Loves Park, IL- The fiercest rivalry in the Midwest short track racing scene will be on display October 3 and 4 during the 44th annual National Short Track Championship at Rockford Speedway. Chicagoland Champions Brett Sontag and Eddie Hoffman have both filed entries for the Super Late Model portion of ‘One Great Racing Weekend’.

Sontag and Hoffman have been involved in hotly contested battles this summer at Grundy County Speedway, bringing the Morris, IL faithful to their feet numerous times amidst a sea of cheers and boos. Now the rivalry travels north to Rockford Speedway for an event both drivers were in contention to win last season. Sontag impressed all in attendance as he charged on the inside twice to pressure the lead pack before mechanical woes sent him out of the race. Hoffman, a three time NSTC Champion was involved in an opening lap incident and battled through the field to finish in the runner-up position to Minnesota’s Josh Vadnais.

Neither driver has slowed down this season with Sontag securing his fourth Grundy Championship and second straight Tony Bettenhausen 100 victory at Illiana Motor Speedway earlier this month. Hoffman, the 2008 ASA Late Model Series North titlist held off Sontag to collect the season ending Lee Schuler Memorial at Grundy County Labor Day Weekend. The two drivers collected the major wins in Chicagoland in 2009 and now look to garner the NSTC honors.

Other Chicagoland drivers to watch include Larry Schuler and Josh Nelms. Schuler has been strong in his last two appearances at Rockford recording a seventh place showing in last year’s contest to go along with a ninth place effort in 2007 for the former Rockford Spring Classic winner. Nelms has learned how to contend at Rockford, winning two features and the Rookie of the Year Award at Rockford in 2006 before heading back into the Chicagoland short track world. Nelms was on the verge of collecting the biggest win of his career this July at Rockford in ASA Late Model Series North competition before contact with another car while fighting for the lead relegated him to a sixth place effort.

In all ten Chicagoland Super Late Models teams have filed entries for the 44th annual National Short Track Championships. Other Chicagoland teams include Keith Tolf, Erik Pierce, Scott Koerner, Jeremy Spoonmore, Trevor Tichy and Steve Campbell. The weekend features 11 divisions of racing action with Late Model feature events all three days, Oct 2, 3 and 4th. For more information visit www.rockfordspeedway.com or call 815-633-1500.

Super Late Model Entries (as of September 24, 2009)
(45)
Car # Driver Name
1 David Prunty
2 Eddie May
2 Lowell Bennett
2 Michael Bilderback
4 Trevor Tichy
5 Brett Sontag
5 Dale Nottestad
5 Terry Patnode
8 Eddie Hoffman
9 Tommy Pecaro
10 Jon Reynolds, Jr
11 Chris Grimes
11 Josh Vadnais
12 Jeremy Lepak
13 Josh Nelms
14 Al Schill
16 Matthew Clossey
16 Steve Apel
18 Dan Lensing
18 Robert Maynor
21 Travis Dassow
22 Jeremy Spoonmore
22 Russ Blakeley
25 Jeff Storm
27 Collin Bamke
28 Bobby Wilberg
30 Larry Schuler
34 Brandon Hill
37 Mike Meyerhofer
40 Dave Feiler
40 Tom Gille
43 Matt Koucerek
45 Rich Bickle
52 Keith Tolf
52 Steve Dobbratz
54 Erik Pierce
55 Scott Koerner
61 Steve Rubeck
71 Josh Bauer
87 Jesse Saunders
88 Rick Corso
89 Brad Mueller
94 Steve Campbell
99 Frank Kreyer
OO Jeff Kendall