By Jordan Kuehne

LOVES PARK, Ill. (Saturday, September 11th, 2010) – Just call 2010 the "Summer of Sarge". When it was all said and done, Tim Sargent joined the Rockford Speedway record books as his fifth place finish clinched the 2010 Stanley Steemer NASCAR Late Models title by 11 points over Jon Reynolds Jr. The feature action saw Ryan Carlson find his way into victory lane as he notched his first win of the season. Sargent wasn't the only champion on the evening as the top four divisions all crowned their victors. Matt Berger had the title locked up before the feature even began in the Bargain Hunter Sportsman and then he went out and took home the win for good measure.

A tight Budweiser American Short Trackers battle came down to their headliner as Kyle Lapier’s runner-up effort was enough to lock up his first ever title at Rockford as BJ Sparkman’s late race charge came up short. Scott Hoeft took in the champion’s festivities from victory lane after his fourth win of the season. The Mtn Dew RoadRunners feature went to their champion, Robert Roush, who ran away with the win on the track and in the point standings, sealing the deal with an early race move for the lead before collecting his hardware afterwards.

The Stanley Steemer NASCAR Late Models 2010 campaign came down to a special extended 50-lap showcase as 19 cars answered the call for the top division at the legendary facility. The feature would decide the champion as fast qualifier and points leader Tim Sargent paced the only other horse in the race, Jon Reynolds Jr, by 15 points. Sargent could clinch the title with a seventh place finish even if ‘Driver X’ took home the feature win.

The green flag hadn’t even waved when the mayhem broke loose on the race track as Brandon Eash lost control and turned straight into the wall collecting a helpless Joe Darnell, Wayne Freimund, and Vern Fagerberg and sending all of them into the pits. When the green flag finally came out, Bargain Hunter Sportsman champion Matt Berger quickly negotiated his way to the lead.

As the high line worked its way around a pair of cars on the bottom, Reynolds Jr. pushed his way into the top five while Sargent lagged behind in eighth. Reynolds Jr. wasted no time blowing past Jake and Jerry Gille to collect third as Sargent followed, working his way into fifth and within range of the title.

Out front, Berger and Ryan Carlson duked it out for the lead with 18 laps completed as Reynolds Jr. eyed the win and a miracle. Carlson snagged the top position with 29 laps to go as Berger dropped back to third as Reynolds Jr. relinquished his spot to a charging Jerry Gille. A caution soon followed after contact between Eddie May and Tanner Whitten sent May around.

The green flag waved with 27 circuits to go as Jerry Gille quickly put the clamps down on Carlson out front while Reynolds Jr. worked his way back to third, slipping past Berger with the assistance of the inside lane. Gille pulled even with Carlson with 21 laps remaining as the two veterans went door-to-door for the win as the battle for the championship played out behind them.

Looking for any opening, Gille dug deep for grip on the bottom of the high banks as ‘Driver X’ exploded into the picture closing up behind them and making it a three car fray for the lead. Nothing was held back as the top three cars jockeyed for position out front with the laps rapidly winding down. As Sargent smoothly glided around in fifth with the championship in hand, Reynolds Jr. gave a last ditch effort for the victory that fell short as Carlson collected the checkers for the first time in 2010.

Sargent’s fifth place finish was enough to clinch the title as he held on by 11 points to collect his first career title at Rockford Speedway and join the legends like John Knaus, Ricky Bilderback, Bobby Wilberg, and Joe Shear in the record books as a Stanley Steemer NASCAR Late Model champion at the historic racing facility.

“I have to thank my pit crew that worked nonstop on this thing to get us out here,” a happy Sargent stated in victory lane. “I haven’t thought about it yet but wow, it’s awesome. There will definitely be a party at the 39 trailer tonight. We worked hard to get here and we finally got it done.”

The race winner thought Sargent was a fitting champion. “Tim Sargent deserves it no matter what anyone out there says,” Ryan Carlson quipped in the winner’s circle. “My mouth is really dry I think. That was some great racing tonight and we definitely had to earn it. I had a couple of second and third place finishes this year and we finally got it done on the final night.”

Jerry Gille settled for second while Reynolds Jr’s championship push culminated with a third place effort that fell short. Matt Berger, fresh off his Sportsman title, finished fourth while champion Tim Sargent rounded out the top five in fifth.

Steve Erickson Jr. notched the 2010 Rookie of the Year title while Jerry Gille took home top honors as the Dash champ.

