"FUTURES" AND "STUBBY 49 ½" ARE TWO NEW EVENTS AT THIS YEAR'S OKTOBERFEST RACE WEEKEND

By: Kevin Ramsell WEST SALEM, WI (Thursday, September 25, 2008) - Two new Super Late Model events will make their debut at the 39th Annual Oktoberfest Race Weekend at La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway in West Salem, WI.  The addition of the "Futures" and "Stubby 49 ½" are two new Super Late Model events to an exciting 2008 four-day schedule.   The "Futures" race is a 25-lap feature event scheduled for Thursday, Oktober 2nd.  What makes this event unique is that it is only open to drivers who have never competed in past championship Oktoberfest 100, NASCAR AutoZone 250, ARTGO 100's, etc at Oktoberfest and who has never competed in any of NASCAR's Top Three Series.   "This will be a great opportunity for the fans to see the 'future' stars of Super Late Model racing," Chuck Deery, La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway Promoter stated.  "There will be a lot of up and coming drivers competing in this event and it will be a great spotlight event for them."   One of the entries could be current ASA Midwest Tour Rookie of the Year contender Nick Murgic.  He currently sits 12th in ASAMT points going into Oktoberfest and has three top-ten finishes so far this season.   Other divisions competing on the opening night Fest include: La Crosse Thunderstox, R.A.Y.S, Hornet vs. Bandit, La Crosse Sportsmen, La Crosse Late Models, and Double-O's.  The racing action will begin at 6:00 pm on Thursday.   Fans are invited to attend the driver's meeting on Thursday at 5 pm in the Big Red Barn as it will be open to the public.  The legendary Dick Trickle will be in attendance and will be the guest speaker for the meeting.  Chances are he will share a story or two.   The "Stubby 49 ½" is also a new event this year and will be run on Friday, Oktober 3rd in conjunction with the Dick Trickle "99" Super Late Model event.    The "Stubby 49 ½" event are for the competitors who do not make the starting line-up for the unique three segment event and is named after J. Russell "Stubby" McKarns, late father of Oktoberfest and longtime ARTGO Promoter, John McKarns.   "For ten years before I had a driver's license Dad hauled me out to the races as soon as the cows were milked, yes we were dairy farmers," John McKarns recalled.  "Those ten years of riding with my Dad to the Wednesday night stock car races in Wauseon, Ohio ignited my passion for this sport, which I have enjoyed for 57 years!  He passed away at the age of 88 in 2000.  And in 1999, he and I went to our last stock car race together in Toledo, Ohio."   The "Stubby 49 ½" will be the final event of Friday night's action at Oktoberfest with John's son and Stubby's grandson, Geoff McKarns, serving as the honorary starter for the race.  The event will start on the track's backstretch.   The racing action will get underway at 5 pm on Friday.  Joining the Dick Trickle "99" and the "Stubby 49 ½" will be the Area Sportsmen and Super Sportsmen.   For a complete weekend schedule and other information regarding to the 39th Annual Oktoberfest Race Weekend, please visit its official website at www.oktoberfestraceweekend.com which recently had its "History" page updated with the past Oktoberfest results.  It is a "must see" for racing fans as many famous drivers have competed in past Oktoberfest main events.

The 39th Annual Oktoberfest Race Weekend will take place on Oktober 2-5, 2008 at La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway in West Salem, WI.  For more information, please visit www.oktoberfestraceweekend.com.