PHOTOS

By: Eric Huenefeld
After a less than stellar beginning to the 2008 Stanley Steemer NASCAR Late Model season, driver Tim Sargent seems to be putting it together as the season moves to a close. With blown engines and wrinkled sheet metal in his past, the look of victory lane is a far more comforting look for the South Beloit driver than the look of a repair shop.

Sargent held on to his loose race car for 30 straight green flag laps, as well as fending of the constant pressure of Jon Reynolds Jr. to capture his second win of the season in the Rockford Speedway's premier division.

Sargent would benefit from an outside front row starting spot, and thanks to problems on the start by pole sitter Steve Rubeck, Sargent would jump out to a fairly comfortable lead early in the going. That warm and comfy feeling up front would be very short lived though, as Reynolds Jr. would plant his blue #10 right on Sargent's back bumper. For the remainder for the caution-free 30 lap event, Reynolds Jr. would make several attempts under Sargent's machine, but as Sargent was fighting with a loose racer from the point of the field, Reynolds Jr. was also wrestling an ill-tempered car. Reynolds Jr's inability to get a run out of the corner may have cost him the race, but the Roscoe driver would still hold on to the runner-up spot. Matt Berger and Ricky Bilderback would also have their own wild, non-stop, 30 lap battle for third position, with Berger hanging on for third ahead of the seven-time track champion.

The parody continued in the Bargain Hunter Sportsman division this season on Saturday night, with the division seeing a ninth driver visit victory lane on this night. This week, Chicago Ridge's Jake Cholke earned his first win of the season after holding off the advances of fellow South-Sider Don Exline and division points leader Fred Nason. The race featured a four-car breakaway in the final 23 laps, with Cholke holding off Exline who was being pressured constantly by the two-time division champ Nason. And while Nason was trying to move past Exline, Rookie of the Year point leader “Captain” Chris Gantz was hustling to find a way around Nason. As it turned out, everyone would hold their positions, with Cholke leading Exline to the checkers and Nason beating Gantz to the line for third.

On this Kar Korner Kid's Night, one of the veterans of the Speedway, Gene Marocco, showed the 'young set' how to get around the track yet again in the Coca-Cola Roadrunner feature. Marocco won race number five on the year, moving up from his fourth starting spot to quickly challenge and overtake Steven Clark for the race lead. Marocco would move away from the field and the focus would switch behind him for second on back. In that battle for the runner up spot, last week's feature winner Robert Roush made all the right moves. Coming from deep in the field, Roush worked his way into the runner-up spot at race's end. Behind Roush in third was young Dana Czach, making his first start of the year at the Rockford Speedway. Czach ended the night in third with Richard Nielson behind him in fourth.

The Brown's Chicken Central States Super Cups made their final appearance of the year at the Rockford Speedway also on this busy Saturday, with 11 year-old Camden Murphy leading wire-to-wire to take a caution free 20 lap Junior division feature. And in the Senior division, two of the division's best battled for the checkers, with Jeff Myers beating Erik Gehrke for the win in their 25 lap main event.

Racing action continues this Wednesday night with the final Wild Wednesday program of the season. Saturday, Rockford Speedway will welcome the 3rd annual O'Reilly Auto Parts Car Show plus NASCAR Foundation Blood and Marrow Drive in the afternoon, Saturday night's Stanley Steemer racing action will also play host to Illinois Vintage Racing and Auto Soccer. For more information on these events, and events throughout the 2008 season including the 43rd annual ARMY National Guard National Short Track Championship, visit www.rockfordspeedway.com.

Bargain Hunter Sportsman
A-Main 01 -- 1. Jake Cholke, Chicago Ridge; 2. Don Exline, Oak Lawn; 3. Fred Nason, Roscoe; 4. Chris Gantz (r), Rockford; 5. Brock Behnke, South Beloit; 6. Dave Edwards, Salem, Wis; 7. Justin Sellers (r), Carol Stream; 8. Ron Young, Rockford; 9. Randy Samples (r), Rockton; 10. Warren (Butch) Swinbank, Rockford; 11. Doug Bennett, Brodhead, Wis.

