West Salem, WI- You could say that Dan Fredrickson was the envy of many of his competitors during last year’s 50th annual Oktoberfest Race Weekend at LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway. Though he came up just short of securing his record tying fifth Oktoberfest Championship Feature, he was the recipient of not one, but two ‘Faster Than A Speeding Bullet Awards’. The fastest qualifier in each division during the annual four-day racing festival receives the special award shaped like a mortar shell, and it has become a badge of honor amongst the competitors.
“We’ve been fortunate to win a few speeding bullet awards and I’m very proud of all of them.” Fredrickson, who was the fastest qualifier last year for both the Dick Trickle 99 and ARCA Midwest Tour Oktoberfest 200, stated. “I like qualifying almost more than a race. It is an awesome trophy.” Ty Majeski, who narrowly edged out Fredrickson in a race to the checkers in last year’s 200 offered, “You know your team has done something special when you are standing up on stage getting the Speeding Bullet.” Majeski was the fastest qualifier in the NASCAR Kwik Trip Late Model division last year.
It is an Oktoberfest tradition that started in the early 1990’s. Oktoberfest promoter Chuck Deery borrowed the idea from his family’s Rockford Speedway in Illinois. The popularity showed then and remains today. Originally using old military practice mortar shells, today the ‘Faster Than A Speeding Bullet Awards’ are crafted by local Artisan Doug Oliver and made from hand selected Basswood. Five-time Big 8 Late Model Series Champion Jeremy Miller, whose career started at Rockford Speedway was last year’s Big 8 fast qualifier. “With the level of competition at Fest, winning that bullet is one of our goals each year.”
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A total of 17 divisions of racing action will make up the 51st Oktoberfest Race Weekend October 8-11, 2020. For additional information including Schedules, Rules, Camper Village information, Registration and more, visit www.oktoberfestraceweekend.com or call 608-786-1525.