By: Paul Reichert
May 16, 2026
It’s a brand new season with brand new faces joining the Saturday night racing battles at the LaCrosse Speedway and drivers moving up to take on new challenges in higher up divisions. No matter if it is the first race of the season or the last battles to climax a very competitive racing campaign, you know there will be memorable photo finishes and nail biting drama coming to the finish line. We all no doubt still remember Adam Bendzick’s win in a NASCAR Late Model feature over Nick Clements by a mere thousandth of a second at the 2021 Oktoberfest. That is the kind of drama that makes the sport of auto racing thrilling and exciting. Just when Tom Luethe was on his way to win the opening day feature, he got loose driving through turn four. That allowed Skylar Holzhausen to surge past Luethe coming to the checkers and claim the win by approximately eight hundredths of a second.
Billy Mohn (Elko New Market, MN) and Tom Luethe (West Salem, WI) battled side-by-side for the first lap of the Budweiser 25 lap NASCAR Late Model feature. Mohn got loose coming out of turn four and that allowed Luethe to surge into the lead. Mohn would have his mirrors full of crafty veteran Steve Carlson (West Salem, WI) to desperately hold onto the runner-up position. Mohn began to pull away from Carlson and was on a mission to reengage with Luethe for the top spot. Adam Degenhardt (Coon Valley, WI) and Steve Bachman (Sparta, WI) made separate spins down the back straight on lap nine to slow the first action of the year down. Mohn was hot on Luethe’s rear end on the restart, but Luethe began to slowly pull away from his Minnesota adversary again. Gib Scharpf (West Salem, WI) looped it on the front straight without any wall contact at halfway, just like he did when he completed his qualifying run earlier in the day. Chaos and contact were running rampant behind the lead pair, but Luethe and Mohn continued to fight over first despite all the action behind them. Mohn tried to get under Luethe entering turn one with seven laps to go, but Luethe stood his ground in the lead. Skylar Holzhausen (Bangor, WI) closed in on Mohn for second as the laps clicked away. Holzhausen finally got by Mohn for second with two to go, then Luethe got loose coming out of turn four and that allowed Holzhausen to nip Luethe at the line for the victory by only .074 seconds. After the race Holzhausen said “My car was not that good today, but when Tom spun the tires that gave me the chance to go for the win.”
Justin Berg (Bangor, WI) made a power move between drivers to lead early in the TDS Telecom NASCAR Sportsmen feature. Dakota Clauson (La Crosse, WI) spun coming off of turn two on lap four and made hard contact with the inside embankment to abruptly end his debut in the Sportsmen class. As Berg pulled away from the pack, Charles Vian, Jr. (Sparta, WI) and two-time champion Bob Fort (Fountain City, WI) fought hard over the runner-up spot and a shot at challenging Berg. That battle allowed Berg to run away with the first feature win of the new season.
A battle of the brothers was featured in the Skyline Fireworks NASCAR Hornet feature as Zach Liebsch started from the pole and led the opening five laps. Alex Libesch powered around the outside of his brother to move into the top position on lap six. Brandon Olson, better known as ‘Mr. Positivity’, charged by Alex Liebsch on lap nine but had his hands full fighting off two-time Hornet champion in the last stages. Bjorkman got a run entering turns three and four and just managed to nose ahead of Olson to hit the finish line in first.
A tangle between leaders Tim Murphy, Sr. and Dan Osthoff five laps into the Auto Value Six Shooter feature allowed Rob Stanfield to power underneath both drivers to move into first. Murphy, Sr. recovered to put up a good fight with Stanfield over the second half of the race. Both drivers raced hard over the final four laps, but in the end Stanfield would claim another feature win checkered flag to add to his trophy room collection.
Ryan Stanfield has now taken over the family racing mini-van from dad Rob. Stanfield was in a major dogfight for much of the Mini-Van feature with Matthew Parent and his ‘Frozen’ paint scheme. Parent withstood all the challenges being thrown at him by Stanfield to drive away with the victory.
The first Novelty race of the year was the Joker Lap. During one lap of the race the drivers had to drive around the outside of the tractor tire in turn two. Zach Liebsch waited until the last lap to make his Joker Lap run, but Rob Stanfield was too close and the quarter-mile veteran swooshed past Liebsch for the race win.
