News :: Oktoberfest Race Weekend

THE HISTORY OF THE OKTOBERFEST RACE WEEKEND CHAMPION

By: Kevin Ramsell
WEST SALEM, WI (Thursday, September 17, 2009) – Over the span of four days a total of 19 divisions will crown their respective Oktoberfest Race Weekend champion. But, there is one race that stands out and that winner goes into the history books the Oktoberfest Race Weekend Champion. For the third year in a row, the American Speed Association Midwest Tour event on Sunday, October 11 will crown the 40th champion of the popular Midwest racing event.

The ASAMT is the fourth different racing series to sanction this special race. From 1970 to 1986, Oktoberfest was promoted by Larry Wehrs and the super late model rules followed the popular Central Wisconsin Racing Association (CWRA). Tom Reffner was the first winner back in 1970. Dick Trickle, who will be in attendance at this year’s Oktoberfest, was the second winner in 1971. Rich Bickle Jr. was the last winner under the CWRA rules in 1986.

Trickle would claim his second Oktoberfest championship in 1987, the first year that the ARTGO Challenge Series sanctioned the main event. ARTGO would be the longest series to headline the main event until its final year in 1997, and they went out with style by having a record field of 86 cars trying to make the main event. Terry Baldry held off Jim Weber to be the last ARTGO Oktoberfest Race Weekend champion that year.

In 1998, the ARTGO Challenge Series was sold to NASCAR and a new era started with the NASCAR Re/Max Series. The traditional 100-lap feature was increased to 125 laps that first year with Eddie Hoffman holding off Brian Hoppe for the win. Hoffman would repeat in 1999 by holding off Steve Carlson in a 200-lap event.

Steve Carlson would finally get his name in the record books in 2000 as he claimed his only Oktoberfest Race Weekend championship by beating Travis Kvapil for the title. Brian Hoppe would win his first of two championships in 2002 in a 250-lap event, his second in 2004.

In 2003, the series was the same but was now called the NASCAR ITEMS Series and it was hometown hero Tim Schendel finally engraving his name into the Fest history books. He would repeat in 2005 under the NASCAR AutoZone Series banner in a Saturday night event by holding off Eddie Hoffman for the win. That same year on Sunday afternoon, Steve Holzhausen would win the Wisconsin Late Model ARTGO Reunion 100. But, because the NASCAR event paid more that year, Schendel’s name is in the history books.

Holzhausen would get his name officially in the record books in 2006 as the Wisconsin Late Model event paid more than the NASCAR AutoZone Series. Brent Kirchner won the final NASCAR AutoZone Series event with Tim Schendel winning the title. It was that year that the ARTGO/NASCAR history books came to a close.

The American Speed Association Midwest Tour took over the reigns in 2007 with 68 cars qualifying for their first Oktoberfest main event. Dan Fredrickson would win his first Oktoberfest Race Weekend Championship over Steve Carlson and Andrew Morrissey. He would repeat in 2008 by fending off Nathan Haseleu and Travis Sauter for his second win. He would also be crowned the ASAMT Champion as well.

In 2009, Fredrickson will be looking for the three-peat. There will also be a tight point battle coming into Oktoberfest for the 2009 ASAMT Championship. Currently, with two events remaining in the 2009 season, 2007 ASAMT Champion Nathan Haseleu holds a 61-point lead over Steve Carlson in the standings. Chris Wimmer is in third only 137 points back.

A complete list along with the full results from the previous 39 Oktoberfest Race Weekend events is available under the “History” page at www.oktoberfestraceweekend.com. The site has all of the information you need for this year’s event including: schedules, ticket prices, competitors Guide, Entry Forms, History, Camper Village Information and area lodging information. You can also contact the track office at (608) 786-1525 or email lacrossespeedway@yahoo.com for more information.
 19 Divisions, over 500 cars, 800 laps of feature racing, 1000 campers, 1,300 laps of total racing, Six Late Model Divisions & more over four days will make up the 40th Annual Oktoberfest Race Weekend at La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway in West Salem, WI on October 8-9-10-11, 2009.

OKTOBERFEST Race Weekend Champions
 LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway Year - Champion - Sanction  2008 - Dan Fredrickson - ASA Midwest Tour 2007 - Dan Fredrickson - ASA Midwest Tour 2006 - Steve Holzhausen - Wisconsin Late  2005 - Tim Schendel - NASCAR AutoZone 2004 - Brian Hoppe - NASCAR AutoZone 2003 - Tim Schendel - NASCAR ITEMS 2002 - Brian Hoppe - NASCAR Re/Max 2001 - Eddie Hoffman - NASCAR Re/Max 2000 - Steve Carlson - NASCAR Re/Max 1999 - Eddie Hoffman - NASCAR Re/Max 1998 - Eddie Hoffman - NASCAR Re/Max 1997 - Terry Baldry - ARTGO Challenge Series 1996 - Joe Shear - ARTGO Challenge Series 1995 - Joe Shear - ARTGO Challenge Series 1994 - Joe Shear - ARTGO Challenge Series 1993 - Matt Kenseth - ARTGO Challenge Series 1992 - Tom Carlson - ARTGO Challenge Series 1991 - Tom Carlson - ARTGO Challenge Series 1990 - Scott Hansen - ARTGO Challenge Series 1989 - Joe Shear - ARTGO Challenge Series 1988 - Ted Musgrave - ARTGO Challenge Series 1987 - Dick Trickle - ARTGO Challenge Series 1986 - Rich Bickle, Jr. - 1985 - John Ziegler 1984 - Bryan Reffner 1983 - Tom Reffner 1982 - Jim Back 1981 - Junior Hanley 1980 - Mark Martin 1979 - Butch Miller 1978 - Dave Watson 1977 - Larry Detjens 1976 - Larry Detjens 1975 - Tom Reffner 1974 - Jerry Makara 1973 - Marv Marzofka 1972 - Joe Shear 1971 - Dick Trickle 1970 - Tom Reffner

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