By: Paul Reichert
May 24, 2025
It is always difficult to watch your favorite driver struggle to find that winning formula that he or she has been known for. Just when it looks like that driver may never return to victory lane again, they find their ‘magic touch’ or a new strategy that helps them return to the winners’ circle. 2024 was a season of struggles and uphill climbs for Nick Clements that he has not dealt with since his rookie season of NASCAR Late Model racing. Clements may be getting his race program turned around at the right time as he led from start to finish to capture a much needed feature win.
The 25 lap State Bank Financial NASCAR Late Model feature saw Nick Clements (West Salem, WI) drive past Cole Howland (LaCrosse, WI) for the early race lead. A few laps later Steve Bachman (Bangor, WI) dove to the inside of Howland to take over second place. While Clements’ advantage grew over Bachman, MIke Carlson (West Salem, WI) powered around Howland to become the new driver in third spot. Both Skylar Holzhausen (Bangor, WI) and Jacob Goede (Carver, MN) were struggling to make their way forward through the pack, but both would break into the top five as the crossed flags were displayed. Holzhausen drove under Goede to move into fourth with ten laps remaining. Back up front Bachman was slowly chipping away at Clements’ lead while Holzhausen powered around Carlson to take over third. The long dry spell for Clements came to an end tonight as he made a triumphant return to Altra Federal Credit Union Victory Lane. After the race Clements said “This feature win is a step in the right direction to getting our race program back on track.”
The NASCAR Sportsmen feature saw Justin Berg (Bangor, WI) charge by Tina Lodermeier (Rosemount, MN) for the race lead. Lodermeier stayed right behind Berg before finding an opening under Berg with five laps to go. A bump by Charles Vian, Jr. (Sparta, WI) allowed Lodermeier to take command with two laps left. It also allowed Bob Fort (Fountain City, WI) to make a late rally to steal the victory. Lodermeier was able to hit the finish line before Fort to capture an exciting feature win.
Ben Thurk waited until the halfway point of the NASCAR Hornet feature to dive underneath Jake Schomers for the race lead. Schomers would stick right behind Thurk the rest of the way hoping for a chance to rally back to the front. That chance never happened as the 2023 champion scored his first victory of the season.
John Clauson drove around his teammate Dakota Clauson to lead the Street Stock feature on lap six. Rob Stanfield could not make up any ground on the ‘Reckless’ one as Clauson made another trip to Altra Federal Credit Union Victory Lane.
Marshall Rinartz powered by both John Huebner and guest competitor Jerimy Wagner to lead the Mini-Van feature. Rinartz pulled out to a sizable lead that not even perennial quarter-mile racer Rob Stanfield could not make a dent in as Rinartz drive to a comfortable victory.
The Spin to Win Race was this week’s fun and entertaining Novelty event. John Huebner, Rob Stanfield and Dakota Clauson all decided to do their spins in turns one and two right away on lap one. Jay Raines, Jr. did his spin the very next lap and came out ahead of a three-wide fight between his competitors. Raines, Jr. kept his fellow racers in his rear view as he captured his first Novelty win in a few years.
We end the month of May with a jam packed show full of on-track excitement and off-track fun on Saturday, May 31. The Late Models, Sportsmen, Hornets and Six Shooters will be joined by a group making their first ever appearance at LaCrosse. The MIlwaukee Stock Car Racing Association will be bringing their vintage dirt modifieds that barnstormed across southern Wisconsin back in the 1950s and 1960s. The kids will also be VIPs next week because it is Kids’ Night. All kids 11 and under are admitted FREE to the races, plus the first KQ98 Kids’ Races of the season take place after qualifying. Gates open at 5:15, the speed battle known as qualifying commences at 5:30 and the fender rubbing on-track contact fires up at 7.
For more information about 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 race track, part of the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series.
