By: Eric Huenefeld
Last season in the Stanley Steemer NASCAR Late Model division at the Rockford Speedway, eight of the top 10 drivers in the final point standings would score a feature win in the ultra-competitive premier division at the high-naked quarter mile. One of the two drivers left out of the victory circle last season was 3rd place points man Jon Reynolds Jr. After finishing second on opening week to seven-time Track Champion Ricky Bilderback, you figured it wouldn't be long before Reynolds found the checkers.

And indeed, on the second Saturday night of the racing season, the second generation driver would plant his orange “X” car in the victory circle and cement himself as one of the early contenders for the 2009 Track Championship.

The 30 lap Late Model main would go flag-to-flag without a halt, and showcase some high-speed, close quarters, textbook short track racing. Janesville's Tim Noble would lead the field to the Green Flag with last year's Late Model Rookie of the Year Alex Papini along side. The two drivers would get after it side-by-side during the opening circuits, before Papini pulled into the lead, taking the high road around Noble.

Behind Papini and Noble, the action was intense. Reynolds wasted very little time slicing through traffic and moved from sixth to second in just seven laps, then setting sail for Papini up front. Noble, meanwhile, would fall back into a five-way “cage match” for third with Kyle Jarlsberg, last weeks winner Bilderback, last years champion Jerry Gille and Michael Bilderback. The five drivers would swap paint and positions numerous times in the final 20 circuits.

Meanwhile, upfront, Reynolds continued to track Papini down, finally reaching the youngsters bumper on lap 13. By lap 16, Reynolds had taken the lead and began to move away. “Driver X” would maneuver through lap traffic and hold on to the top spot for the win. Papini would take second, with a hard-charging Kyle Jarlsberg taking third. Behind Jarlsberg, Noble would edge Ricky Bilderback by half a car length for fourth.

In the Bargain Hunter Sportsman division, after an early collision sent front row starters Butch Swinbank and Don Exline to the tail, a “clash of the champions” developed for the top spot in the 25 lap feature event. Three-time and defending champion Fred Nason would chase and eventually go side-by-side with six-time champion Scott Lawver as the two drivers inherited the top spots after yellow.

Lawver and Nason would tango for the majority of the final 24 laps, with Lawver holding the lead from the high side, with Nason constantly trying to advance via the bottom line. When the dust cleared, it was Lawver standing tall in victory lane, besting Nason in the classic showdown. Doug Bennett would notch a third place finish in the feature, followed by former champion Brock Behnke and “The Captain” Chris Gantz.

The Mountain Dew Roadrunners put on their typical three-wide, non stop curtain closer on Saturday night as well. The 25 car field would run without a yellow flag and see several hard charges throughout. Holding off all charges though was pole sitter Ricky Nielson. Nielson would get away from the field early but yet have to hold off the late-race advances of Bobby Frisch and opening night winner Larry Dickinson.

Frisch and Dickinson, who started 16th and 18th respectively, would tussle with each other, and then with Nielson for position at the end. Frisch would get to Nielson's back bumper on the last lap, with Dickinson sneaking under Frisch for second, and nearly stealing a win in the final 10 feet of the race Nielson. Ricky's father, Richard Nielson, would take the fourth position in the feature, ahead of fifth place Chris Jones.

The Rascal Outlaws and Midwest Indy Racers also were apart of “Ladies Night” at Rockford Speedway. The “winged warriors” would run an eight car, 15 lap feature with drama from beginning to end. Lake Zurich's Jason Mahoney and Richmond's Rick Corso started in the last row, but made their way into the top two spots to settle it for the checkers. Mahoney edged Corso by two lengths, followed by Vernon Brown.

Racing continues this Saturday night at the Rockford Speedway, with the first Kid's Night of 2009! Kids 11 and under will be admitted Free and also be treated to a Candy Scramble at intermission. On the card will be the Stanley Steemer NASCAR Late Models, Budweiser American Short Trackers, Mountain Dew Roadrunner and the return of the Super Cup cars. And at the end of the night, you'll get an added thrill, with the School's Out School Bus Jump!

