By: Paul Reichert
August 15, 2026
After years of watching the NASCAR Late Models run a pair of features in one night’s racing action at the LaCrosse Speedway, we decided to have all of the divisions racing that night competing in a pair of feature races last year. The other weekly divisions experienced new things in running those twin features. Making sure you save your equipment and do not get caught up in a wreck during the opening feature so you can be around for the nightcap race. Teams learned what was not working in the first feature and would plan on a different setup for the second feature. We brought back the Double Feature Showdown for all divisions for a second year. Mike Carlson and Jacob Goede put in very dominant performances in the latest round of double features for the NASCAR Late Models. Carlson wasted little time to put in a masterful gate-to-wire drive in the first feature. Goede surged to the front on lap six of the nightcap thanks to an inside run to become the first four-time feature winner of 2026.
Mike Carlson (West Salem, WI) roared by Tom Carlson to lead the first few laps of the first 20 lap American Dew feature for the NASCAR Late Models. Former track champion Brad Powell (West Salem, WI) powered underneath rookie leader Carter Horstman (Bangor, WI) on lap four to claim third place. Adam Bendzick (New Prague, MN) and Steve Bachman (Bangor, WI) shot under Powell to drop him back to fifth on lap eight. As the field received the crossed flags, Mike had a leisurely drive going on while Tom saw Bandzick and Bachman closing the distance in his rear view. Two laps later Tom would be dismissed from the top three by both Bendzick and Bachman. Only five laps were left as Mike Carlson had almost a full straightaway lead on Bendzick. There was just too much distance to make up in the closing laps as Carlson drove off with feature victory number two of the 2026 campaign. After the race Carlson said “I was running my butt off in this feature and was wondering when Bendzick was going to challenge me for the win.”
The second 20 lap NASCAR Late Model American Dew feature saw Steve Carlson (West Salem, WI) shoot past rookie contender Carter Horstman (Bangor, WI). A bizarre incident on lap three saw Michael Haggar (Hanover, MN) and Gregory Borchardt (Prior Lake, MN) make hard contact down the front straight. It forced everybody behind them to slow down, but all the drivers were able to continue on. That hardly slowed down Jacob Goede (Carver, MN) as he surged past the lead drivers on the inside and wrestled the lead away from Carlson on lap six. Tom Luethe (West Salem, WI) was running another very impressive race as he was doing everything he could to maintain the pace set by Goede as the field reached the mid-race point. Even with Skylar Holzhausen (Bangor, WI) trying to reel in the lead pair of race cars as the lap count ticked away, Goede added a little more to his point lead as he claimed feature triumph number four on the year. After the race Goede said “I am not sure if it is an every other week thing trying to find the right setup, but we hit on it tonight.”
Justin Berg (Bangor, WI) shot by Zach Oliver (Rockland, WI) to lead the early going of the first NASCAR Sportsmen feature. Bob Fort (Fountain City, WI) and Tina Lodermeier (Rosemount, MN) began to make life interesting for Berg. Berg may not have realized that Lodermeier was on his outside when she got squeezed into the wall, but she did not have any serious damage. Fighting for the same piece of real estate down the front straight at halfway, Tina and Jacob Lodermeier (Elko New Market, MN) tangled and collected three other machines in the chaos. Landon Lockington (Mindoro, WI) came to rest against the turn one wall but was doing alright. Fort drove around Berg on the restart to take charge of the race, but Berg began to make the outside work as he stuck right with Fort. A six-car freight train was fighting hard over the lead and the victory as the finish was looming. Contact within that pack sent Berg spinning in turn four, and that allowed Fort to drive away with his second checkered flag win of the year.
Zach Oliver (Rockland, WI) drove around Justin Berg (Bangor, WI) to lead the opening laps of the second NASCAR Sportsmen feature. Soon Oliver would have company challenging him for the lead five laps into the rae as Jacob Lodermeier (Elko New Market, MN) and points leader Charles Vian, Jr. (Sparta, WI) looking for their golden opportunity to strike. Oliver began to open up his advantage on the field as the nightcap feature was drawing to a close. Vian, Jr. was slowly reeling in. Vian, Jr. tried to look low for the win, but Oliver stuck to his guns on the inside and scored a very popular first ever Sportsmen feature triumph.
