By: Paul Reichert
July 16, 2025
No matter if it is a county fair or a state fair, kids young and old always have a grand old time at the fair. Riding the carnival rides, enjoying the unique foods that are available, checking out the competitions for blue ribbons and buying a souvenir as a remembrance of their day at the fair. A long time staple of any fair has been auto racing events that thrill and wow the crowd with high powered competition. As the 134th LaCrosse Interstate Fair reaches its conclusion, the Saturday night NASCAR racing had a fairtime feel to it with the third edition of the Wisconsin Kenworth Fairtime 50. The NASCAR Late Models competed in their biggest feature of the year with big money on the line. Skylar Holzhausen pulled out to a massive lead only to see it go away thanks to a late race caution. That would not stop Holzhausen from driving away on the restart and running away with the 50 lap main event for a second year in a row.
Ryan Brown (LaCrescent, MN) charged to the front of the Wisconsin Kenworth Fairtime 50 for the NASCAR Late Models. Nick Clements (West Salem, WI) charged by Brown to move into the lead on lap two. A spin down the back straight by Joe Nuttleman (Holmen, WI) slowed the action on lap three. Clements quickly pulled away from his competition on the restart, but he soon would have Skylar Holzhausen (Bangor, WI) tracking him down for the lead. Holzhausen wasted little time to catch and pass Clements for the top spot on lap eight, and immediately began to stretch out his advantage. Steve Carlson (West Salem, WI) powered around the outside of Clements to take over the runner-up spot on lap 16. Clements ran wide in turn one and that allowed Jacob Goede (Carver, MN) to claim a podium spot in third on lap 19. Holzhausen was running on rails as he maintained more than a full straightaway advantage over Carlson as the crossed flags were displayed. Holzhausen continued to run at a break neck pace and showed no signs of slowing down as the laps clicked away. Brown lost control of his race car in turn four with 12 laps left to run, but miraculously no other drivers got involved. The title fight was back on between Holzhausen and Goede as the orange 72 was the first to go to the outside for the restart. Holzhausen just went right back to work to pull away from the field and leave Goede in his wake. Goede would have his hands full with holding off Steve Bachman (Bangor, WI) in the closing laps. Bachman found a way underneath Goede with seven laps left to power his way to second place. No one had any answers for Holzhausen as he drove off with the Wisconsin Kenworth Fairtime 50 for a second straight year. After the race Holzhausen said “We have been working hard on improving the car the last few weeks. After testing earlier today, we felt really good about the car running very well in this big feature tonight.”
The final six laps of the NASCAR Sportsmen feature was a great battle between Charles Vian, Jr. (Sparta, WI) and Bob Fort (Fountain City, WI). They put on a terrific side-by-side battle while keeping their distance from the breakout time of 22.000 seconds. Fort used the outside groove to edge ahead of Vian, Jr. with three laps remaining. Fort was able to power around Vian, Jr. on the final lap and drive off with his fourth win of the year.
Mitchell Rinartz led the opening half of the NASCAR Hornets until the caution appeared. Nick Hadler took to the outside to power around Rinartz on the restart, but as the laps ticked away Hadler had to deal with the returning Joey Johnson. Hadler was up to the challenge and drove away with his feature triumph of the year.
Melissa Rusch powered to the lead at the start of the Six Shooter feature and pulled out to a sizable lead as the rest of the pack tried to sort themselves out. The field began to slowly reel in Rusch after the crossed flags were displayed. Rob Stanfield battled Rusch on the outside for several laps as Alex Rud began to catch both of them. Rusch was able to hold them at bay to score her first feature win in quite some time at LaCrosse.
Kevin Laufenberg and Rob Stanfield put on a spirited battle in the Mini-Van feature for several laps before Stanfield moved into first on lap eight. On lap eleven Stanfield suddenly pulled off with an issue. That gave Matthew Parent a shot to go for the win as he got alongside Laufenberg. Parent had a better run in turns three and four to pull ahead and capture his second win of the season.
The Upper Midwest Vintage Racing Series feature saw Jerimy Wagner power a replica Coulee Ford race car from back in the day to the early race lead. Dan Linnehan was slowly reeling in Wagner in his Coors Light car as the laps counted down. This race brought back memories to many race fans of battles between Steve Holzhausen and Dick Trickle. Linnehan ran wide in turns one and two on the final two lap shootout and that allowed Wagner to surge back into the lead and score the victory.
