By: Paul Reichert
September 12, 2026
In the early years of the LaCrosse Speedway run by Motorsports Management Services, then track manager Chuck Deery came up with the idea for an evening of nothing but hard hitting and good clean fun after a long season of racing. Over the years we have dealt with hot summer weather, rainy conditions, a fire or two, cold fall weather and even a cream bomb causing a total power outage at the track. The smashing and crashing of vehicles continues to create those loud screams and cheers from the fans as we held the 35th edition of the Night of Destruction presented by Western Technical College. As we witnessed even more sheet metal being mangled to bits and fenders crumpled up into balls, there would also be some thrilling championship battles that had to be settled with a couple more of our racing classes.
Four wide entering turn one of the final Six Shooter feature of the season saw Brody Rundhaugen come out of turn two with the lead. As the rest of the pack tried to sort themselves out, Rundhaugen began to open up a sizable lead. Matt Moore broke free of the pack on lap three and then made quick work of Rundhaugen to take over first place on lap six. Adam Moore moved up to second with just four laps remaining, but had too much ground to make up on Matt Moore. Moore captured another LaCrosse feature victory, while Brandon Gallagher ran a steady race in eighth to lock up the season points championship.
John Mashak got the better of Curtis Hellickson to lead the opening laps of the Mini-Van feature. Hellickson got his second wind and shot around the outside of Mashak to take over the number one position on lap three. Using lapped traffic to his advantage, Alex LIbesch shot around Hellickson in turn two on lap five to lead the way. John Clauson broke free from the pack to settle into second at halfway, but Liebsch was long gone as he claimed his third straight feature win. A steady race by Matthew Parent with an unfortunate early problem for Ryan Stanfield allowed Parent to lock up his first career points championship.
We started off the smashing and crashing with the Steel Wall. Matthew Parent was the first to try his luck. Parent made a dead center punch into the trunk that sent the car doing a complete 360 in the air before landing on its side. Marshall Rinartz followed his teammate to make a hard crunching impact with the other vehicle. It was hard contact that opened the hood of Rinartz’ car, but the car he hit also made a complete 360 in the air and ended up in its roof.
Returning to one of their loudest crowds they perform for, Sawyer and Shannon Schmidtman brought their amazing TwinStunts motorcycle show with a few added attractions. Their traditional wheelie stunts, surfing on the seats of their motorcycles and doing burnouts also featured a motorcycle that could do wheelies with a belt attached to each end. They also surprised us with a large wheel that could easily do rotations and shot sparks while it rolled.
The family that races together stays together, and that applies to Monster Trucks as well. Josh Baumgartner brought back the legendary monster truck Bigfoot, and was joined by newcomer Melanie in the Ghost monster truck. Both drivers caught some big air as they crunched and compacted a bunch of old and out of date vehicles. Melanie and Josh are engaged and soon will be husband and wife monster truck drivers.
The biggest death defying stunt of the night was the Coffin of Doom. Hunter Howe was placed inside the box and hoped to survive when the box was blown up by his own crew. After an earth shattering explosion that busted the box, Howe came out of the box a little shaken up but was doing okay.
Next up was the Burnout Contest. Bryan Olsen and Zach Liebsch tried to do their best to smoke up the track but only made a wisp of smoke. A 1960s Plymouth classic convertible put on an incredible show that almost called out the West Salem Fire Department. A 1980s Chevy pickup tried to match the Plymouth’s power, but in the end it was old school that ruled.
The next ‘on the edge of your seat’ stunt was the Burning Wall of Flame. Hunter Howe survived the Coffin of Doom, and now was going to crash his way through four burning gates on his motorcycle. Howe busted his way through all four flaming gates and came out on the other side unscathed. Hunter performed this stunt in honor of biggest hero, the famous motorcycle stunt legend Evil Knievel.
One final novelty race was added to the show as the drivers would be challenged in the Double Flagpole Race. Drivers had to negotiate the ‘flagpoles’ in turn two and turn four on each of the five laps of the race. The leaders were having to be patient as they were having to contend with the back of the field while making their turns around the ‘flagpoles’. Rob Stanfield made a power move around Zach Liebsch down the back straight to take the lead coming to the white flag. Stanfiled pulled away from his competition to add another Novelty victory to his trophy case, as well as another LaCrosse championship.
The Rollover Contest was supposed to show how well you could roll your car off the ramp. Chris Christen did not accomplish a rollover, but ran into the inside wall and pulled off the first ever javelin throw. The final attempt by Hunter Sarver was a perfect five-point roll that gave him the victory.
Our stunt drivers/race car drivers gave a public service announcement about Things You Shouldn’t Hit with a Car. First one car destroyed a dresser, then another car busted a lamp and a nightstand. A third car blasted to bits a huge big screen HDTV. For those who are not fans of piano music, all 88 keys of a piano were obliterated. To end the announcement, a pool filled with water and blowable beach balls were ripped apart.