Quarter-mile veteran ‘Steady’ Al Bartels shot past Jace Lafleur to lead the start of the NASCAR Hornet feature. Lafleur would stick right behind Bartels, as they both were being challenged for the lead by Jacob Iverson. After getting under Lafleur in turns three and four on lap five, Iverson began to slowly track down Bartels. Lafleur powered back around Iverson to settle into second with five laps remaining. Lafleur began to reel in Bartels to go for the win, but running the outside to was a disadvantage as Bartels drove off with his second victory of the season.
Round two of feature racing for the Skyline Fireworks NASCAR Hornets saw former champion Ben Thurk drive away from Justin Iverson to open up a slight advantage on the field. Iverson was desperately trying to hold onto second as Brandon Olson nearly lost control in heavy traffic but everyone was able to quickly regroup. Thurk was on a feature win mission as he pulled away from Nick Hadler on the restart, who got overtaken by defending track champion Shane Kohlmeier in turn four at halfway. Kohlmeier quickly reeled in Thurk for the lead and the win. With Jimmy Bjorkman joining the battle late in the going, Thurk was able to stand his ground and fight off both Kohlmeier and Bjorkman to notch his third feature triumph of the season.
The first Street Stock feature saw Curtis Hellickson power around John Eron for the lead. Ghage Moore battled side-by-side with Eron for several laps before shooting past him for the runner-up spot on lap five. Moore began to use lapped traffic starting just before halfway to close the distance on Hellickson. Once they cleared the slower cars, Moore stuck right behind Hellickson as the battle was on for the win. Despite coming upon more slower traffic on the final lap, Hellickson held off Moore to claim his first feature triumph at LaCrosse.
A great side-by-side battle to start the second Street Stock feature saw Jay Raines, Jr. make a power move in between Cole Lewis and Kyle Hopkins to assume command of the race. As Raines, Jr. continued to pull away from the pack, a four-way fight over second was heating up. That fight included title contender Ryan Stanfield. Raines, Jr. was waiting for an opening to allow him to move around slower traffic, which allowed that huge fight over second to inch closer to him. Raines, Jr. had that pack on his tail as the white flag was displayed, but he was able to hold onto the lead and capture his first feature win this year.
Marshall Rinartz made a daring three-wide move entering turn one to get out front in the opening feature for the Mini-Vans, but Alex Liebsch stuck right behind him and powered under Rinartz down the back straight to be the official leader of lap one. While Liebsch was driving away from his competition, teammates Rinartz and Matthew Parent put on a whale of a battle over the number two position. After maneuvering their way through slower vehicles, Parent and Rinartz still had some sizable ground to make up on Liebsch as the laps counted down. Liebsch set a new track record earlier in qualifying and put in a dominant performance for the victory.
The second go-round for the Mini-Vans saw John Clauson run away from his competition to lead the early going. Alex Liebsch took over second just three laps into the race and began to stick right behind Clauson in his pursuit of the lead. Liebsch got his nose under Clauson as they both got past slower traffic, but Clauson drove his race vehicle hard to remain in first place. Points leader Ryan Stanfield began to make the fight for the win a bit more entertaining with only three laps left to run. Liebsch would not be close enough as Clauson captures his third feature checkered flag victory of 2026.
Our final Novelty event of the 2026 season was the Double Flagpole Race. A pair of ‘flagpoles’ were set up in turn two and turn four. Our drivers had to do a full rotation around each ‘flagpole’ for the entire five laps of the race. The tight racing around those ‘flagpoles’ would make rush hour traffic look relatively easy. Waiting for the back of the field to negotiate the ‘flagpoles’ would test the patience of the leaders. John Eron was relentless in challenging Rob Stanfield, but Stanfield dove to the inside on the final lap to score not only the win but also the season points championship for the division.