The Novelty event was the Double Spin to Win Race. The drivers had to do two spins at any time during the five lap race. Dakota Clauson did both of his spins on the front straight on the very first lap, but that was not to his advantage. Rob Stanfield did his spins on lap one and two and pulled out to a sizable to follow up his Summer Games championship last week with another Novelty victory.
Now the stretch drive of the 2025 racing season begins as we find out who will be challenging for a championship. The Late Models will run their third pair of 20 lap features to highlight the racing action next Saturday, July 26. Joining them will be the Sportsmen, Hornets, Street Stocks and the High School Racing Association. The Cone Race is next week’s Novelty race, and will challenge the drivers to keep their lead foot in park. After qualifying, the kids will get a chance to ride around the track in a stock car during the KQ98 Kids’ Rides. Gates open at 5:15, the fight to be the fastest in qualifying revs up at 5:30 and the high speed drama of auto racing fires up at 7.
For more information about the LaCrosse Speedway and the 2025 schedule of events, please call the track office at 608-786-1525 or visit our website at lacrossespeedway.com. LaCrosse Speedway is proud to be a NASCAR Regional race track, part of the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series.
RESULTS
Kwik Trip NASCAR Late Models
Wisconsin Kenworth Fairtime 50 (50 laps): 1. 78-Skylar Holzhausen, Bangor, WI [10], 2. 14-Steve Bachman, Sparta, WI [11], 3. 72-Jacob Goede, Carver, MN [12], 4. 21B-Adam Bendzick, Prior Lake, MN [13], 5. 07-Tony Leis, Bangor, WI [3], 6. 13-Bryan Wrolstad, Faribault, MN [8], 7. 48-Jason Stark, Wisconsin Dells, WI [9], 8. 5-Tom Luethe, Bangor, WI [7], 9. 66-Steve Carlson, West Salem, WI [6], 10. 50-Michael Carlson, West Salem, WI [5], 11. 8-Nick Clements, West Salem, WI [4], 12. 96-Andy Barney, West Salem, WI [15], 13. 93-Brian Lee, Holmen, WI [14, 14. 53-Ryan Brown, La Crescent, MN [2], 15. 7-Don Turner, La Crosse, WI [1], 16. 4N-Joe Nuttleman, West Salem, WI [16], 17. 00-Thomas Farra, Sparta, WI [17]
6-for-6 Dash (6 laps): 1. 78-Skylar Holzhausen, Bangor, WI [4], 2. 72-Jacob Goede, Carver, MN [2], 3. 21B-Adam Bendzick, Prior Lake, MN [6], 4. 14-Steve Bachman, Sparta, WI [5], 5. 48-Jason Stark, Wisconsin Dells, WI [3], 6. 13-Bryan Wrolstad, Faribault, MN [1]
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. 8-Nick Clements, West Salem, WI [3], 2. 5-Tom Luethe, Bangor, WI [6], 3. 07-Tony Leis, Bangor, WI [2], 4. 03-Adam Degenhardt, Cashton, WI [7], 5. 50-Michael Carlson, West Salem, WI [4], 6. 66-Steve Carlson, West Salem, WI [5], 7. 63S-Gib Scharpf, West Salem, WI [1]
Heat #2 (8 laps): 1. 96-Andy Barney, West Salem, WI [2], 2. 4N-Joe Nuttleman, West Salem, WI [1], 3. 53-Ryan Brown, La Crescent, MN [5], 4. 7-Don Turner, La Crosse, WI [4], 5. 93-Brian Lee, Holmen, WI [3], 6. 00-Thomas Farra, Sparta, WI [6]
