By Jordan Kuehne

LOVES PARK, Ill. (Saturday, June 26th, 2010) – Jon Reynolds Jr. isn’t used to waiting until the end of June for his first victory in the Stanley Steemer NASCAR Late Models, but his patience paid off tonight as ‘Driver X’ staved off a late-race challenge from points leader Tim Sargent to take home a hard-earned win at the Rockford Speedway. On a night with extended features and the crowning of the USG Midseason Champions, Reynolds Jr. sliced and diced through a venerable field of veterans, exhibiting patience as he picked off car after car before inheriting the lead in the middle of the race after a strong restart. Reynolds Jr. outgunned the man everyone has their sights on this season and the victory sends a message that he is a force to be reckoned with as the second half of the season approaches. In an extended Budweiser American Short Trackers main event, Jason Bragg saw his luck turn around, fending off young gun Kyle Lapier for the trophy. The Mtn Dew RoadRunners headliner was taken down by a dominant Charlie Frisch, who charged into the top spot in the early stages and never looked back.

Steve Erickson Jr. paced the 15 car Stanley Steemer NASCAR Late Models field to the green flag in their 50-lap feature headliner. ‘Fast’ Eddie May swiftly worked his way through traffic into second, maneuvering from his fifth place starting spot as he eyed the lead.

May made his move with 13 laps in the books, taking away the inside of the high banked quarter-mile from Erickson Jr. and driving into the top spot two laps later. Mikie Breiner got on board that train, tagging along on the inside of Erickson Jr. as he pushed into second.

The first caution of the extended feature flew for an unassisted spin by two-time defending champion Jerry Gille on lap 18. The ensuing restart allowed ‘Driver X’, Jon Reynolds Jr, to work his way up front, using the restart cone to gain traction on the inside line and battle May for the lead. Reynolds Jr. snatched the top spot four laps later, inheriting the lead and bringing points leader Tim Sargent with him in to second.

The second caution of the proceedings bunched the field back together after Jake Gille loosened up exiting turn two and spun into a helpless Ryan Miles, sending both drivers sliding into the backstretch wall. The restart came with 20 circuits remaining and Jon Reynolds Jr. wasted no time in rebuilding a cushion over Sargent. The big mover when the green flag dropped was Jerry Gille, who fought his way from the back of the pack up to fourth when the action resumed.

Gille didn’t hold fourth for long however, as Mike Lloyd forcefully took it away from him in turn two with 15 laps left in the event. The battle wasn’t over for the two veterans as Gille slowly worked his way back to Lloyd’s bumper, blowing past him with five laps to go.

The duel for the win heated up as Sargent nudged closer to Reynolds Jr. with each passing lap, cutting the margin to a car length when the white flag waved. Sargent was just easing up to Reynolds Jr’s back bumper when ‘Driver X’ exited turn four, taking the checkered flag and his first feature victory of 2010.

“The car was fast tonight, really fast,” a pumped up Reynolds Jr. stated in victory lane. “I haven’t even thought about this car until tonight with the super late, so I have to thank my crew. It got faster (as the race went on) and was fun to drive. We’ve had our share of bad luck throughout the year so it feels good to get a win tonight. My crew deserves a lot of the credit; they’ve done a great job giving me fast cars.”

Sargent solidified his USG Midseason Championship and extended his points lead to 42 notches with another consistent finish, coming home second. May managed a strong third place showing as Gille rallied for fourth. Mike Lloyd rounded out the top five in fifth.

Jack Atchison grabbed the top spot at the beginning of the extended 40-lap Budweiser American Short Trackers main event. Jason Bragg and Joe LaMarca went door-to-door for second behind the leader before LaMarca prevailed and took away the second position.

The first caution flew when LaMarca and Atchison got together on the frontstretch sending the elder veteran spinning and LaMarca to the back. Atchison was allowed to regain his spot out front with four laps completed.

Jason Bragg made his move on the restart, jumping out front as Kyle Lapier rode shotgun, maneuvering into the bridesmaid’s position as Atchison dropped back. Points leader Nick Cina Jr. followed suit, pushing up to third.

With 18 circuits ticked off, Lapier commenced his push, peeking on the inside of Bragg as the young gun looked for his first win of the season. Bragg felt the pressure, washing up the racetrack in turns three and four as the laps ticked away. With Lapier tiptoeing through the turns looking for an opening, Bragg slammed the door shut on Lapier’s last gasp effort with two laps remaining, collecting his first feature victory of the season in the process.

