By: Paul Reichert
June 6, 2026
Now that the unofficial start of the summer vacation season has started, there are a ton of festivals and celebrations awaiting us in the Coulee Region. Taking place not far from the LaCrosse Speedway is the annual June Dairy Days celebration in downtown West Salem. We decided to join in those festivities with our first-ever Dairy Appreciation Night at the races, which included the first running of the Dairy Race Novelty event. Details on that later in this report. As for the NASCAR Late Models, we have started an amazing streak of five different winners in the first five features run. Mike Carlson powered by uncle Tom on lap two, then held off a very strong showing by rookie Carter Horstman to keep that streak going.
Carter Horstman (Bangor, WI) got sideways in mid-pack of the Coulee Tire 25 lap NASCAR Late Model feature but managed to keep it together and not cause any big problems for the pack. Back up front Tom Carlson (West Salem, WI) and Mike Carlson (West Salem, WI) roared past Brian Lee (Holmen, WI) to occupy the top two positions. Mike got a run in turns one and two on lap five to surge by Tom to move into first place. Contact between Nick Clements (West Salem, WI) and Tom Carlson sent Clements into the spin cycle and hit the wall with the rear of his car. Surprisingly the damage may not have been that bad as Clements rejoined the field. As Mike Carlson quickly pulled away from the pack on the restart, Horstman found himself in second and pulling away from Adam Degenhardt (Coon Valley, WI). The best battle on the track was for fifth between defending track champion Jacob Goede (Carver, MN) and Tom Luethe (West Salem, WI). The outside was not agreeing with Goede as he lost fifth to Luethe on lap 14. Horstman remained a few car lengths behind Carlson as we got inside of ten laps left to run. It was a very impressive first big run for Horstman as he claimed his first podium finish in second, but Carlson put on an even better showing to claim feature triumph number one of the 2026 campaign. After the race Carlson said “I had to find a place to get away from the chaos that happened in turn two. We got lucky to pull away from that and wound up in victory lane.”
Jason Stark (Wisconsin Dells, WI) tried to peek underneath Bob Fort (Fountain City, WI) for the first couple laps of the NASCAR Sportsmen feature. Stark got his opening to power under Fort for the lead down the back straight on lap three. Fast qualifier Tina Lodermeier (Rosemount, MN) tried to find a way around Fort, but Lodermeier was not close enough to make her move. Fort’s left rear wheel broke entering turn one at halfway and sent him hard into the turn one wall. Stark had to contend with Lodermeier on the restart, but using the outside lane allowed Stark to remain in first place. Stark pulled away from the pack to hit the finish line in first place.
After fighting side-by-side for the first couple laps of the NASCAR Hornets feature, veteran quarter-mile campaigner Al Bartels powered by Justin Iverson to take the lead. Yellow flew on lap three after Ben Kohlmeier and Ben Thurk tangled in turn three. Jimmy Bjorkman just barely squeezed through both drivers to avoid getting collected. Bartels and Iverson battled side-by-side again on the restart, but two laps later Bartels again shot by Iverson to take over the top spot. While Jake Schomers and Brandon Olson battled hard for the runner-up spot, Bartels continued to pull away from the past. Bartels showed why he is the ‘King of the Quarter-Mile” and added a Hornet victory to the Street Stock, Six Shooter and Mini-Van feature triumphs he already holds.
Byron Olson led his first ever feature race as he showed the way in the first two circuits of the Street Stock feature. Ryan Stanfield powered around the outside of Olson to lead the way on lap three. After picking up a loose bumper in turn two, Stanfield had to fend off both Colton Jacobson and Zach Liebsch as the rest of the top five made the race that much more challenging. Stanfield had to contend with dad Rob as he looked for another feature win in the closing laps. Rob would be a proud papa in second as Ryan Stanfield added a Street Stock feature win to his Mini-Van win from a few weeks ago.
