WILD HAPPENINGS ON WILD WEDNESDAY

By: Eric Huenefeld
Although long past the point for a full moon on the calendar, if one weren't looking towards the sky Wednesday at Rockford Speedway, you would of swore the full moon was gleaming down on the quarter mile oval. Several oddities paired with good side-by-side racing were the key players in this edition of Wednesday night racing, presented by Yellowbook.

In the Crap Scrappers Hornet feature, the action is always fast and furious, with drivers weaving through the specially designed Monza course. On this night, the monza section of the Speedway was home to a spectacular lap 5 wreck involving Dennis Deckard and points leader Matt Mangiaracina. Mangiaracina was making his usual charge through the field, and came together with Deckard as the two toiled for the fifth spot. As Deckard's car began to broadside, the car barrel rolled three full times before landing on its wheels. Immediately, Deckard raised his hand out the window, signaling he was okay, and maybe a bit worked up. Mangiaracina would head to the pits, and end his night, yet keep his points lead.

As the race worked past halfway, Alan Biekelewski made his move past Jake Vincencio to take the top spot in the 15 lap main event. Biekelewski would hold off a late race charge by Solomon Barker to take the checkered flag. Barker ended up in second spot, followed by Roger Schultz, Mark Vincencio and Bryan Ellis.

Stateline Staffing Services Winged Women on Wheels point leader Laura Siarkewicz took the hard and often unraveled road to victory lane. Laura would dominate here feature, only to be brought to victory lane by a tow truck. As the field entered turn 3 to take the checkered flag, Siarkewicz's car went up in smoke and flames and spun in front of the field, blocking the whole track, making it impassible for the other three cars. Scoring went back to the previous lap, and deemed Siarkewicz the winner. Olivia Chance would take second, followed by Robin Ulrey and Stephanie Crawford.

The Roadrunner Super Summer Series 25 lap feature was somewhat laid-back, compared to other action, but still featured a furious battle for the win throughout the whole race.

Richard Nielson and "Chargin" Charlie Frisch went side-by-side and nose-to-tail the whole race going for the brass ring. In the end, Nielson picked up his first Wild Wednesday win of the year, with Frisch in hot pursuit, settling for second. Gene Marocco closed a straightaway deficit to mere car lengths in the final 10 laps, but would settle for a third place finish. Ricky Nielson ended the race in fourth, and Leonard Groleau made a move for fifth late in the race to take that position.

The Figure 8 feature provided outstanding side-by-side "X"-citement, with Tom Schneider taking the 10 lap feature win, to the delight of his large cheering section. Schneider took the lead from David Russell near half way and held off a late race charge from "The Captain" Chris Gantz to pocket the trophy. Behind Gantz placed Russell, Leonard Groleau and Sabrina Castillo.

"The Hermanator" Herman Greinig held off hard-charging Matt Booker to take the win in the 15 lap Legend feature. Greinig and Booker shadowed one another around the quarter mile the entire distance of the event, and despite Booker's best efforts on the last lap, Grening held on for his first Wednesday night win of the year, Booker took second, and Rachel Pinkerman was third.

Dave Cooter Jr. led the whole distance in the Allison Legacy feature to take his first win of the season. Cooter held off both Dwight Dunlap and John Beinlich to capture the win. Beinlich came from the back to challenge for the lead after being involved in a late race caution.

Cory Cootware would also pace the Bandolero feature from pillar to post to end the night in victory lane. Again, Dwight Dunlap would take a runner up finish, finishing inches off of Cootware's bumper at the line. Nick and Ben Carnes would follow Cootware and Dunlap across the line for third and fourth.