Bilderback fends off Miller for Dells win

Bilderback fends off Miller for Dells win
By Kevin Ramsell

(Tuesday, June 12, 2007)-- Ricky Bilderback has won overall twin feature events in the Big 8 Series, but has yet to capture a single feature event win.That streak ended tonight as he collects his first win at Dells Raceway Park.

Nick Beinlich was the early leader in the 58-lap feature event that ran in support of the ASA Midwest Tour event that featured many NASCAR stars. Beinlich and Brady Liddle set the pace in the early going. The first caution flew on lap 6 when Mike Lloyd and Scott Ascher made contact coming off of turn four causing Lloyd to spin on the front stretch. Both Lloyd and Ascher re-joined the race at the rear of the field. Beinlich continued to lead with Liddle in second. Ricky Bilderback moved from his seventh starting position to challenge Liddle for second on lap 7. Bilderback would get by Liddle and set his sights on Beinlich.

The second caution flew on lap 14 when Rocky Breezer and Kurt Clapper got together coming out of turn two, causing Breezer to spin.
Beinlich continued to lead with Bilderback in tow. On lap 20, Beinlich got loose in turns three and four and this allowed Bilderback to get on the inside and take over the top spot. Bilderback pulled out to a 10-car length lead over Beinlich while current point leader Jeremy Miller worked his way up to third.

The third caution of the event flew on lap 30 when Andy Niles and Kurt Clapper spun in turn three. Ascher had no where to go and made hard contact with the outside wall. Bilderback continued at the top of the leaderboard, but everyone was keeping a close eye on Miller, who was looking for his chance to get by Beinlich for second.

Miller jumped on the chance on lap 35 as he got by Beinlich for the position. Miller started his chase towards Bilderback. Behind Miller, Jeff Steenburgen also got past Beinlich for the third spot. Ehde followed Steenburgen, sending Beinlich back to fifth.

With 18 laps to go, Miller was on the back bumper of Bilderback with Steenburgen and Ehde right in tow. The top four were in their own zip code.
With ten laps to go, Miller was all over the back bumper of Bilderback, hoping to loosen up the bumper. But Ehde was able to work the high side and get past Steenbergen for third with seven laps to go. This allowed Bilderback some breathing room while Miller and Ehde battling for second.

With five laps to go, Steenburgen and Ehde made contact causing Ehde to go into the turn one wall. Rory Melbinger, who was running a solid fifth, was also collected. Ehde suffered heavy rear end damage and Steenburgen was sent to the rear. This set a five-lap dash for the finish. Bilderback did everything he can to protect the precious inside line around the 1/3-mile oval. He even survived the two lap dash at the end as the final caution flew for debris. On the last lap, Miller tried to loosen up Bilderback, but Bilderback stayed strong as he picked up his first Big 8 Series win.

Fast qualifier, Matt Byrne dropped back to 20th in the early going of the race. He came through the field to finish third.

“I wasn’t the fastest car on the track by a long ways,” Bilderback admitted in victory lane. “But here is you have to protect the bottom and that is what I did.”
“That just classic short track racing,” Miller stated after the race. “I tried going to the outside but it was just too greasy out there. The car slides around quite a bit and you can’t the bite you need to try to get the lead.” Miller continues to pad his point lead heading into the next event in August.

The Big 8 Series will once again join up with the ASA Midwest Tour on Tuesday, August 7th at Wisconsin International Raceway in Buchanan, WI.

For more information on the Big 8 Series, please visit their website at www.big8series.com.