The kickoff to the High School Racing Association season got rather sideways when Cruz Pierce and Caleb Arneson made contact in turn three and spun in front of everybody while battling over the lead position on lap three. The incident also collected defending champion Alivia Moore and Noah Waughtal. Taylor Aasen assumed command of the race on the restart as she pulled away from a gaggle of cars fighting over second. As Lilly Estenson tried to close up on Aasen, lapped traffic got in the way of Estenson. Monty Odegard was quickly making his way through traffic and caught up to Aasen and passed her on the final lap to claim his first LaCrosse HSRA feature win.
A very unique Novelty event showcased the June Dairy Days celebration in West Salem. In the Dairy Race the drivers ran from the inside wall to consume a stick of cheese, a cup of ice cream and a glass of milk before getting in their cars to reach the orange line Steven Brasda took take of his dairy platter the fastest to win the race.
Get your bags ready to collect many hero cards, treats and goodies during our annual Fan Photo and Autograph Night next Saturday, June 13. All of our Late Model, Sportsman, Hornet, Six Shooter and Mini-Van drivers will be lined up on the front straight to welcome their many race fans. Our Six Shooter and Mini-Vans racers will participate in this week’s novelty event, the Drive-Thru race. Gates open at 5:15, the on-track autograph session starts at 5:45 and watch your heroes of racing in action starting at 7.
For more information about the LaCrosse Speedway or the 2026 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 Local Racing Series powered by O’Reilly Auto Parts.
RESULTS
Kwik Trip NASCAR Late Models
Feature (25 laps): 1. 50-Michael Carlson, West Salem, WI [6], 2. 75-Carter Horstman, Bangor, WI [4], 3. 78-Skylar Holzhausen, Sparta, WI [11], 4. 03-Adam Degenhardt, Cashton, WI [5], 5. 72-Jacob Goede, Carver, MN [12], 6. 14-Steve Bachman, Sparta, WI [9], 7. 5-Tom Luethe, Bangor, WI [7], 8. 21-Adam Bendzick, Prior Lake, MN [10], 9. 40-Michael Beamish, Saint Paul, MN [14], 10. 66-Steve Carlson, West Salem, WI [3], 11. 51-Tom Carlson, West Salem, WI [2], 12. 7-Don Turner, La Crosse, WI [15], 13. 8C-Nick Clements, West Salem, WI [8], 14. 57-Robert Bradley, Sparta, WI [13], 15. 93-Brian Lee, Holmen, WI [1]
6-for-6 Dash (6 laps): 1. 78-Skylar Holzhausen, Sparta, WI [1], 2. 5-Tom Luethe, Bangor, WI [3], 3. 72-Jacob Goede, Carver, MN [5], 4. 14-Steve Bachman, Sparta, WI [6], 5. 8C-Nick Clements, West Salem, WI [4], 6. 40-Michael Beamish, Saint Paul, MN [2]