The Budweiser American Short Trackers 25-lap main event got off to a swift start as Scott Hoeft negotiated his way to the early lead while points leader Kyle Lapier worked his way into second on the opening lap. Lapier, holding a six point edge over BJ Sparkman entering the feature, needed only a third place finish to secure the title.

Lapier’s quest for the crown got a bit easier when Sparkman slipped to fifth with five laps in the books. Hoeft began to feel the heat from the points leader on lap six as the young driver from Belvidere applied the pressure to the Wisconsin hot shoe’s back bumper, looking for any opening to snatch the top spot away.

Sparkman rallied past rookie of the year contender Chris Jones on the outside to find fourth as the clock ticked on his late race charge for the title. As the laps wound down, Lapier looked for an opening out front as Sparkman worked over Jason Bragg for third. Time ran out on Sparkman as Lapier clinched his first career Budweiser American Short Trackers championship with a runner-up finish.

Scott Hoeft claimed his fourth victory of 2010 but it was Kyle Lapier that was the big winner as he celebrated with his crew in the winner’s circle. Lapier took home the championship trophy by just 10 points over former champion BJ Sparkman as the Sparkman’s family reign atop the podium finally ended.

“It’s one of the hardest championships I’ve had to win,” an exhausted Lapier admitted in the winner’s circle. “We had a great car to drive. It felt so good to win this and to finally get one out here.”

Lapier’s runner-up effort clinched the crown as Jason Bragg took home a third. BJ Sparkman held on to fourth while brother George Sparkman completed the top five in fifth.

The Rookie of the Year in the Budweiser American Short Trackers went to Joe LaMarca who had a feature win on the season. BJ Sparkman may find some consolation as he did take down the Dash title.

Justin Sellers jumped out front in the early stages of the 25-lap 2010 finale for the Bargain Hunter Sportsman. The action was fast and furious at the beginning as Bobby Yonkee lost it in the middle of turns three and four on lap two collecting defending champion Doug Bennett and young Austin Nason in the mayhem.

The accident had no bearing on the championship as Matt Berger had already locked up the title and was racing strictly for victory lane in the 11 car feature. Bennett returned to the quarter-mile oval minus a hood as he dropped to the back of the pack for his involvement in the caution while Nason also managed to make it back.

Sellers dashed back to the lead on the restart as Berger looked for a literal victory lap, battling Steve Vaughn for second as he eyed the win. Five laps after gaining traction on the inside line, Berger assumed the runner-up spot and turned his sights towards the leader. Another caution fell two laps later for a solo trip through the spin cycle by Vaughn.

On the ensuing restart, Berger catapulted into the top spot and grabbed control of the race as Nason and Bennett battled for third behind the leaders. As Berger put it on cruise control out front, Austin Nason worked his way by a fading Sellers for second. The caution that the pending champion didn’t want to see came when Ron Morris and Chris Gantz made contact entering turn one sending them through the infield dirt and bunching the field back up with eight laps remaining.

Berger broke free on the restart and hit his marks over the final five laps to collect his third feature win of the season and round out his first career Rockford Speedway championship in grand fashion. Berger took the title by a comfortable 37 points over Doug Bennett.

“I was so scared to death we’d lose this,” Berger admitted in victory lane. “I was wondering what was going to break this time but we got it done. I have to thank my wife, my mom, my dad, my crew for allowing me to race and keep doing this. We finally won one and it feels great. It feels so good.”

Nason settled for second as Sellers collected third. Bennett and Butch Swinbank finished off the top five.

Austin Nason’s strong rookie campaign will net him Rookie of the Year honors as the young gun returns eyeing a title in 2011. Matt Berger’s domination of the division also extended to the dashes as he notched the Dash title as well.

Anthony Vito snagged the early lead in the Mtn Dew RoadRunners 20-lap finale as points leader Robert Roush closed up quickly and set up a pass for the lead. A four car breakaway out front pitted Roush and Vito side-by-side for the lead as Terrance Robinson and Dennis Smith Jr. went at it for third.

Roush broke away from the pack at the halfway mark as Robinson followed him on the outside into the bridesmaid’s position. Vito dropped to third as Jason Van Hise and Smith Jr. duked it out for fourth. Smith Jr. had just succumbed to Van Hise when he was sent careening into the outside wall by Howie Ware with three laps remaining to bring out the first caution of the race.

On the restart Roush rolled out to a five car length lead as Vito and Robinson went door-to-door for second. Roush hit his marks on the way to victory and the title, collecting his fourth feature win of the season and capping off a championship season on a high note taking the checkers.

