By: Paul Reichert
July 16, 2025
This is the week for the 134th annual LaCrosse Interstate Fair, LaCrosse County’s annual get together that brings folks from the cities and the rural areas to enjoy what the county has to offer. The kids will enjoy the rides and will be looking for blue ribbons in the judging competitions. The adults will enjoy the live music nightly and the return of Wednesday night racing at the LaCrosse Speedway. The Central Wisconsin Racing Association Late Models were a longtime tradition on Wednesdays, and they made their return to LaCrosse with another thrilling night of racing action as part of $5 Family Fun Night. Paul Paine took the lead at halfway in the first feature and drove off with his third consecutive feature triumph. That streak came to an end in the nightcap as veteran CWRA racer Jeff Weinfurter scored a long overdue LaCrosse feature victory.
Defending CWRA champion Mark Mackesy (Wausau, WI) powered by Tony Leis (Middle Ridge, WI) to lead the early going of the first CWRA Late Model feature. With Mackesy running in the outer lane through the turns allowed Leis to stay in touch with the leader, but he could not get close enough to challenge for the lead. As we approached the mid-race point of the race, Mackesy’s tires began to lose their grip from running on the outside. That gave Leis his chance and he surged under Mackesy to take the top spot on lap 12. Leis’ time up front would not last long as Paul Paine (Mound, MN) and Jason Stark (Wisconsin Dells, WI) found a way under Leis to move into the first two positions as the crossed flags were displayed. Current Late Model rookie leader Stark tried time and time again to look for an opening to get around Paine, but Paine was able to close the door on those challenges by Stark. Paine kept Stark in his rear view the rest of the way to score his third straight CWRA feature win at LaCrosse, and his first on the big track. After the race Paine said “I was the only one that wanted to race on the quarter-mile again, but I think we have a good race car for the big track here at LaCrosse.”
Harley Jankowski (Sparta, WI) charged by Jeff Weinfurter (Wisconsin Rapids, WI) for the lead at the start of CWRA Late Model feature #2. Jankowski tried to pull away from Weinfurter, but the four-time CWRA champion stuck right behind Jankowski. After the halfway mark was reached, Weinfurter began to close the gap on Jankowski and he powered under Jankowski to take the lead with nine laps remaining. The best battle on the track in the closing laps was over third between Tony Leis, CWRA point leader Corey Jankowski (Tomah, WI) and Dillon Mackesy (Wausau, WI). Leis put on a very impressive run for the LaCrosse regulars as he held onto third over two CWRA veterans. Back up front, Weinfurter pulled away from Jankowski as the laps counted down to capture a long overdue LaCrosse feature win. After the race Weinfurter said “We have struggled over the years here at LaCrosse, but we found something after the first feature that gave us a chance at the win in the second feature.” The overall victory would be claimed by Mackesy thanks to his third and fifth place runs.
Russ Weiler (Marshfield, WI) powered by Michael Sina (Whitewater, WI) to lead the early going of the Great North Legends feature. Weiler would have Rose Borntreger (Elroy, WI) on his tail for a few laps before the recent first-time Late Model feature winner shot around Weiler to settle into first place on lap four by Rose Borntreger. Yellow flag on lap eight when Weiler and Cael Slater (Tomah, WI) tangled in turn four. On the restart fast qualifier Elliott Weiler (Marshfield, WI) shot past Borntreger to take command of the race. With eight laps to go Weiler would have his hands full fighting back repeated challenges by Ayrton Brockhouse (Shakopee, MN), the dominant force in Legends racing. A late race yellow came out with three laps to go after Matt Schecklman (Marshfield, WI) spun on the back straight. Weiler pulled away from Brockhouse on the final restart to hit the finish line in first place.
That was just the first of five days of fun and excitement during the 134th edition of the LaCrosse Interstate Fair. Make sure to come back out often this week to make more great fair memories. Our regular Saturday night racing will have a fairtime feel to it on Saturday, July 19 with the third running of the Wisconsin Kenworth Fairtime 50. The Late Models will race for big money in their huge 50 lap main event. Also on the track with them will be the Sportsmen, Hornets, Six Shooters, Mini-Vans and the Upper Midwest Vintage Racing Series will take us back to the heyday of racing at LaCrosse. The Novelty division will leave your head spinning thanks to the Double Spin to Win Race. Gates open at 5:15, the race to be the best in qualifying begins at 5:30 and the fairtime on-track thrills take the green at 7.
To learn more about the LaCrosse Speedway and the 2025 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 Regional home track, part of the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series.
RESULTS
Central Wisconsin Racing Association Late Models
Feature #1 (25 laps): 1. Paul Paine, 2. Jason Stark, 3. Dillon Mackesy, 4. Corey Jankowski, 5. Darek Gress, 6. Tony Leis, 7. Jeff Weinfurter, 8. Harley Jankowski, 9. Nick Clements, 10. Tyler Sauter, 11. Mark Mackesy, 12. Monte Gress, 13. Joe Nuttleman, 14. Sam Niles, 15. Tom Luethe
Feature #2 (25 laps): 1. Jeff Weinfurter, 2. Harley Jankowski, 3. Tony Leis, 4. Corey Jankowski, 5. Dillon Mackesy, 6. Tyler Sauter, 7. Paul Paine, 8. Jason Stark, 9. Nick Clements, 10. Monte Gress, 11. Tom Luethe, 12. Mark Mackesy, 13. Darek Gress, 14. Joe Nuttleman, 15. Sam Niles
Qualifying: 1. Harley Jankowski 20.015, 2. Corey Jankowski 20.027, 3. Jeff Weinfurter 20.175, 4. Darek Gress 20.325, 5. Jason Stark 20.361, 6. Dillon Mackesy 20.479, 7. Nick Clements 20.523, 8. Paul Paine 20.551, 9. Mark Mackesy 20.641, 10. Tony Leis 20.699, 11. Tyler Sauter 20.707, 12. Monte Gress 20.869, 13. Tom Luethe 21.165, 14. Joe Nuttleman 21.220, 15. Sam Niles 21.681
Great North Legends
Feature (20 laps): 1. Elliott Weiler, 2. Ayrton Brockhouse, 3. Kooper Heintz, 4. Riley Goodwin, 5. Cael Slater, 6. Devon Lee, 7. Michael Sina, 8. Kyle Mitchell, 9. Matt Schecklman, 10. Russ Weiler, 11. Rose Borntreger, 12. Daden Barclay
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. Cael Slater, 2. Ayrton Brockhouse, 3. Daden Barclay, 4. Elliott Weiler, 5. Koper Heintz, 6. Matt Schecklman
Heat #2 (8 laps): 1. Russ Weiler, 2. Rose Borntreger, 3. Riley Goodwin, 4. Devon Lee, 5. Michael Sina, 6. Kyle Mitchell
Qualifying: 1. Elliott Weiler 14.793, 2. Ayrton Brockhouse 14.844, 3. Kooper Heintz 14.883, 4. Matt Schecklman 14.913, 5. Cael Slater 14.971, 6. Daden Barclay 15.076, 7. Devon Lee 15.120, 8. Rose Borntreger 15.151, 9. RIley Goodwin 15.230, 10. Russ Weiler 15.252, 11. Michael Sina 15.499, 12. Kyle Mitchell 15.607