The penultimate event of our night of mayhem and chaos was the Trailer Race of Destruction. 23 competitors brought about sorts of boats, pop-up trailers and massive mobile homes on trailers to be smashed and destroyed to oblivion. A tradition of the Trailer Race has been a massive traffic jam of vehicles and what they are towing in turn two. The drivers were first finding very unique ways to drive around this traffic jam before some started to smash whatever was being towed. The fans had the final say on who will be the best “Master of Disaster”. Newcomer to the trailer race Bert Young III got the loudest screams from the fans to capture a smashing victory.
After Skyline Fireworks lit up the night sky with aerial fireworks, the Magdatude jet car heated up the chilly. As is tradition to end the Night of Destruction, Magdatude put on a powerful display as its jet engine burned down two old and no longer useful limousines from their long and proud service. The intense heat from Magdatude’s jet engine radiated throughout the track as it took only six minutes to melt down those two limousines to their bare metal frames.
Now the preparations begin in earnest for our LaCrosse Speedway staff, the drivers and teams, and even you race fans as we look forward to one of the biggest year-end special events in the Midwest. The countdown clock is now running for the 57th edition of the Oktoberfest Race Weekend, which kicks off on October 8. Local divisions will be featured at the Sportsmen, Hornets and Street Stocks will race one last time in 2026 as they crown their season champions. We also remember the legendary Tom Reffner as the NASCAR Late Models run a pair of 22-lap features, plus the Super Late Model ‘Futures’ and ‘Knights’ will each have a 22-lap main event. We end the night with the wild and crazy 12-lap Double ‘O’ Race. This action will wet your appetite for what else is on the racing menu in the three days to follow. Gates open at 2:25, the first battles for the ‘Faster Than a Speeding Bullet’ trophies start at 2:45, and racing action goes live at 6.
For more information about the LaCrosse Speedway or the 2026 schedule, call the track office at 608-786-1525. Be sure to visit lacrossespeedway.com for the latest news leading up to Oktoberfest, as well as oktoberfestraceweekend.com for the latest updates during the last big get together of the season. 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
Auto Value Six Shooters
Feature (15 laps): 1. 9-Matt Moore, Kendall, WI [12], 2. 29M-Adam Moore, Sparta, WI [15], 3. 99-Ghage Moore, Kendall, WI [9], 4. 88-Ryan Stanfield, La Crosse, WI [5], 5. 77-Robert Stanfield, La Crosse, WI [7], 6. 19M-Alivia Moore, Sparta, WI [16], 7. 22-Lauralee Stanton, Melrose, WI [4], 8. 2S-Jake Schomers, La Crescent, MN [11], 9. 68-Brody Rundhaugen, La Crosse, WI [1], 10. 5-Brandon Gallagher, Sparta, WI [14], 11. 74-Kyle Cottone, La Crosse, WI [10], 12. 1-Dan Osthoff, La Crosse, WI [13], 13. 59-John Eron, Westby, MT [2], 14. 24-Colton Jacobson, La Crosse, WI [19], 15. 7-Kyle Hopkins, La Crosse, WI [17], 16. 06-Zack Liebsch, Winona, MN [18], 17. 27L-Cole Lewis, La Crosse, WI [22], 18. 19P-Peyton Payne, Elroy, WI [21], 19. 83-Jestin DeLap Sr, Camp Douglas, WI [6], 20. 11-Rob Wallach, Wisconsin Rapids, WI [23], 21. 05-Brandon Bion, La Crosse, WI [24], 22. 11G-Gunner Gorton, Beverly Hills, CA [25], 23. 45H-Gabbie Hopkins, Holmen, WI [26], 24. 03S-Bryan Schott, West Salem, WI [8], 25. 76-Jason Morgan, Evansville, WI [27], 26. [DNS] X-Austin Schott, New Auburn, WI [3], 27. [DNS] 1220-Bryon Olsen, La Crescent, MN [20]
