By Jordan Kuehne

LOVES PARK, Ill. (Saturday, June 4th, 2011) – Ryan Carlson needed to bounce back from last weekend’s mayhem that resulted in two wrecked cars – finding his way to victory lane in the 30-lap Stanley Steemer NASCAR Late Models main event certainly took care of that objective as the points leader held off a lightning fast Jerry Gille en route to his first feature win of 2011 at the Rockford Speedway.

On a night that celebrated the track’s incredible 64th consecutive year of operation, fans were treated to strong racing as last year’s Budweiser American Short Tracker champ, Kyle Lapier, got back on the right track with a much needed victory. In the Mtn Dew RoadRunners, a growing rivalry between Alex Papini and Howie Ware nearly boiled over on the final lap as Papini did a bump and run on Ware’s machine on the way to the winner’s circle. Jason Dull grabbed the first Crap Scrappers Hornets trophy of the year while T.J. Markham gave fans a blast to the past with his Illinois Vintage win.

Wayne Freimund flew to the front of the 30-lap Stanley Steemer NASCAR Late Models main event as John Beinlich settled into second behind the veteran.

Points leader Ryan Carlson didn’t wait long to break into the top three of the 14 car field, nudging past Jake Gille for third with 24 laps remaining before working around Beinlich on the inside two laps later. ‘Driver X’, Jon Reynolds Jr, snuck into third after Beinlich washed up the high banks and dropped out of the top five.

Fast qualifier Jerry Gille was on the way though, coming from the back of the pack and blowing past Reynolds Jr. for third as Carlson and Friemund duked it out for the lead. With Tim Sargent a lap down after a spin through the infield, Carlson used the defending champion’s car as a pick and pushed past Freimund for the top spot.

Gille and Freimund knocked into each other in turn four with 14 to go as they dueled for the runner-up spot, sending both machines sideways and allowing the leader to escape to a solid edge. Each driver did manage to gather it back up and kept going as Gille inherited second in the aftermath.

With the laps clicking by in the caution-free race, Reynolds Jr. took third away from Freimund via the inside groove. Up front, Gille slowly ate away at Carlson’s comfortable cushion closing to within three car lengths at one point.

Negotiating lapped traffic with ease, Carlson managed to hold off Gille’s late charge though and scored a crucial victory just one week after wrecking two cars. The win was the first of the year for ‘RC’ and helped him extend his points lead to 25 markers over Reynolds Jr.

“It's been more than last week," Carlson admitted in the winner's circle. "Last week was the culmination of all the problems we've had and this win is definitely for the crew. The car was really bad during qualifying, but we freed it up and the stars align and we got the monkey off our back tonight."

Gille’s momentum continues with his second place run while Reynolds Jr. notched another podium finish in third. Freimund edged out Tom Gille for fourth at the line.

The 25-lap Budweiser American Short Trackers headliner got off to a heated start as Alan Bekielewski leapt to the early advantage. While ‘Beaker’ paced the 16 car field around the quarter-mile oval, Nick Cina Jr. chased his way up to second before nosing ahead of Bekielewski on the inside. Scott Hoeft and defending champion Kyle Lapier weren’t far behind, moving up to third and fourth.

Points leader BJ Sparkman’s season-opening streak of three consecutive feature wins was snapped on lap five when the veteran cut down his right front tire and was forced to the pits. Out front, Bekielewski surrendered the top spot to the tightrope act of Lapier, who managed to work the bottom groove en route to the lead on lap eight.

Proceedings came to a halt with 16 laps remaining after Bekielewski and Hoeft made contact in turn three and Rachel Sparkman spun into the infield to avoid the mayhem. Sparkman received her spot back while ‘Beaker’ and Hoeft dropped to the back of the pack for their role in the caution.

On the restart, Lapier once again grabbed the lead while fast qualifier George Sparkman followed in hot pursuit. Sparkman managed to get alongside Lapier for a brief moment with ten laps to go but couldn’t make the move work as Nick Letsinger got around Chris Jones for fourth behind them.

Lapier’s distinctive high line allowed Sparkman to use the inside line to attempt a pass but the leader’s momentum exiting the turns allowed him to continue to hold the veteran at bay. A slip up with five laps to go allowed George Sparkman to make it door-to-door up front but Lapier shook off the move again before a second caution came with three laps to go and a shootout was borne.