RESULTS
Kwik Trip NASCAR Late Models
Feature (25 laps): 1. Nick Clements, 2. Steve Bachman, 3. Skylar Holzhausen, 4. Mike Carlson, 5. Jacob Goede, 6. Adam Bendzick, 7. Bryan Wrolstad, 8. Cole Howland, 9. Adam Degenhardt, 10. Tom Luethe, 11. Jason Stark, 12. Steve Carlson, 13. Michael Beamish, 14. Tony Leis, 15. Chris Skrede, 16. Andy Barney, 17. Don Turner, 18. Ryan Brown, 19. Joe Nuttleman, 20. Brian Lee
6-for-6 Dash (6 laps): 1. Adam Bendzick, 2. Tom Luethe, 3. Skylar Holzhausen, 4. Jacob Goede, 5. Bryan Wrolstad, 6. Jason Stark
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. Nick Clements, 2. Cole Howland, 3. Mike Carlso, 4. Steve Bachman, 5. Adam Degenhardt, 6. Tony Leis, 7. Michael Beamish, 8. Gib Scharpf
Heat #2 (8 laps): 1. Steve Carlson, 2. Ryan Brown, 3. Andy Barney, 4. Don Turner, 5. Joe Nuttleman, 6. Brian Lee, 7. Chris Skrede
Qualifying: 1. Jacob Goede, 19.4890; 2. Bryan Wrolstad, 19.4891; 3. Skylar Holzhausen, 19.5270; 4. Adam Bendzick, 19.7010; 5. Jason Stark, 19.7190; 6. Tom Luethe, 19.7400; 7. Michael Beamish, 19.7470; 8. Adam Degenhardt, 19.8000; 9. Steve Bachman, 19.8370; 10. Michael Carlson, 19.8950; 11. Cole Howland, 19.9490; 12. Nick Clements, 19.9600; 13. Gib Scharpf, 19.9660; 14. Tony Leis, 20.3120; 15. Steve Carlson, 20.3410; 16. Andy Barney, 20.5670; 17. Don Turner, 20.6300; 18. Joe Nuttleman, 20.7630; 19. Ryan Brown, 21.0360; 20. Brian Lee, 21.0920
TDS Telecom NASCAR Sportsmen
Feature (15 laps): 1. Tina Lodermeier, 2. Bob Fort, 3. Justin Berg, 4. Charles Vian, Jr., 5. Jacob Lodermeier, 6. Kevin Burr, 7. Bill Schott
Dash (8 laps): 1. Bob Fort, 2. Justin Berg, 3. Charles Vian, Jr., 4. Tina Lodermeier, 5. Bill Schott, 6. Jacob Lodermeier, 7. Kevin Burr
Qualifying: 1. Bill Schott, 21.9310; 2. Charles Vian Jr, 21.9370; 3. Jacob Lodermeier, 21.9650; 4. Robert Fort, 22.0040; 5. Tina Lodermeier, 22.0550; 6. Justin Berg, 22.0820
Skyline Fireworks NASCAR Hornets
Feature (15 laps): 1. Ben Thurk, 2. Jake Schomers, 3. Al Bartels, 4. Jacob Iverson, 5. Jimmy Bjorkman, 6. Shane Kohlmeier, 7. Shawn Breese, 8. Jace Lafleur, 9. Carter Horstman, 10. NIck Hadler, 11. Brandon Olson, 12. Justin Iverson, 13. Brandon Thorson, 14. Mitchell Rinartz, 15. Abigail Knaack, 16. Alex Liebsch, 17. Kyle Herlitzke, 18. Bentley Knaack, 19. Paityn Barney, 20. Dakota Clauson, 21. Shaw Strangstalien
6-for-6 Dash (6 laps): 1. Brandon Olson, 2. Jacob Iverson, 3. Carter Horstman, 4. Nick Hadler, 5. Shane Kohlmeier, 6. Jimmy Bjorkman
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. Justin Iverson, 2. Al Bartels, 3. Jake Schomers, 4. Jace Lafleur, 5. Ben Thurk, 6. Shawn Breese, 7. Shaw Strangstalien, 8. Brandon Thorson
Heat #2 (8 laps): 1. Alex Liebsch, 2. Abigail Knaack, 3. Kyle Herlitzke, 4. Mitchell Rinartz, 5. Paityn Barney, 6. Bentley Knaack, 7. Dakota Clauson