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. 51-Tom Carlson, West Salem, WI [2], 2. 03-Adam Degenhardt, Cashton, WI [5], 3. 66-Steve Carlson, West Salem, WI [3], 4. 21-Adam Bendzick, Prior Lake, MN [6], 5. 50-Michael Carlson, West Salem, WI [7], 6. 75-Carter Horstman, Bangor, WI [4], 7. 93-Brian Lee, Holmen, WI [1], 8. 7-Don Turner, La Crosse, WI [9], 9. 57-Robert Bradley, Sparta, WI [8]
Qualifying: 1. 14-Steve Bachman, 19.8810; 2. 72-Jacob Goede, 19.9030; 3. 8C-Nick Clements, 19.9930; 4. 5-Tom Luethe, 20.1140; 5. 40-Michael Beamish, 20.1330; 6. 78-Skylar Holzhausen, 20.1380; 7. 50-Michael Carlson, 20.2500; 8. 21-Adam Bendzick, 20.2600; 9. 03-Adam Degenhardt, 20.4590; 10. 75-Carter Horstman, 20.4760; 11. 66-Steve Carlson, 20.5010; 12. 51-Tom Carlson, 20.5210; 13. 93-Brian Lee, 20.8240; 14. 57-Robert Bradley, 22.0960
AB Seed and Consulting NASCAR Sportsmen
Feature (15 laps): 1. 48-Jason Stark, Wisconsin Dells, WI [5], 2. 18-Tina Lodermeier, Rosemount, MN [7], 3. 75-Justin Berg, Bangor, WI [9], 4. 13-Mark Challet, Sparta, WI [8], 5. 60-Jacob Lodermeier, Elko New Market, MN [4], 6. 10-Zach Oliver, Rockland, WI [6], 7. 1-Charles Vian Jr, Sparta, WI [11], 8. 21-Bill Schott, West Salem, WI [10], 9. 14-Melissa Rusch, Galesville, WI [12], 10. 30-Landon Lockington, Melrose, WI [2], 11. 54-Joseph Miller, LaCrescent, MN [1], 12. 8-Jason Bolster, Sparta, WI [13], 13. 97-Robert Fort, Fountain City, WI [3]
6-for-6 Dash (6 laps): 1. 48-Jason Stark, Wisconsin Dells, WI [6], 2. 75-Justin Berg, Bangor, WI [2], 3. 13-Mark Challet, Sparta, WI [1], 4. 10-Zach Oliver, Rockland, WI [4], 5. 1-Charles Vian Jr, Sparta, WI [3], 6. 18-Tina Lodermeier, Rosemount, MN [5]
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. 97-Robert Fort, Fountain City, WI [3], 2. 60-Jacob Lodermeier, Elko New Market, MN [4], 3. 21-Bill Schott, West Salem, WI [5], 4. 30-Landon Lockington, Melrose, WI [2], 5. 14-Melissa Rusch, Galesville, WI [6], 6. 8-Jason Bolster, Sparta, WI [7], 7. 54-Joseph Miller, LaCrescent, MN [1]
Qualifying: 1. 18-Tina Lodermeier, 21.9160; 2. 10-Zach Oliver, 21.9300; 3. 1-Charles Vian Jr, 21.9690; 4. 75-Justin Berg, 21.9920; 5. 48-Jason Stark, 22.0760; 6. 13-Mark Challet, 22.1210; 7. 21-Bill Schott, 22.2130; 8. 60-Jacob Lodermeier, 22.6060; 9. 97-Robert Fort, 22.6310; 10. 30-Landon Lockington, 22.7480; 11. 8-Jason Bolster, 23.1950; 12. 54-Joseph Miller, 23.7170; 13. 14-Melissa Rusch, 23.8610
Skyline Fireworks NASCAR Hornets
