Just like The Masters in golf, Speedweeks in the Daytona Beach area, and Wimbledon for tennis, the Oktoberfest Race Weekend at the La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway in West Salem, Wisconsin has become a traditional annual event for short track competitors and race fans across the Midwest. This year competitors and fans will gather for the milestone 50th annual event on October 3-6th.

What started as a two-day event in the 1970’s and 1980’s, to a three-day event in the 1990’s and blossoming to the now four-day annual event, the Oktoberfest Race Weekend has become one of the top short track events highlighted by great racing, fan interactive events, and turning the La Crosse Fairgrounds into a virtual city full of campers for a week.

Campers will start arriving on Monday, September 30th when the campground officially opens at noon. Cars will be on track for a practice session from 3pm to 7:30pm on Wednesday, October 2nd.

Racing action will get underway on Thursday, October 3rd with qualifying at 2:25pm and racing getting underway at 6pm. The Super Late Models will be in action with “The Futures” 25-lap event along with the La Crosse Late Models, La Crosse Sportsmen, Hobby Stocks, Hornets, Street Stocks, Outlawz, and the famous Double-O race. After the races, head on over to the Exhibition Hall for the 2019 La Crosse Track Champions’ party.

Before the racing gets underway on Thursday, fans and campers can head to the Big Red Barn and compete in the annual Cornhole tournament starting at noon, with the winner receiving a brand new Scorezit, the ultimate scorekeeper for backyard games.

The Super Late Model Dick Trickle 99 presented by JE Pistons will highlight the action on Friday, October 4th with qualifying at 3:05pm and racing starting at 5:30pm. This 99-lap event is broken into three 33-lap segments where drivers try to accumulate as few points possible to be the overall winner. The Midwest Truck Series and Area Sportsmen will also be in action on Friday night. The band Ontourage will be playing some classic rock, country and country rock after the races in the Exhibition Hall.

For fans and campers looking for something to do during the day on Friday, head over the Big Red Barn at noon for Campground Games and Cornhole tourney. Plus, the popular Pet Costume Parade gets underway at 2pm at the Exhibition building.

Saturday, October 5th will be a busy day on the Fest grounds as the popular memorabilia show will get underway at 9am in the Exhibition Hall.

On track, qualifying starts at 2:25pm with racing at 5pm. The Big 8 Series will highlight the evening with a 38-lap feature event. The ARCA Midwest Tour will have qualifying and qualifying races in preparation to their Oktoberfest 200 on Sunday. The Midwest Dash and Mid-American Stock Car Series will also be competing on Saturday night. The band Notify will be rocking the Exhibition Hall after the races.

Championship Sunday of the 50th Annual Oktoberfest Race Weekend on Sunday, October 6th will get started early with the annual pancake breakfast at 7:30am. Kids can participate in a pumpkin coloring contest at 9am. An on-track autograph session will get underway 10:45am and the annual Champions’ Re-Union gets underway at 11am in the Hospitality Chalet.

The green flag flies at noon with the JMcK 63 Invitational for Late Models, three 21-lap segments make up the event. The new Cratetoberfest Challenge will see drivers racing for a pair new Crate Engines courtesy of Gandrud Chevrolet. The Upper Midwest Vintage Series will bring some nostalgia to Oktoberfest with their classic race cars. The stars and cars of the ARCA Midwest Tour will cap off the 50th Annual event with a 200-lap championship event.

There will be plenty to see and do during the four days of the 50th Annual Oktoberfest Race Weekend.

You can download the official fan guide and competitors guide at oktoberfestraceweekend.com. The website will feature more information on hotels and campgrounds in the area along with history of the past 49 events.

Make your plans now, if you haven’t yet, to be a part of the historic 50th Annual Oktoberfest Race Weekend at the La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway in West Salem, Wisconsin.