By Jordan Kuehne

LOVES PARK, Ill. (Saturday, July 9th, 2011) -- To win any championship in short track racing, it takes a lucky break or two falling your way; openly admitting he didn't have the best car a week after wrecking, points leader Ryan Carlson used a bit of good fortune en route to a third Stanley Steemer NASCAR Late Models feature win during a 2011 campaign that is slowly shaping up in his favor.

"We definitely didn't have the best car out there," Carlson slyly grinned in victory lane.

The longtime contender is looking for his first championship in the division and in order to take home a third trophy, 'RC' had to fend off a veteran who's done it two times previously. Jerry Gille rallied from an early race mishap on the second circuit of the 30-lap main event, driving through the field in under 20 laps and hounding Carlson over the final ten laps before succumbing and being forced to settle for a runner-up finish. With the win, Carlson bounced back from a rough week and extended his points lead to a comfortable 38 marker advantage over Gille.

Zach Rodriguez took the checkers for the first time in his career, fending off Scott Hoeft's late charge to snag the win in the 25-lap Budweiser American Short Trackers headliner. Anthony Lloyd landed his second win of the year in the Mtn Dew RoadRunners feature as points leader Alex Papini wasn't far behind in second. When racing concluded, fans stuck around to watch the legendary Doug Rose torch an old race car with his famed Green Mamba Jet Car.

The 30-lap main event for the Stanley Steemer NASCAR Late Models got off to a crazy start when fast qualifier Jerry Gille spun himself out in turn three on the second lap, bringing out an early caution as John Beinlich paced the field around the high banks.

When racing resumed, Beinlich burst to a slight edge as Wayne Freimund followed in second. Points leader Ryan Carlson emerged from the pack in third as last week’s feature winner, Jon Reynolds Jr, pushed past Curt Tillman for fourth.

Carlson looked to the low line as he eyed a line around Friemund for the runner-up spot with ten laps in the books. ‘RC’ grabbed the position a lap later as ‘Driver X’, Jon Reynolds Jr, darted into a hole and took a podium spot in third.

Up front, Beinlich lost his lead when he got loose and slipped up with 18 circuits remaining, allowing Carlson to go door-to-door for the lead before eventually scoring the spot with the race halfway complete.

Three laps later, Beinlich took a solo trip through the spin cycle and backed into the turn four wall to bring out a caution with just three short miles – 12 laps – to go. Carlson cruised to the lead on the restart as two-time champion Jerry Gille patiently waited for an opportunity to pounce in second.

After peeking to the bottom a few times, Gille tucked back in on the high side with five laps remaining and began to set up a last ditch effort for the win. Gille made that effort on the white flag lap, diving to the bottom but coming up a few feet short as Ryan Carlson held on for his third feature victory of the 2011 campaign.

“I don't have much to say about the 99 (of Jerry Gille)," Carlson quipped. "We spent all week, most of the 4th of July, in the shop fixing this racecar. I owe this win to my crew and my sponsors. We had enough to hold them off so it worked out."

Reynolds Jr. notched a podium finish with his third place effort while Tom Gille took fourth to place two Gilles in the top five. Wayne Freimund registered a solid fifth place result.

Nick Letsinger leapt to the lead in the beginning stages of the 25-lap Budweiser American Short Trackers headliner as the middle of the pack went three-wide to sort things out when the green flag waved.

Steve Drays closed up to the back bumper of Letsinger on the second lap as Steve Cavin followed behind in third. Cavin challenged Drays for the runner-up spot on the exit of turn two with four laps in the books, making hard contact and stacking up the field behind them. Points leader BJ Sparkman and fast qualifier George Sparkman couldn’t avoid the mayhem as both machines smacked the outside wall and ended up on the hook.

With three strong cars eliminated from contention, Letsinger eased away on the restart and built up a comfortable cushion over Zach Rodriguez. The margin evaporated swiftly when ‘Z-Rod’ and Nick Cina Jr. made it a three car fray for the top spot. Rodriguez rocketed past Letsinger via the bottom groove as defending champion Kyle Lapier worked around Cina Jr. for third.