Kick off the unofficial start to summer at the LaCrosse Speedway next Saturday, May 23. We will offer a full program of racing with the Late Models, Sportsman, Hornets, Street Stocks and the Mini-Vans, plus check out the wild and crazy Spin to Win Novelty race. All of that action on the track will no doubt make you thirsty. Quench your thirst with all soft drinks, energy drinks and beers half-price during our Thirst and Throttle Discount Beverage Night. Gates open at 5:15, the race against the clock starts at 5:30 and the tire squealing excitement hits the ground running at 7.
To learn more about the LaCrosse Speedway or the 2026 schedule of events, you can call the track office at 608-786-1525 or visit our website at lacrossespeedway.com. LaCrosse Speedway is proud to be a NASCAR regional track, part of the NASCAR Local Racing Series powered by O’Reilly Auto Parts.
RESULTS
Kwik Trip NASCAR Late Models
Feature (25 laps): 1. 78-Skylar Holzhausen, Sparta, WI [10], 2. 5-Tom Luethe, Bangor, WI [2], 3. 8M-Billy Mohn, Northfield, MN [1], 4. 72-Jacob Goede, Carver, MN [12], 5. 8C-Nick Clements, West Salem, WI [6], 6. 66-Steve Carlson, West Salem, WI [4], 7. 44-Mike Litchfeld, Pardeeville, WI [9], 8. 51-Tom Carlson, West Salem, WI [3], 9. 03-Adam Degenhardt, Cashton, WI [5], 10. 21-Adam Bendzick, Prior Lake, MN [8], 11. 50-Michael Carlson, West Salem, WI [17], 12. 14-Steve Bachman, Sparta, WI [11], 13. 96-Andy Barney, West Salem, WI [18], 14. 32-Jeremy Wolff, Chaska, MN [13], 15. 7-Don Turner, La Crosse, WI [19], 16. 75-Carter Horstman, Bangor, WI [21], 17. 1-Cole Howland, West Salem, WI [7], 18. 8K-Brent Kirchner, Stoddard, WI [14], 19. 93-Brian Lee, Holmen, WI [16], 20. 63-Gib Scharpf, West Salem, WI [20]
6-for-6 Dash (6 laps): 1. 21-Adam Bendzick, Prior Lake, MN [2], 2. 1-Cole Howland, West Salem, WI [1], 3. 78-Skylar Holzhausen, Sparta, WI [4], 4. 72-Jacob Goede, Carver, MN [6], 5. 44-Mike Litchfeld, Pardeeville, WI [3], 6. 14-Steve Bachman, Sparta, WI [5]
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. 8M-Billy Mohn, Northfield, MN [3], 2. 66-Steve Carlson, West Salem, WI [6], 3. 03-Adam Degenhardt, Cashton, WI [7], 4. 8C-Nick Clements, West Salem, WI [8], 5. 8K-Brent Kirchner, Stoddard, WI [1], 6. 32-Jeremy Wolff, Chaska, MN [2], 7. 5-Tom Luethe, Bangor, WI [4], 8. 51-Tom Carlson, West Salem, WI [5]
Heat #2 (8 laps): 1. 96-Andy Barney, West Salem, WI [2], 2. 63-Gib Scharpf, West Salem, WI [9], 3. 7-Don Turner, La Crosse, WI [1], 4. 75-Carter Horstman, Bangor, WI [6], 5. 50-Michael Carlson, West Salem, WI [3], 6. 93-Brian Lee, Holmen, WI [4]
Qualifying: 1. 72-Jacob Goede, 19.772; 2. 14-Steve Bachman, 19.786; 3. 78-Skylar Holzhausen, 19.862; 4. 44-Mike Litchfeld, 19.864; 5. 21-Adam Bendzick, 19.886; 6. 1-Cole Howland, 19.961; 7. 8C-Nick Clements, 19.995; 8. 03-Adam Degenhardt, 20.0950; 9. 66-Steve Carlson, 20.0951; 10. 51-Tom Carlson, 20.121; 11. 5-Tom Luethe, 20.128; 12. 8M-Billy Mohn, 20.174; 13. 32-Jeremy Wolff, 20.212; 14. 8K-Brent Kirchner, 20.281; 15. 23-Brad Powell, 20.306; 16. 93-Brian Lee, 20.310; 17. 50-Michael Carlson, 20.314; 18. 96-Andy Barney, 20.532; 19. 7-Don Turner, 20.533; 20. 63-Gib Scharpf, 20.690; 21. 75-Carter Horstman, 20.964