Feature (15 laps): 1. 12B-Al Bartels, Tomah, WI [1], 2. 36-Brandon Olson, Eden Prairie, MN [8], 3. 02-Shane Kohlmeier, Onalaska, WI [6], 4. 28-Jimmy Bjorkman, West Salem, WI [9], 5. 21-Jacob Iverson, West Salem, WI [2], 6. 44-Jake Schomers, LaCrescent, MN [4], 7. 32-Joey Johnson III, Holmen, WI [7], 8. 111-Shaw Strangstalien, West Salem, WI [10], 9. 3/4-Nick Hadler, Inver Grove Heights, MN [11], 10. 48-Wally Olsen, Galesville, WI [18], 11. 60E-Ryan Elsworth, Beverly Hills, CA [12], 12. 27-Alex Liebsch, Goodview, MN [17], 13. 79-Nick Loesel, Eau Claire, WI [15], 14. 06-Zack Liebsch, Winona, MN [16], 15. 12T-Ben Thurk, LaCrosse, WI [5], 16. 09-Ben Kohlmeier, Onalaska, WI [3]
6-for-6 Dash (6 laps): 1. 12T-Ben Thurk, LaCrosse, WI [4], 2. 36-Brandon Olson, Eden Prairie, MN [2], 3. 28-Jimmy Bjorkman, West Salem, WI [6], 4. 02-Shane Kohlmeier, Onalaska, WI [5], 5. 48-Wally Olsen, Galesville, WI [1], 6. 44-Jake Schomers, LaCrescent, MN [3]
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. 3/4-Nick Hadler, Inver Grove Heights, MN [1], 2. 12B-Al Bartels, Tomah, WI [2], 3. 21-Jacob Iverson, West Salem, WI [3], 4. 32-Joey Johnson III, Holmen, WI [6], 5. 111-Shaw Strangstalien, West Salem, WI [5], 6. 09-Ben Kohlmeier, Onalaska, WI [4]
Heat #2 (8 laps): 1. 27-Alex Liebsch, Goodview, MN [1], 2. 60E-Ryan Elsworth, Beverly Hills, CA [6], 3. 79-Nick Loesel, Eau Claire, WI [3], 4. 06-Zack Liebsch, Winona, MN [2]
Qualifying: 1. 28-Jimmy Bjorkman, 15.7260; 2. 02-Shane Kohlmeier, 15.7720; 3. 12T-Ben Thurk, 15.7880; 4. 44-Jake Schomers, 16.0550; 5. 36-Brandon Olson, 16.1110; 6. 48-Wally Olsen, 16.1380; 7. 32-Joey Johnson III, 16.1840; 8. 111-Shaw Strangstalien, 16.2270; 9. 09-Ben Kohlmeier, 16.2490; 10. 21-Jacob Iverson, 16.3120; 11. 12B-Al Bartels, 16.3610; 12. 3/4-Nick Hadler, 16.4690; 13. 60E-Ryan Elsworth, 16.6350; 14. 24-Justin Iverson, 16.8920; 15. 77-Bentley Knaack, 16.9290; 16. 79-Nick Loesel, 17.2710; 17. 06-Zack Liebsch, 17.6460; 18. 27-Alex Liebsch, 17.9890
Auto Value Street Stocks
Feature (15 laps): 1. 88-Ryan Stanfield, LaCrosse, WI [3], 2. 77-Robert Stanfield, LaCrosse, WI [11], 3. 06-Zack Liebsch, Winona, MN [13], 4. 0NO-Thomas Farra, Sparta, WI [12], 5. 14-John Huebner, LaCrosse, WI [9], 6. 24-Colton Jacobson, LaCrosse, WI [4], 7. 94-Steve Brasda, Osseo, WI [10], 8. 34-Christopher Neal, Tomah, WI [8], 9. 68-Brody Rundhaugen, LaCrosse, WI [14], 10. 05-Brandon Bion, LaCrosse, WI [2], 11. 1220-Bryon Olsen, LaCrescent, MN [1], 12. 74-Kyle Cottone, LaCrosse, WI [6], 13. 27-Cole Lewis, LaCrosse, WI [5], 14. 03S-Bryan Schott, West Salem, WI [7]
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. 0NO-Thomas Farra, Sparta, WI [7], 2. 68-Brody Rundhaugen, LaCrosse, WI [2], 3. 1220-Bryon Olsen, LaCrescent, MN [1], 4. 27-Cole Lewis, LaCrosse, WI [6], 5. 88-Ryan Stanfield, LaCrosse, WI [4], 6. 05-Brandon Bion, LaCrosse, WI [3], 7. 24-Colton Jacobson, LaCrosse, WI [5]
