By: Paul Reichert
August 1, 2026
Fans from far and wide gathered at the LaCrosse Speedway for the biggest and most fan friendly event of the season. The Trailer Race of Destruction always puts on a smashing good time for the fans that would leave them screaming for more hard hits and more calamity on the ‘action track’ quarter-mile. That was not the only racing on the track as we enter the last month of the season with the fight for points championships heating up. Some drivers were making big moves to go for a points title, while others would encounter untimely back luck to stymie their efforts. In the Late Models, we are going to witness part four of the epic Goede-Holzhausen title chase. Jacob Goede powered around Steve Carlson six laps from the finish to record feature win number three and put him back in the points lead.
The 25 lap Auto Value feature for the NASCAR Late Models saw Steve Calrson (West Salem, WI) bolt to the front and leave the rest of the field in his wake. Cole Howland (LaCrosse, WI) charged past Brian Lee (Holmen, WI) to take over second and went right to work on reeling in the “King of the Short Tracks”. Jacob Goede (Carver, MN) was bobbing and weaving his way through the field to power around Lee as he took the last podium spot after only five laps. Back up front Howland was closing up the gap on Carlson with Goede far behind the lead twosome. As the field received the crossed flags, Howland was struggling to catch up to Carlson as Goede was getting larger and more menacing in Howland’s rear view. Goede was all over Howland with ten laps remaining, then shot around him down the back straight to settle into second and quickly made up ground on Carlson. With the outside lane not working well for Goede, Goede stuck behind Carlson to get a golden opening on the inside. Goede got his nose under Carlson entering turn one to settle into first place with only a few laps left to run. Goede quickly pulled away to reclaim the championship lead with his third feature win of the year. After the race Goede said “That was a fun race to come from deep in the field to beat Steve. We definitely had the car to beat tonight.”
Melissa Rusch (Holmen, WI) powered under Landon Lockington (Melrose, WI) to lead her first-ever laps of the NASCAR Sportsmen feature. Charles Vian, Jr. (Sparta, WI) was the first to break from the pack to claim the runner-up spot on lap four and began to chase down Rusch. Vian, Jr. tried to go low on Rusch entering turn one with five laps to go, but Rusch got a better run out of turn two. As they battled side-by-side again, Rusch just lost control of her car in turn two. In the aftermath of Rusch’s spin, Bob Fort (Fountain City, WI) and Mark Challet (Sparta, WI) also got caught up in the incident. Vian, Jr. wasted little time to shoot by Zach Oliver (Rockland, WI) in the final three-lap shootout. Oliver was unable to challenge Vian, Jr. as the points leader captured his third checkered flag feature win of 2026.
Shaw Strangstalien overpowered Tristan Finnigan to lead the early going of the NASCAR Hornet feature. Heat winner Ben Kohlmeier shot underneath FInnigan to move into second on lap three, and tried to pull Strangstalien back towards him. Fast qualifier Jacob Iverson powered under Brandon Olson to settle into third at halfway and was making up ground quickly on the leaders. Sticking to the outside lane, Iverson got a stronger run down the front straight by Kohlmeier with three laps left to run. Lapped traffic was making things difficult for Strangstalien, but he was able to quickly get away from that obstacle to notch his first career feature triumph.
Bryon Olsen got a better run entering turn one to get by Brody Rundhaugen to lead the Six Shooter feature. After a yellow flag for a spin by Shawn McCarthy in turn three, Brandon Gallagher made a power move around Olsen in turns one and two to move into first place on lap three. Points leader Dan Osthoff was trying to make any sort of dent into Gallagher’s advantage as the championship duo fought hard for another feature win. Osthoff had too much ground to make up as Gallagher drove off with his first feature win of the season.
The High School Racing Association feature saw Jeremiah Neal take the lead entering turn one, but Cruz Pierce took advantage of a loose Neal in turn four to lead the first lap. Izaak Odegard made a bold move under Pierce entering turn three to take over the number one spot on lap two. Braxtyn Moore took advantage of contact between Odegard and Caleb Arneson to take over first just as the yellow flag was displayed for their spin in turn three. Monty Odegard and cousin Alivia Moore kept the pressure on Braxtyn, but he slowly began to pull away from those drivers as the crossed flags were shown. Odegard and Alivia Moore got into their own squabble over second as Braxtyn drove away with his second straight HSRA feature win.
