Sparkman, Nason and Bilderback return to winning form on opening night at Rockford

Sparkman, Nason and Bilderback return to winning form on opening night at Rockford
By: Eric Huenefeld

A top notch field of cars and warm early spring weather greeted the fans at Rockford Speedway Saturday night as the 61st season of weekly racing commenced on the famed quarter-mile oval.

The night's feature events included some flashbacks to 2007, with some of last years top drivers regaining their championship form, as well as a new winner gracing the speedway's victory lane for the first time.

The 25 lap Budweiser American Short Tracker feature went caution-free and include some very hard racing between the top five runners. Rob Baaske started the feature with the pole position and lead the field for the first 5 circuits. Wisconsin driver Steve Allman battled with Baaske for the next five laps before slipping to the lead on lap 10.

After Allman gained the lead, BJ Sparkman emerged to try his hand at the top spot. BJ would eventually move around Allman on lap 13 and skate away for the victory. Tim Melvin made a late race charge through the field to take second ahead of Allman who took third. Jeff Turnure would get fourth and Larry Dickinson rounded out the top five.

Last year's All American Sportsman champ Fred Nason also started his season off right, winning the division's 25 lap main event. Nason, though, would have to put in a full-nights work to take the trophy.

Butch Swinbank started from the pole and got away from the field early, but after two laps, a caution for Ron Young's stalled car bunched the field back up. Swinbank would take the lead after the restart ,with no less than five contenders emerging for the lead. Nason would navigate his red #14 through the pack and went door-to-door with Swinbank for five laps before Swinbank would lose control and bring out the yellow. Nason would inherit the lead and hold of challenges from Ron Morris and Brock Behnke, who ended up in second and third when the checkered fell. Doug Bennett would take fourth,

The 30 lap Stanley Steemer Late Model feature got off to a scary start, as a three-car wreck would clog turn one and bring out the red flag, As pole-sitter Dan Carlson slowed for the corner, Tim Sargent tried to avoid Dan Carlson's #66, and in the process collected Ryan Carlson's #17. Ryan's car would go airborne and clip the turn one wall. Ryan's #17 was ruined, but he walked away without injury.

From his third starting spot, Seven-time and defending track champion Ricky Bilderback worked quickly to take the top spot. Bilderback moved around Noel Ramge on lap 7 and stormed away for the victory. Jon Reynolds Jr. had a good run and ended up in second. Last year's points runner-up Jerry Gille took third and Ramge would hold on for fourth.

It was just another night in the Coca-Cola Roadrunner division, with three-wide racing and late race lead-swapping made for an exciting finish for the night, In the end, Josh Lundy put his red #11 in Victory lane for the first time in his career. Lindy held off a late race charge from Jason Brewster and Robert Roush who went side-by-side for second as the race went checkered. Brewster would forfeit his second place finish though, as his car failed post race tech. Roush ended up with second, followed by Terrance Robinson and Gene Marocco.

Next Saturday night, the star's of Rockford Speedway take to high banks again for another night of exciting NASCAR racing. Time trials begin at 6 PM, with the first green flag at 7:07. The Stanley Steemer Late Models will be on the card, with the All-American Sportsman, Budweiser American Short Trackers and Coca-Cola Roadrunners. The drivers of FIRA will hit the track for their first time this year along with the Roadrunner Challenge and Kid's Mini Grand Prix.

NASCAR All American Sportsmen

A-Main 01 -- 1. Fred Nason, Roscoe; 2. Ron Morris, Belvidere; 3. Brock Behnke, South Beloit; 4. Doug Bennett, Brodhead, Wis; 5. Ricky Nielsen, Rockford; 6. Randy Samples, Rockton; 7. Warren (Butch) Swinbank, Rockford; 8. Chris Gantz, Rockford; 9. David Lounsbury, Beloit, Wis; 10. Ron Young, Rockford.

Heat 01 -- 1. Randy Samples, Rockton; 2. David Lounsbury, Beloit, Wis; 3. Doug Bennett, Brodhead, Wis; 4. Ricky Nielsen, Rockford; 5. Ron Young, Rockford.

Heat 02 -- 1. Warren (Butch) Swinbank, Rockford; 2. Ron Morris, Belvidere; 3. Fred Nason, Roscoe; 4. Brock Behnke, South Beloit; 5. Chris Gantz, Rockford.