Qualifying: 1. Shane Kohlmeier, 15.6100 (New Track Record); 2. Jimmy Bjorkman, 15.7100; 3. Carter Horstman, 15.7520; 4. Jacob Iverson, 15.8920; 5. Nick Hadler, 15.9340; 6. Brandon Olson, 15.9590; 7. Al Bartels, 15.9710; 8. Shaw Strangstalien, 16.0210; 9. Jace Lafleur, 16.0480; 10. Ben Thurk, 16.0630; 11. Shawn Breese, 16.1100; 12. Jake Schomers, 16.2230; 13. Thomas Farra, 16.2350; 14. Justin Iverson, 16.3160; 15. Brandon Thorson, 16.3330; 16. Kyle Herlitzke, 16.3640; 17. Mitchell Rinartz, 16.4710; 18. Abigail Knaack, 16.5210; 19. Dakota Clauson, 17.0830; 20. Paityn Barney, 17.6400; 21. Bentley Knaack, 18.1590; 22. Alex Liebsch, 18.7010
Auto Value Street Stocks
Feature (15 laps): 1. John Clauson, 2. Rob Stanfield, 3. Al Bartels, 4. John Huebner, 5. Kyle Cottone, 6. Dakota Clauson, 7. Ryan Stanfield, 8. Bryon Olson, 9. Kreg Miller, 10. Joey Miller, 11. Chas Aasum, 12. Jay Raines, Jr.
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. Dakota Clauson, 2. Kyle Cottone, 3. Byron Olson, 4. Kreg Miller, 5. Chad Aasum, 6. Joey Miller
Heat #2 (8 laps): 1. Jay Raines, Jr., 2. John Clauson, 3. Al Bartels, 4. John Huebner
Qualifying: 1. Jay Raines Jr, 16.3280; 2. John Huebner, 16.6150; 3. Robert Stanfield, 16.6540; 4. Al Bartels, 16.6990; 5. Ryan Stanfield, 16.8940; 6. John Clauson, 16.9910; 7. Kyle Cottone, 17.2750; 8. Kreg Miller, 17.4080; 9. Chad Aasum, 17.5730; 10. Dakota Clauson, 17.5950; 11. Joey Miller, 18.7950; 12. Bryon Olsen, 19.7340
Auto Value Mini-Vans
Feature (15 laps): 1. Marshall Rinartz, 2. Rob Stanfield, 3. John Huebner, 4. Fletcher Milene, 5. Matthew Miller, 6. Jerimy Wagner, 7. Adam Milene
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. Marshall Rinartz, 2. Rob Stanfield, 3. John Huebner, 4. Jerimy Wagner, 5. Fletcher Milene, 6. Matthew Miller, 7. Adam Milene
Qualifying: 1. Fletcher Milene, 16.8440; 2. Robert Stanfield, 16.8740; 3. Adam Milene, 17.2840; 4. Marshall Rinartz, 17.3710; 5. Jerimy Wagner, 17.4020; 6. John Huebner, 17.4040
Great North Legends
Feature (15 laps): 1. Matt Trautsch, 2. Devin Dieringer, 3. Elliott Weiler, 4. Hayden Dieringer, 5. Marc Humkins, 6. Michael Holewinski, 7. James Berndsen, 8. Abby Blasel
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. Elliott Weiler, 2. Hayden Dieringer, 3. Abby Blasel, 4. Devin Dieringer, 5. Matt Trautsch, 6. James Berndsen, 7. Marc Humkins, 8 Michael Holewinski
Qualifying: 1. Elliott Weiler, 14.9500; 2. Devin Dieringer, 15.0470; 3. Matt Trautsch, 15.1710; 4. Hayden Dieringer, 15.1820; 5. Abby Blasel, 15.6190; 6. Mike Holewinski, 15.6230; 7. James Berndsen, 16.0540; 8. Marc Humkins, 16.8470
Novelty
Spin to Win: 1. Jay Raines, Jr., 2. John Huebner, 3. Rob Stanfield, 4. John Clauson