson, 7. John Huebner