Time Trial -- 1. Fred Nason, Roscoe; 2. Brock Behnke, South Beloit; 3. Chris Gantz, Rockford; 4. Ron Morris, Belvidere; 5. Warren (Butch) Swinbank, Rockford; 6. Doug Bennett, Brodhead, Wis; 7. Ricky Nielsen, Rockford; 8. David Lounsbury, Beloit, Wis; 9. Ron Young, Rockford; 10. Randy Samples, Rockton.

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Brock Behnke, South Beloit; 2. Chris Gantz, Rockford; 3. Ron Morris, Belvidere; 4. Warren (Butch) Swinbank, Rockford; 5. Fred Nason, Roscoe; 6. Doug Bennett, Brodhead, Wis.

NASCAR American Short Trackers

A-Main 01 -- 1. Boyce (BJ) Sparkman, Machesney Park; 2. Tim Melvin, Machesney Park; 3. Steven Allman, Oconomowoc, Wis; 4. Jeffery Turnure, Rockford; 5. Larry Dickinson II, Cedarville; 6. Aaron Rude, Cambridge, Wis; 7. Nick Letsinger, Rockford; 8. Jack Atchison, Stillman Valley; 9. Zach Rodriguez, Rockton; 10. Victor Young, Genoa; 11. Artt Higbee, Rockford; 12. Matt Woelber, Belvidere; 13. Rachel Sparkman, Loves Park; 14. George Sparkman, Loves Park; 15. Rob Baaske, Rockford; 16. Nick Cina, Jr, Roscoe; 17. Steve Erickson, Jr, Machesney Park.

Heat 01 -- 1. Jack Atchison, Stillman Valley; 2. Steven Allman, Oconomowoc, Wis; 3. Rob Baaske, Rockford; 4. Nick Letsinger, Rockford; 5. Artt Higbee, Rockford; 6. Matt Woelber, Belvidere; 7. Rachel Sparkman, Loves Park; 8. Keith Pierce, Machesney Park.

Heat 02 -- 1. Tim Melvin, Machesney Park; 2. Jeffery Turnure, Rockford; 3. Boyce (BJ) Sparkman, Machesney Park; 4. Larry Dickinson II, Cedarville; 5. Aaron Rude, Cambridge, Wis; 6. George Sparkman, Loves Park; 7. Nick Cina, Jr, Roscoe; 8. Victor Young, Genoa; 9. Zach Rodriguez, Rockton.

Time Trial -- 1. Boyce (BJ) Sparkman, Machesney Park; 2. Aaron Rude, Cambridge, Wis; 3. Larry Dickinson II, Cedarville; 4. George Sparkman, Loves Park; 5. Jeffery Turnure, Rockford; 6. Nick Cina, Jr, Roscoe; 7. Tim Melvin, Machesney Park; 8. Victor Young, Genoa; 9. Zach Rodriguez, Rockton; 10. Steven Allman, Oconomowoc, Wis; 11. Nick Letsinger, Rockford; 12. Rob Baaske, Rockford; 13. Artt Higbee, Rockford; 14. Rachel Sparkman, Loves Park; 15. Keith Pierce, Machesney Park; 16. Jack Atchison, Stillman Valley; 17. Matt Woelber, Belvidere; 18. Steve Erickson, Jr, Machesney Park.

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. George Sparkman, Loves Park; 2. Nick Cina, Jr, Roscoe; 3. Aaron Rude, Cambridge, Wis; 4. Jeffery Turnure, Rockford; 5. Boyce (BJ) Sparkman, Machesney Park; 6. Larry Dickinson II, Cedarville.

NASCAR Late Models

A-Main 01 -- 1. Ricky Bilderback, Rockton; 2. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Roscoe; 3. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 4. Noel Ramge, Helenville, Wis; 5. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 6. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 7. Steve Rubeck, Monroe Center; 8. Bob Kahler, Caledonia; 9. Tyler Peterson, Lake Geneva, Wis; 10. Joe Rusciano, Crystal Lake; 11. Alex Papini, Machesney Park; 12. Dan Carlson, Rockford; 13. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 14. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park.

Heat 01 -- 1. Tyler Peterson, Lake Geneva, Wis; 2. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 3. Joe Rusciano, Crystal Lake; 4. Noel Ramge, Helenville, Wis; 5. Alex Papini, Machesney Park; 6. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 7. Dan Carlson, Rockford.

