By Jordan Kuehne

LOVES PARK, Ill. (Wednesday, July 13th, 2011) -- Dennis Smith Jr. bided his time over the first 25-lap segment before pouncing on the opening circuit of the final stanza en route to a third consecutive Figure 8 victory, fending off ringer Tom Schneider for a massive $500 payday and extending his points lead in the process on Wild Wednesday at the Rockford Speedway.

In a scintillating Mtn Dew RoadRunners Super Summer Series main event, 'Bullet' Bobby Frisch led most of the way in the 25-lap headliner before Anthony Lloyd snuck by him in the final turn to grab a second consecutive division win. Vinny Mangiaracina set fast time and never looked back on his way to the Bandits trophy.

Mary McBride kept her hot streak going in the Winged Women on Wheels with a third straight victory while Deanna Chandler made a third consecutive trip to the winner's circle for the INEX Bandoleros. Tim Roach edged out teenager Cory Cootware for the Misfits crown while Kyle Voss took home the fender class hardware.

The main event on Wild Wednesday, the National Figure 8 League’s ‘All Out 50’ began with the first of two 25-lap segments. With a $500 prize on the line for the victor, racing got off to a wild start as Brad Jones jumped to the early advantage.

Josh Thiering quickly overtook Jones for the lead as drivers paced themselves with several laps to log. Jones slid off the racing surface with five laps in the books as Shawn Rickelman inherited the bridesmaid’s position.

Jones and Thiering almost met in the middle on two occasions as each driver continued to push the limits in the confines of the ‘X’. Figure 8 ringer Tom Schneider negotiated lapped traffic and the travails of the ‘X’ as Thiering continued to pace the field.

Thiering sacrificed the top spot after he slammed on the brakes in the ‘X’, making hard contact with Rickelman, and bending the front left axle on his RoadRunner. While his tire slowly disintegrated, he somehow managed to ride around in second before Dennis Smith Jr. nabbed the runner-up position.

Three laps later, the yellow flag flew to end segment one with Schneider pacing Smith Jr. and Thiering.

After a lengthy break for necessary cleanup on the speedway, the Figure 8 warriors returned for the final 25-lap segment with ringer Tom Schneider on point and longtime Figure 8 challenger Dennis Smith Jr. in second.

Schneider dropped off the pace for a mere moment and allowed ‘DJ’ to take over the lead on the opening lap of the final go-around while Adam Cartwright pressured him in third. As the top five drivers began to thin out, the two lapped cars bringing up the rear began to enter the picture for a collision in the ‘X’.

The field was bunched back up after Josh Thiering’s left front tire flew off his machine and sent the RoadRunner hard into the turn four wall to bring the caution out with 15 laps remaining.

Smith Jr. surged to the edge on the restart as Schneider tried a new line in hopes of closing up behind him. With two consecutive feature wins to begin the 2011 campaign, ‘DJ’ looked for a third as the laps wound down.

Despite a valiant effort from Schneider, Dennis Smith Jr. wheeled his way to the checkers and a mammoth $500 top prize. ‘DJ’ put on a show with celebratory burnouts as he extended his points lead and aided his bid for a second consecutive championship crown.

“I just wanted to take it easy and work my way up there,” the winner admitted. “Schneider raced us hard and raced us clean and that first lap (of the second segment), I shot off of (turn) three and got by him.”

Curt Nighswonger nabbed the early edge in the Mtn Dew RoadRunner Super Summer Series 25-lap headliner while Shawn Rickelman and Adam Cartwright went door-to-door for second.

Nighswonger eased away out front as positions second through eleventh went door-to-door under a blanket battling it out in the early stages of the event. Past champion ‘Bullet’ Bobby Frisch claimed the runner-up spot and quickly challenged for the lead, blowing by Nighswonger with 19 laps remaining.

Terrance Robinson and fast qualifier Kris Nilson inherited second and third respectively before the caution flew with seven laps in the books for a tandem spin by Nighswonger and Rickelman on the high side of turn four.

On the restart, Frisch crept to a slight edge over Robinson as Nilson looked to the high line for the runner-up spot. After securing second from Robinson, Nilson swiftly set his sights on the leader and jumped to the bottom of Frisch around the halfway mark. As the top two jousted for the lead, Anthony Lloyd joined the battle up front to make it a three-car fray for the top spot.