“My family helped me get here and I have to thank them first,” a relieved Roush offered in the winner’s circle. “The car was hooked up almost all year and we just kept hitting the setup and everyone made it a great year for us. We had to get past Ricky (Nielsen) late in the year but we never gave up and kept fighting. It definitely feels pretty amazing to win this.”

Vito’s strong effort earned him a runner-up finish as Terrance Robinson settled for a top three in third. Eric Schoffen’s strong close to the season was capped off with a stellar fourth place effort while Jason Van Hise’s bid for the championship fell short as he collected another top five in fifth.

Robert Roush’s well-rounded season helped him notch the Dash championship as well.

The action wasn’t over after all the champions had been crowned however as the Late Model Match Race took center stage after the features had been completed. The top eight drivers with cars in good shape took to the high banks for a bracket-style match race competition as the top driver, Tim Sargent, faced the eighth place driver, Mark Hartline, and so on in three-lap duels.

The first round featured a couple upsets as Hartline nipped Sargent and Eddie May worked his way by Wayne Freimund. Jerry Gille and Jon Reynolds Jr. also advanced.

Semifinal victories went to Eddie May and Jerry Gille as Gille and Reynolds Jr. played cat and mouse on the track before the two-time champion prevailed.

Jerry Gille took round one in the best of three championship duel as ‘Fast’ Eddie May inherited lane choice on the second round. May managed to fend off Gille to collect round two forcing the championship battle to go to a decisive third round. Eddie May took the victory after the two drivers made contact during the final round putting Gille’s machine out of commission as the Crystal Lake driver worked his way into the winner’s circle.

“That was a lot of fun,” an ecstatic May stated after his $550 cash grab. “It’s nice to finally get into victory lane. The feature was a little rough but I made some quick adjustments there at the end and it held together for three laps.”

The final Sam’s Drive-In RoadRunner Challenge of the season had a strong field of cars as the drivers tackled the Outhouse Race. Each driver had to push their car past the timing stand and get out before running to the outhouse and grabbing toilet paper while clearing a hurdle. Then they had to hop back in their racing machine and complete a lap around the quarter-mile oval with the lowest overall time winning.

When every driver had given their best shot at the mini obstacle course, Arlyn Roush had eclipsed the best time and posted a strong effort of 44 seconds that earned him the win. His brother, Robert, made it a clean sweep in terms of RoadRunner titles as he took down the crown for the Sam’s Drive-In RoadRunner Challenge and will collect the big six-foot trophy during the banquet in January.

While the season may be over, racing is not completed at the Rockford Speedway as the 45th annual National Short Track Championships loom large in under a month. The legendary three-day racing weekend will get underway on Friday, October 1st, before ‘One Great Racing Weekend’ comes to a conclusion with the 200-lap Super Late Model main event on Sunday, October 3rd. For more information on NSTC’s, visit the tab on the track website.

One more champion will be crowned this upcoming weekend as the Crap Scrappers Hornets sort out who their top dog will be during Budweiser Night of Thrills next Saturday night. A full slate of exciting and daring action awaits racing fans as the Green Mamba Jet Car and the Monster Truck State Finals headline the proceedings. There will be FREE Monster Truck Rides before the racing action with gates opening at 5pm and the green flag waving at 7:07pm on what promises to be a fun night for everyone.

For more information on the 2010 season, including a full schedule for NSTC’s, visit the track website at www.rockfordspeedway.com or call the Speedway Box Office at (815)633-1500.

Rockford Speedway Results (Week 17)

NASCAR All American Sportsmen

A-Main 01 -- 1. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 2. Austin Nason (r), Roscoe; 3. Justin Sellers, Carol Stream; 4. Doug Bennett, Brodhead, Wis; 5. Warren (Butch) Swinbank, Rockford; 6. Steve Vaughn, Loves Park; 7. Tim Jendrycki, Round Lake; 8. Tom Flippo, Jr., Byron; 9. Chris Gantz, Rockford; 10. Ron Morris, Belvidere; 11. Bobby Yonke, Willowbrook.

Heat 01 -- 1. Warren (Butch) Swinbank, Rockford; 2. Ron Morris, Belvidere; 3. Bobby Yonke, Willowbrook; 4. Justin
Sellers, Carol Stream; 5. Tim Jendrycki, Round Lake; 6. Tom Flippo, Jr., Byron.

Heat 02 -- 1. Steve Vaughn, Loves Park; 2. Doug Bennett, Brodhead, Wis; 3. Austin Nason (r), Roscoe; 4. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 5. Chris Gantz, Rockford.

