By Jordan Kuehne

LOVES PARK, Ill. (Saturday, August 14th, 2010) – A night devoted to the top eight in points turned into a battle of attrition for the Stanley Steemer NASCAR Late Models in their 30-lap main event tonight at the Rockford Speedway. After points leader Tim Sargent and second place points man Jon Reynolds Jr. were involved in early incidents, it appeared as though it might be Jerry Gille’s night to make up major ground in the standings. It wasn’t to be for the two-time defending champion though, as his brakes went away on a restart with two laps remaining sending him and leader Eddie May into the outside wall and handing Tanner Whitten the keys to victory. Scott Hoeft went wire-to-wire to collect his third win of the season in the Budweiser American Short Trackers while Kyle Voss, Aaron Moyer, and Kris Nilson also proved victorious on the evening.

Rolling to the green 18 strong, the 30-lap Stanley Steemer NASCAR Late Models main event got off to an inauspicious beginning as a chain reaction pileup collected several cars in the middle of turns one and two on the second lap. Involved in the incident were points leader Tim Sargent, who suffered heavy damage, Jon Reynolds Jr, Joe Darnell, Vern Fagerberg and Steve Erickson Jr.

After a red flag delay to clean up the heavy debris strewn around the quarter-mile, Sargent and Reynolds Jr. both made their returns to the track at the back of the pack. Wayne Freimund paced the field around to green on the restart as Mark Hartline and Dave Edwards dueled for second.

Edwards collected the spot as ‘Fast’ Eddie May followed him into third. A three car battle for the lead soon came to fruition as Edwards hammered his way to the low line and worked his way to bottom of Freimund as May sat ready to pounce inches behind. When the door opened, May burst through, taking away second from Edwards and targeting the lead. May inched past Freimund on the inside before slamming the door shut at the halfway point to take away the lead.

A huge points development wasn’t far behind as Jake Gille and Reynolds Jr. made contact exiting turn two sending Gille into the wall with 14 laps remaining. The points leader, Tim Sargent, couldn’t avoid the mayhem smashing into the rear end of Gille’s machine before being pinballed in the rear end by a spinning Steve Erickson Jr. Sargent’s crew did a remarkable job, working diligently to enable the South Beloit driver to make his return to the speedway before he fell a lap down.

May mashed the gas on the ensuing restart, earning himself a five car length cushion as two-time defending champion Jerry Gille wasted no time breaking out of the gaggle of cars In the middle of the field to grab third. Mikie Breiner turned around on the backstretch three laps later to bring out the caution and bunch the field back up.

Gille took advantage of his opportunity, grabbing the low side of May as the two fought for the lead and potentially for the win with eight circuits to go. Each time May gave up ground to Gille in the corners, he’d gain it right back on the entrance to the straightaways as he managed to hold off Gille by mere inches. A caution with two laps remaining for a solo trip through the spin cycle set up an enticing green-white-checkered finish up front.

May managed to get a small advantage over Gille when the green flag waved on the two-lap shootout but the veteran rallied, gaining the inside line before losing his brakes and careening into May, sending the leader shooting into the outside wall and ending both driver’s chances for the victory. Mikie Breiner was also involved in the incident as his machine ended up resting against the outside wall, his night over with two laps remaining.

The leaders’ misfortunes allowed 17-year-old Tanner Whitten to inherit the top spot as Kyle Shear and Mike Lloyd battled for second. Shear grabbed second with the white flag waving as Whitten survived to take home his first career victory at the famed Rockford Speedway.

“You have to keep your nose clean,” an excited Whitten offered in the winner’s circle. “I love Rockford. You gotta be able to run high, run low, get up on the wheel and drive a little bit here to win. This place really caters to a mix of aggression and patience.”

Kyle Shear escaped with a second while Lloyd landed another solid top-three, this time a third. Mark Hartline had a great effort with a fourth place finish while Dave Edwards rounded out the top five with a solid fifth.

