By: Kevin Ramsell
Friday, October 4, 2007 (West Salem, WI) – Andy Burgess took advantage of knowing the home track and Jeremy Miller finally picked up his first Big 8 Series Championship. While a new young star made its debut at the Big 8 Series event for the 38th Annual Oktoberfest Race Weekend at La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway.
Jason Schuler and Matt Byrne battled side-by-side in the opening lap of the 40-lap feature event. Schuler would get past the 17-year-old pilot for the lead on lap 2.
Andy Burgess moved from his third starting spot to challenge Schuler for the lead on lap 5 when he battled for the spot on the inside of Schuler. Burgess would take over the top spot on lap 7. Ryan Carlson would follow Burgess and take over second.
Caution flew on lap 12 when something broke on Dan Jung’s car and he made contact with the turn one wall. Ricky Bilderback and Chad Stevens were also involved.
Burgess continued to lead on the re-start and started to pull away from Carlson.
Behind him, the huge crowd on hand was watching 14-year-old Ross Kenseth as he made his Big 8 Series debut by starting ninth after setting fast-time earlier in the day.
Kenseth would move to eighth on lap 14 as he got on the outside of Emily Sue Steck for the position.
Bilderback would retire from the event on lap 20, this basically wrapped up the championship for Miller.
Kenseth would continue his charge towards the front as he got the crowd on its feet as he went on the outside of Skylar Holzhausen coming out of turn four. Kenseth had so much momentum that he would also get by Schuler and jumped to the sixth position.
Burgess continued to hold a ten-car length lead over Carlson up front with ten laps to go. Kenseth would catch up to Todd Oliver and pass him on the outside with seven laps to go to take over the fifth position.
Burgess would cruise to the easy victory on his home track and become the tenth different winner in ten feature events this season for the Big 8 Series. Carlson would come home second with Byrne in third.
“We had a really awesome run,” a happy Burgess stated in victory lane. “We kind of know our way around here, but I thought the Big 8 regulars would have something more for us, but I guess they didn’t. These Big 8 guys are good clean racers and that is what its all about. Not every series gives you that.”
“The best car won,” a satisfied Carlson stated after the race. “He (Burgess) definitely had a better car than we did. We were good on re-starts but on the long run he was better.”
Byrne was pleased with his third place run, “This is awesome.” The 17-year-old stated. “I didn’t know if we could do it with this crate engine with these Big 8 Limited guys, but we pulled it off.”
Kenseth would easily get past Miller going into turn one on the last lap and come home with a fourth place finish.
“Once we got going, we couldn’t stop,” a smiling Kenseth stated after the race. “Miller let me go on the last lap; I guess he was going for the championship.”
Miller was impressed with Kenseth’s run, “Me and him, we became pretty good buddies and he is also driving a Pathfinder Chassis. He is a youngster and he has a lot of talent. He was faster than us and I didn’t want to hold him up.”
Miller’s fifth place finish secured the 2007 Big 8 Series championship. “Last year, we had a motor problem at the end of the year at Lake Geneva. And I just didn’t get the job done here.” Miller stated. “We put the whole package together this year and it worked out.”
Previous Big 8 Series champions include: 2005 – Jon Reynolds Jr., 2006 – Ricky Bilderback.
Shawn Pfaff held off Gib Scharpf and Andy Burgess to win the first qualifier heat. Kris Kelly took home the second qualifier heat.
John Baumeister Jr. and Chad Stevens advanced to the feature in the first of three 10-lap qualifying races. Mike Beyer was third and Ricky Bilderback was fourth. Both will have to come through a last chance race to make the field.
Ricky Bilderback had to win the first last chance race to earn his spot into the feature. Brian Back was second. 2005 Oktoberfest Big 8 Series winner, Mike Beyer, won the second last chance race with Gary Natrop also earning a spot with his second place finish.
Dan Jung and Andy Jirik earned spots to the feature in the second qualifier race, while Bobby Wilberg and Tim Nelson earned spots from third qualifier race.
Earlier in the day, Kenseth picked up his first “Faster Than a Speeding Bullet” for his fast time of 20.515 seconds.
For more information on the Big 8 Series, please visit the track’s
website at www.big8series.com.
KENSETH, ROSS KENSETH, SETS FAST TIME AT OKTOBERFEST
By: Kevin Ramsell
Thursday, October 04, 2007 (West Salem, WI) – Two second generation and a female driver set the pace in Big 8 Series qualifying at the 38th Annual Oktoberfest Race Weekend at La Crosse FairgroundsSpeedway. Ross Kenseth, son of 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup champion Matt
Kenseth, set the fast time of 20.515 seconds.
Kenseth, the 14-year-old pilot from Spring Valley, IL, had a wild ride on his fast qualifying run, “We came in a little hot going into one, and I thought well we came in a little deep there but it
came out good at the end,” Kenseth stated.
