By Jordan Kuehne

LOVES PARK, Ill. (Saturday, April 23rd, 2011) – Someone needs to let Steve Rubeck know that it’s only April. The talented hotshoe was in midseason form tonight during the Rockford Speedway’s historic 64th season opener, raining on his fellow competitors’ parade en route to a dominant opening night victory in the 30-lap Stanley Steemer NASCAR Late Models main event.

Flashing the speed that won him fast qualifier honors during last weekend’s Spring Classic Big 8 Series event, Rubeck took control from the outset of the feature with a lap three pass of Brian Johnson Jr, never looking back on the way to the winner’s circle. In other action, young 15-year-old Austin Nason held off a late race charge from several contenders to grab the Bargain Hunter Sportsman trophy while BJ Sparkman showcased his veteran guile to snag the Budweiser American Short Trackers’ headliner. Alex Papini and Howie Ware saved the best for last, closing out a fast-paced evening with a slam bang door-to-door finish in the 20-lap Mtn Dew RoadRunners that left fans roaring their approval after Papini prevailed by a yard.

Brian Johnson Jr. jumped to the front of a 17-car field to start off the 2011 Stanley Steemer NASCAR Late Models season in exciting fashion, leading the opening two laps of the 30-lap main event before falling victim to Steve Rubeck’s rocketship.

Rubeck swiftly extended his lead to five car lengths while the action picked up in the back of the pack as Jon Reynolds Jr. and Ryan Carlson went door-to-door for fourth. Carlson took the position after a five-lap duel ad didn’t wait long to challenge for a podium spot, diving to the bottom of the racing surface and pushing past Wayne Freimund for third as the halfway mark came and went.

Reynolds Jr. followed the trail that Carlson blazed and grabbed fourth with little effort as Freimund dropped to the fringes of the top five.

There was no challenging for the win on this night though; running away from the field out front, ‘The Mayor of Monroe Center’ commenced his campaign for ‘Best Driver’ on the 2011 Late Model ballot in convincing fashion, cruising through a caution-free 30 laps to collect a dominating feature victory.

“We weren’t gonna come here but a few people told us we had to come here,” Rubeck offered. “The boss Carol decided we were gonna come. Unfinished business from last week (where Rubeck finished second in the Spring Classic) basically. This car is just awesome on the bottom and I’m gonna go where they’re not on the bottom.”

After Brian Johnson Jr. was disqualified during post-race tech inspection for a non-conforming part, Ryan Carlson inherited a second place finish while ‘Driver X’, Jon Reynolds Jr, moved up to third. Wayne Freimund jumpstarted his season with a solid fourth and Kyle Shear had another strong effort to finish fifth.

Earlier in the evening, defending Stanley Steemer NASCAR Late Models champion Tim Sargent set fast time with a blazing lap of 13.864 seconds to grab the early lead in the new season-long qualifying competition, the Nason’s Landscaping ‘Fastest Bullet’ Award. That was the highlight of the evening for Sargent though, as the Rockton driver slapped the wall in a heat race and suffered a disappointing 15th-place finish. Two-time Late Models champion Jerry Gille also struggled on opening night after a scary incident in qualifying left the veteran behind the eight-ball the rest of the night; Gille rallied to a ninth-place effort in the feature.

When the green flag waved on a new season for the Budweiser American Short Trackers, former rookie of the year Scott Hoeft held the top spot in the 25-lap main event. An 18-car field followed Hoeft’s lead as fast qualifier BJ Sparkman made his move early, surging into the top three before grabbing second from Nick Letsinger with just eight laps in the books.

With his teammate in sight, BJ Sparkman used the bottom line to track down Hoeft and went door-to-door with the leader, snagging the top spot with 12 circuits remaining.

Hoeft quickly came under fire from Letsinger and Nick Cina Jr. as a three-way duel for the second spot emerged with the laps clicking off at a rapid pace. Letsinger continued to feel his way around the asphalt searching for a line around Hoeft, finally pulling even with three laps left as the front pack worked around lapped traffic.

With the white flag in the air, Letsinger’s back end came out from underneath him and his run for second ended as the wheelman deftly kept his car off the frontstretch wall and out of harm’s way.

Neither Letsinger or Cina Jr. offered up much of a challenge to BJ Sparkman as the long-time contender bounced back from a rough 2010 campaign with a quick start to the new year. Sparkman found victory lane on opening night to aid his quest for a fourth Budweiser American Short Trackers title.