When the green flag waved, Lapier escaped to a two car length cushion as Nick Cina Jr. challenged for second. Sparkman drove past Cina Jr. on the outside before mounting a final charge for the win that came up a few feet short.

With his trip to the winner’s circle, Kyle Lapier picked up his first trophy of the season and a bit of momentum as the season winds its way towards the midway point. After a slow start to the campaign, Lapier has begun to show signs of life reminiscent of his breakout season that netted him a championship in 2010.

George Sparkman settled for second while Cina Jr rallied to finish third. Letsinger landed in fourth as Jones wound up with a solid top five effort.

BJ Sparkman limped home to a 12th place result that opens up the title chase once again.

It only took one lap for the fireworks to get underway in the 20-lap Mtn Dew RoadRunners feature as Dan Carlson lost his driver’s side door panel on the frontstretch to force a caution.

Brian Mayer paced the 20 car field back to green but it wasn’t long before Carlson and Terry Ciano Jr. combined to bring out another quick yellow. When racing finally resumed, Jeff Allendorf took over the top spot within one lap while Howie Ware and Alex Papini rushed to second and third respectively.

Ware erased Allendorf’s ten car length advantage in just five laps as Papini joined them up front to make it a three car fray for the lead. With 12 laps to go, Ware snagged the top spot as Papini blazed his way into second and continued to give chase.

With another feature win in reach, Papini eyed a path around his nemesis, looking high and low for the line that would give him a third win. As lapped traffic closed up most of the racetrack, Papini dutifully dropped back into single file before mounting a final charge for the win with two laps remaining.

The ‘Cardiac Kid’ made it three-wide between himself and a lapped car before slamming into Ware’s car in turn four and stealing the top spot away as the white flag waved. Papini held on from there to grab his third feature win of the season and exact revenge on Ware for an incident between the two drivers last weekend that ended Papini’s night and heavily damaged his ride.

“He’s got so much motor,” Papini admitted after the two drivers confronted one another on the frontstretch. “It’s all I can do to keep it turning the way we do and compete for that win. (Ware’s) gonna be upset about that but I wasn’t trying to do that in turn four, it was a racing deal.”

In the process, Papini slashed Gene Marocco’s points lead to just three markers as an exciting summer awaits the division.

Ware took home a disappointing runner-up finish while Jeff Allendorf grabbed his first top three of the year. Marocco’s consistent campaign continued with a fourth place effort and Arlyn Roush’s solid run earned him a top five.

In a 15-lap event that gave fans a blast back to the yesteryear of days gone by at the legendary high banks, the Illinois Vintage cars made their 2011 debut to help celebrate the amazing 64th consecutive season of operation at the quarter-mile.

The race itself got off to a strong start as the rumbling 1970 Chevy Nova of T.J. Markham snagged the top spot in the early stages. A caution flew on lap six for a solo spin by heat race winner Frank Slabenek Jr’s 1966 Chevelle helping to close the gap between Markham and Pat ‘Hacksaw’ Heaney.

While Markham maneuvered his way to a comfortable caution out front, Slabenek Jr. blazed through the field and worked his way back up to third. ‘Hacksaw’ Heaney gave it his best shot but couldn’t cut into the deficit.

Markham was on a smooth Saturday evening cruise as the Sycamore driver went wire-to-wire to ease his way to the first Illinois Vintage win of the year.

Heaney and Slabenek earned top threes in second and third respectively.

With a simple countdown from six to one, the Crap Scrappers Hornets 2011 season got underway. Alex Hornsby grabbed the lead when the green flag waved on the 15-lap swarm as the entry-level class tackled the high banked oval.

Nick Schneider worked his way into the top spot by lap four as Jason Dull rode around the high line and found himself in the bridesmaid’s position at the halfway point.

Schneider fended off all of Dull’s advances and hit his marks over the final five laps to cross the finish line first. A last lap dustup wreaked havoc on Jason Schlesner and Charles Shepard as Dull came home second in the battle for the win. However, Schneider was disqualified after post-race inspection for an illegal part handing Dull the victory.