His father, Matt, who is in attendance is proud of his son, “He did well on his qualifying run, he has done really well since he has been here and it’s the biggest track that he has been on. Ever since he
has gotten in a stock car, he has done a great job,” Matt Kenseth stated.
Kenseth beat out Emily Sue Stack who set a time of 20.535 seconds. “He (Ross Kenseth) did really well, he had a good lap and I was real happy with my lap too,” Stack stated. “Second out of 51 cars in a division that I have never run before, I am real happy about that.”
Skylar Holzhausen was third in time with a lap of 20.567 seconds. “We had a girl beat us, I guess I will hear about that,” Holzhausen said after his qualifying run.
Todd Oliver was fourth with a time of 20.604 seconds and Jeremy Miller rounded out the top five with a lap time of 20.640 seconds.
Ricky Bilderback, second in Big 8 Series points, will have to make the show from a qualifying race along with Mike Ehde and Bobby Wilberg, just to name a few.
The racing action will get underway at 6:00 p.m.
Top 14 in Time….and yes the first name is correct!!!!
Ross Kenseth, 20.515 seconds
Emily Sue Stack, 20.535
Skylar Holzhausen, 20.567
Todd Oliver, 20.604
Jeremy Miller, 20.640
Ryan Carlson, 20.651
Andy Burgess, 20.655
Matt Byrne, 20.673
Jason Schuler, 20.678
Todd Korish, 20.698
Gib Scharpf, 20.704
Michael Bilderback, 20.707
Shawn Pfaff, 20.717
Kris Kelly, 20.729
Big 8 Series Limited Late Models
A-Main 01 — 1. Andy Burgess, Eau Claire, Wis; 2. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 3. Matt Byrne, Burlington, Wis; 4. Ross Kenseth, Spring Valley; 5. Jeremy Miller, Rockton; 6. Todd Oliver, Bangor, Wis; 7. Skylar Holzhausen, Eau Claire, Wis; 8. Emily Sue Steck, Holmen, Wis; 9. Todd Korish, Holmen, Wis; 10. Adam Degenhardt, LaCrosse, Wis; 11. Michael Bilderback, South Beloit; 12. Bob Wilberg, Town of Beloit, Wis; 13. John Baumeister, Jr., Lake Geneva, Wis; 14. Andy Jirik, Lonsdale,
Minn.; 15. Jason Schuler, Cambridge, Wis; 16. Chad Stevens, Orfordville, Wis; 17. Gary Natrop, Appleton, Wis; 18. Brian Back, Rudolph, Wis; 19. Kris Kelly, Norway, Mich.; 20. Mike Beyer,
Machesney Park; 21. Tim Nelson, La Crescent, Minn.; 22. Tim Hagen, LaCrescent, Minn.; 23. Mike Ehde, Prairie du Chien, Wis; 24. Ricky Bilderback, Rockton; 25. Shawn Pfaff, Sparta, Wis; 26. Dan Jung, Iron Ridge, Wis.
Heat 01 — 1. John Baumeister, Jr., Lake Geneva, Wis; 2. Chad Stevens, Orfordville, Wis; 3. Ricky Bilderback, Rockton; 4. Mike Beyer, Machesney Park; 5. Brian Back, Rudolph, Wis; 6. Gary Natrop,
Appleton, Wis; 7. Danny Heying, Waukesha, Wis; 8. Gary Bock, Kaukauna, Wis; 9. Andy Niles, Holmen, Wis; 10. Brad Wildes, Tomah, Wis; 11. Jamie Millis, Black River Falls, Wis; 12. Iver (Tuffy)
Burke, Necedeh, Wis.
Heat 02 — 1. Dan Jung, Iron Ridge, Wis; 2. Andy Jirik, Lonsdale, Minn.; 3. Tim Hagen, La Crescent, Minn.; 4. Steve Apel, Colgate, Wis; 5. Todd Schmitz, Verona, Wis; 6. Tom Thill, West Salem, Wis; 7. Bill Niles, Holmen, Wis; 8. James Kruschke III, Reedsburg, Wis; 9. Jim Bates, Wisconsin Dells, Wis; 10. Dann Barber, Oregon, Wis; 11. Albert Locy, Onalask, Wis; 12. Brady Liddle, Oregon, Wis.
Heat 03 — 1. Bob Wilberg, Town of Beloit, Wis; 2. Tim Nelson, LaCrescent, Minn.; 3. Bret Widdis, Manistique, Mich.; 4. Mike Ehde, Prairie du Chien, Wis; 5. Tyler Sauter, Necedah, Wis; 6. Tom
McClintock, Onalaska, Wis; 7. Ed Szelagowski Jr, Westfield, Wis; 8. Corey Jankowski, Tomah, Wis; 9. Bill Shavlik, West Bend, Wis; 10. Mondell Peters, Mosinee, Wis; 11. Mark Brooner, Warrens, Wis.
