KAKAUNA, Wisconsin -- Steve Carlson, of West Salem, Wisconsin, won the NASCAR Elite Division, International Truck and Engine Corporation Midwest Series , Tuesday night at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna. The win was Carlson’s second consecutive win on the tour and propelled him into the series point lead with just two races remaining.
Carlson took the lead with 22 laps to go from Eddie Hoffman, of Wheaton, Illinois, when he ran out of fuel. Caution flew on the speedway for debris with just a handful of laps left and necessitated a two-lap shootout. Carlson was able to hold off Nathan Haseleu, of Arlington, Wisconsin by .152-seconds. Sparta, Wisconsin’s Tim Schendel notched his best 2003 Midwest Series effort with a third place run. Madison, Wisconsin’s Brian Hoppe and DeKalb, Illinois driver Ron Breese, Jr rounded out the top five.
“We had a real good car, but Hoffman and Hoppe were pretty darn quick,” said Carlson. “When we pitted the first time on lap 88, Hoffman pitted as well. We knew we had to pit again, so we did. Afterwards, my spotter and crew chief were doing the math and they both said there’s no way he (Hoffman) can make it on fuel.”
The International Truck and Engine Corporation Midwest Series next travels to Wisconsin Dells Motor Speedway in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, Sunday, September 14.
