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Menard Sweeps La Crosse, Wisconsin Late Models To End 35th Annual Oktoberfest Race Weekend
By R.J. Herried
(West Salem, WI - October 10,2004)
Wisconsin Late Models:
It seems nothing these days can stop Eau Claire, WI driver Charlie
Menard. Any division, any time, anywhere. Menard won just about
every event he entered, three feature wins and two fast qualifying times.
Menard started deep in the field in the Oktoberfest 50 Wisconsin Late Model
Feature race, and although it took some time, it seemed inevitable that Menard
would eventually take the lead and the win.
It did take some time, 38 laps to be exact, but he got it done. Starting
in 12th, Menard moved up methodically, taking advantage of a couple cautions
and a 10 car accident that occurred before the start of the race, taking out
some very strong cars. The 10 car melee happened in turn four as the
field was coming down to get the green flag.
Jason Schuler started on the pole and ran strong early, warding off challenges
from several drivers. On lap 11, Jacob Humphrey moved to the inside,
racing side by side with Schuler several laps before taking over the
point. However, Humphrey’s led was short lived as he was tapped from
behind by Nathan Haseleu on lap 18 allowing Haseleu to take the lead
away.
As this was going on, Menard was inching closer to the race lead, which he
took away as he pulled alongside Haseleu in turn four to take the lead for
good. Once assuming the lead, Menard steadily pulled away to win by
about 15 car lengths to take his second feature win of the weekend, with one
more to go. Chris Weinkauf was second, Jacob Humphrey fourth and Dan
Fredrickson rounded out the top five.
Last Chance Wisconsin Late Model Heat Race wins went to Bryan Roach and Kris
Kelly.
La Crosse Late Models:
Once again, Menard started in the middle of the field, but this time it only
took him 24 laps to take the lead, as he charged past veteran driver Steve
Holzhausen to capture this third and final feature win of Oktoberfest Race
Weekend.
Holzhausen and Menard started 10th and 12th respectively, but immediately
charged to the front from the drop of the green flag. On lap 15,
Holzhausen moved past early race leader Kevin Nuttleman to take the top spot.
Holzhausen pulled Menard around the track for nine laps with Menard just
inches behind, looking for the right spot to make his move.
On lap 24 he found it. Coming out of turn four, Menard moved to the
inside and beat Holzhausen to the line by about a foot. From there on
out, Menard pulled away, with clearly the best car in the field underneath
him. A spin by Jim Hagel on lap 38 allowed Holzhausen another chance to
take the lead, but Menard was simply to strong. A late race move by
Menards teammate Andy Burgess allowed him to finish second, followed by
Holzhausen, Nuttleman and J. Herbst.
LA CROSSE FAIRGROUNDS SPEEDWAY
Wisconsin Late Models
Oktoberfest 50 Feature - 1, Charlie Menard, Eau Claire, WI; 2,
Nathan Haseleu, Pardeeville, WI; 3, Chris Weinkauf, Merrill, WI; 4, Jacob
Humphrey, Lake Geneva, WI; 5, Dan Fredrickson, Elko, MN; 6, Todd Kluever,
Marshall, WI; 7, Tim Schendel, Sparta, WI; 8, Steve Carlson, West Salem, WI;
9, Jeff Kendall, Montello, WI; 10, Bob Danes, New Holstein, WI; 11, John
Nutley, Jr., Midlothian, IL; 12, Kris Kelly, Norway, MI; 13, Don Turner, La
Crosse; 14, Dean Cornelius, Chaska, MN; 15, Dean LaPointe, Marshfield, WI; 16,
Blake Horstman, Rockland, WI; 17, Travis Dassow, West Bend, WI; 18, Jason
Schuler, Cambridge, WI; 19, Tommy Pacaro, Janesville, WI; 20, Todd Hansen,
Minneapolis, MN; 21, Terry Schoppenhorst, Berlin, WI; 22, Jeremy LePak,
Wausau, WI; 23, Trent Snyder, Ironton, MN; 24, Jeff Weinfurter, Wisconsin
Rapids, WI; 25, Andy Burgess, La Crosse, WI; 26, Ben Pettis, Eau Claire, WI.
Last Chance 1 - 1, Frank Kreyer, Pardeeville; 2, Blake Horstman,
Rockland; 3, Trent Snyder, Ironton, MN; 4, Jeff Weinfurter, Wisconsin Rapids;
5, Bruce Havel, Deerfield.
Last Chance 2 - 1, Kris Kelly, Norway, MI; 2, Jeremy LePak,
Wausau; 3, Ben Pettis, Eau Claire; 4, Andy Burgess, Eau Claire; 5, Tommy
Pecaro, Janesville.
La Crosse Late Models
Oktoberfest 50 Feature - 1, Charlie Menard, Eau Claire, WI; 2,
Andy Burgess, Eau Claire, WI; 3, Steve Holzhausen, Bangor, WI; 4, Kevin
Nuttleman, Bangor, WI; 5, J. Herbst, West Salem, WI; 6, Mike Belling, La
Crosse, WI; 7, Shawn Pfaff, Sparta, WI; 8, Chris Skrede, Rockland, WI; 9, Todd
Oliver, Bangor, WI; 10, Dexter Bean, Westby, WI; 11, Lorin Kurth, Waukon, IA;
12, Andy Niles, Holmen, WI; 13, Tim Nelson, La Crescent, MN; 14, Ryan Carlson,
Loves Park, IL; 15, Lucas Grosinger, St. Louis Park, MN; 16, J.J. Meyer,
Holmen, WI; 17, Shane Ulvestad, Holmen, WI; 18, Tom Thill, West Salem, WI; 19,
Kevin Eddy, Sparta, WI; 20, Jim Hagel, Holmen, WI; 21, John Olson, Sparta, WI;
22, Travis Proksch, La Crosse, WI; 23, Mark Lamoreaux, Bloomington, MN; 24,
Bill Niles, Holmen, WI; 25, John Towner, Trempealeau, WI; 26, Shawn Lockington,
La Crosse, WI.
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