By Jordan Kuehne

LOVES PARK, Ill. (Saturday, July 10th, 2010) – On a night of thrills at the Rockford Speedway, it was only fitting that the man who crossed the finish line second in the Crap Scrappers Hornets swarm took home the trophy. Justin Pearson thought he’d settled for a stellar second place effort after falling short to Devon Dixon during the 15-lap main event. Pearson proved victorious though as Dixon was disqualified during postrace inspection allowing the Belvidere driver to collect his second win of the 2010 campaign. The Mid-Summer’s Night Scream belonged to the showstoppers Doug Rose, Doug Noelke, and Dale Gerding however, as the Monster Truck Showdown and the Green Mamba Jet Car left the crowd abuzz after some amazing action. Rose’s torching of a passenger van closed out the evening in style, lighting up the night sky and turning up the heat on a hot summer evening.

Justin Pearson jumped out front in the early stages of the 15-lap Crap Scrappers Hornets Swarm. The battle for second was a three car duel won by Tim Dix who emerged ahead of the scrum in the bridesmaid’s position. Devon Dixon wanted a piece of the action up front, putting the heat on Dix for second with five laps in the books.

Dixon forcefully grabbed the spot using the inside lane and wasted no time turning his sights towards Pearson who had built a six car length cushion by the halfway point. With five laps remaining, Dixon had cut the margin down to a car length before he made his move, working over Pearson on the bottom groove before pushing his way to the front on the backstretch.

Pearson desperately tried to keep Dixon within shouting distance but the points leader was simply too strong muscling his way to the finish line first. Dixon was later disqualified during post-race inspection handing Pearson his second feature win of 2010.

Jason Dull edged Vinny Mangiaracina by mere inches for second as Steve McBride found his way up to fourth. Dix held on to fifth to round out the top five.

The action started heating up not long after as Doug Rose and his world famous Green Mamba Jet Car made their return to the high banks of the Rockford Speedway tonight as he wowed the crowd with a fire show before his legendary destruction of a van, burnt to a crisp. Rose and his jet engine straight off a Navy Fighter plane turned an eight passenger van into a scrap of toasted metal within five minutes. The crowd gave Rose a standing ovation after his amazing show, saluting the daredevil after he lit up the summer night with flames that plumed over fifteen feet into the night sky.

Doug Noelke and his fierce Tail Gator monster truck took home round one of the Monster Truck Showdown Super Challenge as the fans cheered on the 2007 Ford Super Gator to victory. In round two of the three race series, Dale Gerding and his Big Dawg rocketed to the checkered flag taking home the win to even the three race set. The final round of the three race Super Challenge went to Gerding’s 2004 Ford Super Duty as he edged Noelke to the three car jump and took the victory in a tight finish.

“It’s a fun night all around,” stated Gerding after the win. “As long as the fans are happy, we’re having a good time. To me, it’s like driving a rocket and everybody’s in the way. I just like to have fun.”

The monster trucks returned later in the evening for their freestyle portion of the program. Dale Gerding’s Big Dawg had a big woof as the Monster Truck Freestyle contest got underway. Gerding smashed cars and produced a whirlwind of dust as he created a mini tornado with some donuts on the frontstretch. The Big Dawg ate well, consuming metal and fiberglass as it crushed everything in its path on both sides of the legendary quarter mile.

Doug Noelke and his fan favorite, the Tail Gator, weren’t going to go home quietly though. The 2007 Ford Super Gator ate up pavement, dirt, and crushed cars as he put on an aerial show for the fans. Noelke piloted his monster through mid-air jumps slapping his tail on the ground and riding on two wheels at one point, wowing the crowd at every turn. Noelke brought the crowd to their feet as he closed his run with a grand finale, whipping water around the infield as his donuts created a hurricane of sorts.

“That was a lot of fun,” a smiling Noelke said after the race. “Dale’s doing a great job in our other truck and we’ve been coming here for a few years. They’re gracious and inspire us to try and one up ourselves each time we come out here. I couldn’t see anything out there (after those donuts). Man, it’s a lot of fun coming out there to this track.”