The kids have been on a summer long vacation from school, and we here at the LaCrosse Speedway take a late summer two-week break as we begin preparations for the 57th edition of the Oktoberfest Race Weekend. We have a couple of fun events taking place before then, and it all starts with the Big Cheese 200 Enduro on Saturday, September 5. This is our annual 200 lap enduro race for four and six cylinder vehicles competing nonstop on the ‘action track’ quarter mile with a ten-minute break at halfway. A big field of enduro racers on our small quarter-mile will definitely lead to chaos and mayhem throughout the 200 laps. Gates open at 5:30, a Beauty and Ugly Contest for the best and worst appearing cars takes place at 6:45, and the 200 lap hard driving and hard hitting enduro race fires up at 7.
To learn more about the LaCrosse Speedway and the 2026 schedule of events, please 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 #1 (20 laps): 1. 50-Michael Carlson, West Salem, WI [2], 2. 21B-Adam Bendzick, Prior Lake, MN [7], 3. 78-Skylar Holzhausen, Sparta, WI [11], 4. 72-Jacob Goede, Carver, MN [10], 5. 14-Steve Bachman, Sparta, WI [6], 6. 03-Adam Degenhardt, Cashton, WI [12], 7. 5-Tom Luethe, Bangor, WI [8], 8. 8C-Nick Clements, West Salem, WI [5], 9. 75-Carter Horstman, Bangor, WI [4], 10. 66-Steve Carlson, West Salem, WI [9], 11. 51-Tom Carlson, West Salem, WI [1], 12. 23-Brad Powell, West Salem, WI [3], 13. 19-Michael Haggar, Hanover, MN [13], 14. 2-Gregory Borchardt, Prior Lake, MN [14], 15. 93-Brian Lee, Holmen, WI [15], 16. 57-Robert Bradley, Sparta, WI [17], 17. 7-Don Turner, La Crosse, WI [16], 18. 77-Jim Summerfield, Rockland, WI [18]
Feature #2 (20 laps): 1. 72-Jacob Goede, Carver, MN [7], 2. 5-Tom Luethe, Bangor, WI [4], 3. 78-Skylar Holzhausen, Sparta, WI [8], 4. 21B-Adam Bendzick, Prior Lake, MN [9], 5. 66-Steve Carlson, West Salem, WI [1], 6. 03-Adam Degenhardt, Cashton, WI [5], 7. 75-Carter Horstman, Bangor, WI [2], 8. 14-Steve Bachman, Sparta, WI [6], 9. 8C-Nick Clements, West Salem, WI [3], 10. 50-Michael Carlson, West Salem, WI [10], 11. 51-Tom Carlson, West Salem, WI [17], 12. 57-Robert Bradley, Sparta, WI [14], 13. 93-Brian Lee, Holmen, WI [13], 14. 7-Don Turner, La Crosse, WI [15], 15. 77-Jim Summerfield, Rockland, WI [16], 16. 23-Brad Powell, West Salem, WI [18], 17. 19-Michael Haggar, Hanover, MN [11], 18. 2-Gregory Borchardt, Prior Lake, MN [12]