Time Trial -- 1. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 2. Austin Nason (r), Roscoe; 3. Chris Gantz, Rockford; 4. Doug Bennett, Brodhead, Wis; 5. Steve Vaughn, Loves Park; 6. Ron Morris, Belvidere; 7. Justin Sellers, Carol Stream; 8. Bobby Yonke, Willowbrook; 9. Tim Jendrycki, Round Lake; 10. Warren (Butch) Swinbank, Rockford; 11. Tom Flippo, Jr., Byron.

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Austin Nason (r), Roscoe; 2. Doug Bennett, Brodhead, Wis; 3. Ron Morris, Belvidere; 4. Steve Vaughn, Loves Park; 5. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 6. Chris Gantz, Rockford.

NASCAR American Short Trackers

A-Main 01 -- 1. Scott Hoeft, Watertown, Wis; 2. Kyle Lapier, Belvidere; 3. Jason Bragg, Rockford; 4. Boyce (BJ) Sparkman, Machesney Park; 5. George Sparkman, Loves Park; 6. Christopher Jones (r), Rockford; 7. Keith Pierce, Machesney Park; 8. Zach Rodriguez, Rockton; 9. David Russell, Rockford; 10. Rachel Sparkman, Loves Park; 11. Jack Atchison, Stillman Valley; 12. Joe LaMarca (r), Rockford; 13. James Isaac, Rockford; 14. Dave Lee, Rockford; 15. Artt Higbee, Rockford; 16. Laura Siarkiewicz, Algonquin; 17. Nick Cina, Jr, Belvidere.

Heat 01 -- 1. Keith Pierce, Machesney Park; 2. Zach Rodriguez, Rockton; 3. David Russell, Rockford; 4. Jack Atchison, Stillman Valley; 5. James Isaac, Rockford; 6. Steve Drays, Milton, Wis; 7. Artt Higbee, Rockford; 8. Dave Lee, Rockford; 9. Laura Siarkiewicz, Algonquin.

Heat 02 -- 1. Boyce (BJ) Sparkman, Machesney Park; 2. Nick Cina, Jr, Belvidere; 3. Kyle Lapier, Belvidere; 4. George Sparkman, Loves Park; 5. Rachel Sparkman, Loves Park; 6. Christopher Jones (r), Rockford; 7. Scott Hoeft,
Watertown, Wis; 8. Jason Bragg, Rockford; 9. Joe LaMarca (r), Rockford.

Time Trial -- 1. Boyce (BJ) Sparkman, Machesney Park; 2. George Sparkman, Loves Park; 3. Nick Cina, Jr, Belvidere;
4. Rachel Sparkman, Loves Park; 5. Joe LaMarca (r), Rockford; 6. Kyle Lapier, Belvidere; 7. Christopher Jones (r), Rockford; 8. Jason Bragg, Rockford; 9. Scott Hoeft, Watertown, Wis; 10. Keith Pierce, Machesney Park; 11. Zach Rodriguez, Rockton; 12. Steve Drays, Milton, Wis; 13. David Russell, Rockford; 14. James Isaac, Rockford; 15. Jack Atchison, Stillman Valley; 16. Artt Higbee, Rockford; 17. Dave Lee, Rockford; 18. Laura Siarkiewicz, Algonquin.

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Nick Cina, Jr, Belvidere; 2. George Sparkman, Loves Park; 3. Joe LaMarca (r), Rockford; 4. Boyce (BJ) Sparkman, Machesney Park; 5. Rachel Sparkman, Loves Park; 6. Kyle Lapier, Belvidere.

NASCAR Late Models

A-Main 01 -- 1. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 2. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 3. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 4. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 5. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 6. Tom Gille, Winnebago; 7. Kyle Shear, Roscoe; 8. Jacob Gille, Winnebago; 9. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 10. Mike Lloyd, Davis; 11. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 12. Tanner Whitten, Congerville; 13. Eddie May, Crystal Lake; 14. Mikie Breiner, Johnburg; 15. Vern Fagerberg, Bloomingdale; 16. Dave Edwards (r), Salem, Wis; 17. Steve McBride, South Beloit; 18. Joe Darnell, Machesney Park; 19. Brandon Eash, Rockford.

Heat 01 -- 1. Mikie Breiner, Johnburg; 2. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 3. Tom Gille, Winnebago; 4. Joe Darnell, Machesney Park; 5. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 6. Vern Fagerberg, Bloomingdale; 7. Steve McBride, South Beloit.

Heat 02 -- 1. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 2. Kyle Shear, Roscoe; 3. Mike Lloyd, Davis; 4. Eddie May, Crystal Lake; 5. Brandon Eash, Rockford; 6. Dave Edwards (r), Salem, Wis.

