WEST SALEM, Wis. -- The Big 8 Late Model Series rolls into La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway for a Holiday Special event on Tuesday Night July 3rd. Twenty four of the best weekly competitors from across the region will take the green flag in the 48 lap Star Spangled Spectacular. This will mark the first regular season visit to the 5/8 mile paved oval facility in West Salem, WI which will also host a Huge Fireworks Extravaganza, the North Country Contractors Sportsmen and United Auto Supply Thunderstox on this night.

Currently the top five in the La Crosse NASCAR Kwik Trip Late Models standings have indicated their intentions of protecting the home turf. Current point leader Brent Kirchner, defending track Champion J. Herbst, Brad Powell who has recorded three Big 8 top fives at L aCrosse, former Big 8 winner Todd Korish and 2010 Champ Shawn Pfaff will lead the La Crosse charge against the out of town boys.

Hot off his big win at the Milwaukee Mile on June 12, three-time series Champion Jeremy Miller will look to turn his La Crosse luck around after posting a runner-up finish and a win in his last two series outings. Miller’s best performance at La Crosse came after a fifth place effort in 2007. Perhaps the driver most looking forward to the July visit is Kyle Shear who won the JMcK 63 at La Crosse last fall after passing thirty-four cars. Rockford Speedway Champ Ryan Carlson, Rookie sensation Jesse Bernhagen, former Jefferson Champ Casey Johnson, Wisconsin International standout Cory Kemkes and former Dells Champion Mike Ehde will be amongst those Big 8 drivers to watch.

The series has crowned their season Champion at La Crosse’s Oktoberfest Race Weekend annually since the inaugural Big 8 Series season in 2005. Those seven events have seen six different winners with the local stars snagging the bragging rights in three of those events. Two wild card drivers to watch are former ARTGO Challenge Series Star Jon Lemke who led the majority of last year’s 68 lap Oktoberfest event before finishing third and Corey Jankowski a former La Crosse Sportsmen Champion who is always tough to beat in West Salem.

Spectator gates will open at 6pm with qualifying at 6:15pm, racing will begin at 7:30pm Tuesday night July 3. Adult general admission tickets are $15, students (ages 12-17 with student ID) are $7, ages 6-11 are $4 with kids ages 5 and under admitted FREE. For additional information call the Speedway Hotline at 608-786-1525 or visit www.lacrossespeedway.com.

PAST LA CROSSE BIG 8 SERIES WINNERS
2005- Mike Beyer
2006- Todd Korish
2007- Andy Burgess
2008- Ross Kenseth
2009- Ross Kenseth
2010- Steve Rubeck
2011- Skylar Holzhausen