In the 25-lap Budweiser American Short Trackers main event, Wisconsin driver Scott Hoeft maneuvered his way to the lead as a pack of nine cars battled it out for positions second through tenth.

As Hoeft paced the 12 car field around the high banks, Rachel Sparkman and Christopher Jones dueled for second. With five laps completed, Kyle Lapier made it a three car fray for second as he peeked to the inside of Sparkman. With one eye in her rearview mirror on Lapier and the other on Jones, Sparkman continued to go door-to-door with Jones for the bridesmaid’s position.

The two drivers duked it out for second for over 16 laps before Jones finally collected the position. Sparkman fell behind as Jason Bragg worked his way past her for third on the high side and turned his sights towards second. While Hoeft continued to ease the lead, Sparkman made a late race charge to reclaim third but fell short as Bragg fended her off for the position.

Scott Hoeft went wire-to-wire for his third feature win of the 2010 campaign continuing a strong sophomore campaign.

“These guys (Hoeft’s crew) busted their butts to get me back out there,” an ecstatic Hoeft stated in victory lane. “It feels great to get this thing in victory lane after a tough couple of weeks. My crew deserves a ton of credit. Wins don’t come easy at this place so to get my third of the year feels awesome.”

Jones held on for second while Jason Bragg collected a third. Rachel Sparkman continued her solid return with a strong fourth as Joe LaMarca completed the top five in fifth.

Brian Mayer snagged the top spot in the beginning of the 20-lap headliner for the Mtn Dew RoadRunners. Josh Lundy and Anthony Lloyd duked it out for second before Lloyd prevailed and snatched away the runner-up spot.

Kris Nilson wasn’t far behind, working his way into third before blowing past Lloyd on the inside and setting his sights on Mayer and the lead. Nilson didn’t wait long to grab the top spot, jostling his way into the lead at the halfway mark. A caution soon followed, tightening to field up with eight laps left.

The carnage continued a lap later as a massive pileup in turn two collected points leader Ricky Nielsen as Dennis Smith Jr. ended up on top of Nielsen’s front end. After the race resumed, Nilson broke free again before a late race incident involving Brian Mayer set up a two-lap shootout to the finish.

Despite Jason Van Hise’s best efforts, Nilson was too strong as he held on for his first feature win of the season.

“This is so cool for us and for the Nilson family,” a happy Kris stated in victory lane. “I decided to run a limited schedule after becoming a father in March but it feels good to come out here and have some success in limited action.”

Robert Roush snagged third as Lloyd and Gene Marocco finished fourth and fifth respectively.

Dwight Dunlap jumped to the early lead in the Allison Legacy portion of the 20-lap combined feature ran in conjunction with the INEX Legends. Dunlap burst past Kyle Voss for the lead as Aaron Moyer drove through the field in the INEX Legends and stole the top spot away from young Cory Cootware.

Moyer, who set a new track record for the INEX Legends during qualifying, steadily drove away from Cootware and Rachael Pinkerman in his Legend as Voss dueled with Dunlap for the chance to pace the Allison Legacy’s. With six laps in the books, Voss drove his machine deep into the corner and lost traction exiting turn four, resulting in a spin to bring out the caution.

On the restart, Voss quickly worked his way by Brian Heaberlin and Brian Baldyga to reclaim second as he set his sights on Dunlap and the lead. Moyer burst to a comfortable cushion in the Legends portion of the feature as he began to lap cars with five laps remaining. Dunlap slowly fell into the clutches of Voss as the laps wound down setting up a battle to the finish.

As Moyer cruised to victory in the INEX Legends main event, Dunlap fended off Voss’ last ditch effort in turn four and collected the trophy for the Allison Legacy’s.

Voss settled for second as Heaberlin and Baldyga rounded out the field in third and fourth for the Allison Legacy’s.

Pinkerman posted a strong second for the INEX Legends.

Due to the attrition in the Late Models main event, the scheduled Match Race with a $1000 prize for the winner was postponed until Championship Night on September 11th.