Qualifying: 1. 21B-Adam Bendzick, 16.6870; 2. 14-Steve Bachman, 19.7060; 3. 78-Skylar Holzhausen, 19.7470; 4. 48-Jason Stark, 19.7550; 5. 72-Jacob Goede, 19.7770; 6. 13-Bryan Wrolstad, 19.7970; 7. 03-Adam Degenhardt, 19.8070; 8. 5-Tom Luethe, 19.9700; 9. 66-Steve Carlson, 20.0550; 10. 50-Michael Carlson, 20.0640; 11. 8-Nick Clements, 20.1550; 12. 07-Tony Leis, 20.2530; 13. 63S-Gib Scharpf, 20.2610; 14. 53-Ryan Brown, 20.4260; 15. 7-Don Turner, 20.6620; 16. 93-Brian Lee, 20.6670; 17. 96-Andy Barney, 20.7170; 18. 4N-Joe Nuttleman, 20.7510; 19. 00-Thomas Farra, 21.7840
TDS Telecom NASCAR Sportsmen
Feature (15 laps): 1. 97-Robert Fort, Winona, MN [11], 2. 1-Charles Vian Jr, Sparta, WI [8], 3. 5-Rick Coppernoll, Stoughton, WI [6], 4. 13-Mark Challet, Sparta, WI [7], 5. 10-Zach Oliver, Rockland, WI [5], 6. 21B-Kevin Burr, La Crescent, MN [2], 7. 75-Justin Berg, Bangor, WI [12], 8. 18-Tina Lodermeier, Rosemount, MN [9], 9. 60-Jacob Lodermeier, Elko New Market, MN [4], 10. 51-Tom Carlson, West Salem, WI [10], 11. 69-Jamie Dummer, Tomah, WI [1], 12. 34-Travis Gordon, Mindoro, WI [3]
6-for-6 Dash (6 laps): 1. 18-Tina Lodermeier, Rosemount, MN [1], 2. 51-Tom Carlson, West Salem, WI [2], 3. 13-Mark Challet, Sparta, WI [6], 4. 5-Rick Coppernoll, Stoughton, WI [5], 5. 10-Zach Oliver, Rockland, WI [4], 6. 60-Jacob Lodermeier, Elko New Market, MN [3]
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. 97-Robert Fort, Winona, MN [2], 2. 21B-Kevin Burr, La Crescent, MN [4], 3. 69-Jamie Dummer, Tomah, WI [1], 4. 34-Travis Gordon, Mindoro, WI [5], 5. 1-Charles Vian Jr, Sparta, WI [3], 6. 75-Justin Berg, Bangor, WI [6]
Qualifying: 1. 13-Mark Challet, 22.0010; 2. 5-Rick Coppernoll, 22.0140; 3. 10-Zach Oliver, 22.0290; 4. 60-Jacob Lodermeier, 22.1130; 5. 51-Tom Carlson, 22.1390; 6. 18-Tina Lodermeier, 22.1620; 7. 34-Travis Gordon, 22.2020; 8. 21B-Kevin Burr, 22.2150; 9. 1-Charles Vian Jr, 22.2450; 10. 97-Robert Fort, 22.3530; 11. 69-Jamie Dummer, 22.5550; 12. 75-Justin Berg, NO TIME (DQ)
Skyline Fireworks NASCAR Hornets
Feature (15 laps): 1. 3/4-Nick Hadler, Inver Grove Heights, MN [5], 2. 32J-Joey Johnson III, Holmen, WI [7], 3. 02-Shane Kohlmeier, Onalaska, WI [11], 4. 75H-Carter Horstman, Bangor, WI [12], 5. 28-Jimmy Bjorkman, West Salem, WI [9], 6. 11B-Shawn Breese, Sparta, WI [6], 7. 111-Shaw Strangstalien, West Salem, WI [3], 8. 36B-Brandon Olson, Eden Prairie, MN [4], 9. 22X-Jace Lafleur, La Crosse, WI [10], 10. 12T-Ben Thurk, La Crosse, WI [2], 11. 65-Mitchell Rinartz, Hammond, WI [1], 12. 44-Jake Schomers, La Crescent, MN [14], 13. 21-Jacob Iverson, West Salem, WI [8], 14. 24-Justin Iverson, Prior Lake, MN [13], 15. 77-Bentley Knaack, Onalaska, WI [19], 16. 12G-Greg Oliver, Bangor, WI [15], 17. 27-Alex Liebsch, Goodview, MN [22], 18. 12B-Al Bartels, Tomah, WI [21], 19. 5-Brandon Thorson, La Crosse, WI [18], 20. 8-Paityn Barney, West Salem, WI [16], 21. 12J-James Tobias, Boscobel, WI [23], 22. 2C-Dakota Clauson, Sparta, WI [20], 23. 66-Tony Ciano, Onalaska, WI [17]