Heat 02 -- 1. Ricky Bilderback, Rockton; 2. Steve Rubeck, Monroe Center; 3. Bob Kahler, Caledonia; 4. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 5. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 6. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 7. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Roscoe.

Time Trial -- 1. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 2. Bob Kahler, Caledonia; 3. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 4. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Roscoe; 5. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 6. Ricky Bilderback, Rockton; 7. Steve Rubeck, Monroe Center; 8. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 9. Alex Papini, Machesney Park; 10. Noel Ramge, Helenville, Wis; 11. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 12. Dan Carlson, Rockford; 13. Tyler Peterson, Lake Geneva, Wis; 14. Joe Rusciano, Crystal Lake.

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Ricky Bilderback, Rockton; 2. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 3. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 4. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 5. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Roscoe; 6. Bob Kahler, Caledonia.

NASCAR Road Runners

A-Main 01 -- 1. Joshua Lundy, Loves Park; 2. Robert Roush, Marengo; 3. Terrance Robinson, Beloit, Wis; 4. Gene Marocco, Machesney Park; 5. Dennis Smith, Jr, South Beloit; 6. David Lignell, Rockford; 7. Raymond Hardesty, McHenry; 8. Lloyd Hawkins, Machesney Park; 9. Richard Edge, Marengo; 10. Sam Christofano, Rockford; 11. Jerry Edge, Marengo; 12. Christopher Jones, Rockford; 13. Sabrina Castillo, Rockford; 14. Steven Clark, Rockford; 15. Marci Lundberg, Belvidere; 16. Curt Nighswonger, Rockford; 17. Kevin Nighswonger, Rockford; 18. David Russell, Rockford; 19. Jason Brewster, Beloit, Wis; 20. Vachenzia Jester, Beloit, Wis.

Last Chance "A" 01 -- 1. Gene Marocco, Machesney Park; 2. David Lignell, Rockford; 3. Jerry Edge, Marengo; 4. Lloyd Hawkins, Machesney Park; 5. Marci Lundberg, Belvidere; 6. Sabrina Castillo, Rockford; 7. Steven Clark, Rockford; 8. Christopher Jones, Rockford; 9. David Russell, Rockford.

Heat 01 -- 1. Robert Roush, Marengo; 2. Curt Nighswonger, Rockford; 3. David Lignell, Rockford; 4. Marci Lundberg, Belvidere; 5. Lloyd Hawkins, Machesney Park; 6. Vachenzia Jester, Beloit, Wis; 7. Jason Brewster, Beloit, Wis.

Heat 02 -- 1. Sam Christofano, Rockford; 2. Ricky Nielsen, Rockford; 3. Raymond Hardesty, McHenry; 4. Richard Edge, Marengo; 5. Jerry Edge, Marengo; 6. Christopher Jones, Rockford; 7. David Russell, Rockford.

Heat 03 -- 1. Joshua Lundy, Loves Park; 2. Kevin Nighswonger, Rockford; 3. Dennis Smith, Jr, South Beloit; 4. Terrance Robinson, Beloit, Wis; 5. Gene Marocco, Machesney Park; 6. Sabrina Castillo, Rockford; 7. Steven Clark,

Challenge 01 -- 1. Gene Marocco, Machesney Park; 2. Robert Roush, Marengo; 3. Lloyd Hawkins, Machesney Park; 4. Joshua Lundy, Loves Park; 5. David Russell, Rockford; 6. Curt Nighswonger, Rockford; 7. Sabrina Castillo, Rockford; 8. Raymond Hardesty, McHenry; 9. David Lignell, Rockford.

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Sam Christofano, Rockford; 2. Dennis Smith, Jr, South Beloit; 3. Marci Lundberg, Belvidere; 4. Joshua Lundy, Loves Park; 5. Raymond Hardesty, McHenry; 6. Vachenzia Jester, Beloit, Wis.

Pick up the latest race results, get schedule information, order tickets and more at the Rockford Speedway website at www.rockfordspeedway.com or e-mail us: rockfordgregg@lycos.com. Media Inquiries: press@kevinramsell.com.

Location: Rockford Speedway is located at 9572 Forest Hills Road, seven miles north of downtown Rockford, just two miles west of Interstate 90 at the intersection of Forest Hills Road and Highway 173 in Loves Park, Illinois.