Heat 03 -- 1. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 2. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 3. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 4. Tanner Whitten, Congerville; 5. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 6. Jacob Gille, Winnebago.

Time Trial -- 1. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 2. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 3. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 4. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 5. Jacob Gille, Winnebago; 6. Tanner Whitten, Congerville; 7. Eddie May, Crystal Lake; 8. Brandon Eash, Rockford; 9. Kyle Shear, Roscoe; 10. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 11. Mike Lloyd, Davis; 12. Dave Edwards (r), Salem, Wis; 13. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 14. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 15. Vern Fagerberg, Bloomingdale; 16. Mikie Breiner, Johnburg; 17. Joe Darnell, Machesney Park; 18. Steve McBride, South Beloit; 19. Tom Gille, Winnebago; 20. Nick Shutkas, Loves Park; 21. Timothy Slater, Hampshire.

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Jacob Gille, Winnebago; 2. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 3. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 4. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 5. Tanner Whitten, Congerville; 6. Tim Sargent, South Beloit.

NASCAR Road Runners

A-Main 01 -- 1. Robert Roush, Marengo; 2. Anthony Vito, Crystal Lake; 3. Terrance Robinson, Beloit, Wis; 4. Eric
Schoffen, Crystal Lake; 5. Jason Van Hise, Loves Park; 6. Anthony Lloyd, Loves Park; 7. Gene Marocco, Machesney
Park; 8. Dave Lumsden, Jr., Rockford; 9. Beau Lawson, Machesney Park; 10. Jason Dull, Machesney Park; 11. Anthony (Andy) Bristol, Rockford; 12. Jeff Allendorf, Belvidere; 13. Brian Mayer, Machesney Park; 14. David Lignell, Rockford; 15. Brett McCoy, Belvidere; 16. James Gregory, Winnebago; 17. Marvin Butler, Rockford; 18. Kenneth Brazee III, Rockford; 19. Steve Gregory, Machesney Park; 20. Linnea Lundy, Loves Park; 21. Shawn Rickelman, Rockton; 22. Dennis Smith, Jr, South Beloit; 23. Howie Ware, South Beloit; 24. Michael (Mike) Wallis, Machesney Park; 25. Charlie Frisch, Beloit, Wis; 26. Raymond Hardesty, McHenry; 27. Josh DiGiovanni, Loves Park; 28. Curt Nighswonger, Rockford.

Heat 01 -- 1. Terrance Robinson, Beloit, Wis; 2. Anthony (Andy) Bristol, Rockford; 3. Steve Gregory, Machesney Park; 4. Curt Nighswonger, Rockford; 5. Josh DiGiovanni, Loves Park; 6. Linnea Lundy, Loves Park; 7. Kenneth Brazee III, Rockford; 8. Jason Dull, Machesney Park; 9. Michael (Mike) Wallis, Machesney Park.

Heat 02 -- 1. Raymond Hardesty, McHenry; 2. Marvin Butler, Rockford; 3. Anthony Vito, Crystal Lake; 4. Dave Lumsden, Jr., Rockford; 5. Anthony Lloyd, Loves Park; 6. Brian Mayer, Machesney Park; 7. Shawn Rickelman, Rockton; 8. James Gregory, Winnebago; 9. David Lignell, Rockford.

Heat 03 -- 1. Dennis Smith, Jr, South Beloit; 2. Jason Van Hise, Loves Park; 3. Robert Roush, Marengo; 4. Jeff
Allendorf, Belvidere; 5. Howie Ware, South Beloit; 6. Eric Schoffen, Crystal Lake; 7. Gene Marocco, Machesney Park; 8. Beau Lawson, Machesney Park; 9. Charlie Frisch, Beloit, Wis; 10. Ricky Nielsen, Rockford.

Challenge 01 -- 1. Arlyn Roush, Woodstock; 2. Jason Van Hise, Loves Park; 3. Raymond Hardesty, McHenry; 4. Robert Roush, Marengo; 5. Lloyd Hawkins, Machesney Park; 6. Curt Nighswonger, Rockford; 7. Jason Dull, Machesney Park; 8. Kenneth Brazee III, Rockford; 9. Kyle Watts, Machesney Park; 10. Kenneth Wines, Machesney Park; 11. Michael (Mike) Wallis, Machesney Park; 12. Chandale Swartwout, Janesville, Wis.

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Gene Marocco, Machesney Park; 2. Jason Van Hise, Loves Park; 3. Howie Ware, South Beloit; 4. Eric Schoffen, Crystal Lake; 5. Beau Lawson, Machesney Park.