Nilson and Frisch bumped and banged each other as they raced door-to-door for over five laps – Frisch continued to hold onto a small edge before Nilson lost grip on the low line and relinquished the second position to Lloyd. Lloyd filled in and took over Nilson’s role, battling for the win with under five laps remaining as Jarrod Sutherland hovered close behind in third.

With the top three drivers wheel-to-wheel, Lloyd closed up and nosed ahead of Frisch on the backstretch of the final lap. Coming out of turn four, Lloyd used his momentum to edge ahead and grab a thrilling win as Frisch fell short by a mere foot. The feature marked a second consecutive win for the veteran driver after he grabbed the victory during last Saturday night’s program.

“My crew’s got this car hooked up,” Lloyd admitted afterwards. “I apologize to Bobby because we kind of doored him there a bit but he would have done the same to me.”

Frisch settled for a hard fought second as Sutherland cruised home in third. Terrance Robinson rode around behind the exciting action up front for a fourth place effort while Gene Marocco managed a solid top five in fifth.

Young Trevor Robinson rolled into the top spot as the 20-lap Bandits main event got underway. Tim Dickson followed around in the bridesmaid’s position as points leader Jason Dull nipped at his bumper in third.

Fast qualifier Vinny Mangiaracina navigated around both drivers and quickly eyed the lead. Dull and Dickson continued to go at it for a podium position while Mangiaracina applied pressure to the rear end of Robinson up front.

Dickson squeezed past Dull for third as the race passed the halfway mark while the leaders negotiated lapped traffic up front. Mangiaracina rubbed his way by Robinson for the lead with four laps remaining and wasted no time working his way to a comfortable margin out front.

Robinson couldn’t piece together a final move and Mangiaracina brought home the victory after overcoming difficulties that prevented him from lining up for the heat race.

A tough luck second went Robinson’s way while Tim Dickson came home third.

A wild and wacky start marred the start of the 15-lap Misfits feature as Allison Legacy machines Kyle Voss and Dwight Dunlap made contact on the frontstretch of the second lap, sending Dunlap soaring through the infield and bringing out the caution. Voss was sent to the rear as Dunlap’s night ended on the hook.

When racing resumed, the Legend of Michigan’s Cory Cootware and the FIRA hot rod of Tim Roach dueled for the lead as Jason Dull erased their edge and eyed the lead via the bottom line. With six laps in the books, Dull pulled into the infield and called it a night while Cootware and Roach continued to battle up front.

With five laps to go, Roach pulled ahead of Cootware by a wing as the young gun propelled himself off the high line and into the top spot again. Roach roared to a three car length edge on the backstretch of the final lap but his 13-year-old compatriot rallied in the final two turns with a last gasp effort, falling just shy of the win. The Canadian hot shoe snagged his second Misfits trophy of the summer.

“That was a lot of fun out there,” Roach acknowledged. “Cootware is a great racer and he ran me clean.”

Voss took home the win in the Allison Legacy portion of the proceedings while Cootware claimed the checkers in the Legends division.

Mary McBride maneuvered into the early lead in the 10-lap Winged Women on Wheels headliner while Olivia Chance quickly stole second from Sue Deery.

While Chance worked on McBride’s half-a-straightaway edge out front, Deery paced Tabatha Bennett around the quarter-mile high banks for third.

Chance cut into McBride’s edge but came up short for a second straight week as McBride held on for her third consecutive win and extended her points lead.

“I was a nervous wreck,” McBride quipped. “This is definitely a lot of fun.”

Chance settled for second while Deery came home in third. Tabatha Bennett found her way home in fourth.

Deanna Chandler corralled the top spot in the early stages of the INEX Bandolero 8-lap feature event. Emily ‘Bug’ Melichar rode around in second as the race quickly passed the halfway point.

Chandler held off Melichar’s limping machine for her third straight feature win in the division.

“These cars are a lot of fun,” the 12-year-old Chandler admitted afterwards. “This is how I learned to drive Rockford Speedway.”

Tonight’s Bandit Challenge, the Double Spin 2 Win Race, got off to a quick start as Bryan Ellis and Chris Jones looped it around to complete the first of two mandated spins on lap two.