We wrapped up the night with the thrilling, exciting and hard hitting Trailer Race of Destruction. 23 competitors were ready to enter a gladiator-style battle of carnage, chaos, smashing and trashing. Many hard hits were made on boats, campers, jet skis and pop-ups that would leave the fans screaming for more. Ultimately the fans had the final say on who was the real winner as they voted on the best destroyer of the night. First time entrant Shane Kohlmeier won the loudest screams of the fans to add a Trailer Race of Destruction title to his Hornet points crown from last year.
The kids will be the kings of the LaCrosse Speedway next Saturday, August 8 with our annual Kids’ Night. All kids 11 and under will be admitted FREE to the races, plus there will be a few surprises added just for the youngsters. Late Models, Sportsman, Hornets and Street Stocks will be in action on the track, plus the High School Racing Association will crown their 2026 track champion during their final battle of the year. Gates open at 5:15, the drivers will burn rubber during qualifying at 5:30 and racing steps on the throttle beginning at 7.
For more information about LaCrosse Speedway and the 2026 schedule of events, call the tack 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. 72-Jacob Goede, Carver, MN [10], 2. 66-Steve Carlson, West Salem, WI [2], 3. 78-Skylar Holzhausen, Sparta, WI [12], 4. 1-Cole Howland, West Salem, WI [4], 5. 14-Steve Bachman, Sparta, WI [6], 6. 03-Adam Degenhardt, Cashton, WI [7], 7. 21B-Adam Bendzick, Prior Lake, MN [9], 8. 5-Tom Luethe, Bangor, WI [8], 9. 51-Tom Carlson, West Salem, WI [11], 10. 75-Carter Horstman, Bangor, WI [5], 11. 8C-Nick Clements, West Salem, WI [13], 12. 50-Michael Carlson, West Salem, WI [3], 13. 7-Don Turner, La Crosse, WI [14], 14. 93-Brian Lee, Holmen, WI [1]
6-for-6 Dash (6 laps): 1. 21B-Adam Bendzick, Prior Lake, MN [2], 2. 78-Skylar Holzhausen, Sparta, WI [4], 3. 72-Jacob Goede, Carver, MN [6], 4. 8C-Nick Clements, West Salem, WI [3], 5. 5-Tom Luethe, Bangor, WI [5], 6. 03-Adam Degenhardt, Cashton, WI [1]
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. 66-Steve Carlson, West Salem, WI [4], 2. 14-Steve Bachman, Sparta, WI [8], 3. 1-Cole Howland, West Salem, WI [6], 4. 93-Brian Lee, Holmen, WI [2], 5. 51-Tom Carlson, West Salem, WI [3], 6. 7-Don Turner, La Crosse, WI [1], 7. 75-Carter Horstman, Bangor, WI [7], 8. 50-Michael Carlson, West Salem, WI [5]
Qualifying: 1. 72-Jacob Goede, 19.6250; 2. 5-Tom Luethe, 19.8220; 3. 78-Skylar Holzhausen, 19.8910; 4. 8C-Nick Clements, 19.9290; 5. 21B-Adam Bendzick, 20.0580; 6. 03-Adam Degenhardt, 20.0620; 7. 14-Steve Bachman, 20.1920; 8. 75-Carter Horstman, 20.1930; 9. 1-Cole Howland, 20.1950; 10. 50-Michael Carlson, 20.2410; 11. 66-Steve Carlson, 20.2720; 12. 51-Tom Carlson, 20.3260; 13. 93-Brian Lee, 20.6640; 14. 7-Don Turner, 20.7360; 15. 77-Jim Summerfield, 21.8830