Racing action returns to the high banks of the Rockford Speedway next Saturday as the Great Bikes Give-A-Way precedes Bike Night at the track. On tap includes the Stanley Steemer NASCAR Late Models, Budweiser American Short Trackers, Mtn Dew RoadRunners and the CSR Super Cups plus the Sam’s Drive-In RoadRunner Challenge featuring the Driver’s Bike Race. Kid’s Bike Races are also on the schedule with the gates slated to open at 5pm and the green flag set to wave at 7:07pm sharp.

For more information on the Rockford Speedway, including the full schedule for the 45th annual National Short Track Championships, visit the track’s website at www.rockfordspeedway.com or call the Speedway Box Office at (815)633-1500.

NASCAR American Short Trackers

A-Main 01 -- 1. Scott Hoeft, Watertown, Wis; 2. Christopher Jones (r), Rockford; 3. Jason Bragg, Rockford; 4. Rachel Sparkman, Loves Park; 5. Joe LaMarca, Rockford; 6. Kyle Lapier, Belvidere; 7. Nick Cina, Jr, Belvidere; 8. Zach Rodriguez, Rockton; 9. Boyce (BJ) Sparkman, Machesney Park; 10. Keith Pierce, Machesney Park; 11. Mark Bielefeldt, Loves Park; 12. Thomas Atchison, Byron.

Heat 01 -- 1. Scott Hoeft, Watertown, Wis; 2. Christopher Jones (r), Rockford; 3. Rachel Sparkman, Loves Park; 4. Jason Bragg, Rockford; 5. Thomas Atchison, Byron; 6. Mark Bielefeldt, Loves Park.

Heat 02 -- 1. Boyce (BJ) Sparkman, Machesney Park; 2. Nick Cina, Jr, Belvidere; 3. Kyle Lapier, Belvidere; 4. Zach Rodriguez, Rockton; 5. Joe LaMarca, Rockford.

Time Trial -- 1. Nick Cina, Jr, Belvidere; 2. Zach Rodriguez, Rockton; 3. Joe LaMarca, Rockford; 4. Boyce (BJ) Sparkman, Machesney Park; 5. Keith Pierce, Machesney Park; 6. Kyle Lapier, Belvidere; 7. Jason Bragg, Rockford; 8. Rachel Sparkman, Loves Park; 9. Scott Hoeft, Watertown, Wis; 10. Thomas Atchison, Byron; 11. Christopher Jones (r), Rockford; 12. Mark Bielefeldt, Loves Park.

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Joe LaMarca, Rockford; 2. Nick Cina, Jr, Belvidere; 3. Boyce (BJ) Sparkman, Machesney Park; 4. Zach Rodriguez, Rockton; 5. Kyle Lapier, Belvidere; 6. Keith Pierce, Machesney Park.

NASCAR Late Models

A-Main 01 -- 1. Tanner Whitten, Congerville; 2. Kyle Shear (r), Roscoe; 3. Mike Lloyd, Davis; 4. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 5. Dave Edwards (r), Salem, Wis; 6. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 7. Vern Fagerberg (r), Bloomingdale; 8. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 9. Eddie May, Crystal Lake; 10. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 11. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 12. Mikie Breiner, Johnburg; 13. Steve Erickson, Jr (r), Machesney Park; 14. Chad Misslich, Rockford; 15. Jacob Gille, Winnebago; 16. Joe Darnell, Machesney Park; 17. Timothy Slater, Hampshire; 18. Michael Cooter, Machesney Park.

Heat 01 -- 1. Chad Misslich, Rockford; 2. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 3. Joe Darnell, Machesney Park; 4. Jacob Gille, Winnebago; 5. Timothy Slater, Hampshire; 6. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 7. Vern Fagerberg (r), Bloomingdale; 8. Steve Erickson, Jr (r), Machesney Park; 9. Michael Cooter, Machesney Park.

Heat 02 -- 1. Kyle Shear (r), Roscoe; 2. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 3. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 4. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 5. Tanner Whitten, Congerville; 6. Mike Lloyd, Davis; 7. Mikie Breiner, Johnburg; 8. Dave Edwards (r), Salem, Wis; 9. Eddie May, Crystal Lake.