6-for-6 Dash (6 laps): 1. 32J-Joey Johnson III, Holmen, WI [2], 2. 75H-Carter Horstman, Bangor, WI [6], 3. 11B-Shawn Breese, Sparta, WI [1], 4. 28-Jimmy Bjorkman, West Salem, WI [4], 5. 21-Jacob Iverson, West Salem, WI [3], 6. 02-Shane Kohlmeier, Onalaska, WI [5]
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. 12G-Greg Oliver, Bangor, WI [1], 2. 44-Jake Schomers, La Crescent, MN [2], 3. 24-Justin Iverson, Prior Lake, MN [3], 4. 36B-Brandon Olson, Eden Prairie, MN [7], 5. 3/4-Nick Hadler, Inver Grove Heights, MN [9], 6. 22X-Jace Lafleur, La Crosse, WI [8], 7. 12T-Ben Thurk, La Crosse, WI [5], 8. 65-Mitchell Rinartz, Hammond, WI [4], 9. 111-Shaw Strangstalien, West Salem, WI [6]
Heat #2 (8 laps): 1. 27-Alex Liebsch, Goodview, MN [2], 2. 5-Brandon Thorson, La Crosse, WI [6], 3. 77-Bentley Knaack, Onalaska, WI [5], 4. 12B-Al Bartels, Tomah, WI [3], 5. 12J-James Tobias, Boscobel, WI [1], 6. 66-Tony Ciano, Onalaska, WI [7], 7. 8-Paityn Barney, West Salem, WI [8]
Qualifying: 1. 75H-Carter Horstman, 15.5180; 2. 02-Shane Kohlmeier, 15.7120; 3. 28-Jimmy Bjorkman, 15.8710; 4. 21-Jacob Iverson, 15.9110; 5. 32J-Joey Johnson III, 15.9360; 6. 11B-Shawn Breese, 16.0840; 7. 3/4-Nick Hadler, 16.1170; 8. 22X-Jace Lafleur, 16.1180; 9. 36B-Brandon Olson, 16.2560; 10. 111-Shaw Strangstalien, 16.2850; 11. 12T-Ben Thurk, 16.3070; 12. 65-Mitchell Rinartz, 16.4730; 13. 24-Justin Iverson, 16.5410; 14. 44-Jake Schomers, 16.5700; 15. 12G-Greg Oliver, 16.6220; 16. 8-Paityn Barney, 16.7310; 17. 66-Tony Ciano, 16.7730; 18. 5-Brandon Thorson, 16.7760; 19. 77-Bentley Knaack, 16.8500; 20. 2C-Dakota Clauson, 17.1350; 21. 12B-Al Bartels, 17.4170; 22. 27-Alex Liebsch, 17.6920; 23. 12J-James Tobias, 20.8300
Auto Value Six Shooters
Feature (15 laps): 1. 126-Melissa Rusch, Holmen, WI [3], 2. 42R-Alex Rud, La Crosse, WI [13], 3. 77-Robert Stanfield, La Crosse, WI [10], 4. K9-John Clauson, La Crosse, WI [14], 5. 05-Brandon Bion, La Crosse, WI [6], 6. 66M-Marshall Rinartz, Centuria, WI [11], 7. 24-Colton Jacobson, La Crosse, WI [8], 8. 21M-Matthew Miller, La Crosse, WI [5], 9. 94-Steve Brasda, Osseo, WI [7], 10. K91-Shawn McCarthy, Sparta, WI [9], 11. 65R-Carlie Jotham, West Salem, WI [12], 12. 26-Dakota Clauson, Sparta, WI [16], 13. 27-Cole Lewis, La Crosse, WI [1], 14. 31-Weston Willette, La Crosse, WI [4], 15. 72-Ashton Kinsey, Onalaska, WI [15]
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. 66M-Marshall Rinartz, Centuria, WI [4], 2. 77-Robert Stanfield, La Crosse, WI [7], 3. K9-John Clauson, La Crosse, WI [6], 4. 65R-Carlie Jotham, West Salem, WI [1], 5. 72-Ashton Kinsey, Onalaska, WI [8], 6. 94-Steve Brasda, Osseo, WI [2], 7. K91-Shawn McCarthy, Sparta, WI [5], 8. 24-Colton Jacobson, La Crosse, WI [3]