AB Seed and Consulting NASCAR Sportsmen
Feature (15 laps): 1. 1-Charles Vian Jr, Sparta, WI [7], 2. 10-Zach Oliver, Rockland, WI [5], 3. 75-Justin Berg, Bangor, WI [4], 4. 97F-Robert Fort, Fountain City, WI [9], 5. 30-Landon Lockington, Melrose, WI [2], 6. 8-Jason Bolster, Sparta, WI [10], 7. 14-Melissa Rusch, Galesville, WI [1], 8. 13-Mark A Challet, Sparta, WI [6], 9. 60-Jacob Lodermeier, Elko New Market, MN [3]
Dash (8 laps): 1. 75-Justin Berg, Bangor, WI [6], 2. 13-Mark A Challet, Sparta, WI [8], 3. 1-Charles Vian Jr, Sparta, WI [5], 4. 30-Landon Lockington, Melrose, WI [2], 5. 97F-Robert Fort, Fountain City, WI [7], 6. 14-Melissa Rusch, Galesville, WI [1], 7. 10-Zach Oliver, Rockland, WI [9], 8. 8-Jason Bolster, Sparta, WI [10], 9. 18-Tina Lodermeier, Rosemount, MN [3]
Qualifying: 1. 10-Zach Oliver, 21.7160; 2. 13-Mark A Challet, 21.7200; 3. 97F-Robert Fort, 21.7420; 4. 75-Justin Berg, 21.7620; 5. 1-Charles Vian Jr, 21.7621; 6. 60-Jacob Lodermeier, 21.8670; 7. 18-Tina Lodermeier, 21.9080; 8. 30-Landon Lockington, 21.9580; 9. 14-Melissa Rusch, 22.6840; 10. 8-Jason Bolster, 23.9580
Skyline Fireworks NASCAR Hornets
Feature (15 laps): 1. 111-Shaw Strangstalien, West Salem, WI [1], 2. 09-Ben Kohlmeier, Onalaska, WI [3], 3. 36-Brandon Olson, Eden Prairie, MN [5], 4. 02-Shane Kohlmeier, Onalaska, WI [11], 5. 12B-Al Bartels, Tomah, WI [4], 6. 28-Jimmy Bjorkman, West Salem, WI [8], 7. 32-Joey Johnson III, Holmen, WI [10], 8. 3/4-Nick Hadler, Inver Grove Heights, MN [12], 9. 42-Tristan Finnigan, Tomah, WI [2], 10. 24-Justin Iverson, Prior Lake, MN [13], 11. 44-Jake Schomers, La Crescent, MN [9], 12. 77-Bentley Knaack, Onalaska, WI [15], 13. 79-Nick Loesel, Eau Claire, WI [14], 14. 12G-Greg Oliver, Bangor, WI [16], 15. 12T-Ben Thurk, La Crosse, WI [7] (DQ), 16. 21-Jacob Iverson, West Salem, WI [6] (DQ)
6-for-6 Dash (6 laps): 1. 12T-Ben Thurk, La Crosse, WI [1], 2. 36-Brandon Olson, Eden Prairie, MN [3], 3. 21-Jacob Iverson, West Salem, WI [6], 4. 28-Jimmy Bjorkman, West Salem, WI [2], 5. 02-Shane Kohlmeier, Onalaska, WI [4], 6. 44-Jake Schomers, La Crescent, MN [5]
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. 09-Ben Kohlmeier, Onalaska, WI [7], 2. 111-Shaw Strangstalien, West Salem, WI [5], 3. 32-Joey Johnson III, Holmen, WI [9], 4. 24-Justin Iverson, Prior Lake, MN [3], 5. 3/4-Nick Hadler, Inver Grove Heights, MN [4], 6. 12B-Al Bartels, Tomah, WI [8], 7. 77-Bentley Knaack, Onalaska, WI [1], 8. 42-Tristan Finnigan, Tomah, WI [6], 9. 79-Nick Loesel, Eau Claire, WI [2], 10. 12G-Greg Oliver, Bangor, WI [10]
Qualifying: 1. 21-Jacob Iverson, 15.4680; 2. 44-Jake Schomers, 15.7010; 3. 02-Shane Kohlmeier, 15.7210; 4. 36-Brandon Olson, 15.9130; 5. 28-Jimmy Bjorkman, 16.0140; 6. 12T-Ben Thurk, 16.0500; 7. 32-Joey Johnson III, 16.0630; 8. 12B-Al Bartels, 16.1500; 9. 09-Ben Kohlmeier, 16.1710; 10. 42-Tristan Finnigan, 16.2080; 11. 111-Shaw Strangstalien, 16.2170; 12. 3/4-Nick Hadler, 16.2800; 13. 24-Justin Iverson, 16.4360; 14. 79-Nick Loesel, 16.8180; 15. 77-Bentley Knaack, 16.9250