Hornsby ended up with a runner-up showing as Jon Havrilesko notched a top three in third. Jacob Aldrich and Chuck Popejoy finished off the top five in fourth and fifth respectively.

The always interesting Sam’s Drive-In RoadRunner Challenge stepped it up an extra level tonight with the Double Spin 2 Win event. All six drivers had to go through the spin cycle twice in synchronization before racing each other over the course of six laps.

In what’s becoming a trend, Arlyn Roush tamed the wacky ways of the event in the best way possible, finding the winner’s circle. Roush claimed his third straight Challenge victory in style while Lloyd Hawkins hung around the front and ended up with a runner-up finish.

Racing returns to the Rockford Speedway next weekend as the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series rolls on with a full slate of action including the Stanley Steemer NASCAR Late Models, Bargain Hunter Sportsman, Mtn Dew RoadRunners, and American Super Cups, plus the Sam’s Drive-In RoadRunner Challenge featuring the Hare ‘N Hound Race. Nason’s Landscaping is sponsoring the Kids Night as all children ages 11 and under get in for FREE with a candy scramble awaiting them during the intermission. Cow Kissing and a 4-H Ice Cream stand will also be on hand to celebrate Dairy Month.

Gates open at 5pm with qualifying scheduled for 6pm and the green flag waving at 7:07pm sharp.

For more information, 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 5

NASCAR American Short Trackers

A-Main 01 -- 1. Kyle Lapier, Belvidere; 2. George Sparkman, Loves Park; 3. Nick Cina, Jr, Belvidere; 4. Nick Letsinger, Rockford; 5. Rachel Sparkman, Belvidere; 6. Christopher Jones, Rockford; 7. Scott Hoeft, Watertown, Wis; 8. Steve Erickson, Jr, Machesney Park; 9. David Russell, Jr, Machesney Park; 10. Artt Higbee, Rockford; 11. Brad Henrey, Rockford; 12. Boyce (BJ) Sparkman, Machesney Park; 13. Zach Rodriguez, Rockton; 14. Steve Cavin, Rockford; 15. Alan Bekielewski, Roscoe; 16. Joe LaMarca, Rockford.

Heat 01 -- 1. David Russell, Jr, Machesney Park; 2. Steve Cavin, Rockford; 3. Nick Letsinger, Rockford; 4. Alan Bekielewski, Roscoe; 5. Brad Henrey, Rockford; 6. Rachel Sparkman, Belvidere; 7. Steve Erickson, Jr, Machesney Park; 8. Artt Higbee, Rockford.

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

Time Trial -- 1. George Sparkman, Loves Park; 2. Boyce (BJ) Sparkman, Machesney Park; 3. Christopher Jones,
Rockford; 4. Joe LaMarca, Rockford; 5. Zach Rodriguez, Rockton; 6. Kyle Lapier, Belvidere; 7. Scott Hoeft, Watertown, Wis; 8. Nick Cina, Jr, Belvidere; 9. Rachel Sparkman, Belvidere; 10. Alan Bekielewski, Roscoe; 11. Nick Letsinger, Rockford; 12. Steve Cavin, Rockford; 13. David Russell, Jr, Machesney Park; 14. Brad Henrey, Rockford; 15. Artt Higbee, Rockford; 16. Steve Erickson, Jr, Machesney Park.

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

Hornets

A-Main 01 -- 1. Jason Dull, Machesney Park; 2. Alex Hornsby, Roscoe; 3. Jon Havrilesko, Roscoe; 4. Jacob Aldrich, Rockford; 5. Chuck Popejoy, Sterling; 6. Nathan Barr, Belvidere; 7. Jim Gagliani, Belvidere; 8. John Tolle, Elgin; 9. Charles Shepard, Rockford; 10. Jason Schlesner, Roscoe; 11. Nick Schneider, Rockton.

Heat 01 -- 1. Jacob Aldrich, Rockford; 2. Charles Shepard, Rockford; 3. Jason Dull, Machesney Park; 4. Chuck Popejoy, Sterling; 5. Jason Schlesner, Roscoe; 6. Jim Gagliani, Belvidere; 7. Alex Hornsby, Roscoe; 8. Nathan Barr, Belvidere; 9. Nick Schneider, Rockton.

