By: Kevin Ramsell
Wednesday, September 12, 2007 (Loves Park, IL) – In 2006 Matt Merrell and his team called Rockford Speedway to make sure that the National Short Track Championships were still on even though the weather forecast was questionable. That was on Wednesday, when they got word the race was going to happen, Merrell and his team embarked on a twenty plus hour voyage to the northern Illinois facility that helped build names like Mark Martin, Dick Trickle, Rusty Wallace, Jamie McMurray and Clint Bowyer.

The Gregory, TX native quickly made a name for himself in Rockford, IL as he and Midwestern short track veteran Tony “The Tiger” Strupp fought an intense battle in the last chance event. Strupp went on to win that race but was met by a cascade of boos from the grandstands as many felt he roughed up the visiting Texan. The boos would turn to cheers as the now 22 year old Merrell was placed in the field and charged to a thirteenth place finish.

A former standout on the USRA Super Late Model Series in Texas, Merrell has found himself behind the wheel of both ASA Late Models and ARCA Re/Max Series machines this season. He has filed his entry for the 42nd annual National Short Track Championships on September 28-30 and will once again challenge the high banks of Rockford Speedway.

Merrell will be driving the Merrell Lease Service, Port City, Chevrolet Monte Carlo and hopes to qualify directly into the twenty-six car starting field for the 200 lap National Short Track Championship Feature Sunday afternoon September 30 that pays three thousand dollars to win and one thousand dollars to start. A total of twelve divisions will be competing during the NSTC weekend, for more information including tickets please call the Speedway Box Office at 815-633-1500 or visit www.rockfordspeedway.com