Auto Value Six Shooters
Feature (15 laps): 1. 5-Brandon Gallagher, Sparta, WI [8], 2. 1-Dan Osthoff, La Crosse, WI [10], 3. 2M-Shawn McCarthy, Sparta, WI [6], 4. 74-Kyle Cottone, La Crosse, WI [5], 5. 24-Colton Jacobson, La Crosse, WI [9], 6. 68-Brody Rundhaugen, La Crosse, WI [4], 7. 1220-Bryon Olsen, La Crescent, MN [1]
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. 1-Dan Osthoff, La Crosse, WI [5], 2. 5-Brandon Gallagher, Sparta, WI [8], 3. 2M-Shawn McCarthy, Sparta, WI [11], 4. 24-Colton Jacobson, La Crosse, WI [2], 5. 1220-Bryon Olsen, La Crescent, MN [1], 6. 74-Kyle Cottone, La Crosse, WI [7], 7. 68-Brody Rundhaugen, La Crosse, WI [4], 8. 05-Brandon Bion, La Crosse, WI [10], 9. 10-Derek Larson, Melrose, WI [9], 10. 27L-Cole Lewis, La Crosse, WI [3], 11. 59-John Eron, Westby, MT [6]
Finish Line Towing High School Racing Association
Feature (15 laps): 1. 29-Braxtyn Moore, Sparta, WI [13], 2. 19M-Alivia Moore, Sparta, WI [11], 3. 01-Monty Odegard, Wilton, WI [9], 4. 34-Kennedy Krueger, Sparta, WI [10], 5. 27-Xander Weeks, Sauk City, WI [8], 6. 12-Caleb Arneson, Melrose, WI [12], 7. 07I-Izaak Odegard, Wilton, WI [7], 8. 19E-Lilly Estenson, Whitehall, WI [6], 9. 18-Cruz Pierce, Sparta, WI [3], 10. 22-Lauralee Stanton, Melrose, WI [5], 11. 56-Jeramiah Neal, Tomah, WI [1], 12. 65-Zachary Neal, Tomah, WI [4], 13. 07J-Angel Johnson, La Crosse, WI [2], 14. 92D-Destiny Schneider, Blair, WI [14]
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. 18-Cruz Pierce, Sparta, WI [5], 2. 19E-Lilly Estenson, Whitehall, WI [8], 3. 22-Lauralee Stanton, Melrose, WI [7], 4. 56-Jeramiah Neal, Tomah, WI [3], 5. 65-Zachary Neal, Tomah, WI [6], 6. 07J-Angel Johnson, La Crosse, WI [4], 7. 92D-Destiny Schneider, Blair, WI [2], 8. 7-Bella Bolduan, La Crosse, WI [1]
Heat #2 (8 laps): 1. 29-Braxtyn Moore, Sparta, WI [6], 2. 19M-Alivia Moore, Sparta, WI [5], 3. 34-Kennedy Krueger, Sparta, WI [1], 4. 01-Monty Odegard, Wilton, WI [4], 5. 12-Caleb Arneson, Melrose, WI [7], 6. 07I-Izaak Odegard, Wilton, WI [2], 7. 27-Xander Weeks, Sauk City, WI [3]
Qualifying: 1. 12-Caleb Arneson, 16.1900 – NEW TRACK RECORD; 2. 29-Braxtyn Moore, 16.3420; 3. 19M-Alivia Moore, 16.6020; 4. 01-Monty Odegard, 16.6690; 5. 27-Xander Weeks, 16.7020; 6. 07I-Izaak Odegard, 16.8410; 7. 34-Kennedy Krueger, 17.0610; 8. 19E-Lilly Estenson, 17.2320; 9. 22-Lauralee Stanton, 17.3600; 10. 65-Zachary Neal, 17.5400; 11. 18-Cruz Pierce, 17.6430; 12. 07J-Angel Johnson, 17.9180; 13. 56-Jeramiah Neal, 18.8550; 14. 92D-Destiny Schneider, 20.6630; 15. 7-Bella Bolduan, 20.7710
Spartan Recycling and Salvage Novelty
Trailer Race of Destruction (Fan Vote): 1. Shane Kohlmeier, 2. Cassidy Oldenberg, 3. Tristan Finnigan