Qualifying: 1. 72-Jacob Goede, 19.6350; 2. 03-Adam Degenhardt, 19.7440; 3. 78-Skylar Holzhausen, 19.7700; 4. 5-Tom Luethe, 19.8930; 5. 21B-Adam Bendzick, 19.9390; 6. 14-Steve Bachman, 19.9540; 7. 8C-Nick Clements, 19.9660; 8. 75-Carter Horstman, 20.1040; 9. 23-Brad Powell, 20.1360; 10. 50-Michael Carlson, 20.2110; 11. 66-Steve Carlson, 20.2630; 12. 51-Tom Carlson, 20.4480; 13. 19-Michael Haggar, 20.4500; 14. 2-Gregory Borchardt, 20.5650; 15. 93-Brian Lee, 20.7260; 16. 7-Don Turner, 21.0010; 17. 57-Robert Bradley, 21.3950; 18. 77-Jim Summerfield, 22.1040
AB Seed and Consulting NASCAR Sportsmen
Feature #1 (15 laps): 1. 97F-Robert Fort, Fountain City, WI [5], 2. 1-Charles Vian Jr, Sparta, WI [7], 3. 18-Tina Lodermeier, Rosemount, MN [6], 4. 60-Jacob Lodermeier, Elko New Market, MN [8], 5. 13-Mark A Challet, Sparta, WI [4], 6. 8-Jason Bolster, Sparta, WI [9], 7. 75-Justin Berg, Bangor, WI [1], 8. 10-Zach Oliver, Rockland, WI [2], 9. 30-Landon Lockington, Melrose, WI [3]
Feature #2 (15 laps): 1. 10-Zach Oliver, Rockland, WI [1], 2. 18-Tina Lodermeier, Rosemount, MN [4], 3. 13-Mark A Challet, Sparta, WI [8], 4. 97F-Robert Fort, Fountain City, WI [6], 5. 75-Justin Berg, Bangor, WI [2], 6. 30-Landon Lockington, Melrose, WI [10], 7. 8-Jason Bolster, Sparta, WI [7], 8. 1-Charles Vian Jr, Sparta, WI [5], 9. [DQ]60-Jacob Lodermeier, Elko New Market, MN [3]
Qualifying: 1. 30-Landon Lockington, 22.1370; 2. 10-Zach Oliver, 22.1590; 3. 97F-Robert Fort, 22.2490; 4. 13-Mark A Challet, 22.2500; 5. 75-Justin Berg, 22.2650; 6. 18-Tina Lodermeier, 22.3810; 7. 8-Jason Bolster, 22.8070; 8. 60-Jacob Lodermeier, NO TIME (DQ); 9. 1-Charles Vian, Jr., NO TIME (DQ)
Skyline Fireworks NASCAR Hornets
Feature #1 (15 laps): 1. 12B-Al Bartels, Tomah, WI [1], 2. 111-Shaw Strangstalien, West Salem, WI [3], 3. 22X-Jace Lafleur, La Crosse, WI [2], 4. 44-Jake Schomers, La Crescent, MN [8], 5. 02-Shane Kohlmeier, Onalaska, WI [11], 6. 09-Ben Kohlmeier, Onalaska, WI [6], 7. 21-Jacob Iverson, West Salem, WI [4], 8. 32-Joey Johnson III, Holmen, WI [10], 9. 28-Jimmy Bjorkman, West Salem, WI [9], 10. 36-Brandon Olson, Eden Prairie, MN [7], 11. 48-Wally Olsen, Galesville, WI [5], 12. 3/4-Nick Hadler, Inver Grove Heights, MN [13], 13. 12T-Ben Thurk, La Crosse, WI [12], 14. 24-Justin Iverson, Prior Lake, MN [14], 15. 65-Mitchell Rinartz, Hammond, WI [16], 16. 79-Nick Loesel, Eau Claire, WI [15], 17. 77-Bentley Knaack, Onalaska, WI [17]