Big 8 Series
Dells Raceway Park
June 12, 2007
Unofficial Results

A-Main 01 -- 1. Ricky Bilderback, Rockton; 2. Jeremy Miller, Rockton; 3. Matt Byrne, Burlington, Wis; 4. Nick Beinlich, Lincolnshire; 5. Tyler Sauter, Necedah, Wis; 6. James Kruschke III, Reedsburg, Wis; 7. Keith Tolf, Union Grove, Wis; 8. Kyle Jarlsberg, Cambridge, Wis; 9. Steve Dobbratz, Rio, Wis; 10. Mike Lloyd, Davis; 11. Dennis Schmidt, Juneau, Wis; 12. Mike Ehde, Prairie du Chien, Wis; 13. Andy Niles, Holmen, Wis; 14. Jeff Steenbergen, Waupun, Wis; 15. Brad Wildes, Tomah, Wis; 16. Rory Melbinger, Marshfield, Wis; 17. Bob Wilberg, Orfordville, Wis; 18. Rich Schumann Jr., Portage, Wis; 19. Kurt Clapper, Dane, Wis; 20. Scott Ascher, Sussex, Wis; 21. Rocky Breezer, Poynette, Wis; 22. Chad Stevens, Orfordville, Wis; 23. Brady Liddle, Oregon, Wis; Last Chance "A" 01 -- 1. Dennis Schmidt, Juneau, Wis; 2. Kyle Jarlsberg, Cambridge, Wis; 3. Brad Wildes, Tomah, Wis; 4. Chad Stevens, Orfordville, Wis; 5. Andy Niles, Holmen, Wis; 6. Shawn Pfaff, Bangor, Wis; 7. Aaron Falbe, Beaver Dam, Wis; 8. Keith Tolf, Union Grove, Wis; 9. Jeff Falbe, Beaver Dam, Wis; 10. Chris Blawat, Eagle, Wis; 11. Ryan Miles (r), Crystal Lake; 12. Zach Fossum, LaCrosse, Wis; 13. Ed Szelagowski Jr, Westfield, Wis; 14. Carey John, Montello, Wis; 15. Nick Shutkas, Loves Park; Heat 01 -- 1. Tyler Sauter, Necedah, Wis; 2. Kurt Clapper, Dane, Wis; 3. Dennis Schmidt, Juneau, Wis; 4. Aaron Falbe, Beaver Dam, Wis; 5. Chad Stevens, Orfordville, Wis; 6. Chris Blawat, Eagle, Wis; 7. Nick Shutkas, Loves Park; 8. Ryan Miles (r), Crystal Lake; 9. Lyle Messinger, Lone Rock, Wis.; Heat 02 -- 1. Bob Wilberg, Orfordville, Wis; 2. Rich Schumann Jr., Portage, Wis; 3. Kyle Jarlsberg, Cambridge, Wis; 4. Brad Wildes, Tomah, Wis; 5. Keith Tolf, Union Grove, Wis; 6. Andy Niles, Holmen, Wis; 7. Shawn Pfaff, Bangor, Wis; 8. Carey John, Montello, Wis; 9. Jeff Falbe, Beaver Dam, Wis; 10. Ed Szelagowski Jr, Westfield, Wis; 11. Zach Fossum, LaCrosse, Wis.; Time Trial -- 1. Matt Byrne, Burlington, Wis; 2. Jeff Steenbergen, Waupun, Wis; 3. Rory Melbinger, Marshfield, Wis; 4. Jeremy Miller, Rockton; 5. Mike Ehde, Prairie du Chien, Wis; 6. Steve Dobbratz, Rio, Wis; 7. Rocky Breezer, Poynette, Wis; 8. Ricky Bilderback, Rockton; 9. Scott Ascher, Sussex, Wis; 10. Mike Lloyd, Davis; 11. James Kruschke III, Reedsburg, Wis; 12. Joel Soenksen, Baraboo, Wis; 13. Brady Liddle, Oregon, Wis; 14. Nick Beinlich, Lincolnshire; 15. Rich Schumann Jr., Portage, Wis; 16. Chad Stevens, Orfordville, Wis; 17. Kyle Jarlsberg, Cambridge, Wis; 18. Kurt Clapper, Dane, Wis; 19. Bob Wilberg, Orfordville, Wis; 20. Tyler Sauter, Necedah, Wis; 21. Andy Niles, Holmen, Wis; 22. Lyle Messinger, Lone Rock, Wis; 23. Brad Wildes, Tomah, Wis; 24. Aaron Falbe, Beaver Dam, Wis; 25. Shawn Pfaff, Bangor, Wis; 26. Jason Schuler, Cambridge, Wis; 27. Keith Tolf, Union Grove, Wis; 28. Dennis Schmidt, Juneau, Wis; 29. Jeff Falbe, Beaver Dam, Wis; 30. Chris Blawat, Eagle, Wis; 31. Carey John, Montello, Wis; 32. Nick Shutkas, Loves Park; 33. Ed Szelagowski Jr, Westfield, Wis; 34. Ryan Miles (r), Crystal Lake; 35. Zach Fossum, LaCrosse, Wis.