See you at the Races!

5/9/2009 - Rockford Speedway Results... Page 1 of 2
NASCAR All American Sportsmen
A-Main 01 -- 1. Scott Lawver, Roscoe; 2. Fred Nason, Roscoe; 3. Doug Bennett, Brodhead, Wis; 4. Brock Behnke,
South Beloit; 5. Chris Gantz, Rockford; 6. Don Exline, Oak Lawn; 7. Warren (Butch) Swinbank, Rockford; 8. Ron Morris,
Belvidere; 9. Ricky Nielsen, Rockford; 10. Rob Solo Rio (r), Hampshire; 11. Justin Sellers, Carol Stream.
Heat 01 -- 1. Don Exline, Oak Lawn; 2. Rob Solo Rio (r), Hampshire; 3. Warren (Butch) Swinbank, Rockford; 4. Justin
Sellers, Carol Stream; 5. Ron Morris, Belvidere; 6. Ricky Nielsen, Rockford.
Heat 02 -- 1. Doug Bennett, Brodhead, Wis; 2. Scott Lawver, Roscoe; 3. Brock Behnke, South Beloit; 4. Chris Gantz,
Rockford; 5. Fred Nason, Roscoe.
Time Trial -- 1. Brock Behnke, South Beloit; 2. Chris Gantz, Rockford; 3. Fred Nason, Roscoe; 4. Doug Bennett,
Brodhead, Wis; 5. Scott Lawver, Roscoe; 6. Ricky Nielsen, Rockford; 7. Warren (Butch) Swinbank, Rockford; 8. Don
Exline, Oak Lawn; 9. Ron Morris, Belvidere; 10. Rob Solo Rio (r), Hampshire; 11. Justin Sellers, Carol Stream.
Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Brock Behnke, South Beloit; 2. Fred Nason, Roscoe; 3. Chris Gantz, Rockford; 4. Doug Bennett,
Brodhead, Wis; 5. Ricky Nielsen, Rockford; 6. Scott Lawver, Roscoe.
NASCAR Late Models
A-Main 01 -- 1. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Roscoe; 2. Alex Papini, Machesney Park; 3. Kyle Jarlsberg, Cambridge, Wis; 4. Tim
Noble, Janesville, Wis; 5. Ricky Bilderback, Rockton; 6. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 7. Michael Bilderback, South Beloit; 8. Rich
Schumann Jr., Portage, Wis; 9. Mike Breiner (r), Johnburg; 10. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 11. John Beinlich (r), Prairie
View; 12. Rob Summers, Lake Geneva, Wis; 13. Tyler Peterson, Lake Geneva, Wis; 14. Brandon Eash (r), Rockford;
15. Timothy Slater, Hampshire.
Heat 01 -- 1. Mike Breiner (r), Johnburg; 2. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 3. Rob Summers, Lake Geneva, Wis; 4. Tim Noble,
Janesville, Wis; 5. Tyler Peterson, Lake Geneva, Wis; 6. Brandon Eash (r), Rockford; 7. John Beinlich (r), Prairie View;
8. Timothy Slater, Hampshire.
Heat 02 -- 1. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 2. Michael Bilderback, South Beloit; 3. Kyle Jarlsberg, Cambridge, Wis; 4. Jon
Reynolds, Jr., Roscoe; 5. Ricky Bilderback, Rockton; 6. Alex Papini, Machesney Park; 7. Rich Schumann Jr., Portage,
Wis.
Time Trial -- 1. Ricky Bilderback, Rockton; 2. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 3. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Roscoe; 4. Michael Bilderback,
South Beloit; 5. Rich Schumann Jr., Portage, Wis; 6. Kyle Jarlsberg, Cambridge, Wis; 7. Alex Papini, Machesney Park;
