By: Paul Reichert
July 4, 2026
If you were around for the big Bicentennial celebration of America’s founding back in 1976, this weekend’s America 250 celebration was an even grander event to recognize the diversity and evolution of this nation that has made us the greatest country on the planet. We have endured over the years through good times and bad, achieved many milestones together and have created one of the most diverse nations that welcomed many people with open arms to our shores from sea to shining sea. Here at the LaCrosse Speedway we have made our own lasting memories and triumphed over the bad times in the nearly 60 years of racing here in western Wisconsin. Former track champion Steve Carlson had a great 4th of July holiday as he took the lead early and maintained a sizable lead over Jacob Goede to score his first multiple feature win season at LaCrosse in a number of years.
The big 25 lap Kwik Trip feature for the NASCAR Late Models saw Steve Carlson (West Salem, WI) power around brother Tom (West Salem, WI) to pull out to a sizable lead at the start. By lap five the heavy hitters would drop Tom Carlson all the way back to seventh. Nick Clements (West Salem, WI) led a five car breakaway that began to slowly track down Steve Carlson for the top spot. Adam Bendzick (New Prague, MN) and Jacob Goede (Carver, MN) began to apply a ton of pressure on Clements to go after Carlson. Goede surged underneath Bendzick to claim third on lap 11 as he had a bit of a deficit to make up on Clements. With ten laps remaining, Goede powered around Clements to take over second and set his sights on the “King of the Short Tracks”. Clements would have to deal with both Steve Bachman (Bangor, WI) and Skyilar Holzhausen (Bangor, WI) to maintain the last podium position. As we passed the five laps left to run mark, Goede was not beginning to make a dent in Carlson’s advantage. Clements began to pull away from the Bachmand and Holzhausen battle to keep a tight hold on third. Goede got within a couple of car lengths, but Carlson held off the reigning NASCAR national champion to capture his second feature victory of 2026. After the race Carlson said “After the heat race we made a lot of changes and they sure worked out well in the feature.”
Melissa Rusch (Holmen, WI) dove underneath Landon Lockington (Melrose, WI) to lead the first two laps of the NASCAR Sportsmen feature. Soon fast qualifier Jacob Lodermeier (Elko New Market, MN) powered around Rusch for first on lap three, and a lap later Charles Vian, Jr. (Sparta, WI) took over second from Rusch. Rusch suffered a flat right rear tire and spun in turn four to cause a caution period on lap six. She was able to rejoin the action after replacing that tire. Vian, Jr. was doing his best to fight off the repeated peaks to the inside by Tina Lodermeier (Rosemount, MN) after the restart. Every time Tina Lodermeier got under and close enough for second, Vian, Jr. got a good run out of turn three to maintain the runner-up spot. Both Jacob Lodermeier and Vian Jr. pulled away from Tina Lodermeier down the stretch to settle the race. Lodermeier kept Vian, Jr. in his rear view to add a first career feature win at LaCrosse to his first fast qualifier honor earlier in the evening.
Alex Liebsch wasted little time to wrestle the lead of the NASCAR Hornet feature away from Nick Loesel. Quarter-mile veteran Al Bartels was slowly reeling in Liebsch in a quest for his second feature victory. While Liebsch held the inside groove, Bartels was doing everything he could to take over first on the outside. Former champion Ben Thurk found a way around both of them on the outside to move into sole possession of first place. Liebsch had his hands full fighting off four cars who wanted second more than him. Bentley Knaack suddenly slowed on the front straight to force a yellow flag that set up a two-lap showdown. The restart was scrapped when Liebsch, Jimmy Bjorkman, Jacob Iverson and Shawn Strangstalien came together in turn two. Thurk had to hold off Nick Hadler on the final restart and easily pulled away to hit the finish line in first.
Ryan Stanfield shot around Brandon Bion to lead the start of the Street Stock feature. As Stanfield continued to pull away from the rest of the pack, it was a hornet’s nest for second place as four cars fought tooth-and-nail for the spot. Lapped traffic allowed Cole Lewis to take over second at halfway, but Thomas Farra began to work the inside lane to move into the runner-up spot. Rob Stanfield was hot on Farra’s bumper as they put on a great battle for second, but the yellow flew when Lewis and Colton Jacobson tangled coming out of turn four to set up a two-lap shootout. Ryan Stanfield stuck to his guns on the inside line on that final restart to hold on for his first Street Stock feature win.