Time Trial -- 1. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 2. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 3. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 4. Tanner Whitten, Congerville; 5. Eddie May, Crystal Lake; 6. Mike Lloyd, Davis; 7. Kyle Shear (r), Roscoe; 8. Mikie Breiner, Johnburg; 9. Dave Edwards (r), Salem, Wis; 10. Jacob Gille, Winnebago; 11. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 12. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 13. Steve Erickson, Jr (r), Machesney Park; 14. Timothy Slater, Hampshire; 15. Vern Fagerberg (r), Bloomingdale; 16. Chad Misslich, Rockford; 17. Joe Darnell, Machesney Park; 18. Michael Cooter, Machesney Park.

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Mike Lloyd, Davis; 2. Eddie May, Crystal Lake; 3. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 4. Tanner Whitten,
Congerville; 5. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 6. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford.

NASCAR Road Runners

A-Main 01 -- 1. Kris Nilson, Rockford; 2. Jason Van Hise, Loves Park; 3. Robert Roush, Marengo; 4. Anthony Lloyd, Loves Park; 5. Gene Marocco, Machesney Park; 6. Howie Ware, South Beloit; 7. Joshua Lundy, Loves Park; 8. Ricky Nielsen, Rockford; 9. Adam Cartwright, Woodstock; 10. Shawn Rickelman, Rockton; 11. Jason Brockway, Machesney Park; 12. Richard Nielsen, Byron; 13. Jeff Allendorf, Belvidere; 14. Mike Leopold, Algonquin; 15. Michael Neblock, Loves Park; 16. Josh DiGiovanni, Loves Park; 17. Michael (Mike) Wallis, Machesney Park; 18. Arlyn Roush, Woodstock; 19. Dennis Smith, Jr, South Beloit; 20. James Gregory, Winnebago; 21. Raymond Hardesty, McHenry; 22. Linnea Lundy, Loves Park.

Heat 01 -- 1. Kris Nilson, Rockford; 2. Steve Gregory, Machesney Park; 3. Curt Nighswonger, Rockford; 4. Adam
Cartwright, Woodstock; 5. Shawn Rickelman, Rockton; 6. Michael (Mike) Wallis, Machesney Park; 7. Josh DiGiovanni, Loves Park; 8. Linnea Lundy, Loves Park; 9. Michael Neblock, Loves Park;

Heat 02 -- 1. Richard Nielsen, Byron; 2. Brian Mayer, Machesney Park; 3. Joshua Lundy, Loves Park; 4. Mike Leopold, Algonquin; 5. Jeff Allendorf, Belvidere; 6. James Gregory, Winnebago; 7. Jason Brockway, Machesney Park.

Heat 03 -- 1. Anthony Lloyd, Loves Park; 2. Howie Ware, South Beloit; 3. Arlyn Roush, Woodstock; 4. Jason Van Hise, Loves Park; 5. Dennis Smith, Jr, South Beloit; 6. Robert Roush, Marengo; 7. Gene Marocco, Machesney Park; 8. Ricky Nielsen, Rockford.

Challenge 01 -- 1. Anthony Lloyd, Loves Park; 2. Jason Van Hise, Loves Park; 3. Robert Roush, Marengo; 4. Shawn
Rickelman, Rockton; 5. Brian Mayer, Machesney Park; 6. Kyle Watts, Machesney Park; 7. Arlyn Roush, Woodstock; 8.
Adam Cartwright, Woodstock; 9. Raymond Hardesty, McHenry; 10. Mike Leopold, Algonquin; 11. Kenneth Wines,
Machesney Park; 12. Michael (Mike) Wallis, Machesney Park.

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Dennis Smith, Jr, South Beloit; 2. Howie Ware, South Beloit; 3. Robert Roush, Marengo; 4. Gene Marocco, Machesney Park; 5. Ricky Nielsen, Rockford; 6. Arlyn Roush, Woodstock.