West Salem, WI- With the extension of the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series Division season, the NASCAR Late Models will now run an unprecedented four feature events during the 51st Oktoberfest Race Weekend October 8-11, 2020 at LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway. With double features on both Thursday and Friday nights, the marquee weekly division on the 5/8 mile paved fairgrounds oval will determine its 2020 Track Champion. Currently Nick Murgic leads Steve Carlson and Billy Mohn heading into the four 20 lap features.
Murgic, on the strength of three wins this season finds himself atop the point standings heading into the annual racing reunion weekend. The Rosemount, MN driver is no stranger to success during the Oktoberfest Race Weekend, having won the Dick Trickle 99 Super Late Model headliner in the last year’s event. The decorated Super Late Model driver who counts an ARCA Midwest Tour Rookie of the Year title and a win in the Dixieland 250 at Wisconsin International Raceway amongst his accomplishments has turned his attention towards weekly racing. His father Steve is a two time Elko Speedway and thirteen time Raceway Park Champion, winning NASCAR Regional titles in 1992 and 1998. Nick is currently ranked fifth in the National NASCAR Point Standings and a strong showing during Fest could catapult him to his first LaCrosse title and a NASCAR National Championship.
Speaking of NASCAR National Champions, Steve Carlson, the 2007 National Champ is Murgic’s closest competitor. With two weekly wins, he also won a Central Wisconsin Racing Association feature in July, Carlson who is a seven time NASCAR Late Model Champion at LaCrosse trails Murgic by seventy one markers. Drivers named Nick from Minnesota have been the strongest challengers for Carlson as of late, with Nick Panitzke, the 2017 and 2019 LaCrosse Champion being the only driver other than Carlson to accept the Championship hardware since 2013. The 2000 Oktoberfest Winner, Carlson is the most decorated short track driver of his generation, having won four ARTGO Challenge Series titles, five NASCAR Midwest Tour titles, is a two time ARCA Midwest Tour Champion and was named Rookie of the Year in both ARTGO and ASA.
Another former Midwest Tour Rookie of the Year that is starting to hit his stride at LaCrosse is Billy Mohn. Mohn, from Elko, MN took up weekly racing at LaCrosse in May of 2020 and has made it his new home, finally visiting victory lane during the most recent NASCAR Late Model event there. He is just six points behind Carlson and finds himself ahead of local favorites Steve Bachman, Brent Kirchner, Mike Carlson and Nick Clements.
The NASCAR Late Models will highlight Thursday night of Fest and will share the spotlight with the Dick Trickle 99 Super Late Model event on Friday night. 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, Camper Village information, visit www.oktoberfestraceweekend.com or call 608-786-1525.