The 15 lap main event for the American Super Cup Series saw Nicole Olmstead quickly power past Giovanni Sallee to lead the opening lap. Sallee fought back to power back around Olmstead to settle into first place on lap two. Heat winners Jon Kirsch and Richard Bischof tangled in turn two to bring out the yellow flag on lap three. Sallee would have to contend with American Super Cup rookie Camden Grommes for several laps after the restart, including having to maneuver their way through lapped traffic. Sallee’s car traveled a bit wide in turn four and sent him on a hard trip into the front straight wall just past halfway. Grommes had his hands full trying to fend off both Greg and Bobby Stanley off the restart. While Grommes pulled away from the Stanley brothers, Bischof lost it on the front straight to slow the action with just three laps left to run. Grommes was sawing hard on the wheel to fight back Bobby Stnaley in the final laps. It would pay off for the rookie as he captured his first career American Super Cup feature triumph.
The always wild and entertaining Outhouse Race was this week’s Novelty race. Drivers stopped at the port-a-potty, jump over the wall, rip off a certain amount of toilet paper, hop the wall again to get back into their car and finish the lap. We had a couple firsts as American Super Cup racer Dustin Olmstead and Late Model rookie Robert Bradley joined the fun. Zach Liebsch brought out his ‘country bumpkin’ outfit and spent some time in the port-a-potty. In the end it would be Rob Stanfield making the quickest run to the port-a-potty to be crowned “King of the Plastic Throne”.
Next Saturday, July 10 will be all about the tight and thrilling racing action that our ‘action track’ quarter-mile gives the race fans week in and week out. Our annual Quarter-Mile Mania event features a ton of racing competition with the Street Stocks, Six Shooters, Mini-Vans and the High School Racing Association. There will also be a number of wild and wacky Novelty events taking place to crown a champion of our annual Stock Car Summer Games. Gates open at 5:15, quick time qualifiers will be determined starting at 5:30 and the fender rubbing quarter-mile racing contests go green at 7.
To learn more about the LaCrosse Speedway and the 2026 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 race track, part of the NASCAR Local Racing Series powered by O’Reilly Auto Parts.
RESULTS
Kwik Trip NASCAR Late Models
Feature (25 laps): 1. 66-Steve Carlson, West Salem, WI [2], 2. 72-Jacob Goede, Carver, MN [9], 3. 8C-Nick Clements, West Salem, WI [4], 4. 78-Skylar Holzhausen, Sparta, WI [8], 5. 14-Steve Bachman, Sparta, WI [7], 6. 5-Tom Luethe, Bangor, WI [5], 7. 50-Michael Carlson, West Salem, WI [3], 8. 21B-Adam Bendzick, Prior Lake, MN [6], 9. 51-Tom Carlson, West Salem, WI [1], 10. 7-Don Turner, La Crosse, WI [11], 11. 57-Robert Bradley, Sparta, WI [10]
5-for-6 Dash (6 laps): 1. 5-Tom Luethe, Bangor, WI [2], 2. 8C-Nick Clements, West Salem, WI [1], 3. 72-Jacob Goede, Carver, MN [5], 4. 14-Steve Bachman, Sparta, WI [4], 5. 78-Skylar Holzhausen, Sparta, WI [3]
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. 50-Michael Carlson, West Salem, WI [4], 2. 21B-Adam Bendzick, Prior Lake, MN [5], 3. 51-Tom Carlson, West Salem, WI [2], 4. 66-Steve Carlson, West Salem, WI [3], 5. 7-Don Turner, La Crosse, WI [1], 6. 57-Robert Bradley, Sparta, WI [6]
