By: Matt Panure
Friday October 5, 2007 (Daytona Beach, FL) -- The Oktoberfest 100 will be a battle of epic proportions. This Sunday, October 7th’s finale for the inaugural season of the ASA Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by Echo Outdoor Power Equipment will also determine the 38th Oktoberfest Race Weekend Champion. The entry list is littered with champions from across the Midwest. When all is said and done one driver will emerge victorious and add their name to a list of premier drivers who have conquered the La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway’s climactic event.

The list of Oktoberfest champions includes NASCAR stars and local hot shoes who brought the Midwest to the attention of the world of auto racing. Among the local legends who have captured the Oktoberfest crown are Joe Shear, ASA Midwest Touring Star Steve Carlson, Tom Carlson, Scott Hansen and the Reffners. Some NASCAR stars who have captured the event before hitting the big time include Ted Musgrave, Dick Trickle, Mark Martin and 2003 NASCAR Cup Champion Matt Kenseth.

Several drivers who have pre-entered for the Oktoberfest 100 have already felt the glory of a win on the final day of the fall classic.

Dick Trickle took his one and only Oktoberfest championship in 1987 and has returned to the event the past two years in an attempt to add to his legendary resume. Trickle returned to “Fest� in 2005 and finished 16th. Last year, driving a car prepared by Tim Rothe, Trickle finished a strong seventh. Trickle will also be honored on Friday night of “Fest� with the first ever “Dick Trickle 99.�

In 2003 Sparta WI’s Tim Schendel was dominant capturing both the Oktoberfest 250 NASCAR Elite Series main event and the 50 lap Wisconsin late model event. Of the 300 laps that Schendel raced that Sunday, he led 204. Schendel’s best finish since 2003 was a fourth place effort in 2004’s NASCAR Elite Division Oktoberfest 250. He finished 14th in the 100 lap main event last year.

The driver that all ASA Midwest competitors will be trying to hunt down is Bangor, WI’s Steve Holzhausen. Holzhausen has won the past two Oktoberfest 100s in smooth but exciting fashion as he conserved his equipment early then made his charge to the front in the waning laps of both events. Only Joe Shear has won three Oktoberfest championships in a row from ’94 to 96. Should Holzhausen three-peat, it will be his fourth Oktoberfest championship which will put him one behind Joe Shear for the most all time.

Not to be outdone, the first ASA Midwest Tour champion will be crowned on Sunday as well. Marshall, WI’s Nathan Haseleu leads Dundas, MN’s Donny Ruevers by only 47 tallies heading into the final event. Sun Prairie, WI’s Dave Feiler is also still mathematically alive trailing Haseleu by 55 markers

For more information and to download the official Oktoberfest Race Weekend flyer, please visit www.lacrossespeedway.com. For more information on the ASA Midwest Tour please visit www.asamidwesttour.com.

Past Winners of Oktoberfest Sunday
2006 - Steve Holzhausen
2005 - Steve Holzhausen
2004 - Brian Hoppe (NASCAR Midwest), Charlie Menard (Wisconsin Late Models)
2003 - Tim Schendel (NASCAR Midwest and WLMs)
2002 - Brian Hoppe (NASCAR Midwest), Ron Breese, Jr. (WLMs)
2001 - Eddie Hoffman (NASCAR Midwest), Ron Breese, Jr. (WLMs)
2000 - Steve Carlson (NASCAR Midwest), Steve Holzhausen (WLMs)
1999 - Eddie Hoffman
1998 - Eddie Hoffman
1997 - Terry Baldry
1996 - Joe Shear
1995 - Joe Shear
1994 - Joe Shear
1993 - Matt Kenseth
1992 - Tom Carlson
1991 - Tom Carlson
1990 - Scott Hansen
1989 - Joe Shear
1988 - Ted Musgrave
1987 - Dick Trickle
1986 - Rick Bickle, Jr.
1985 - John Ziegler
1984 - Brian 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