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. 11-Rob Wallach, Wisconsin Rapids, WI [5], 2. 24-Colton Jacobson, La Crosse, WI [9], 3. 19P-Peyton Payne, Elroy, WI [7], 4. 11G-Gunner Gorton, Beverly Hills, CA [3], 5. 1220-Bryon Olsen, La Crescent, MN [8], 6. 05-Brandon Bion, La Crosse, WI [4], 7. 27L-Cole Lewis, La Crosse, WI [6], 8. 76-Jason Morgan, Evansville, WI [1], 9. 45H-Gabbie Hopkins, Holmen, WI [2]
Heat #2 (8 laps): 1. 06-Zack Liebsch, Winona, MN [1], 2. X-Austin Schott, New Auburn, WI [5], 3. 68-Brody Rundhaugen, La Crosse, WI [3], 4. 88-Ryan Stanfield, La Crosse, WI [7], 5. 74-Kyle Cottone, La Crosse, WI [9], 6. 83-Jestin DeLap Sr, Camp Douglas, WI [8], 7. 7-Kyle Hopkins, La Crosse, WI [2], 8. 22-Lauralee Stanton, Melrose, WI [6], 9. 59-John Eron, Westby, MT [4]
Heat #3 (8 laps): 1. 9-Matt Moore, Kendall, WI [6], 2. 03S-Bryan Schott, West Salem, WI [2], 3. 77-Robert Stanfield, La Crosse, WI [1], 4. 29M-Adam Moore, Sparta, WI [9], 5. 99-Ghage Moore, Kendall, WI [4], 6. 19M-Alivia Moore, Sparta, WI [8], 7. 2S-Jake Schomers, La Crescent, MN [5], 8. 1-Dan Osthoff, La Crosse, WI [3], 9. 5-Brandon Gallagher, Sparta, WI [7], 10. 80-Kevin Armagost, Wisconsin Rapids, WI [10]
Qualifying: 1. 29M-Adam Moore, 16.1680; 2. 19M-Alivia Moore, 16.2310; 3. 5-Brandon Gallagher, 16.2940; 4. 9-Matt Moore, 16.3520; 5. 2S-Jake Schomers, 16.4600; 6. 99-Ghage Moore, 16.4820; 7. 1-Dan Osthoff, 16.4840; 8. 03S-Bryan Schott, 16.6250; 9. 77-Robert Stanfield, 16.7180; 10. 74-Kyle Cottone, 16.7750; 11. 83-Jestin DeLap Sr, 16.7800; 12. 88-Ryan Stanfield, 16.8080; 13. 22-Lauralee Stanton, 16.9070; 14. X-Austin Schott, 16.9150; 15. 59-John Eron, 16.9400; 16. 68-Brody Rundhaugen, 17.0600; 17. 7-Kyle Hopkins, 17.1690; 18. 06-Zack Liebsch, 17.1780; 19. 24-Colton Jacobson, 17.3920; 20. 1220-Bryon Olsen, 17.5200; 21. 19P-Peyton Payne, 17.5220; 22. 27L-Cole Lewis, 17.5560; 23. 11-Rob Wallach, 18.1400; 24. 05-Brandon Bion, 18.5970; 25. 11G-Gunner Gorton, 19.1640; 26. 45H-Gabbie Hopkins, 19.9710; 27. 76-Jason Morgan, 21.1960
Auto Value Mini-Vans
Feature (15 laps): 1. 27L-Alex Liebsch, Goodview, MN [11], 2. K9-John Clauson, La Crosse, WI [12], 3. 42-Alex Rud, La Crosse, WI [4], 4. 71-Curtis Hellickson, Kendall, WI [2], 5. 01-Monty Odegard, Wilton, WI [6], 6. 2-Matthew Parent, Bangor, WI [9], 7. 66-Marshall Rinartz, Centuria, WI [7], 8. 05-John Mashak, La Crosse, WI [1], 9. 12-Al Bartels, Tomah, WI [8], 10. 1-Fletcher Milene, Winona, MN [5], 11. 7S-Robert Stanfield, La Crosse, WI [3], 12. 11D-Haley Dezelske, Holmen, WI [13]
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. 27L-Alex Liebsch, Goodview, MN [6], 2. 2-Matthew Parent, Bangor, WI [3], 3. K9-John Clauson, La Crosse, WI [5], 4. 66-Marshall Rinartz, Centuria, WI [4], 5. 01-Monty Odegard, Wilton, WI [2], 6. 1-Fletcher Milene, Winona, MN [1]
Heat #2 (8 laps): 1. 42-Alex Rud, La Crosse, WI [5], 2. 88-Ryan Stanfield, La Crosse, WI [6], 3. 12-Al Bartels, Tomah, WI [1], 4. 05-John Mashak, La Crosse, WI [2], 5. 7S-Robert Stanfield, La Crosse, WI [4], 6. 71-Curtis Hellickson, Kendall, WI [3], 7. 11D-Haley Dezelske, Holmen, WI [7]
Qualifying: 1. 27L-Alex Liebsch, 16.5260; 2. K9-John Clauson, 16.9250; 3. 66-Marshall Rinartz, 16.9920; 4. 2-Matthew Parent, 17.0360; 5. 01-Monty Odegard, 17.1070; 6. 1-Fletcher Milene, 17.1170; 7. 88-Ryan Stanfield, 17.4370; 8. 42-Alex Rud, 17.5080; 9. 7S-Robert Stanfield, 17.5820; 10. 71-Curtis Hellickson, 17.9020; 11. 05-John Mashak, 17.9840; 12. 12-Al Bartels, 18.1140; 13. 11D-Haley Dezelske, 25.2110
Novelty
Double Flagpole Race (5 laps): 1. 77-Robert Stanfield, La Crosse, WI [5], 2. 06-Zack Liebsch, Winona, MN [4], 3. 5-Brandon Gallagher, Sparta, WI [1], 4. 74-Kyle Cottone, La Crosse, WI [7], 5. 1-Dan Osthoff, La Crosse, WI [6], 6. 27L-Cole Lewis, La Crosse, WI [2], 7. 59-John Eron, Westby, MT [3]
Trailer Race of Destruction (Fan Vote): 1. Bert Young III, 2. Cassidy Oldenberg, 3. Rob Stanfield