1980 – Martin Wins Oktoberfest Crown

Mark Martin was the overall winner of the annual Oktoberfest 200 at La Crosse Interstate Speedway. 

West Salem, Wis. (October 11, 1980) – Most of the action for the Oktoberfest 200 was Sunday, but it took the time trials from two weeks ago to determine that Mark Martin was the overall winner.

Martin, of North Libertyville, Ind., and Joe Shear of South Beloit, Ill., each captured 100-lap features and placed second in the other on Sunday at the La Crosse Interstate Speedway.

In order to determine the overall champion, track officials had to look at the driver’s qualifying times from trials held two weeks ago – the day Oktoberfest was originally scheduled. However, rain had postponed the event until Sunday.

Martin qualified fourth, circling the 5/8-mile track in 19.454 seconds while Shear was seventh fastest, qualifying a tenth of a second slower. As a result, Martin was crowned overall champion.

“We waited too long to qualify, and the track got slippery,” Shear said of the time trials held two weeks ago. “I know the car was faster than that.”

Despite Martin’s overall championship, Shear actually collected more money than Martin. Shear earned $3,882, which included $1,492 in lap money. Martin was awarded $3,6700, which included $1,509 in lap money. The difference was their finishes in heat races two weeks ago.

In the first 100-lapper, the 20-year-old Martin took the lead on lap 4 and controlled it on the next 96. Martin passed Shear on the backstretch of the third go-round to take over second place, then Martin and Shear gained first and second place, respectively, and ran away from the pack.

On the sixth lap, Dick Trickle, who had set an Interstate Speedway record during time trials, blew his engine and had to leave the race.

From then on, it was Martin and Shear. Shear attempted to pass Martin in the corners on a couple of occasions, but Martin held him off and eventually increased his lead to 10 car lengths.

Mike Miller of Wisconsin Rapids drove to a third-place finish while Marv Marzofka of Nekoosa, the Interstate Speedway point champion, placed fourth.

In the second feature, Shear and Martin simply traded places, with Shear taking over the top spot on lap 10 and Martin moving into second place on lap 16. The two spent the remainder of the race in those spots.

On the 70th lap, while going through slower traffic on the frontstretch, Shear had to apply his brakes, causing Martin to swerve. Martin, LaVern Grandall of Portland, and Mel Walen of Minneapolis made contact, causing Martin to lose his front bumper. The caution flag came out, but everyone involved was able to continue.

After that, Shear was able to increase his lead even more.

Jim Sauter of Necedah took third on lap 16 and held it until Miller got by him on lap 75.

By the end of the race, Martin had moved in closer to Shear but couldn’t muster a challenge, settling for runner-up honors, Miller, Sauter, and Dick Trickle, driving his backup car, rounded out the top five.

“He had me beat in the second race,” Martin said afterwards.

Both Shear and Martin were quick to point out that tires made the difference.

“I couldn’t run with him with the set of tires I used in the first race,” Shear said. That set in the second race, however, worked real well. That was the difference.”


Results –


Feature #1 –

1. Mark Martin, North Libertyville, Ind.
2. Joe Shear, South Beloit, Ill.
3. Mike Miller, Wisconsin Rapids
4. Marv Marzofka, Nekoosa
5. John Ziegler, Madison
6. John Knaus, Rockford, Ill.
7. Ted Musgrave, Grand Marsh
8. Joel Laufer, Hartford
9. Steve Moll, Wisconsin Rapids
10.Tom Reffner, Rudolph


Feature #2 –

1. Joe Shear
2. Mark Martin
3. Mike Miller
4. Jim Sauter, Necedah
5. Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids
6. John Knaus
7. Ted Musgrave
8. Joel Laufer
9. Tom Reffner
10.Jim Back, Vesper