“We had a good car from the drop of the green flag,” the venerable veteran admitted. “It got around there smooth and I had to worry about the lapped traffic. Certainly feels good to get that first win out of the way on opening night after waiting until midseason last year.”

Hoeft earned a runner-up finish as Letsinger landed in third. Nick Cina Jr. and George Sparkman finished in fourth and fifth respectively wrapping up the top five.

The 2011 Bargain Hunter Sportsman season got off to a quick start as young gun Austin Nason zoomed to the front when the green flag waved on the 20-lap headliner.

Defending champion Matt Berger quickly picked off three cars to maneuver into the bridesmaid’s position as 2010 Mtn Dew RoadRunner champ Robert Roush dropped from his front row starting spot to fifth in the opening two laps.

Berger utilized his experience to work over the 15-year-old leader, harassing Nason and searching for traction on the bottom of the high-banked oval. While Nason and Berger duked it out up front, Justin Sellers and Matt Lundberg joined the fray and made it a four-way battle for the top spot.

Lundberg slipped up on the bottom line as Berger fell into the clutches of Sellers’ run on the high line, surrendering second after a tense battle for the position. With a three-way battle taking place behind him, Austin Nason eased his way to a two-car length margin and held on for a caution-free opening win and the early advantage in the standings.

“I wanna thank Berger for racing me clean tonight,” Nason acknowledged afterwards. “The car was tight and I had to chop it a bit in the corners to keep it straight. We’ve prepared all winter for this and we built the car from the ground up. We’re definitely looking forward to a strong season this year.”

Sellers slipped into second while Lundberg landed third on the last lap, pushing past Berger and grabbing the spot in the midst of the dash to the checkers. Roush managed a top-five to begin his Sportsman career.

Alex Papini rolled to an early lead while Gene Marocco settled into the bridesmaid’s position of the first 20-lap Mtn Dew RoadRunners’ feature of the 2011 season.

Jeff Allendorf and Arlen Roush wasted no time going at it for a podium spot, bumping and banging for third place before Allendorf grabbed the position by a nose.

Papini quickly came upon lapped traffic and was negotiating his way through the 23-car field when the first caution of the year flew for a solo trip through the spin cycle by Josh DiGiovanni with six laps in the books.

On the restart, Roush moved up to third while Terry Ciano Jr. negotiated his way into fourth. Papini built up a cushion out front while Howie Ware blew past Allendorf and Ciano Jr. to continue his charge through the field.

The leader ran into trouble while passing a lapped car with five laps remaining, slowing him up as Ware dodged cars and dove to the bottom of Marocco for second. After Papini’s slip up, Ware began to reel him in, slicing the deficit to a car length with two laps left. Ware dropped to the bottom and got alongside Papini for the lead with the white flag in the air.

Papini briefly edged out to a car length advantage down the backstretch before Ware closed the gap. Coming to the checkers, Papini managed to get a run off of turn four that propelled him to victory by a mere three feet.

“This car was so fast tonight,” Papini stated. “We had a broken axel, motor problems, the engine wouldn’t go, all in the last two weeks. We were up late last night putting tires on it and fixing the suspension to get this thing put together and I have to thank all my sponsors and my crew for helping me find victory lane tonight.”

Ware’s mad dash netted him a second while Marocco took third. Terrance Robinson finished fourth as Allendorf closed out the top five.

In the opening Sam’s Drive-In RoadRunner Challenge of the year, Adam Cartwright and his friendly fan survived the Fan/Driver Egg Toss with a successful 70-foot toss to claim the win sans car.

Jason Van Hise lost control of his egg after having it in his grasp forcing the former RoadRunner Challenge titlist to settle for a hard fought second to commence his year.

With opening night in the books, racing returns to Rockford next weekend as the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series kicks their 30th season of action into high gear with a full slate of action that includes the Stanley Steemer NASCAR Late Models, Bargain Hunter Sportsman, Budweiser American Short Trackers and Mtn Dew RoadRunners plus the Sam’s Drive-In RoadRunner Challenge featuring the Grocery Cart Race and a gravity-defying Rollover Contest.

Fans arriving by 6:30pm will enjoy great savings on Tractor Town $uper $aver $pecial Night as $30 earns four tickets, four hot dogs, and four Pepsi drinks.