While Jones kept on going, Ellis completed his second spin with a couple of laps remaining before ‘Chargin’ Charlie Frisch completed both loops with a circuit to go. In a close finish at the stripe, Jones edged Frisch to the line by a couple of car lengths for the win.

Racing returns to the Rockford Speedway this weekend for a full slate of action on Tebala Shrine Christmas in July Kids Night. The Stanley Steemer NASCAR Late Models headline racing action while the Budweiser American Short Trackers, Bargain Hunter Sportsman, and Mtn Dew RoadRunners are also on tap, plus the Sam's Drive-In RoadRunner Challenge featuring the Christmas Tree Race.

Adult admission is just $12 while teenagers ages 12-17 get in for only $8. Kids ages 11 and under are admitted for FREE and will be able to enjoy stock car rides during the evening! Spectator gates open at 5pm with qualifying set to get underway at 6pm and the green flag waving on racing action at 7:07pm sharp.

For more information on the Rockford Speedway, including the remaining 2011 schedule, visit www.rockfordspeedway.com or contact the Speedway Box Office at (815)633-1500.

Rockford Speedway Results

Wild Wednesday Week 3

INEX Bandoleros

A-Main 01 -- 1. Deanna Chandler, Machesney Park; 2. Emily 'Bug' Melichar, Mishicot, Wis.

Heat 01 -- 1. Emily 'Bug' Melichar, Mishicot, Wis; 2. Deanna Chandler, Machesney Park.

Bandits

A-Main 01 -- 1. Vinny Mangiaracina, Rockford; 2. Trevor Robinson, Rockton; 3. Tim Dickson, Beloit, Wis; 4. Jason Dull, Machesney Park; 5. Christopher Jones, Rockford; 6. Robin Ulrey, Rockford; 7. Timothy Lund, Beloit, Wis; 8. Jacob Aldrich, Rockford; 9. Richard Remer, Winnebago; 10. Dennis Deckard, Pecatonica; 11. Bryan Ellis, Loves Park; 12. Charlie Frisch, Beloit, Wis.

Heat 01 -- 1. Christopher Jones, Rockford; 2. Timothy Lund, Beloit, Wis; 3. Jacob Aldrich, Rockford; 4. Chandale Swartwout, Janesville, Wis; 5. Bryan Ellis, Loves Park; 6. Richard Remer, Winnebago; 7. Dennis Deckard, Pecatonica.

Heat 02 -- 1. Trevor Robinson, Rockton; 2. Jason Dull, Machesney Park; 3. Robin Ulrey, Rockford; 4. Charlie Frisch, Beloit, Wis; 5. Tim Dickson, Beloit, Wis; 6. Justin Pearson, Belvidere.

Time Trial -- 1. Vinny Mangiaracina, Rockford; 2. Jason Dull, Machesney Park; 3. Tim Dickson, Beloit, Wis; 4. Justin Pearson, Belvidere; 5. Trevor Robinson, Rockton; 6. Robin Ulrey, Rockford; 7. Charlie Frisch, Beloit, Wis; 8. Dennis Deckard, Pecatonica; 9. Chandale Swartwout, Janesville, Wis; 10. Bryan Ellis, Loves Park; 11. Christopher Jones, Rockford; 12. Jacob Aldrich, Rockford; 13. Timothy Lund, Beloit, Wis; 14. Richard Remer, Winnebago.

Challenge 01 -- 1. Christopher Jones, Rockford; 2. Charlie Frisch, Beloit, Wis; 3. Bryan Ellis, Loves Park; 4. Jacob Aldrich, Rockford; 5. Chandale Swartwout, Janesville, Wis.

INEX Legends

A-Main 01 -- 1. Cory Cootware, Iron Mountain, Mich..

Heat 01 -- 1. Cory Cootware, Iron Mountain, Mich..

Time Trial -- 1. Cory Cootware, Iron Mountain, Mich..

