By: Paul Reichert
August 1, 2024
Since 2015 the LaCrosse Speedway has conducted their own version of the Chase for their top weekly divisions. The Chase has given a bit more excitement to the weekly racing and gives the drivers another championship to battle over if any are not in contention for the season points title The pandemic may have interrupted things in 2020, but the thrills of the battle to stay alive in the Chase returned in 2021. Now with only two programs of weekly racing left along with the Oktoberfest Race Weekend, the pressure is on the drivers to not fall victim to finishing at the wrong end of a feature. Each division also is experiencing a different journey to determine their final four drivers that will settle their Chase Championships for the 2024 racing season.
In the Skyline Fireworks NASCAR Hornet division, we will have a new Chase Champion for a third straight season. Ben Thurk, the driver that won all the championships last year, was recently eliminated from The Chase. Points leader Jimmy Bjorkman has been the driver to beat all season long. Don’t sleep on Minnesota racers Nick Hadler and Christopher Lofquist who each have a feature win and both have put in very strong seasons. Former champion Jake Schomers and former Rookie of the Year Carter Horstman have struggled this season, but both have had a late season resurgence to remain a part of the action. The remaining three make up the majority of this year’s Rookie class. Shane Kohlmeier leads that battle plus has a couple of 6-for-6 Dash wins. Shaw Strangstalien just picked up his first ever race win on July 27. Mitchell Rinartz continues the proud family racing legacy started by Joe Rinartz, plus he also has a heat race win as well. The two lowest finishers in both the August 3 and August 10 features will be eliminated from The Chase to bring us to the final four to fight for the Chase Championship.
It is a little tighter in the NASCAR Sportsmen class with only six drivers left in The Chase. Justin Berg lost out to Andy Barney in the last two Chase Championships, but with a strong season under his belt could the third time be the charm this year? Bob Fort has been the man to beat all season long, but one wrong move by Fort could eliminate him from contending for the Sportsmen Chase title. Fort’s nemesis all year has been Minnesota racer Tina Lodermeier. ‘The Lady Outta Rosemount’ may be a distance second in the season points, but her fearlessness and determination could net her the Chase crown. Zach Oliver has had a strong rookie season with his first 6-for-6 Dash win on July 27 Last year Travis Gordon was the underdog in the Chase Could Gordon make the final four again, or will the new underdog in Andy Muller pull it off? Muller just captured his first career fast qualifying honor on July 27. The one driver that has the lowest finish in the remaining features on August 3 and August 10 will be dismissed and let the last four duke it out.
The conclusion of the 2024 season for the Kwik Trip NASCAR Late Models is the most complex of all. Throw in that marathon of five consecutive nights of double features that started on July 27 along with The Chase and all bets are off on who the final four will be. At the top of the list are the strongest racers on the track. The season championship protagonists of Jacob Goede and Skylar Holzhausen. Adam Bendzick has had another strong campaign despite not winning a feature this year. Adam Degenhardt has been a consistent top three finisher this year and is the 6-for-6 Dash Champion. 2022 season champion Mike Carlson has Chase experience with the 2021 title in his possession. It may have been a struggle this season for Nick Clements, but a late season push could score the blue 8 machine a third straight Chase title. Always keep a lookout for the ‘King of the Short Tracks’ Steve Carlson, who could surprise many people late in the season. Steve Bachman has been a strong top three presence throughout his Late Model career. Former Rookie of the Year Tom Luethe has posted two top three feature finishes and could have a late season surge. Minnesota drivers Jeff Partington and Bryan Wrolstad could be this season’s sleepers, especially after Wrolstad captured his first LaCrosse feature win back on July 27. We will knock out one driver at a time for being the lowest feature finisher until we have the last four drivers remaining in the tenth and last feature of this ‘battle royal’.
The grand stage that is the 55th Annual Oktoberfest Race Weekend will be the backdrop for settling not only the season-long point races but the Chase crowns as well. The Sportsmen and the Hornets will determine their new Chase Champions on the opening night of Oktoberfest on Thursday, October 3. A ton of gold will be waiting at the end of the rainbow for the Late Models on Friday, October 4, including this year’s Chase Championship. Make sure you come out to the LaCrosse Speedway to witness one of the most thrilling endings to a season in recent track history. For more information about the LaCrosse Speedway or the 2024 schedule of events, you can check out our web sites at lacrossespeedway.com or oktoberfestraceweekend.com. You can also give the track office a ring at 608-786-1525. LaCrosse Speedway is proud to be a NASCAR Hometrack, part of the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series.