Heat #2 (8 laps): 1. 26-Dakota Clauson, Sparta, WI [1], 2. 42R-Alex Rud, La Crosse, WI [8], 3. 05-Brandon Bion, La Crosse, WI [7], 4. 126-Melissa Rusch, Holmen, WI [4], 5. 27-Cole Lewis, La Crosse, WI [2], 6. 31-Weston Willette, La Crosse, WI [5], 7. 21M-Matthew Miller, La Crosse, WI [6]
Qualifying: 1. 72-Ashton Kinsey, 16.3210; 2. 77-Robert Stanfield, 16.7270; 3. K9-John Clauson, 16.8110; 4. K91-Shawn McCarthy, 16.8680; 5. 66M-Marshall Rinartz, 16.9610; 6. 24-Colton Jacobson, 17.3620; 7. 94-Steve Brasda, 17.3890; 8. 65R-Carlie Jotham, 17.5440; 9. 42R-Alex Rud, 17.8140; 10. 05-Brandon Bion, 17.8640; 11. 21M-Matthew Miller, 17.8820; 12. 31-Weston Willette, 18.1310; 13. 126-Melissa Rusch, 18.2650; 14. 68-Brody Rundhaugen, 18.3750; 15. 27-Cole Lewis, 18.3910; 16. 26-Dakota Clauson, 20.9290
Auto Value Mini-Vans
Feature (15 laps): 1. 2-Matthew Parent, Bangor, WI [6], 2. 4L-Kevin Laufenberg, Sparta, WI [2], 3. 66M-Marshall Rinartz, Centuria, WI [3], 4. 1-Fletcher Milene, Winona, MN [4], 5. 21M-Matthew Miller, La Crosse, WI [1], 6. 14-John Huebner, Lacrosse, WI [7], 7. 77-Robert Stanfield, La Crosse, WI [5]
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. 2-Matthew Parent, Bangor, WI [5], 2. 77-Rob11ert Stanfield, La Crosse, WI [4], 3. 4L-Kevin Laufenberg, Sparta, WI [3], 4. 66M-Marshall Rinartz, Centuria, WI [6], 5. 1-Fletcher Milene, Winona, MN [2], 6. 14-John Huebner, Lacrosse, WI [7], 7. 21M-Matthew Miller, La Crosse, WI [1]
Qualifying: 1. 66M-Marshall Rinartz, 17.1870; 2. 2-Matthew Parent, 17.2420; 3. 77-Robert Stanfield, 17.2620; 4. 4L-Kevin Laufenberg, 17.4600; 5. 1-Fletcher Milene, 17.6430; 6. 21M-Matthew Miller, 19.1430
Upper Midwest Vintage Racing Series
Feature (15 laps): 1. 78-Jerimy Wagner, Onalaska, WI [2], 2. 99-Dan Linnehan, Leon, WI [6], 3. 18-Tracey Prissel, Tomah, WI [4], 4. 21-Sean Herzog, Wausau, WI [5], 5. 91-Roger Peterson, Canton, MI [3], 6. 8B-Ben Behne, Owatonna, MN [8], 7. 42-Brad McCombs, LeCenter, MN [10], 8. 30L-Landon Lockington, Mindoro, WI [1], 9. 30B-Mike Breckenridge, Northfield, MN [9], 10. 54-Joey Miller, LaCrescent, MN [11], 11. 02-Jason Stark, Wisconsin Dells, WI [7]
Heat #1 (8 laps); 1. 8B-Ben Behne, Owatonna, MN [4], 2. 30L-Landon Lockington, Mindoro, WI [2], 3. 30B-Mike Breckenridge, Northfield, MN [1], 4. 42-Brad McCombs, LeCenter, MN [3], 5. 54-Joey Miller, LaCrescent, MN [5]
Heat #2 (8 laps): 1. 02-Jason Stark, Wisconsin Dells, WI [6], 2. 78-Jerimy Wagner, Onalaska, WI [1], 3. 99-Dan Linnehan, Leon, WI [5], 4. 18-Tracey Prissel, Tomah, WI [3], 5. 21-Sean Herzog, Wausau, WI [4], 6. 91-Roger Peterson, Canton, MI [2]
Novelty
Double Spin to Win: 1. 77-Robert Stanfield, La Crosse, WI [7], 2. 66-Marshall Rinartz, Centuria, WI [4], 3. 42R-Alex Rud, La Crosse, WI [1], 4. 14-John Huebner, Lacrosse, WI [8], 5. K9-John Clauson, La Crosse, WI [6], 6. 94-Steve Brasda, Osseo, WI [5], 7. K19-Dakota Clauson, Sparta, WI [2], 8. 65R-Carlie Jotham, West Salem, WI [3]