Feature #2 (15 laps): 1. 12T-Ben Thurk, La Crosse, WI [2], 2. 28-Jimmy Bjorkman, West Salem, WI [11], 3. 3/4-Nick Hadler, Inver Grove Heights, MN [3], 4. 32-Joey Johnson III, Holmen, WI [10], 5. 21-Jacob Iverson, West Salem, WI [6], 6. 111-Shaw Strangstalien, West Salem, WI [13], 7. 22X-Jace Lafleur, La Crosse, WI [12], 8. 24-Justin Iverson, Prior Lake, MN [1], 9. 44-Jake Schomers, La Crescent, MN [8], 10. 36-Brandon Olson, Eden Prairie, MN [5], 11. 09-Ben Kohlmeier, Onalaska, WI [7], 12. 65-Mitchell Rinartz, Hammond, WI [15], 13. 12B-Al Bartels, Tomah, WI [14], 14. 79-Nick Loesel, Eau Claire, WI [16], 15. 77-Bentley Knaack, Onalaska, WI [17], 16. 48-Wally Olsen, Galesville, WI [4], 17. [DQ]02-Shane Kohlmeier, Onalaska, WI [9]
Qualifying: 1. 44-Jake Schomers, 15.5980; 2. 02-Shane Kohlmeier, 15.5990; 3. 28-Jimmy Bjorkman, 15.6420; 4. 36-Brandon Olson, 15.7800; 5. 09-Ben Kohlmeier, 15.8050; 6. 48-Wally Olsen, 15.8620; 7. 21-Jacob Iverson, 15.8930; 8. 32-Joey Johnson III, 15.8940; 9. 111-Shaw Strangstalien, 16.0490; 10. 22X-Jace Lafleur, 16.0740; 11. 12B-Al Bartels, 16.2570; 12. 12T-Ben Thurk, 16.2580; 13. 3/4-Nick Hadler, 16.3270; 14. 24-Justin Iverson, 16.4820; 15. 79-Nick Loesel, 16.5470; 16. 65-Mitchell Rinartz, 16.5930; 17. 77-Bentley Knaack, 16.7530
Auto Value Street Stocks
Feature #1 (15 laps): 1. 90-Curtis Hellickson, Kendall, WI [1], 2. 99-Ghage Moore, Kendall, WI [6], 3. 9-Matt Moore, Kendall, WI [7], 4. 06-Zack Liebsch, Winona, MN [10], 5. 0NO-Thomas Farra, Sparta, WI [12], 6. 72R-Jay Raines Jr, Sparta, WI [11], 7. 77-Robert Stanfield, La Crosse, WI [13], 8. 59-John Eron, Westby, MT [2], 9. 94-Steve Brasda, Osseo, WI [9], 10. 56-Matt Heim, Lewiston, MN [15], 11. 88-Ryan Stanfield, La Crosse, WI [16], 12. 27-Cole Lewis, La Crosse, WI [18], 13. 7-Kyle Hopkins, La Crosse, WI [3], 14. X-Austin Schott, New Auburn, WI [14], 15. 68-Brody Rundhaugen, La Crosse, WI [19], 16. 45-Gabbie Hopkins, Holmen, WI [20], 17. 1220-Bryon Olsen, La Crescent, MN [22], 18. 54H-Josh Heyer, Rochester, MN [21], 19. 27L-Alex Liebsch, Goodview, MN [8], 20. 1C-Chris Christen, West Salem, WI [23], 21. 74-Kyle Cottone, La Crosse, WI [4], 22. 21-Bill Schott, West Salem, WI [5], 23. 03S-Bryan Schott, West Salem, WI [17]
Feature #2 (15 laps): 1. 72R-Jay Raines Jr, Sparta, WI [6], 2. 9-Matt Moore, Kendall, WI [11], 3. 0NO-Thomas Farra, Sparta, WI [7], 4. 99-Ghage Moore, Kendall, WI [12], 5. 88-Ryan Stanfield, La Crosse, WI [3], 6. 27-Cole Lewis, La Crosse, WI [2], 7. 06-Zack Liebsch, Winona, MN [10], 8. 74-Kyle Cottone, La Crosse, WI [21], 9. 94-Steve Brasda, Osseo, WI [8], 10. 90-Curtis Hellickson, Kendall, WI [13], 11. 21-Bill Schott, West Salem, WI [22], 12. 54H-Josh Heyer, Rochester, MN [18], 13. 59-John Eron, Westby, MT [5], 14. 1C-Chris Christen, West Salem, WI [20], 15. 77-Robert Stanfield, La Crosse, WI [9], 16. 68-Brody Rundhaugen, La Crosse, WI [15], 17. 7-Kyle Hopkins, La Crosse, WI [1], 18. 45-Gabbie Hopkins, Holmen, WI [16], 19. 56-Matt Heim, Lewiston, MN [4], 20. 1220-Bryon Olsen, La Crescent, MN [17], 21. 27L-Alex Liebsch, Goodview, MN [19]
