By: Paul Reichert
July 15, 2023
When you witness several cars fighting over the lead spot and the eventual victory of a race, you know it will come down to a thrilling photo finish at the line. Even the heat races are just as exciting as the feature events when you experience this kind of heart pounding excitement. We saw several of those types of finishes here at the LaCrosse Speedway. Two former LaCrosse racers duked it out for the Upper Midwest Vintage Series feature with a streak of three in a row on the line. One racer fought off many attacks from a huge determined pack of race cars to claim the Sportsmen feature. Steve Bachman surged past Nick Clements on the inside with four laps remaining to become the second repeat Late Model feature winner this year.
Steve Carlson (West Salem, WI) started on the pole for the Pischke Motors 25 lap NASCAR Late Model feature, and wasted little time to power by Jermiy Wagner (Onalaska, WI) to take charge of the race. Carlson pulled out to a good sized lead in the first five or six laps but soon challengers would be looking to take over his position. Nick Clements (West Salem, WI) powered quickly by Jeff Partington (Farmington, MN) for second on lap seven. Clements cut down Carlson’s lead over the next few laps, then shot by Carlson on the outside for the top spot on lap 11. Steve Bachman (Rockland, WI) dove to the inside of Carlson to lock up second just before halfway. With Brent Kirchner (LaCrosse, WI) in tow, Steve Bachman began to take good swings at the lead Clements held. With three laps to go, Bachman moved to the inside groove coming out of turn two to power around Clements and take command of the race. A lap later Kirchner also charged around Clements on the outside to settle into the runner-up spot. Bachman maintained a three car length advantage over Kirchner to score his second feature win this season. After the race Bachman said “The car did a 180 on me with a couple laps to go, but the car did just enough to get me back to the winner’s circle.”
Bill Schott (LaCrosse, WI) made his return to LaCrosse taking the lead right at the start of the NASCAR Sportsmen feature. Schott’s hands and mirrors were full during the second half of the race with a massive gaggle of cars waiting for a mistake. Unfortunately, that mistake never came as Schott did some impressive driving to hit the finish line first.
In the NASCAR Hornet feature rookie Bentley Knaack led her first four laps ever in a main event. Brandon Olson dashed Knaack’s hope for a feature win when he wrestled the top spot away from Knaack on lap four. Olson maintained a fair distance over Jacob Iverson to score his first career victory at LaCrosse.
Jason Bolster gots sideways two laps into the Hobby Stock feature and ran into one of the tractor tires. That would not stop him as he caught up to Charles Vian, Jr. and put on a hard fought battle over the win with four laps to go. Vian, Jr. got better runs out of turn four to capture his second checkered flag win of the year.
Kids of all ages will be enjoying the many fun activities happening during the 132nd annual LaCrosse Interstate Fair next week. One of those fun activities happens next Saturday, July 22 as the NASCAR Late Models will be competing in a 50-lap feature during the fair for the first time since 2009. The NASCAR Sportsmen, the NASCAR Hornets, the Street Stock and the Mini-Vans will also be a part of one of the biggest shows of the season. Gates open at 5:30, qualifying roars to life shortly after that and the on track battles for the blue ribbons begins at 7.
For more information about LaCrosse Speedway or the 2023 schedule of events, please call the track office at 608-786-1525 or visit our web site at lacrossespeedway.com. LaCrosse Speedway is proud to be a NASCAR Hometrack, part of the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series.
RESULTS
Kwik Trip NASCAR Late Models
Feature (25 laps): 1. Steve Bachman, 2. Brent Kirchner, 3. Jacob Goede, 4. Nick Clements, 5. Steve Carlson, 6. Skylar Holzhausen, 7. Tony Bagstad, 8. Jerimy Wagner, 9. Mike Carlson, 10. Tom Carlson, 11. Adam Bendzick, 12. Jeff Partington, 13. Tom Luethe, 14. Don Turner, 15. Michael Haggar, 16. Ryan Brown, 17. Nicholas Beaver, 18. Jason Stark, 19. Michael Beamish, 20. Christopher Christen, 21. Cam Dezelske, 22. Ridge Oien, 23. Adam Degenhardt
6-for-6 Dash (6 laps): 1. Tony Bagstad, 2. Jacob Goede, 3. Brent Kirchner, 4. Skylar Holzhausen, 5. Steve Bachman, 6. Adam Bendzick