“It’s about time we got one,” an excited Bragg stated after the race. “Damn it feels good to get to victory lane. This car was all over the place out there and I needed all my stamina to bring it home, that’s for sure. Boy it was tough, but we got it done and I have to give a shout out to my crew for giving me a car good enough to win.”

Lapier continued his consistent campaign with his second while USG Midseason Champion Nick Cina Jr. came home third, managing to hold onto a seven point margin over Lapier. Scott Hoeft found his way up to fourth while LaMarca held on for a fifth place finish to complete the top five.

Charlie Frisch charged through the field into the top spot in the early stages of the 30-lap Mtn Dew RoadRunners feature. Dennis Smith Jr. meekly relinquished the lead to Frisch as Anthony Lloyd quickly snuck into the hole and pushed into second. As Smith Jr. dropped back to third, Ricky Nielsen and Gene Marocco were putting on a spirited fight for fourth.

Marocco prevailed as the halfway mark came and went, turning his focus towards Smith Jr. and third place. With 14 laps remaining, midseason points leader Brett McCoy suffered a broken right front rotor, ending his night early. Up front, Marocco worked his way into third as Nielsen looked to do the same, only to have his move for position thwarted by lapped traffic.

Frisch had no such troubles, flying past the lapped traffic unabated and collecting his second feature victory of 2010 in dominant fashion.

Anthony Lloyd’s second place effort marked his best finish of 2010 while Marocco took third. Smith Jr. scratched and clawed, hanging onto fourth as Robert Roush closed on the points lead with a fifth place finish.
Despite his troubles, Brett McCoy claimed the USG Midseason Championship by a single point over Ricky Nielsen.

The Sam’s Drive-In RoadRunner Challenge Double OH! Race featured a strong return by 2009 Challenge champ Jason Van Hise. Van Hise jumped out ahead of the pack in a four lap race that took six car field around the high banks and through the ‘X’ in the infield before peeling back onto the quarter-mile oval. Fending off a spirited effort from Marengo driver Robert Roush, Van Hise found his way into the winner’s circle. Jerry Edge nudged aside Raymond Hardesty atop the Challenge points standings by just two markers.

Racing returns to the high banks this Wednesday night as Wild Wednesday rolls on at the legendary facility. On tap are the Mtn Dew RoadRunners Super Summer Series, Crap Scrapper Hornets, Winged Women on Wheels, National Figure 8 League, Spectacular Drags, INEX Legends, INEX Bandoleros, Allison Legends and the Yellowbook Hornet Challenge Hare ‘N Hound Race plus the Fastor Pastor Races! Admission is $8 for adults and $4 for kids ages 6-11 with all children ages 5 and under FREE! Gates open at 5:30pm with the green flag waving at 7:07pm sharp.

For more information, including the complete point standings at the midway point of the 2010 season, visit the track’s website at www.rockfordspeedway.com or call the Speedway Box Office at (815)633-1500.

Rockford Speedway Results Week 8

NASCAR American Short Trackers

A-Main 01 -- 1. Jason Bragg, Rockford; 2. Kyle Lapier, Belvidere; 3. Nick Cina, Jr, Belvidere; 4. Scott Hoeft, Watertown, Wis; 5. Joe LaMarca, Rockford; 6. Boyce (BJ) Sparkman, Machesney Park; 7. Tanner Atchison, Byron; 8. Christopher Jones, Rockford; 9. Jack Atchison, Stillman Valley; 10. Nick Letsinger, Rockford.

Heat 01 -- 1. Jason Bragg, Rockford; 2. Joe LaMarca, Rockford; 3. Jack Atchison, Stillman Valley; 4. Nick Letsinger, Rockford; 5. Christopher Jones, Rockford.

Heat 02 -- 1. Kyle Lapier, Belvidere; 2. Boyce (BJ) Sparkman, Machesney Park; 3. Nick Cina, Jr, Belvidere; 4. Scott Hoeft, Watertown, Wis; 5. Tanner Atchison, Byron.

Time Trial -- 1. Nick Cina, Jr, Belvidere; 2. Boyce (BJ) Sparkman, Machesney Park; 3. Scott Hoeft, Watertown, Wis; 4. Kyle Lapier, Belvidere; 5. Tanner Atchison, Byron; 6. Jason Bragg, Rockford; 7. Joe LaMarca, Rockford; 8. Jack
Atchison, Stillman Valley; 9. Christopher Jones, Rockford; 10. Laura Siarkiewicz, Algonquin; 11. Keith Pierce, Machesney Park.

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Nick Cina, Jr, Belvidere; 2. Tanner Atchison, Byron; 3. Boyce (BJ) Sparkman, Machesney Park; 4. Scott Hoeft, Watertown, Wis; 5. Kyle Lapier, Belvidere; 6. Jason Bragg, Rockford.