8. Tim Noble, Janesville, Wis; 9. Mike Breiner (r), Johnburg; 10. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 11. Rob Summers, Lake
Geneva, Wis; 12. John Beinlich (r), Prairie View; 13. Brandon Eash (r), Rockford; 14. Tyler Peterson, Lake Geneva, Wis;
15. Timothy Slater, Hampshire.
Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Roscoe; 2. Kyle Jarlsberg, Cambridge, Wis; 3. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 4. Ricky
Bilderback, Rockton; 5. Michael Bilderback, South Beloit; 6. Rich Schumann Jr., Portage, Wis.
NASCAR Road Runners
A-Main 01 -- 1. Ricky Nielsen, Rockford; 2. Larry Dickinson II, Cedarville; 3. Bobby Frisch, Beloit, Wis; 4. Richard
Nielsen, Byron; 5. Christopher Jones, Rockford; 6. Robert Roush, Marengo; 7. David Lignell, Rockford; 8. Mike Vines,
German Valley; 9. Howie Ware, South Beloit; 10. Gene Marocco, Machesney Park; 11. Jeff Allendorf, Belvidere; 12. Mike
Swanson, Rockford; 13. Beau Lawson, Machesney Park; 14. Kris Nilson, Rockford; 15. Dana Czach, Wauconda; 16.
Anthony (Andy) Bristol, Rockford; 17. Mike Leopold, Algonquin; 18. Jason Brockway, Machesney Park; 19. Kenneth
Brazee III, Machesney Park; 20. Sabrina Gantz, Rockford; 21. Tammy Hawkins, Machesney Park; 22. Andrew Wells,
Machesney Park; 23. Joshua Lundy, Loves Park; 24. Linnea Lundy, Loves Park; 25. Raymond Hardesty, McHenry.
Heat 01 -- 1. Richard Nielsen, Byron; 2. Ricky Nielsen, Rockford; 3. Vachenzia Jester, Beloit, Wis; 4. David Lignell,
Rockford; 5. Jason Van Hise, Loves Park; 6. Kyle Watts, Machesney Park; 7. Jason Brockway, Machesney Park; 8.
Tammy Hawkins, Machesney Park; 9. Anthony (Andy) Bristol, Rockford; 10. Raymond Hardesty, McHenry.
Printed 5/9/2009 10:57:40 PM with ScoreKeeper™ 3.235.003 Page 1 of 2
5/9/2009 - Rockford Speedway Results... Page 2 of 2
Heat 02 -- 1. Mike Swanson, Rockford; 2. Andrew Wells, Machesney Park; 3. Christopher Jones, Rockford; 4. Gilbert
Brewer, Genoa; 5. Beau Lawson, Machesney Park; 6. Jeff Allendorf, Belvidere; 7. Sabrina Gantz, Rockford; 8. Mike
Leopold, Algonquin; 9. Kenneth Brazee III, Machesney Park; 10. Linnea Lundy, Loves Park.
Heat 03 -- 1. Robert Roush, Marengo; 2. Dana Czach, Wauconda; 3. Gene Marocco, Machesney Park; 4. Mike Vines,
German Valley; 5. Howie Ware, South Beloit; 6. Bobby Frisch, Beloit, Wis; 7. Larry Dickinson II, Cedarville; 8. Kris
Nilson, Rockford; 9. Joshua Lundy, Loves Park.
Challenge 01 -- 1. Robert Roush, Marengo; 2. Jason Van Hise, Loves Park; 3. Sabrina Gantz, Rockford; 4. Lloyd
Hawkins, Machesney Park; 5. Kenneth Brazee III, Machesney Park; 6. Gilbert Brewer, Genoa; 7. Raymond Hardesty,
McHenry; 8. David Lignell, Rockford; 9. Kyle Watts, Machesney Park; 10. Mike Leopold, Algonquin.
Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Larry Dickinson II, Cedarville; 2. Gene Marocco, Machesney Park; 3. Dana Czach, Wauconda; 4.
Bobby Frisch, Beloit, Wis; 5. Howie Ware, South Beloit; 6. Kris Nilson, Rockford.