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. Tom Luethe, 2. Jerimy Wagner, 3. Adam Degenhardt, 4. Don Turner, 5. Nick Clements, 6. Steve Carlson, 7. Mike Carlson, 8. Jeff Partington, 9. Michael Beamish
Heat #2 (8 laps): 1. Nicholas Beaver, 2. Michael Haggar, 3. Tom Carlson, 4. Jason Stark, 5. Ryan Brown, 6. Ridge Oien, 7. Cam Dezelske, 8. Christopher Christen
Qualifying: 1. Skylar Holzhausen, 2. Brent Kirchner, 3. Jacog Goede, 4. Steve Bachman, 5. Adam Bendzick, 6. Tony Bagstad, 7. Adam Degenhardt, 8. Nick Clements, 9. Mike Carlson, 10. Jeff Partington, 11. Jerimy Wagner, 12. Steve Carlson, 13. Tom Luethe, 14. Don Turner, 15. Tom Carlson, 16. Jason Stark, 17. Michael Haggar, 18. Ryan Brown, 19. Nicholas Beaver, 20. Ridge Oien, 21. Cam Dezelske, 22. Christopher Christen, 23. Gib Scharpf (NO TIME), 24. Michael Beamish (NO TIME)
Line-X NASCAR Sportsmen
Feature (15 laps): 1. Bill Schott, 2. Bob Fort, 3. Mark Challet, 4. Justin Berg, 5. Andy Barney, 6. Taylor Goldman, 7. Tina Lodermeier, 8. Jamie Dummer, 9. Scott Mahlum, 10. Zach Oliver, 11. Travis Gordon, 12. Larry Bolster, Jr. (DQ)
Dash (6 laps): 1. Mark Challet, 2. Jamie Dummer, 3. Tina Lodermeier, 4. Travis Gordon, 5. Justin Berg, 6. Taylor Goldman
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. Bob Fort, 2. Larry Bolster, Jr., 3. Bill Schott, 4. Andy Barney, 5. Zach Oliver, 6. Scott Mahlum
Qualifying: 1. Justin Berg, 2. Taylor Goldman, 3. Tina Lodermeier, 4. Travis Gordon, 5. Jamie Dummer, 6. Mark Challet, 7. Andy Barney, 8. Zach Oliver, 9. Bob Fort, 10. Bill Schott, 11. Larry Bolster, Jr., 12. Scott Mahlum
Skyline Fireworks NASCAR Hornets
Feature (15 laps): 1. Brandon Olson, 2. Jacob Iverson, 3. Ben Thurk, 4. Thomas Farra, 5. Joey Johnson III, 6. Carter Horstman, 7. Nick Hadler, 8. Terry Lafleur, 9. Mitchell Rinartz, 10. Justin Iverson, 11. Christopher Lofquist, 12. Jace Lafleur, 13. Jeffrey Von Ruden, 14. Abigail Knaack, 15. Bentley Knaack, 16. Jake Schomers
6-For-6 Dash (6 laps): 1. Joey Johnson III, 2. Ben Thurk, 3. Thomas Farra, 4. Carter Horstman, 5. Jake Schomers, 6. Kendon Thurk
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. Brandon Olson, 2. Nick Hadler, 3. Jacob Iverson, 4. Abigail Knaack, 5. Terry Lafleur, 6. Christopher Lofquist, 7. Keanna Barney
Heat #2 (8 laps): 1. Justin Iverson, 2. Al Bartels, 3. Jace Lafleur, 4. Jeffrey Von Ruden, 5. Mitchell Rinartz, 6. Bentley Knaack, 7. Michelle Weaver
Qualifying: 1. Thomas Farra, 2. Ben Thurk, 3. Kendon Thurk, 4. Joey Johnson III, 5. Carter Horstman, 6. Jake Schomers, 7. Jacob Iverson, 8. Brandon Olson, 9. Christopher Lofquist, 10. Nick Hadler, 11. Abigail Knaack, 12. Terry Lafleur, 13. Keanna Barney, 14. Jace Lafleur, 15. Al Bartels, 16. Bentley Knaack, 17. Jeffrey Von Ruden, 18. Mitchell Rinartz, 19. Michelle Weaver, 20. Justin Iverson
Auto Value Hobby Stocks
Feature (15 laps): 1. Charles Vian, Jr., 2. Jason Bolster, 3. Landon Lockington, 4. Grant Witcraft, 5. Bryon Olson
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. Jason Bolster, 2. Charles Vian, Jr., 3. Landon Lockington, 4. Grant Witcraft, 4. Bryon Olson
Qualifying: 1. Chalres Vian, Jr., 2. Jason Bolster, 3. Grant Witcraft, 4. Landon Lockington, 5. Bryon Olson
Auto Value Six Shooters
Feature (15 laps): 1. Alex Liebsch, 2. Matthew Miller, 3. Rob Stanfield, 4. Kyle Cottone, 5. Cody Bell, 6. Tory Lockington, 7. Landon Lockington, 8. Nathan Myhre, 9. Bryon Olson, 10. Carlie Rinartz, 11. Kreg Miller
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. Tory Lockington, 2. Alex Liebsch, 3. Landon Lockington, 4. Kyle Cottone, 5. Bryon Olson, 6. Carlie Rinartz
Heat #2 (8 laps): 1. Matthew Miller, 2. Rob Stanfield, 3. Cody Bell, 4. Kreg Miller, 5. Nathan Myhre
Qualifying: 1. Rob Stanfield, 2. Matthew Miller, 3. Kreg Miller, 4. Nathan Myrhe, 5. Cody Bell, 6. Kyle Cottone, 7. Bryon Olson, 8. Landon Lockington, 9. Carlie Rinartz, 10. Alex Liebsch, 11. Tory LOkcington
Upper Midwest Vintage Racing Series
Feature (15 laps): 1. Todd Korish, 2. Dan Linnehan, 3. Brian Hessleberg, 4. Brian Lee, 5. Jamie Dummer, 6. Sean Herzog, 7. Ralph Cottone, 8. Travis Gordon, 9. Justin Jessop
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. Brian Hesselberg, 2. Travis Gordon, 3. Ralph Cottone, 4. Justin Jessop, 5. Andy Muller
Heat #2 (8 laps): 1. Dan Linnehan, 2. Todd Korish, 3. Brian Lee, 4. Sean Herzog, 5. Jamie Dummer
Novelty
3rd Over the Line Wins Race: 1. Matthew Miller, 2. Rob Stanfield, 3. Nathan Myhre, 4. Kyle Cottone, 5. Bryon Olson, 6. Alex Liebsch, 7. Cody Bell