Lapier squeezed past Letsinger for second and relegated the rookie to fifth as Scott Hoeft negotiated his way into the top three. Hoeft hustled by Lapier with 12 laps remaining as Rodriguez rolled to a 15 car length edge out front.

Hoeft slowly worked his way toward the leader, managing to get within shouting distance as the laps ticked by at a rapid pace. With the white flag in the air, Hoeft reeled in Rodriguez but ultimately ran out of time, crossing the checkered flag a car length shy of the victor.

Rodriguez claimed his first career feature win in the division as the points were shaken up courtesy of the wild fiasco in the opening laps.

“I saw Hoeft coming on strong and I was trying to take it a little bit easy,” the former rookie of the year admitted. “The only chance of winning really was to take the inside and hope for the best. I held on and avoided spinning it out at the end and we got it done.”

With his runner-up finish, Hoeft slashed BJ Sparkman's points lead to just 14 markers. Kyle Lapier came home third while Nick Cina Jr. and Nick Letsinger ended up in fourth and fifth respectively.

Patrick Featherston found himself out front when the green flag waved on the 20-lap Mtn Dew RoadRunners feature. ‘Mean’ Gene Marocco, hot off a Wild Wednesday win earlier this week, made a strong move up to second as Anthony Lloyd landed in the top three.

Points leader Alex Papini pushed through the field and up to fourth in just five laps after starting shotgun on the field. Featherston dropped like a rock as Lloyd worked around both Marocco and the leader to take over the top spot while Papini snuck into the open hole and snagged the third position with 13 laps remaining.

As Lloyd slipped away from the field, Marocco and Papini jousted side-by-side for the bridesmaid’s position. The young gun bested the elder statesmen for the spot as Papini set his sights on the lead and targeted Lloyd. He quickly erased the 12 car length edge that Lloyd had assumed and closed to within a few feet while the white flag waved above them.

Papini’s late race charge fell short though and despite his best efforts, Anthony Lloyd led the final 12 circuits en route to his second trip to the winner’s circle during the 2011 campaign.

“I tell you what man, I kept looking in my mirror,” Lloyd lamented afterwards. “That black and red car kept getting closer and closer. It feels good to get another win here and without my crew, I wouldn’t be here.”

While Alex Papini came up short in his quest for the trophy, he did manage to lengthen his standings lead to 22 points over fourth place finisher Howie Ware. Marocco ended up in third while Brett McCoy finished off the top five in fifth.

Doug Rose and his legendary Green Mamba Jet Car returned to the historic Rockford Speedway as the longtime driver forged forward in his 49th season of action in the jet-engine powered machine. Generating 6,500 pounds of thrust thanks to his 1954 jet engine off a Navy Fighter plane, Rose lit up the night sky with towering flames as he torched an old race car with his high-powered weaponry. Fans roared their approval after he finished melting down the machine.

Brett McCoy managed to score the early advantage in the Sam’s Drive-In RoadRunner Challenge 2nd Over the Line Wins Race. As the self-explanatory title conveys, the hot rod that crossed the line first finished last and the car that rolled past the stripe second took the win.

Using a bit of his veteran guile, McCoy ran away to a huge lead, then slammed the brakes on the white flag lap before tricking Kyle Watts into finishing first which really meant he was dead last. McCoy grabbed the win with his last second maneuver.

Racing returns to the Rockford Speedway this week as the third Wild Wednesday of the summer takes center stage with the ALLOUT 50-lap National Figure 8 League main event that pays $500 to win closing out an action-packed night of on-track excitement. Also on tap are the Mtn Dew RoadRunners Super Summer Series, Bandits, INEX Legends, Bandoleros, Misfits, Winged Women on Wheels, and the Law Office of Kim MacCloskey Spectacular Drags plus the Bandit Challenge.

Adult admission is just $8 while teenagers ages 12-17 get in for $6 and kids ages 6-11 get in for only $4. Children ages 5 and under are FREE with gates opening at 5:30pm and the green flag waving on all the exciting racing action at 7:07pm sharp!