Figure 8

A-Main 01 -- 1. Dennis Smith, Jr, South Beloit; 2. Tom Schneider, Machesney Park; 3. Lloyd Hawkins, Machesney Park; 4. Adam Cartwright, Marengo; 5. Roger Champlin, Beloit, Wis; 6. Josh Thiering, South Beloit; 7. Dave Lumsden, Jr., Rockford; 8. Brad Jones, Rockton; 9. Shawn Rickelman, Rockton; 10. Robert Stoltz, Rockford.

Misfits

A-Main 01 -- 1. Tim Roach, Janesville, Wis; 2. Kyle Voss, Woodstock; 3. Deanna Chandler, Machesney Park; 4. Dave Cooter, Sr., Lincolnshire; 5. Jason Dull, Machesney Park.

Heat 01 -- 1. Tim Roach, Janesville, Wis; 2. Dwight Dunlap, Machesney Park; 3. Kyle Voss, Woodstock; 4. Dave
Cooter, Sr., Lincolnshire; 5. Deanna Chandler, Machesney Park.

Time Trial -- 1. Tim Roach, Janesville, Wis; 2. Kyle Voss, Woodstock; 3. Dwight Dunlap, Machesney Park; 4. Deanna Chandler, Machesney Park; 5. Cory Cootware, Iron Mountain, Mich..

RoadRunner Super Summer Series

A-Main 01 -- 1. Anthony Lloyd, Loves Park; 2. Bobby Frisch, Beloit, Wis; 3. Jarrod Sutherland, Venice, Calif.; 4. Terrance Robinson, Beloit, Wis; 5. Gene Marocco, Machesney Park; 6. Brian Mayer, Machesney Park; 7. Kris Nilson, Rockford; 8. Dave Lumsden, Jr., Rockford; 9. Brad Jones, Rockton; 10. Adam Cartwright, Marengo; 11. Robert Stoltz, Rockford; 12. Curt Nighswonger, Rockford; 13. Shawn Rickelman, Rockton; 14. Roger Champlin, Beloit, Wis; 15. Josh Thiering, South Beloit; 16. Tom Schneider, Machesney Park.

Heat 01 -- 1. Dave Lumsden, Jr., Rockford; 2. Curt Nighswonger, Rockford; 3. Adam Cartwright, Marengo; 4. Brad Jones, Rockton; 5. Robert Stoltz, Rockford; 6. Josh Carter, Rockford; 7. Shawn Rickelman, Rockton; 8. Roger
Champlin, Beloit, Wis.

Heat 02 -- 1. Jarrod Sutherland, Venice, Calif.; 2. Bobby Frisch, Beloit, Wis; 3. Anthony Lloyd, Loves Park; 4. Kris Nilson, Rockford; 5. Terrance Robinson, Beloit, Wis; 6. Gene Marocco, Machesney Park; 7. Brian Mayer, Machesney

Time Trial -- 1. Kris Nilson, Rockford; 2. Gene Marocco, Machesney Park; 3. Anthony Lloyd, Loves Park; 4. Terrance
Robinson, Beloit, Wis; 5. Jarrod Sutherland, Venice, Calif.; 6. Bobby Frisch, Beloit, Wis; 7. Steven Dover, Machesney Park; 8. Brian Mayer, Machesney Park; 9. Shawn Rickelman, Rockton; 10. Adam Cartwright, Marengo; 11. Curt Nighswonger, Rockford; 12. Robert Stoltz, Rockford; 13. Josh Thiering, South Beloit; 14. Dave Lumsden, Jr., Rockford; 15. Brad Jones, Rockton; 16. Roger Champlin, Beloit, Wis; 17. Josh Carter, Rockford.

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Kris Nilson, Rockford; 2. Jarrod Sutherland, Venice, Calif.; 3. Bobby Frisch, Beloit, Wis; 4. Terrance Robinson, Beloit, Wis; 5. Gene Marocco, Machesney Park; 6. Anthony Lloyd, Loves Park.

Winged Women on Wheels

A-Main 01 -- 1. Mary McBride, South Beloit; 2. Olivia Chance, Roscoe; 3. Susan Deery, Rockton; 4. Tabatha Bennett, Machesney Park.

Heat 01 -- 1. Olivia Chance, Roscoe; 2. Chandale Swartwout, Janesville, Wis; 3. Mary McBride, South Beloit; 4. Susan Deery, Rockton; 5. Tabatha Bennett, Machesney Park.