Last Chance Heat 01 — 1. Ricky Bilderback, Rockton; 2. Brian Back, Rudolph, Wis; 3. Tyler Sauter, Necedah, Wis; 4. Danny Heying, Waukesha, Wis; 5. James Kruschke III, Reedsburg, Wis; 6. Andy Niles, Holmen, Wis; 7. Ed Szelagowski Jr, Westfield, Wis; 8. Dann Barber, Oregon, Wis; 9. Tom Thill, West Salem, Wis; 10. Bill Shavlik, West Bend, Wis; 11. Jamie Millis, Black River Falls, Wis; 12. Mark
Brooner, Warrens, Wis; 13. Steve Apel, Colgate, Wis; 14. Brady Liddle, Oregon, Wis; 15. Bret Widdis, Manistique, Mich..
Last Chance Heat 02 — 1. Mike Beyer, Machesney Park; 2. Gary Natrop, Appleton, Wis; 3. Bill Niles, Holmen, Wis; 4. Corey Jankowski, Tomah, Wis; 5. Tim Hagen, La Crescent, Minn.; 6. Todd Schmitz, Verona, Wis; 7. Tom McClintock, Onalaska, Wis; 8. Brad Wildes, Tomah, Wis; 9. Gary Bock, Kaukauna, Wis; 10. Albert Locy, Onalask, Wis; 11. Mondell Peters, Mosinee, Wis; 12. Mike Ehde, Prairie du Chien, Wis; 13. Jim Bates, Wisconsin Dells, Wis.
Time Trial — 1. Ross Kenseth, Spring Valley; 2. Emily Sue Steck, Holmen, Wis; 3. Skylar Holzhausen, Eau Claire, Wis; 4. Todd Oliver, Bangor, Wis; 5. Jeremy Miller, Rockton; 6. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park;
7. Andy Burgess, Eau Claire, Wis; 8. Matt Byrne, Burlington, Wis; 9. Jason Schuler, Cambridge, Wis; 10. Todd Korish, Holmen, Wis; 11. Adam Degenhardt, LaCrosse, Wis; 12. Michael Bilderback, South Beloit; 13. Shawn Pfaff, Sparta, Wis; 14. Kris Kelly, Norway, Mich.; 15. Mike Beyer, Machesney Park; 16. Tim Hagen, La Crescent, Minn.; 17. Bob Wilberg, Town of Beloit, Wis; 18. John Baumeister,
Jr., Lake Geneva, Wis; 19. Andy Jirik, Lonsdale, Minn.; 20. Tim Nelson, La Crescent, Minn.; 21. Chad Stevens, Orfordville, Wis; 22. Dan Jung, Iron Ridge, Wis; 23. Bret Widdis, Manistique, Mich.; 24.
Brian Back, Rudolph, Wis; 25. Todd Schmitz, Verona, Wis; 26. Mike Ehde, Prairie du Chien, Wis; 27. Ricky Bilderback, Rockton; 28. Steve Apel, Colgate, Wis; 29. Tom McClintock, Onalaska, Wis; 30. Danny Heying, Waukesha, Wis; 31. James Kruschke III, Reedsburg, Wis; 32. Bill Shavlik, West Bend, Wis; 33. Gary Natrop, Appleton, Wis; 34. Tom Thill, West Salem, Wis; 35. Tyler Sauter, Necedah, Wis; 36. Andy Niles, Holmen, Wis; 37. Bill Niles, Holmen, Wis; 38. Corey Jankowski, Tomah, Wis; 39. Gary Bock, Kaukauna, Wis; 40. Dann Barber, Oregon, Wis; 41. Ed Szelagowski Jr, Westfield, Wis; 42. Brad Wildes, Tomah, Wis; 43. Brady Liddle, Oregon, Wis; 44. Mark Brooner, Warrens, Wis; 45. Jamie Millis, Black River Falls, Wis; 46. Jim Bates, Wisconsin Dells, Wis; 47. Mondell Peters, Mosinee, Wis; 48. Iver (Tuffy) Burke, Necedeh, Wis; 49. Albert Locy, Onalask, Wis; 50. Ryan Livieri, Fort Atkinson, Wis; 51. Robert Gash Jr., Tinley Park.
Trophy Dash 01 — 1. Shawn Pfaff, Sparta, Wis; 2. Adam Degenhardt, LaCrosse, Wis; 3. Andy Burgess, Eau Claire, Wis; 4. Jeremy Miller, Rockton; 5. Ross Kenseth, Spring Valley; 6. Jason Schuler, Cambridge, Wis; 7. Skylar Holzhausen, Eau Claire, Wis.
Trophy Dash 02 — 1. Kris Kelly, Norway, Mich.; 2. Todd Korish, Holmen, Wis; 3. Michael Bilderback, South Beloit; 4. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 5. Todd Oliver, Bangor, Wis; 6. Emily Sue Steck, Holmen, Wis; 7. Matt Byrne, Burlington, Wis.