Qualifying: 1. 72R-Jay Raines Jr, 16.2890; 2. 94-Steve Brasda, 16.3830; 3. 27A-Alex Liebsch, 16.3920; 4. 06-Zack Liebsch, 16.4280; 5. 9-Matt Moore, 16.6030; 6. 99-Ghage Moore, 16.6120; 7. 0NO-Thomas Farra, 16.7440; 8. 21-Bill Schott, 16.7530; 9. 74-Kyle Cottone, 16.7660; 10. 7-Kyle Hopkins, 16.7750; 11. 59-John Eron, 16.7860; 12. 1C-Chris Christen, 16.7930; 13. 90-Curtis Hellickson, 16.8290; 14. 77-Robert Stanfield, 16.8350; 15. X-Austin Schott, 16.8610; 16. 56-Matt Heim, 16.9880; 17. 88-Ryan Stanfield, 17.0480; 18. 03S-Bryan Schott, 17.1600; 19. 27L-Cole Lewis, 17.3170; 20. 68-Brody Rundhaugen, 17.5310; 21. 45-Gabbie Hopkins, 17.6910; 22. 54H-Josh Heyer, 17.7850; 23. 1220-Bryon Olsen, 18.4450
Auto Value Mini-Vans
Feature #1 (15 laps): 1. 27L-Alex Liebsch, Goodview, MN [4], 2. 2-Matthew Parent, Bangor, WI [6], 3. 66-Marshall Rinartz, Centuria, WI [3], 4. 42-Alex Rud, La Crosse, WI [8], 5. K9-John Clauson, La Crosse, WI [9], 6. 88-Ryan Stanfield, La Crosse, WI [7], 7. 05-John Mashak, La Crosse, WI [1], 8. 7S-Robert Stanfield, La Crosse, WI [2], 9. 12-Al Bartels, Tomah, WI [5], 10. 13-Brayden Vian, Sparta, WI [10], 11. 62-Alex Hansen, Sparta, WI [11]
Feature #2 (15 laps): 1. K9-John Clauson, La Crosse, WI [4], 2. 27L-Alex Liebsch, Goodview, MN [9], 3. 88-Ryan Stanfield, La Crosse, WI [6], 4. 2-Matthew Parent, Bangor, WI [8], 5. 66-Marshall Rinartz, Centuria, WI [7], 6. 7H-Kyle Hopkins, La Crosse, WI [2], 7. 05-John Mashak, La Crosse, WI [3], 8. 12-Al Bartels, Tomah, WI [1], 9. 62-Alex Hansen, Sparta, WI [11], 10. 13-Brayden Vian, Sparta, WI [10], 11. 42-Alex Rud, La Crosse, WI [5]
Qualifying: 1. 27L-Alex Liebsch, 16.4610; 2. K9-John Clauson, 16.7020; 3. 66-Marshall Rinartz, 17.0240; 4. 2-Matthew Parent, 17.1420; 5. 42-Alex Rud, 17.1880; 6. 88-Ryan Stanfield, 17.4990; 7. 7S-Robert Stanfield, 17.6940; 8. 12-Al Bartels, 18.0320; 9. 05-John Mashak, 18.7050; 10. 13-Brayden Vian, 19.9060; 11. 62H-Alex Hansen, 23.1450
Spartan Recycling and Salvage Novelty
Double Flagpole Race (5 laps): 1. 77-Robert Stanfield, La Crosse, WI [2], 2. 59-John Eron, Westby, MT [5], 3. 94-Steve Brasda, Osseo, WI [1], 4. 27L-Cole Lewis, La Crosse, WI [3], 5. 06-Zack Liebsch, Winona, MN [4]