TDS Telecom NASCAR Sportsmen
Feature (15 laps): 1. 75-Justin Berg, Bangor, WI [6], 2. 1-Charles Vian Jr, Sparta, WI [7], 3. 97-Robert Fort, Fountain City, WI [5], 4. 13-Mark A Challet, Sparta, WI [8], 5. 54-Joseph Miller, La Crescent, MN [1], 6. 8B-Jason Bolster, Sparta, WI [2], 7. 30-Landon Lockington, Melrose, WI [9], 8. 34G-Travis Gordon, Mindoro, WI [4], 9. 2-Dakota Clauson, Sparta, WI [3]
Dash (6 laps): 1. 75-Justin Berg, Bangor, WI [3], 2. 13-Mark A Challet, Sparta, WI [5], 3. 1-Charles Vian Jr, Sparta, WI [4], 4. 97-Robert Fort, Fountain City, WI [2], 5. 34G-Travis Gordon, Mindoro, WI [1], 6. 8B-Jason Bolster, Sparta, WI [7], 7. 2-Dakota Clauson, Sparta, WI [9], 8. 54-Joseph Miller, La Crescent, MN [8], 9. 30-Landon Lockington, Melrose, WI [6]
Qualifying: 1. 13-Mark A Challet, 22.223; 2. 1-Charles Vian Jr, 22.235; 3. 75-Justin Berg, 22.258; 4. 97-Robert Fort, 22.484; 5. 34G-Travis Gordon, 22.509; 6. 2-Dakota Clauson, 22.748; 7. 8B-Jason Bolster, 22.845; 8. 30-Landon Lockington, 22.952; 9. 54-Joseph Miller, 23.168
Skyline Fireworks NASCAR Hornets
Feature (15 laps): 1. 28-Jimmy Bjorkman, West Salem, WI [13], 2. 36-Brandon Olson, Eden Prairie, MN [8], 3. 32-Joey Johnson III, Holmen, WI [11], 4. 44-Jake Schomers, La Crescent, MN [10], 5. 27-Alex Liebsch, Goodview, MN [3], 6. 3/4-Nick Hadler, Inver Grove Heights, MN [7], 7. 21-Jacob Iverson, West Salem, WI [5], 8. 111-Shaw Strangstalien, West Salem, WI [9], 9. 06-Zack Liebsch, Winona, MN [1], 10. 77-Bentley Knaack, Onalaska, WI [2], 11. 12G-Greg Oliver, Bangor, WI [4], 12. 12T-Ben Thurk, La Crosse, WI [12], 13. 99-Connor Plagge, Northfield, MN [14], 14. 79-Nick Loesel, Eau Claire, WI [15], 15. 12B-Al Bartels, Tomah, WI [6]
6-for-6 Dash (6 laps): 1. 36-Brandon Olson, Eden Prairie, MN [1], 2. 44-Jake Schomers, La Crescent, MN [3], 3. 28-Jimmy Bjorkman, West Salem, WI [5], 4. 32-Joey Johnson III, Holmen, WI [6], 5. 12T-Ben Thurk, La Crosse, WI [4], 6. 111-Shaw Strangstalien, West Salem, WI [2]
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. 3/4-Nick Hadler, Inver Grove Heights, MN [9], 2. 12B-Al Bartels, Tomah, WI [8], 3. 21-Jacob Iverson, West Salem, WI [7], 4. 27-Alex Liebsch, Goodview, MN [5], 5. 12G-Greg Oliver, Bangor, WI [6], 6. 77-Bentley Knaack, Onalaska, WI [4], 7. 06-Zack Liebsch, Winona, MN [3], 8. 99-Connor Plagge, Northfield, MN [2]
Qualifying: 1. 28-Jimmy Bjorkman, 15.996; 2. 12T-Ben Thurk, 16.163; 3. 32-Joey Johnson III, 16.229; 4. 44-Jake Schomers, 16.362; 5. 111-Shaw Strangstalien, 16.419; 6. 36-Brandon Olson, 16.4191; 7. 3/4-Nick Hadler, 16.435; 8. 12B-Al Bartels, 16.506; 9. 21-Jacob Iverson, 16.571; 10. 12G-Greg Oliver, 16.715; 11. 27-Alex Liebsch, 16.906; 12. 77-Bentley Knaack, 17.128; 13. 06-Zack Liebsch, 17.633; 14. 99-Connor Plagge, 17.902; 15. 79-Nick Loesel, 18.770