Heat 01 -- 1. Randy Samples (r), Rockton; 2. Jake Cholke, Chicago Ridge; 3. Doug Bennett, Brodhead, Wis; 4. Justin Sellers (r), Carol Stream; 5. Ron Young, Rockford; 6. Dave Edwards, Salem, Wis.

Heat 02 -- 1. Brock Behnke, South Beloit; 2. Chris Gantz (r), Rockford; 3. Fred Nason, Roscoe; 4. Warren (Butch) Swinbank, Rockford; 5. Don Exline, Oak Lawn.

Time Trial -- 1. Fred Nason, Roscoe; 2. Chris Gantz (r), Rockford; 3. Don Exline, Oak Lawn; 4. Brock Behnke, South Beloit; 5. Warren (Butch) Swinbank, Rockford; 6. Justin Sellers (r), Carol Stream; 7. Jake Cholke, Chicago Ridge; 8. Dave Edwards, Salem, Wis; 9. Doug Bennett, Brodhead, Wis; 10. Randy Samples (r), Rockton; 11. Ron Young, Rockford.

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Don Exline, Oak Lawn; 2. Chris Gantz (r), Rockford; 3. Brock Behnke, South Beloit; 4. Fred Nason, Roscoe; 5. Warren (Butch) Swinbank, Rockford; 6. Justin Sellers (r), Carol Stream.

NASCAR Stanley Steemer Late Models

A-Main 01 -- 1. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 2. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Roscoe; 3. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 4. Ricky Bilderback, Rockton; 5. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 6. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 7. Mike Beyer, Machesney Park; 8. Steve Rubeck, Monroe Center; 9. Michael Bilderback, South Beloit; 10. Mike Lloyd, Davis; 11. Alex Papini (r), Machesney Park; 12. Nick Shutkas, Loves Park; 13. Joe Rusciano, Crystal Lake; 14. Noel Ramge, Helenville, Wis; 15. Jacob Gille, Winnebago; 16. Tyler Peterson (r), Lake Geneva, Wis; 17. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 18. Terry Limberopoulos, Cuba, Mo..

Heat 01 -- 1. Jacob Gille, Winnebago; 2. Alex Papini (r), Machesney Park; 3. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 4. Mike Lloyd, Davis; 5. Joe Rusciano, Crystal Lake; 6. Tyler Peterson (r), Lake Geneva, Wis; 7. Nick Shutkas, Loves Park; 8. Terry Limberopoulos, Cuba, Mo.; 9. Noel Ramge, Helenville, Wis.

Heat 02 -- 1. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 2. Ricky Bilderback, Rockton; 3. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Roscoe; 4. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 5. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 6. Steve Rubeck, Monroe Center; 7. Michael Bilderback, South Beloit; 8. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 9. Mike Beyer, Machesney Park.

Time Trial -- 1. Michael Bilderback, South Beloit; 2. Ricky Bilderback, Rockton; 3. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 4. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 5. Mike Beyer, Machesney Park; 6. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Roscoe; 7. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 8. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 9. Steve Rubeck, Monroe Center; 10. Mike Lloyd, Davis; 11. Alex Papini (r), Machesney Park; 12. Nick Shutkas, Loves Park; 13. Jacob Gille, Winnebago; 14. Noel Ramge, Helenville, Wis; 15. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 16. Tyler Peterson (r), Lake Geneva, Wis; 17. Joe Rusciano, Crystal Lake; 18. Terry Limberopoulos, Cuba, Mo..

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Ricky Bilderback, Rockton; 2. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 3. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 4. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Roscoe; 5. Michael Bilderback, South Beloit; 6. Mike Beyer, Machesney Park.

NASCAR Coca-Cola Road Runners

A-Main 01 -- 1. Gene Marocco, Machesney Park; 2. Robert Roush, Marengo; 3. Dana Czach, Wauconda; 4. Richard Nielsen, Byron; 5. Christopher Jones, Rockford; 6. Jeff Allendorf, Belvidere; 7. David Lignell, Rockford; 8. Terrance Robinson, Beloit, Wis; 9. Vachenzia Jester, Beloit, Wis; 10. Steven Clark, Rockford; 11. Richard Edge, Marengo; 12. Joshua Lundy, Loves Park; 13. Kyle Watts, Loves Park; 14. Kenneth Brazee III, Rockford; 15. Alicia Magee, Machesney Park; 16. Brian Smith, Rockford; 17. Dave Lumsden, Jr., Rockford; 18. Jonathan Stoltz, Rockford; 19. Ricky Nielsen, Rockford.