NASCAR Late Models

A-Main 01 -- 1. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 2. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 3. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 4. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 5. Tom Gille, Winnebago; 6. Jacob Gille, Machesney Park; 7. Kyle Shear, Roscoe; 8. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 9. Mitchell Garfield, Gilberts; 10. Ryan Miles, Crystal Lake; 11. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 12. John Beinlich, Prairie View; 13. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 14. Vern Fagerberg, Bloomingdale.

Heat 01 -- 1. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 2. Vern Fagerberg, Bloomingdale; 3. Mitchell Garfield, Gilberts; 4. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 5. John Beinlich, Prairie View; 6. Ryan Miles, Crystal Lake; 7. Curt (Billy Bob) Tillman, Roscoe; 8. Steve McBride (r), South Beloit.

Heat 02 -- 1. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 2. Kyle Shear, Roscoe; 3. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 4. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 5. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 6. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 7. Jacob Gille, Machesney Park; 8. Tom Gille, Winnebago.

Time Trial -- 1. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 2. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 3. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 4. Kyle Shear, Roscoe; 5. Tom Gille, Winnebago; 6. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 7. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 8. Jacob Gille, Machesney Park; 9. Ryan Miles, Crystal Lake; 10. Curt (Billy Bob) Tillman, Roscoe; 11. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 12. John Beinlich, Prairie View; 13. Mitchell Garfield, Gilberts; 14. Vern Fagerberg, Bloomingdale; 15. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 16. Steve McBride (r), South Beloit.

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

NASCAR Road Runners

A-Main 01 -- 1. Alex Papini, Machesney Park; 2. Howie Ware, South Beloit; 3. Jeff Allendorf, Belvidere; 4. Gene
Marocco, Machesney Park; 5. Arlyn Roush, Woodstock; 6. Brett McCoy, Belvidere; 7. Brian Mayer, Machesney Park; 8. Dennis Smith, Jr, South Beloit; 9. Adam Cartwright, Marengo; 10. Patrick Featherstone II, Byron; 11. Dave Lumsden, Jr., Rockford; 12. Brad Jones, Rockton; 13. Steven Dover, Machesney Park; 14. Steve Gregory, Machesney Park; 15. Tammy Hawkins, Machesney Park; 16. Raymond Hardesty, McHenry; 17. James Gregory, Winnebago; 18. Michael (Mike) Wallis, Machesney Park; 19. Shawn Rickelman, Rockton; 20. Dan Carlson, Rockford; 21. Terry Ciano, Jr., Janesville, Wis.

Heat 01 -- 1. Steven Dover, Machesney Park; 2. Brian Mayer, Machesney Park; 3. Tammy Hawkins, Machesney Park; 4. Adam Cartwright, Marengo; 5. Brad Jones, Rockton; 6. Michael (Mike) Wallis, Machesney Park.

Heat 02 -- 1. Patrick Featherstone II, Byron; 2. Raymond Hardesty, McHenry; 3. Dave Lumsden, Jr., Rockford; 4. Jeff Allendorf, Belvidere; 5. James Gregory, Winnebago; 6. Dennis Smith, Jr, South Beloit; 7. Steve Gregory, Machesney Park.

Heat 03 -- 1. Terry Ciano, Jr., Janesville, Wis; 2. Arlyn Roush, Woodstock; 3. Dan Carlson, Rockford; 4. Howie Ware, South Beloit; 5. Gene Marocco, Machesney Park; 6. Alex Papini, Machesney Park; 7. Brett McCoy, Belvidere.

Challenge 01 -- 1. Arlyn Roush, Woodstock; 2. Lloyd Hawkins, Machesney Park; 3. Adam Cartwright, Marengo; 4.
Raymond Hardesty, McHenry; 5. Steven Dover, Machesney Park; 6. Brad Jones, Rockton.

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Howie Ware, South Beloit; 2. Alex Papini, Machesney Park; 3. Dan Carlson, Rockford; 4. Gene
Marocco, Machesney Park; 5. Terry Ciano, Jr., Janesville, Wis; 6. Brett McCoy, Belvidere.