NASCAR Late Models

A-Main 01 -- 1. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 2. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 3. Eddie May, Crystal Lake; 4. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 5. Mike Lloyd, Davis; 6. Kyle Shear, Roscoe; 7. Mikie Breiner, Johnburg; 8. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 9. Dave Edwards, Salem, Wis; 10. Steve Erickson, Jr, Machesney Park; 11. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 12. Jacob Gille, Winnebago; 13. Joe Darnell, Machesney Park; 14. Ryan Miles, Crystal Lake; 15. Tyler Peterson, Lake Geneva, Wis.

Heat 01 -- 1. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 2. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 3. Tyler Peterson, Lake Geneva, Wis; 4. Ryan Miles, Crystal Lake; 5. Mikie Breiner, Johnburg; 6. Dave Edwards, Salem, Wis; 7. Joe Darnell, Machesney Park; 8. Steve Erickson, Jr, Machesney Park.

Heat 02 -- 1. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 2. Kyle Shear, Roscoe; 3. Eddie May, Crystal Lake; 4. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 5. Jacob Gille, Winnebago; 6. Mike Lloyd, Davis; 7. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford.

Time Trial -- 1. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 2. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 3. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 4. Jacob Gille, Winnebago; 5. Mike Lloyd, Davis; 6. Kyle Shear, Roscoe; 7. Eddie May, Crystal Lake; 8. Ryan Miles, Crystal Lake; 9. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 10. Mikie Breiner, Johnburg; 11. Steve Erickson, Jr, Machesney Park; 12. Dave Edwards, Salem, Wis; 13. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 14. Joe Darnell, Machesney Park; 15. Tyler Peterson, Lake Geneva, Wis.

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Mike Lloyd, Davis; 2. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 3. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 4. Jacob Gille, Winnebago; 5. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 6. Kyle Shear, Roscoe.

NASCAR Road Runners

A-Main 01 -- 1. Charlie Frisch, Beloit, Wis; 2. Anthony Lloyd, Loves Park; 3. Gene Marocco, Machesney Park; 4. Dennis Smith, Jr, South Beloit; 5. Robert Roush, Marengo; 6. Ricky Nielsen, Rockford; 7. Dave Lumsden, Jr., Rockford; 8. Jason Van Hise, Loves Park; 9. Brian Mayer, Machesney Park; 10. Jeff Allendorf, Belvidere; 11. Billy McCoy, Belvidere; 12. Joshua Lundy, Loves Park; 13. Jerry Edge, Marengo; 14. Marvin Butler, Rockford; 15. Mike Leopold, Algonquin; 16. James Gregory, Winnebago; 17. Raymond Hardesty, McHenry; 18. Linnea Lundy, Loves Park; 19. Michael Neblock, Loves Park; 20. Brett McCoy, Belvidere.

Heat 01 -- 1. Steve Gregory, Machesney Park; 2. Jerry Edge, Marengo; 3. Marvin Butler, Rockford; 4. Adam Cartwright, Woodstock; 5. James Gregory, Winnebago; 6. Linnea Lundy, Loves Park; 7. Michael Neblock, Loves Park.

Heat 02 -- 1. Dennis Smith, Jr, South Beloit; 2. Anthony Lloyd, Loves Park; 3. Mike Leopold, Algonquin; 4. Brian Mayer, Machesney Park; 5. Raymond Hardesty, McHenry; 6. Billy McCoy, Belvidere; 7. Joshua Lundy, Loves Park; 8. Jason Brockway, Machesney Park.

Heat 03 -- 1. Ricky Nielsen, Rockford; 2. Charlie Frisch, Beloit, Wis; 3. Jason Van Hise, Loves Park; 4. Brett McCoy, Belvidere; 5. Gene Marocco, Machesney Park; 6. Robert Roush, Marengo; 7. Jeff Allendorf, Belvidere; 8. Dave Lumsden, Jr., Rockford.

Challenge 01 -- 1. Jason Van Hise, Loves Park; 2. Robert Roush, Marengo; 3. Adam Cartwright, Woodstock; 4.
Raymond Hardesty, McHenry; 5. Jerry Edge, Marengo; 6. Matt Belknap, Lake in the Hills.

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Ricky Nielsen, Rockford; 2. Robert Roush, Marengo; 3. Charlie Frisch, Beloit, Wis; 4. Gene
Marocco, Machesney Park; 5. Jason Van Hise, Loves Park; 6. Jeff Allendorf, Belvidere.