2008 ROCKFORD SPEEDWAY SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED
By: Kevin Ramsell
Loves Park, IL (Wednesday, February 06, 2008) – Rockford Speedway officials have announced the tentative schedule for the 61st season of racing. The season will begin on Sunday, April 6 and conclude on Sunday, October 19th with a similar theme, a four-cylinder enduro.
The track will open on Saturday, April 5th with an open practice for all divisions starting at noon. It will also be the annual media day. The first racing event will take place on Sunday, April 6 with a 200-lap four-cylinder enduro starting at 1 p.m.
The 31st Annual Spring Classic will go from a two-day event to a one-day event on Sunday, April 13th starting at 1 p.m. The afternoon of racing will feature a 100-lap feature for the Big 8 Series and a 50-lap feature for the Mid-American Series.
Saturday, April 19th will be the first night of the Speedway’s traditional Saturday night NASCAR Whelen All-American Series program. Ricky Bilderback will start his run for an eighth straight championship while Jerry Gille, still hurting from losing the championship last season, will be back to stop that streak.
When the Speedway was opened in 61 years, the first season was dedicated to Midget racing. Fans will have the opportunity to see the USAC National Midgets compete on the high banks on Sunday, May 18th as they complete their three day weekend swing around Wisconsin and Northern Illinois.
On Memorial Day Weekend, the Speedway’s engines will be silent as the guitars and drums will take over for the Budweiser WXRX Wing Ding on Sunday, May 25th.
A Rockford Speedway schedule would not be complete without having the World Famous Trailer Race on its schedule. The popular event will take place on Saturday, June 7th.
The first of Wild Wednesday racing action will take place on Wednesday, June 25th with the return of the RoadRunner Super Summer Series.
Another famous event, The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere, will take place on Friday, July 4th along with fireworks. Then it’s back to the Speedway on Saturday, July 5th for the Star Spangled 76-lap feature for the NASCAR Late Models with the evening concluding with another fireworks display.
Mid-Summer’s Night Scream is scheduled for July 12th featuring Doug Rose and his Green Mamba Jet Car. Make your plans now to see what he will burn to the ground this year.
The ASA Late Model Series North Division returns to the high banks on Saturday, July 26th for a 100-lap feature event. It will be the second event of a two day doubleheader for the Series as they will be competing the night before at Madison International Speedway. Three-time National Short Track Champion, Eddie Hoffman, will be back to defend his 2007 ASALMS North win at Rockford.
If you thought the World Famous Trailer Race in June is worth seeing, then make your plans now for the World Famous Figure 8 Trailer Race on Saturday, August 2nd. It’s a spectacle that you can’t describe to your friends, so just bring them and let them witness it themselves.
Champions will be crowned on Saturday, September 6th. History could be made with Bilderback’s eighth championship or a new champion being crowned that night.
One Great Racing Weekend returns on September 25-27 for the National Short Track Championships with three great days of racing action featuring the best drivers in the area. This is the event that started all of the post season weekend racing events. Be a part of this original racing weekend.
The inflatable palm trees, bad looking flower shirts, and fake skirts will shine for the 17th Annual Bahama Bracket Nationals on October 11-12. Remember, what happens at the Bahamas, stays at the Bahamas.
The season will come to a conclusion with the Goblin 250 enduro on Sunday, October 19th at 1 p.m.
The full season schedule is now available at www.rockfordspeedway.com.
For more information about competing in one of the divisions this season or ticket information, please call the track office at (815) 633-1500.