Oktoberfest La Crosse Late Model feature (50 laps)

This probably wasn’t the way he wanted it to happen, but he will take it nonetheless. Tim Nelson of La Crescent was leading the 50-lap Oktoberfest Late Model feature when rain hit the La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway — for a second time — at 10:44 p.m. Another race, the Double-O Oktoberfest Feature, was run, and the track still wasn’t ready for the Late Models, so officials called the race at 11:08 p.m.
That left Nelson as the official race winner, giving him his second career Late Model feature victory. Brad Powell was second, followed by Steve Carlson, Brent Kirchner and Shawn Pfaff.

La Crosse Sportsman Oktoberfest feature (20 laps)

THE TOP 3

1, Randy Humfeld, Chaseburg, Wis.: In one of the wildest finishes of the Oktoberfest Races so far, Humfeld took advantage of some big-time bad luck by Jimmy Gilster to win his first feature of the season. Gilster led Laps 7-19, and appeared on his way to his third feature win of the season before a spinout by Andy Moore on the last turn of the last lap forced a one-lap sprint to the finish. For some reason, Gilster’s car never got up to speed on the restart, and Humfeld pounced on the opportunity.

2, Chad Rosendahl, Houston, Minn.: Rosendahl wasn’t in the top five until the last lap fireworks, but managed to avoid Moore’s car in Turn 4 that forced the restart, and moved up on the backstretch of the last lap.

3, Jake Arneson, Taylor, Wis.: Arneson was in the top five for much of the race, then moved up in the last lap to grab a top-three finish.

FAST FACT: Larry Bolster took an eight-point lead into the feature race, and appeared on his way to a two-point championship win over Gilster until Gilster’s last-lap misfortunes. Bolster was in fourth place on Lap 19, and stayed there until the last-lap fiasco when he slipped back to fifth. He earned his first track championship with 767 points, 27 more than the runner-up Gilster. Humfeld took third in the season points with 737, while Arneson was fourth (727) and Nick Clements (720) was fifth.

Thunderstox Oktoberfest feature (15 laps)

THE TOP 3

1, Scott Geier, La Crosse: Geier, a rookie driver, earned his first victory of the season. By winning the race, he also secured rookie of the year honors.

2, Charles Vian, Sparta: Vian wasn’t able to overtake Geier, but he did hold off Matthew Moore by less than a car length.

3, Matthew Moore, Tomah: Moore was looking for his first feature win of the year in the division, but didn’t get it. A top-three finish, however, was one of his best of the season.

FAST FACT: With the points leader, Adam Moore, and the third-place points holder, Jason Stark, involved in a crash with three laps left in the feature, Holmen’s Jamie Dummer was able to surge ahead and capture the United Auto Supply Thunderstox championship. Dummer finished fifth in the feature, which was enough to give him the title.

Oktoberfest Futures Super Late Models feature (25 laps)

THE TOP 3

1, Paul Paine, Mound, Minn.: Paine was able to vault into the lead on Lap 19, thanks to a restart that came about when a brief rain shower hit the track at 9:54 p.m., causing an 11-minute delay. Paine was strong through the final six laps, although Nick Neville made a last-lap push that came up a car-length short.

2, Nick Neville, Mackinaw, Ill.: Neville ran much of the race in third place, but overtook his brother, Derek, with three laps to go, then held on to the runner-up spot.

3, Derek Neville, Mackinaw, Ill.: Derek Neville led much of the race until a caution on Lap 19 (rain). He was unable to hold off Paine, then his brother, Nick, on the restart and settled for third place.

FAST FACT: A wild — and frightening — crash on Lap 2 sent eight cars scattering in all directions in Turn 3. A number of drivers, including Mike Carlson of West Salem and Andy Niles of Holmen, were knocked out of the race after the melee. Brian Back of Rudolph, Wis., had a scary ride as he smashed into the Turn 3 wall, climbed it, then slid along it for at least 25 yards before finally coming to rest back on the track and right-side up. None of the drivers suffered serious injuries.

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