Qualifying: 1. 72-Jacob Goede, 19.8070; 2. 14-Steve Bachman, 19.8470; 3. 78-Skylar Holzhausen, 19.9100; 4. 5-Tom Luethe, 19.9200; 5. 8C-Nick Clements, 20.0570; 6. 21B-Adam Bendzick, 20.0940; 7. 50-Michael Carlson, 20.2500; 8. 66-Steve Carlson, 20.5470; 9. 51-Tom Carlson, 20.5570; 10. 7-Don Turner, 20.6760; 11. 57-Robert Bradley, 21.9520
AB Seed and Consulting NASCAR Sportsmen
Feature (15 laps): 1. 60-Jacob Lodermeier, Elko New Market, MN [3], 2. 1-Charles Vian Jr, Sparta, WI [5], 3. 13-Mark A Challet, Sparta, WI [4], 4. 18-Tina Lodermeier, Rosemount, MN [6], 5. 30-Landon Lockington, Melrose, WI [2], 6. 14-Melissa Rusch, Galesville, WI [1], 7. 8-Jason Bolster, Sparta, WI [7]
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. 18-Tina Lodermeier, Rosemount, MN [3], 2. 1-Charles Vian Jr, Sparta, WI [5], 3. 13-Mark A Challet, Sparta, WI [4], 4. 60-Jacob Lodermeier, Elko New Market, MN [6], 5. 30-Landon Lockington, Melrose, WI [2], 6. 14-Melissa Rusch, Galesville, WI [1], 7. 8-Jason Bolster, Sparta, WI [7]
Qualifying: 1. 60-Jacob Lodermeier, 22.0130; 2. 1-Charles Vian Jr, 22.0270; 3. 13-Mark A Challet, 22.0440; 4. 18-Tina Lodermeier, 22.2490; 5. 30-Landon Lockington, 22.4830; 6. 14-Melissa Rusch, 22.5050; 7. 8-Jason Bolster, 23.9690
Skyline Fireworks NASCAR Hornets
Feature (15 laps): 1. 12T-Ben Thurk, La Crosse, WI [9], 2. 44-Jake Schomers, La Crescent, MN [8], 3. 32-Joey Johnson III, Holmen, WI [10], 4. 3/4-Nick Hadler, Inver Grove Heights, MN [6], 5. 12B-Al Bartels, Tomah, WI [4], 6. 02-Shane Kohlmeier, Onalaska, WI [14], 7. 111-Shaw Strangstalien, West Salem, WI [7], 8. 27-Alex Liebsch, Goodview, MN [2], 9. 36-Brandon Olson, Eden Prairie, MN [11], 10. 12G-Greg Oliver, Bangor, WI [3], 11. 09-Ben Kohlmeier, Onalaska, WI [16], 12. 21-Jacob Iverson, West Salem, WI [13], 13. 77-Bentley Knaack, Onalaska, WI [5], 14. 79-Nick Loesel, Eau Claire, WI [1], 15. 28-Jimmy Bjorkman, West Salem, WI [12], 16. 211-Kendon Thurk, La Crosse, WI [15]
6-for-6 Dash (6 laps): 1. 36-Brandon Olson, Eden Prairie, MN [1], 2. 21-Jacob Iverson, West Salem, WI [3], 3. 02-Shane Kohlmeier, Onalaska, WI [5], 4. 12T-Ben Thurk, La Crosse, WI [6], 5. 32-Joey Johnson III, Holmen, WI [2], 6. 28-Jimmy Bjorkman, West Salem, WI [4]
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. 3/4-Nick Hadler, Inver Grove Heights, MN [7], 2. 12B-Al Bartels, Tomah, WI [5], 3. 111-Shaw Strangstalien, West Salem, WI [8], 4. 44-Jake Schomers, La Crescent, MN [9], 5. 79-Nick Loesel, Eau Claire, WI [2], 6. 27-Alex Liebsch, Goodview, MN [3], 7. 12G-Greg Oliver, Bangor, WI [4], 8. 77-Bentley Knaack, Onalaska, WI [6], 9. 09-Ben Kohlmeier, Onalaska, WI [10], 10. 211-Kendon Thurk, La Crosse, WI [1]
Qualifying: 1. 12T-Ben Thurk, 15.6370; 2. 02-Shane Kohlmeier, 15.6950; 3. 28-Jimmy Bjorkman, 15.7400; 4. 21-Jacob Iverson, 15.9390; 5. 32-Joey Johnson III, 15.9580; 6. 36-Brandon Olson, 15.9940; 7. 44-Jake Schomers, 16.1310; 8. 111-Shaw Strangstalien, 16.1760; 9. 3/4-Nick Hadler, 16.2520; 10. 77-Bentley Knaack, 16.5220; 11. 12B-Al Bartels, 16.6290; 12. 12G-Greg Oliver, 16.6710; 13. 27-Alex Liebsch, 16.7840; 14. 79-Nick Loesel, 16.8150; 15. 211-Kendon Thurk, 17.1920
Auto Value Street Stocks