Heat #2 (8 laps): 1. 06-Zack Liebsch, Winona, MN [4], 2. 14-John Huebner, LaCrosse, WI [6], 3. 77-Robert Stanfield, LaCrosse, WI [5], 4. 74-Kyle Cottone, LaCrosse, WI [1], 5. 03S-Bryan Schott, West Salem, WI [2], 6. 94-Steve Brasda, Osseo, WI [7], 7. 7-Kyle Hopkins, LaCrosse, WI [8], 8. 34-Christopher Neal, Tomah, WI [3]
Qualifying: 1. 94-Steve Brasda, 16.6530; 2. 14-John Huebner, 16.7310; 3. 77-Robert Stanfield, 16.9350; 4. 06-Zack Liebsch, 16.9470; 5. 34-Christopher Neal, 17.2820; 6. 03S-Bryan Schott, 17.4010; 7. 74-Kyle Cottone, 17.4840; 8. 27-Cole Lewis, 17.4960; 9. 24-Colton Jacobson, 17.5200; 10. 0NO-Thomas Farra, 17.5490; 11. 88-Ryan Stanfield, 17.6850; 12. 05-Brandon Bion, 17.7670; 13. 68-Brody Rundhaugen, 18.0110; 14. 1220-Bryon Olsen, 18.0210
Finish Line Towing High School Racing Association
Feature (15 laps): 1. 01-Monty Odegard, Wilton, WI [11], 2. 12-Caleb Arneson, Melrose, WI [9], 3. 34-Kennedy Krueger, Sparta, WI [8], 4. 06-Taylor Aasen, Whitehall, WI [3], 5. 18-Cruz Pierce, Sparta, WI [2], 6. 02-Noah Waughtal, Mindoro, WI [13], 7. 22-Lauralee Stanton, Melrose, WI [10], 8. 07I-Izaak Odegard, Wilton, WI [4], 9. 65-Zachary Neal, Tomah, WI [1], 10. 7-Bella Bolduan, La Crosse, WI [5], 11. 56-Jeramiah Neal, Tomah, WI [15], 12. 07J-Angel Johnson, LaCrosse, WI [14], 13. 19E-Lilly Estenson, Whitehall, WI [6], 14. 19P-Peyton Payne, Elroy, WI [7], 15. 19M-Alivia Moore, Sparta, WI [12]
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. 12-Caleb Arneson, Melrose, WI [3], 2. 19M-Alivia Moore, Sparta, WI [6], 3. 22-Lauralee Stanton, Melrose, WI [4], 4. 01-Monty Odegard, Wilton, WI [5], 5. 19P-Peyton Payne, Elroy, WI [1], 6. 34-Kennedy Krueger, Sparta, WI [2]
Heat #2 (8 laps): 1. 19E-Lilly Estenson, Whitehall, WI [6], 2. 02-Noah Waughtal, Mindoro, WI [9], 3. 06-Taylor Aasen, Whitehall, WI [4], 4. 18-Cruz Pierce, Sparta, WI [3], 5. 65-Zachary Neal, Tomah, WI [2], 6. 7-Bella Bolduan, LaCrosse, WI [5], 7. 07I-Izaak Odegard, Wilton, WI [8], 8. 56-Jeramiah Neal, Tomah, WI [7], 9. 07J-Angel Johnson, LaCrosse, WI [1]
Qualifying: 1. 02-Noah Waughtal, 16.5970; 2. 19M-Alivia Moore, 16.8500; 3. 01-Monty Odegard, 16.9400; 4. 22-Lauralee Stanton, 17.1640; 5. 12-Caleb Arneson, 17.2110; 6. 34-Kennedy Krueger, 17.3390; 7. 19P-Peyton Payne, 17.6520; 8. 19E-Lilly Estenson, 17.7970; 9. 7-Bella Bolduan, 17.8880; 10. 07I-Izaak Odegard, 18.0140; 11. 06-Taylor Aasen, 18.2250; 12. 18-Cruz Pierce, 18.4040; 13. 65-Zachary Neal, 18.9460; 14. 07J-Angel Johnson, 19.2470; 15. 56-Jeramiah Neal, 20.7050
Novelty
Dairy Race: 1. 94-Steve Brasda, Osseo, WI [5], 2. 14-John Huebner, LaCrosse, WI [6], 3. 0NO-Thomas Farra, Sparta, WI [3], 4. 21-Jacob Iverson, West Salem, WI [2], 5. 77-Robert Stanfield, LaCrosse, WI [7], 6. 06-Zack Liebsch, Winona, MN [4]