The Yellowbook Hornet Challenge got off to an exciting start as Brad Henery jumped out front in the early stages of the Stop ‘N Go Race. Henery fended off Steve McBride’s challenge in a race that required the four participants to stop when starter Steve Vettore asked them to before eliminating the last car to come to a halt each time. Henery crossed the line first and took home the win.

In the opening stanza of the evening, Suicide Strahorn drove his machine right through a Convertible Steel Wall and flipped it over on the first try, pleasing the excitable crowd.

A little later on in the evening, ‘Scary’ Gary Oscarson took his crazy antics to a whole new level with the Sensational Smashing Sailboat Jump. Oscarson took a couple of warmup laps before smashing the gas on his school bus and careening through the infield before plowing through the SS Minnow as fireworks and parachutes decorated the sky. The crowd cheered wildly as the bus survived the crash and emerged unscathed.

Netherlands took the early lead with a gorgeous goal in World Cup Auto Soccer, set up by a pick and roll on the Spanish side before a beautiful cross to Alan Bekielewski allowed the strike to break free and score for the Dutch.

The Spaniards knocked the stainless steel soccer ball into the crossbar as they desperately tried to even the match. Battling the pitch and several cars, each team attempted maneuvers to score until the Netherlands found victory with a second goal late in the event. The final tally ended up being three to nil in favor of the Dutch.

In the first ever Cat and Mouse Challenge, the cats edged the mouse, Rich Schinderling Jr, as the small rodent furiously attempted to track down five pieces of “cheese” hidden around the quarter-mile facility. The cats took the win as time ran out on the mouse and his quest for cheese.

The second annual Belly Flop Contest was a massive hit as Garry Schrambect’s 6 foot, 325 pound frame delivered a massive hit worthy of the crowd’s approval. Schrambect emerged with the trophy after surviving a jumpoff with college football player Tim Wermeling.

Racing returns to the high banks of the Rockford Speedway this Wednesday night for round three of Wild Wednesday on Yellowbook Night. A full slate of action is on tap including 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 2nd Over the Line Wins Race. The green flag is set to wave at 7:07pm sharp with gates opening at 5pm. Qualifying will get underway at 6:10pm.

For more information, including points standings and the remaining 2010 schedule, visit the track's website at www.rockfordspeedway.com or call the Speedway Box Office at (815)633-1500.

Rockford Speedway Results

Hornets

A-Main 01 -- 1. Justin Pearson, Belvidere; 2. Jason Dull, Machesney Park; 3. Vinny Mangiaracina, Rockford; 4. Steve McBride, South Beloit; 5. Tim Dix, Beloit, Wis; 6. Mark Seipts, Loves Park; 7. Robin Ulrey, Rockford; 8. Richard Remer, Winnebago; 9. Deric Bloomingdale, Rockford; 10. Guy Miller, Jr., Rockford; 11. Dennis Deckard, Pecatonica; 12. Brad Henrey, Machesney Park; 13. Devon Dixon, Janesville, Wis.

Heat 01 -- 1. Justin Pearson, Belvidere; 2. Jason Dull, Machesney Park; 3. Robin Ulrey, Rockford; 4. Deric
Bloomingdale, Rockford; 5. Richard Remer, Winnebago; 6. Brad Henrey, Machesney Park; 7. Guy Miller, Jr., Rockford.

Heat 02 -- 1. Steve McBride, South Beloit; 2. Vinny Mangiaracina, Rockford; 3. Tim Dix, Beloit, Wis; 4. Mark Seipts, Loves Park; 5. Dennis Deckard, Pecatonica; 6. Devon Dixon, Janesville, Wis.

Challenge 01 -- 1. Brad Henrey, Machesney Park; 2. Steve McBride, South Beloit; 3. Robin Ulrey, Rockford; 4. Deric
Bloomingdale, Rockford.