The gates open at 5pm and qualifying is scheduled to get underway at 6pm with the green flag waving on exciting racing action at 7:07pm sharp.

For more information on the Rockford Speedway, including a full 2011 schedule, visit the track’s website at www.rockfordspeedway.com or contact the Speedway Box Office at (815)633-1500.

Rockford Speedway Results

NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Week 1

NASCAR All American Sportsmen

A-Main 01 -- 1. Austin Nason, Roscoe; 2. Justin Sellers, Carol Stream; 3. Matt Lundberg, Rockford; 4. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 5. Robert Roush, Marengo; 6. Shannon Stoltz, Machesney Park; 7. Tim Jendrycki, Round Lake.

Heat 01 -- 1. Austin Nason, Roscoe; 2. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 3. Matt Lundberg, Rockford; 4. Justin Sellers, Carol Stream; 5. Robert Roush, Marengo; 6. Shannon Stoltz, Machesney Park; 7. Tim Jendrycki, Round Lake.

Time Trial -- 1. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 2. Matt Lundberg, Rockford; 3. Austin Nason, Roscoe; 4. Justin Sellers, Carol Stream; 5. Bob Moeller, McHenry; 6. Robert Roush, Marengo; 7. Shannon Stoltz, Machesney Park; 8. Tim Jendrycki, Round Lake.

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Austin Nason, Roscoe; 2. Justin Sellers, Carol Stream; 3. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 4. Robert Roush, Marengo; 5. Matt Lundberg, Rockford; 6. Bob Moeller, McHenry.

NASCAR American Short Trackers

A-Main 01 -- 1. Boyce (BJ) Sparkman, Machesney Park; 2. Scott Hoeft, Watertown, Wis; 3. Nick Letsinger, Rockford; 4. Nick Cina, Jr, Belvidere; 5. George Sparkman, Loves Park; 6. Joe LaMarca, Rockford; 7. Christopher Jones, Rockford; 8. Brett McCoy, Belvidere; 9. Kyle Lapier, Belvidere; 10. Rachel Sparkman, Belvidere; 11. David Russell, Jr., Machesney Park; 12. Jack Atchison, Stillman Valley; 13. Victor Young, Genoa; 14. Bryan Ellis, Loves Park; 15. Artt Higbee, Rockford; 16. Alan Bekielewski, Roscoe; 17. Laura Siarkiewicz, Algonquin; 18. Zach Rodriguez, Rockton.

Heat 01 -- 1. David Russell, Jr., Machesney Park; 2. Rachel Sparkman, Belvidere; 3. Jack Atchison, Stillman Valley; 4. Bryan Ellis, Loves Park; 5. Victor Young, Genoa; 6. Artt Higbee, Rockford; 7. Alan Bekielewski, Roscoe; 8. Laura Siarkiewicz, Algonquin; 9. Brett McCoy, Belvidere.

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

Time Trial -- 1. Boyce (BJ) Sparkman, Machesney Park; 2. Christopher Jones, Rockford; 3. George Sparkman, Loves
Park; 4. Joe LaMarca, Rockford; 5. Nick Cina, Jr, Belvidere; 6. Zach Rodriguez, Rockton; 7. Nick Letsinger, Rockford; 8. Scott Hoeft, Watertown, Wis; 9. Kyle Lapier, Belvidere; 10. Brett McCoy, Belvidere; 11. Rachel Sparkman, Belvidere; 12. Jack Atchison, Stillman Valley; 13. David Russell, Jr., Machesney Park; 14. Artt Higbee, Rockford; 15. Bryan Ellis, Loves Park; 16. Victor Young, Genoa; 17. Alan Bekielewski, Roscoe; 18. Laura Siarkiewicz, Algonquin.

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. George Sparkman, Loves Park; 2. Boyce (BJ) Sparkman, Machesney Park; 3. Joe LaMarca,
Rockford; 4. Nick Cina, Jr, Belvidere; 5. Christopher Jones, Rockford; 6. Zach Rodriguez, Rockton.

NASCAR Late Models

A-Main 01 -- 1. Steve Rubeck, Rockford; 2. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 3. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 4. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 5. Kyle Shear, Roscoe; 6. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 7. Curt Tillman, Roscoe; 8. Dave Edwards, Salem, Wis; 9. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 10. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 11. Mitchell Garfield, Gilberts; 12. Steve McBride, South Beloit; 13. John Beinlich, Prairie View; 14. Vern Fagerberg, Bloomingdale; 15. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 16. Brad Becker, Delevan, Wis; 17. Brian Johnson, Jr., Machesney Park.

