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Qualifying Feature 1: The Top 3
1. Jason Weinkauf, Merrill, Wis.: Weinkauf was strong throughout the race, but had to hold off Carlson’s No. 66 blue streak car at the end. Can he do it two days in a row?
2. Steve Carlson, West Salem: Carlson, a two-time defending Late Model track champ at the La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway, is having an impressive Oktoberfest Race Weekend. He added to his top finishes by taking second in the first of two qualifying races in ASA Midwest Tour, and could very well be the guy to beat in today’s 100-lap ASA Midwest Tour feature. Carlson was the fast qualifier in the division (18.723 seconds), setting a track record in the process. Carlson broke Bangor’s Steve Holzhausen’s previous track record of 19.133 seconds. The top nine qualifiers in the division broke Holzhausen’s previous track record.
3. Dan Fredrickson, Elko, Minn.: Fredrickson, a veteran driver who was second in the 2007 Dick Trickle 99, could very well be a force in today’s feature event.
Qualifying Feature 2: The Top 3
1. Frank Kreyer, Pardeeville, Wis.: Just to win a qualifier was no easy task in this field, where 67 cars registered and 63 took qualifying laps. Kreyer was up to the task, and is one of the drivers to watch in today’s final.
2. Cameron Datson, Sparta: Datson couldn’t catch Kreyer, but he’s in the main event today and is another driver to watch.
3. Nathan Hasseleu, Pardeeville, Wis.: Hasseleu already has one Oktoberfest Feature win to his credit as he won Friday night’s second annual Dick Trickle 99. He will very likely be a factor in the ASA Midwest Tour’s main event today.
FAST FACT: Blake Horstman of Rockland finished fifth in the second qualifier, while Bangor’s Steve Holzhausen was eighth. Another area hot shoe, Tim Schendel, was 10th.
ASA Late Model North Oktoberfest feature (100 laps)
The Top 3
1. Steve Carlson, West Salem: Carlson, a nine-time NASCAR Touring Series champion and 2007 Whelen All-American Series national short-track champion, had all he could handle in a 16-year-old rookie named Brett Moffitt. Carlson and Moffitt were inches apart for at least 15 laps until Moffitt took the lead for one lap. Carlson quickly took the low groove and got it back, then held on to win the race before an estimated 5,000 fans. “He was nosing in there for a few laps, so I just moved my line a little lower,” Carlson said. “I knew he was going to have to go high, and it’s not a good race groove up there.“ Carlson’s strategy paid off, and he walked away with the biggest win so far of the Oktoferfest Race Weekend.
2. Brett Moffit, Grimes, Iowa: Moffitt gave it all he had, and even led for one lap with five laps to go, but he simply used up too much of his tires to get by Carlson and couldn’t hold the lead. Still, he was smiling when Carlson gave him a big pat on the back. “It makes me feel great,” Moffitt said. “He’s a great racer.“
3. Jason Tyler, Stoughton, Wis.: Tyler was in second place until Lap 45, when Moffitt took it from him. Tyler would hold strong, however, as he would remain in third place for the final 56 laps, as the lap went one extra lap because of a caution on Lap 99.
FAST FACT: The only other local competitor in the ASA Late Model North Oktoberfest Feature, J. Herbst of West Salem, ran in the top three for the first half of the race, but faded in the second half. He finished 21st in the 31-car field.
Big 8 Oktoberfest feature (48 laps)
The Top 3
1. Ross Kenseth, Cambridge, Wis.: Kenseth made quite a splash in his first season in the Big 8 Series, earning rookie of the year honors in impressive fashion. Kenseth, the 15-year-old son of Sprint Cup star Matt Kenseth, took the lead from Bobby Wilberg on Lap 16, then cruised to his second Big 8 victory — and sixth Super Late Model win — of 2008.“It was great. We had the fastest car out there, I thought, and we didn’t want to take any chances,” Kenseth said. “It is awesome, especially with all the tradition here, having Dick Trickle here.”
It was 15 years ago, 1993, when Matt Kenseth won the Oktoberfest 100 at the Oktoberfest Racing Weekend.
2. Michael Bachaus, Milton, Wis.: Bauchaus moved into second place on Lap 13, and was able to hold it for the next 35 laps despite a gallant attempt by La Crosse’s Brent Kirchner to take it away.
3. Brent Kirchner, La Crosse: Kirchner, who finished fourth in the La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway Kwik Trip Late Model points this season, took the same, 10-year-old car he raced this season, added headers to the engine, and went Big 8 racing for the first time. He was happy with a top-three effort, but came oh-so-close to a runner-up finish. “We didn’t need that last caution (with 10 laps to go). That really hurt us,” Kirchner said. “It’s the first time we’ve raced in this series, so I am pretty happy.”
FAST FACT: A La Crosse area contingent followed Ross Kenseth across the finish line, as Brent Kirchner (third), Brad Powell (fourth) and Todd Korish (5th) finished in the top five. On a season-long note, Jeremy Miller of Rockton, Ill., won the season points championship by a single point over Michael Bilderback of South Beloit, Ill.
Mid-American Stock Car feature (35 laps)
The Top 3
1. James Swan, Genoa City, Wis: Swan took the lead from Brian Back Lap 28, thanks to a strong re-start, and was able to hold off the field for his first Oktoberfest feature win. Swan was in fourth place with 11 laps left, but his strong push to the end was too much for Back. It was quite a night for Swan, as he won the Mid-American season points championship.
2. Kenny Smart, Eagle, Wis.: Smart, in third place until the re-start with 10 laps to go, was able to follow Swan in the fast lane right by Back.
3. Brian Back, Rudolph, Wis.: Back, the nephew of former Wisconsin great Jimmy Back, was in the lead until Lap 28, when Swan and Kenny Smart were able to get by him.
FAST FACT: Tom McClintock, the only area driver in the Mid-American Oktoberfest field, was involved in a crash on Lap 28, and never made it back out of the pits.