Feature (15 laps): 1. 88-Ryan Stanfield, La Crosse, WI [2], 2. 0NO-Thomas Farra, Sparta, WI [10], 3. 56-Matt Heim, Lewiston, MN [11], 4. 77-Robert Stanfield, La Crosse, WI [12], 5. 06-Zack Liebsch, Winona, MN [13], 6. 74-Kyle Cottone, La Crosse, WI [15], 7. 59-John Eron, Westby, MT [7], 8. 2M-Shawn McCarthy, Sparta, WI [9], 9. 94-Steve Brasda, Osseo, WI [8], 10. 05-Brandon Bion, La Crosse, WI [1], 11. 27-Cole Lewis, La Crosse, WI [4], 12. 7-Kyle Hopkins, La Crosse, WI [5], 13. 68-Brody Rundhaugen, La Crosse, WI [3], 14. 1220-Bryon Olsen, La Crescent, MN [14], 15. 2X-Haley Dezelske, Holmen, WI [16], 16. 24-Colton Jacobson, La Crosse, WI [6]
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. 77-Robert Stanfield, La Crosse, WI [3], 2. 0NO-Thomas Farra, Sparta, WI [5], 3. 56-Matt Heim, Lewiston, MN [6], 4. 24-Colton Jacobson, La Crosse, WI [1], 5. 06-Zack Liebsch, Winona, MN [8], 6. 2M-Shawn McCarthy, Sparta, WI [7], 7. 94-Steve Brasda, Osseo, WI [4], 8. 59-John Eron, Westby, MT [2]
Heat #2 (8 laps): 1. 74-Kyle Cottone, La Crosse, WI [1], 2. 88-Ryan Stanfield, La Crosse, WI [3], 3. 27-Cole Lewis, La Crosse, WI [5], 4. 05-Brandon Bion, La Crosse, WI [2], 5. 68-Brody Rundhaugen, La Crosse, WI [4], 6. 7-Kyle Hopkins, La Crosse, WI [6], 7. 1220-Bryon Olsen, La Crescent, MN [8], 8. 2X-Haley Dezelske, Holmen, WI [7]
Qualifying: 1. 06-Zack Liebsch, 16.3520; 2. 2M-Shawn McCarthy, 16.5780; 3. 56-Matt Heim, 16.6330; 4. 0NO-Thomas Farra, 16.6650; 5. 94-Steve Brasda, 16.7050; 6. 77-Robert Stanfield, 16.7220; 7. 59-John Eron, 16.9170; 8. 24-Colton Jacobson, 17.0210; 9. 7-Kyle Hopkins, 17.0990; 10. 27-Cole Lewis, 17.1120; 11. 68-Brody Rundhaugen, 17.1450; 12. 88-Ryan Stanfield, 17.5140; 13. 2X-Haley Dezelske, 18.0440; 14. 05-Brandon Bion, 18.1960; 15. 1220-Bryon Olsen, 18.5660; 16. 74-Kyle Cottone, 22.5830
American Super Cup Series
Feature (15 laps): 1. Camden Grommes, 2. Bobby Stanley, 3. Greg Stanley, 4. Oliver Cummings, 5. Dustin Olmstead, 6. Mick Ellis, 7. Joe Magana, 8. Richard Bischof, 9. Lindsey Herwald, 10. Makayla Bell, 11. Jonny Kirsch, 12. Colton Herwald, 13. Jon Kirsch, 14. Giovanni Sallee, 15. Nicole Olmstead
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. Jon Kirsch, 2. Bobby Stanley, 3. Greg Stanley, 4. Giovanni Sallee, 5. Camden Grommes, 6. Nicole Olmstead, 7. Dustin Olmstead, 8. Mick Ellis
Heat #2 (8 laps): 1. Richard Bischof, 2. Lindsey Herwald, 3. Joe Magana, 4. Oliver Cummings, 5. Makayla Bell, 6. Jonny Kirsch, 7. Colton Herwald
Qualifying: 1. Jon Kirsch, 16.6630; 2. Greg Stanley, 17.0600; 3. Camden Grommes, 17.2810; 4. Bobby Stanley, 17.2850; 5. Giovanni Sallee, 17.5020; 6. Nicole Olmstead, 17.5590; 7. Mick Ellis, 17.5960; 8. Dustin Olmstead, 17.9680; 9. Richard Bischof, 18.1700; 10. Joe Magana, 18.7320; 11. Lindsey Herwald, 18.7850; 12. Colton Herwald, 19.8050; 13. Makayla Bell, 20.0720; 14. Jonny Kirsch, 20.8060
Spartan Recycling and Salvage Novelty
Outhouse Race: 1. 77-Robert Stanfield, La Crosse, WI [7], 2. 59-John Eron, Westby, MT [9], 3. 0NO-Thomas Farra, Sparta, WI [8], 4. 21J-Jacob Iverson, West Salem, WI [6], 5. 2M-Shawn McCarthy, Sparta, WI [2], 6. 77k-Bentley Knaack, Onalaska, WI [3], 8. 27-Alex Liebsch, Goodview, MN [5], 9. 27L-Cole Lewis, La Crosse, WI [10], 10. 94-Steve Brasda, Osseo, WI [4], 11. 57-Justin Berg, Bangor, WI [11], 12. 06-Zack Liebsch, Winona, MN [1]