Heat 01 -- 1. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 2. Curt Tillman, Roscoe; 3. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 4. Steve McBride, South Beloit; 5. Brad Becker, Delevan, Wis; 6. Vern Fagerberg, Bloomingdale; 7. Mitchell Garfield, Gilberts.

Heat 02 -- 1. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 2. Steve Rubeck, Rockford; 3. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 4. Kyle Shear, Roscoe; 5. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 6. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 7. Brian Johnson, Jr., Machesney Park; 8. Dave Edwards, Salem, Wis.

Time Trial -- 1. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 2. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 3. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 4. Steve Rubeck, Rockford; 5. Kyle Shear, Roscoe; 6. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 7. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 8. Brian Johnson, Jr., Machesney Park; 9. Dave Edwards, Salem, Wis; 10. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 11. Curt Tillman, Roscoe; 12. Mitchell Garfield, Gilberts; 13. John Beinlich, Prairie View; 14. Vern Fagerberg, Bloomingdale; 15. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 16. Brad Becker, Delevan, Wis; 17. Steve McBride, South Beloit; 18. Tom Gille, Winnebago.

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 2. Kyle Shear, Roscoe; 3. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 4. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 5. Steve Rubeck, Rockford; 6. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis.

NASCAR Road Runners

A-Main 01 -- 1. Alex Papini, Machesney Park; 2. Howie Ware, South Beloit; 3. Gene Marocco, Machesney Park; 4.
Terrance Robinson, Beloit, Wis; 5. Jeff Allendorf, Belvidere; 6. Terry Ciano, Jr., Janesville, Wis; 7. Billy McCoy, Belvidere; 8. Dennis Smith, Jr, South Beloit; 9. Sam Christofano, Rockford; 10. Arlyn Roush, Woodstock; 11. Raymond Hardesty, McHenry; 12. Adam Cartwright, Woodstock; 13. Dave Lumsden, Jr., Rockford; 14. Brian Mayer, Machesney Park; 15. Steve Gregory, Machesney Park; 16. Kenneth Brazee III, Rockford; 17. Patrick Featherstone II, Byron; 18. James Gregory, Winnebago; 19. Josh DiGiovanni, Machesney Park; 20. Tammy Hawkins, Machesney Park; 21. Steven Dover, Machesney Park; 22. Roger Champlin, Beloit, Wis; 23. Shawn Rickelman, Rockton.

Heat 01 -- 1. Howie Ware, South Beloit; 2. Billy McCoy, Belvidere; 3. Sam Christofano, Rockford; 4. Arlyn Roush,
Woodstock; 5. Adam Cartwright, Woodstock; 6. Kenneth Brazee III, Rockford; 7. Patrick Featherstone II, Byron; 8. Shawn Rickelman, Rockton.

Heat 02 -- 1. Alex Papini, Machesney Park; 2. Gene Marocco, Machesney Park; 3. Raymond Hardesty, McHenry; 4.
Steve Gregory, Machesney Park; 5. James Gregory, Winnebago; 6. Josh DiGiovanni, Machesney Park; 7. Tammy
Hawkins, Machesney Park; 8. Roger Champlin, Beloit, Wis.

Heat 03 -- 1. Terrance Robinson, Beloit, Wis; 2. Terry Ciano, Jr., Janesville, Wis; 3. Dennis Smith, Jr, South Beloit; 4. Jeff Allendorf, Belvidere; 5. Dave Lumsden, Jr., Rockford; 6. Steven Dover, Machesney Park.

Challenge 01 -- 1. Adam Cartwright, Woodstock; 2. Jason Van Hise, Loves Park; 3. Kenneth Brazee III, Rockford; 4.
Jeff Allendorf, Belvidere; 5. Brian Mayer, Machesney Park; 6. Steven Dover, Machesney Park; 7. Tammy Hawkins,
Machesney Park; 8. Arlyn Roush, Woodstock; 9. Raymond Hardesty, McHenry; 10. David Pautsch, Jr, Rockford.

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Gene Marocco, Machesney Park; 2. Dennis Smith, Jr, South Beloit; 3. Howie Ware, South Beloit; 4. Jeff Allendorf, Belvidere; 5. Raymond Hardesty, McHenry; 6. Brian Mayer, Machesney Park.