Heat 01 -- 1. Steven Clark, Rockford; 2. Dave Lumsden, Jr., Rockford; 3. Richard Nielsen, Byron; 4. Vachenzia Jester, Beloit, Wis; 5. Richard Edge, Marengo; 6. Dana Czach, Wauconda; 7. Brian Smith, Rockford; 8. Jonathan Stoltz, Rockford; 9. Kyle Watts, Loves Park; 10. Kenneth Brazee III, Rockford.
Heat 02 -- 1. Gene Marocco, Machesney Park; 2. Ricky Nielsen, Rockford; 3. Jeff Allendorf, Belvidere; 4. Joshua Lundy, Loves Park; 5. Christopher Jones, Rockford; 6. Robert Roush, Marengo; 7. David Lignell, Rockford; 8. Terrance Robinson, Beloit, Wis; 9. Alicia Magee, Machesney Park.

Challenge 01 -- 1. Richard Edge, Marengo; 2. Raymond Hardesty, McHenry; 3. Jonathan Stoltz, Rockford; 4. Robert Roush, Marengo; 5. Lloyd Hawkins, Machesney Park; 6. Arlyn Roush, Woodstock; 7. Shannon Stoltz, Machesney Park; 8. Kyle Watts, Loves Park; 9. Curt Nighswonger, Rockford; 10. Alicia Magee, Machesney Park.

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Terrance Robinson, Beloit, Wis; 2. Christopher Jones, Rockford; 3. Robert Roush, Marengo; 4. David Lignell, Rockford; 5. Joshua Lundy, Loves Park; 6. Alicia Magee, Machesney Park.
Super-Cup

Junior Feature -- 1. Camden Murphy, Itasca; 2. Kyle Brinkman, Elkhorn, Wis; 3. Jacob Zellmer, Waterford, Wis; 4. Elliott Pritchett, Sycamore; 5. Garett Goodwin, Three Oaks, Mich.; 6. Morgan Schissel, Marshal, Wis; 7. Beau Brown;; 8. Lily McElwee, Mishawaka, Ind.; 9. Dakota Morris, Streamwood; 10. Tyler Brown, Carol Stream; 11. Jacob VanWazer,

Lombard.

Pro Feature -- 1. Jeff Myers, Elgin; 2. Erik Gehrke, Grayslake; 3. Davey Pennel, Sparta, Wis; 4. Andrew Forster, Lake Zurich; 5. Mick Ellis, Schaumburg; 6. Steve Naples, Bartlett; 7. Dakota Potts, Zion; 8. David Cerer, Antioch; 9. Erle Hoth, Medinah; 10. Jim Termanas, Lake in the Hills; 11. Skyler Murphy, Itasca; 12. Jamie Clos, Chicago; 13. Tony Vellez;.

Jr. Heat 01 -- 1. Morgan Schissel, Marshal, Wis; 2. Jacob Zellmer, Waterford, Wis; 3. Jacob VanWazer, Lombard; 4. Elliott Pritchett, Sycamore; 5. Dakota Morris, Streamwood; 6. Beau Brown;.

Jr. Heat 02 -- 1. Garett Goodwin, Three Oaks, Mich.; 2. Camden Murphy, Itasca; 3. Kyle Brinkman, Elkhorn, Wis; 4. Lily McElwee, Mishawaka, Ind.; 5. Tyler Brown, Carol Stream.

Pro Heat 01 -- 1. Erle Hoth, Medinah; 2. Erik Gehrke, Grayslake; 3. Mick Ellis, Schaumburg; 4. Andrew Forster, Lake Zurich; 5. Steve Naples, Bartlett; 6. Dakota Potts, Zion; 7. Skyler Murphy, Itasca.

Pro Heat 02 -- 1. Davey Pennel, Sparta, Wis; 2. Jim Termanas, Lake in the Hills; 3. Tony Vellez;; 4. Jamie Clos, Chicago; 5. David Cerer, Antioch; 6. Jeff Myers, Elgin.