Auto Value Six Shooters
Feature (15 laps): 1. 77-Robert Stanfield, Lacrosse, WI [11], 2. 0-Tim Murphy Sr, Sparta, WI [14], 3. 3-Zachary Morgan, Black River Falls, WI [17], 4. 1-Dan Osthoff, La Crosse, WI [9], 5. 5-Brandon Gallagher, Sparta, WI [10], 6. 03-Bryan Schott, West Salem, WI [5], 7. 95-Charlie Thompson, Hixton, WI [6], 8. 68-Brody Rundhaugen, La Crosse, WI [15], 9. 1220-Bryon Olsen, La Crescent, MN [4], 10. 59-John Erons, Westby, MT [2], 11. 27L-Cole Lewis, La Crosse, WI [3], 12. 10-Derek Larson, Melrose, WI [16], 13. 74-Kyle Cottone, La Crosse, WI [7], 14. 72-Ashton Kinsey, Onalaska, WI [12], 15. 34-Molly Snodgrass, La Crescent, MN [1], 16. 88-Ryan Stanfield, Lacrosse, WI [8], 17. 29-Adam Moore, Sparta, WI [13]
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. 03-Bryan Schott, West Salem, WI [2], 2. 95-Charlie Thompson, Hixton, WI [6], 3. 1220-Bryon Olsen, La Crescent, MN [5], 4. 59-John Erons, Westby, MT [3], 5. 68-Brody Rundhaugen, La Crosse, WI [8], 6. 34-Molly Snodgrass, La Crescent, MN [1], 7. 27L-Cole Lewis, La Crosse, WI [4], 8. 10-Derek Larson, Melrose, WI [7]
Heat #2 (8 laps): 1. 29-Adam Moore, Sparta, WI [8], 2. 77-Robert Stanfield, Lacrosse, WI [6], 3. 1-Dan Osthoff, La Crosse, WI [3], 4. 0-Tim Murphy Sr, Sparta, WI [9], 5. 5-Brandon Gallagher, Sparta, WI [5], 6. 74-Kyle Cottone, La Crosse, WI [1], 7. 88-Ryan Stanfield, Lacrosse, WI [2], 8. 3-Zachary Morgan, Black River Falls, WI [4], 9. 72-Ashton Kinsey, Onalaska, WI [7]
Qualifying: 1. 0-Tim Murphy Sr, 16.213; 2. 29-Adam Moore, 16.331; 3. 72-Ashton Kinsey, 16.545; 4. 77-Robert Stanfield, 16.577; 5. 5-Brandon Gallagher, 16.891; 6. 3-Zachary Morgan, 17.060; 7. 1-Dan Osthoff, 17.076; 8. 88-Ryan Stanfield, 17.360; 9. 74-Kyle Cottone, 17.454; 10. 95-Charlie Thompson, 17.464; 11. 1220-Bryon Olsen, 18.099; 12. 27-Alex Liebsch, 18.207; 13. 59-John Erons, 18.388; 14. 68-Brody Rundhaugen, 18.554; 15. 03-Bryan Schott, 18.909; 16. 34-Molly Snodgrass, 20.717; 17. 10-Derek Larson, 21.132
Auto Value Mini-Vans
Feature (15 laps): 1. 2-Matthew Parent, Bangor, WI [4], 2. 88-Ryan Stanfield, Lacrosse, WI [5], 3. 12-Al Bartels, Tomah, WI [3], 4. 05-John Mashak, La Crosse, WI [2], 5. 42-Alex Rud, La Crosse, WI [1]
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. 2-Matthew Parent, Bangor, WI [3], 2. 88-Ryan Stanfield, Lacrosse, WI [4], 3. 12-Al Bartels, Tomah, WI [2], 4. 05-John Mashak, La Crosse, WI [1], 5. 42-Alex Rud, La Crosse, WI [5]
Qualifying: 1. 88-Ryan Stanfield, 17.408; 2. 2-Matthew Parent, 17.855; 3. 12-Al Bartels, 18.074; 4. 05-John Mashak, 18.609; 5. 42-Alex Rud, 25.568
Novelty
Joker Lap Race (5 laps): 1. 77-Robert Stanfield, Lacrosse, WI [5], 2. 06-Zack Liebsch, Winona, MN [3], 3. 27C-John Clauson, La Crosse, WI [1], 4. 1-Dan Osthoff, La Crosse, WI [2], 5. 72-Ashton Kinsey, Onalaska, WI [8], 6. 27-Alex Liebsch, Goodview, MN [4], 7. 88-Ryan Stanfield, Lacrosse, WI [6], 8. 74-Kyle Cottone, La Crosse, WI [7], 9. 59-John Erons, Westby, WI [11]