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

Rockford Speedway Results

NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Week 10

NASCAR American Short Trackers

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

Heat 01 -- 1. David Russell, Jr, Machesney Park; 2. Steve Drays, Milton, Wis; 3. Nick Letsinger, Rockford; 4.
Christopher Jones, Rockford; 5. Alan Bekielewski, Roscoe; 6. Steve Cavin, Rockford; 7. Artt Higbee, Rockford; 8. Billy McCoy, Belvidere.

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

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

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Boyce (BJ) Sparkman, Machesney Park; 2. George Sparkman, Loves Park; 3. Scott Hoeft,
Watertown, Wis; 4. Nick Cina, Jr, Belvidere; 5. Zach Rodriguez, Rockton; 6. Rachel Sparkman, Belvidere.

NASCAR Late Models

A-Main 01 -- 1. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 2. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 3. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 4. Tom Gille, Winnebago; 5. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 6. Mitchell Garfield (r), Gilberts; 7. Curt (Billy Bob) Tillman, Roscoe; 8. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 9. John Beinlich, Prairie View.

Heat 01 -- 1. Curt (Billy Bob) Tillman, Roscoe; 2. Mitchell Garfield (r), Gilberts; 3. John Beinlich, Prairie View; 4. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 5. Mark Hartline, Gilberts.

Heat 02 -- 1. Tom Gille, Winnebago; 2. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 3. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 4. Ryan Carlson, Loves

Time Trial -- 1. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 2. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 3. Tom Gille, Winnebago; 4. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 5. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 6. Mitchell Garfield (r), Gilberts; 7. John Beinlich, Prairie View; 8. Curt (Billy Bob) Tillman, Roscoe; 9. Mark Hartline, Gilberts.

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 2. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 3. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 4. Tom Gille, Winnebago; 5. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 6. Mitchell Garfield (r), Gilberts.

NASCAR Road Runners

A-Main 01 -- 1. Anthony Lloyd, Loves Park; 2. Alex Papini, Machesney Park; 3. Gene Marocco, Machesney Park; 4. Howie Ware, South Beloit; 5. Brett McCoy, Belvidere; 6. Arlyn Roush, Woodstock; 7. Patrick Featherston II, Byron; 8. Anthony Vito, Crystal Lake; 9. Jeff Allendorf, Belvidere; 10. Brian Mayer, Machesney Park; 11. Tammy Hawkins, Machesney Park; 12. Josh DiGiovanni, Machesney Park; 13. Steven Dover, Machesney Park; 14. Raymond Hardesty, McHenry; 15. James Gregory, Winnebago.

Heat 01 -- 1. Tammy Hawkins, Machesney Park; 2. Raymond Hardesty, McHenry; 3. Patrick Featherston II, Byron; 4.
Josh DiGiovanni, Machesney Park; 5. Anthony Vito, Crystal Lake; 6. Steven Dover, Machesney Park; 7. Brian Mayer,
Machesney Park; 8. James Gregory, Winnebago.

Heat 02 -- 1. Arlyn Roush, Woodstock; 2. Gene Marocco, Machesney Park; 3. Howie Ware, South Beloit; 4. Alex Papini, Machesney Park; 5. Anthony Lloyd, Loves Park; 6. Brett McCoy, Belvidere; 7. Jeff Allendorf, Belvidere.

Challenge 01 -- 1. Brett McCoy, Belvidere; 2. Lloyd Hawkins, Machesney Park; 3. Arlyn Roush, Woodstock; 4. Raymond Hardesty, McHenry; 5. Anthony Vito, Crystal Lake; 6. Steven Dover, Machesney Park; 7. Kyle Watts, Machesney Park.

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Howie Ware, South Beloit; 2. Anthony Lloyd, Loves Park; 3. Arlyn Roush, Woodstock; 4. Gene Marocco, Machesney Park; 5. Jeff Allendorf, Belvidere; 6. Alex Papini, Machesney Park.