By: Eric Huenefeld

It’s a badge of honor to be a Late Model feature winner at the Rockford Speedway. Drivers old and young, experienced and novice, have all been humbled by the famed high banked track. When a driver is finally able to take the trip to victory lane, it’s a special thing.

A first time winner would indeed top the Late Model field on this Saturday evening during Pepsi Kid’s Night, as 20 year old Mitch Garfield traded blows with some of the very best en route to the checkered flag in the 30 lap Stanley Steemer NASCAR Late Model feature event.

Garfield would be aided by a second place starting position, a position that was not originally his. But, when outside pole sitter Tom Gille experienced rear end issues at the drop of the green flag, the shuffling on the restart favored Garfield. As the now 17-car feature field headed to green, Garfield and pole sitter Wayne Freimund would tussle for the top spot. Garfield would take the lead at the completion of lap one, but shortly after that, another yellow flag would fly. The race slowed thanks to Tim Slater, who would spin coming out of turn four and bring another halt to the event.

On the ensuing green flag, thanks to a “cone restart” Garfield’s mirror was filled with nine combined Rockford Speedway Track Championships. Not only did the 2011 Rookie of the Year have two-time champ Jerry Gille on his tail, but also the seven-time track champion Ricky Bilderback. On the first two laps of green, Gille and Bilderback would put on a furious battle for the second spot, as Garfield took advantage and snuck away from the field. Gille would wrestle 2nd from Bilderback on lap four and begin to trace down Garfield. Then, on lap 12, Bilderback’s car would suddenly bust loose, causing him to spin in front of most of the field and bring out the yellow flag. All cars, including Bilderback, avoided damage and continued on.

On the next “cone restart” it was Garfield leading Gille and “Driver X” Jon Reynolds Jr back to the green. Reynolds would make an aggressive move to take second spot from Gille in turns one and two. Gille would charge back after Reynolds and try to return the favor on Reynolds in turn 3. After the failed attempt, Gille would settle in to third. Just as it looked like Reynolds and Garfield would decide the race in one-on-one fashion, Kyle Lapier would spin and tag the turn two wall, bringing out the yellow flag with 13 laps to go.

On the restart, Gille would capture the runner up spot back from Reynolds after a hard battle and then set his sights on Garfield. The veteran Gille had worked his way past Garfield the first two weeks of the year en route to his two feature wins. But on this Saturday, despite Gille’s best efforts to pass and intimidate the second year driver, Garfield would hold off several of Gille’s advances over the final 10 laps and hold the lead. On the white flag lap, Reynolds would work to the top of Gille and slip into second by a bumper.

With the crowd on their feet, Garfield hit the line first and took home his first Rockford Speedway Late Model feature. He called the event a “dream come true” in victory lane and was met immediately in the victory area by his girlfriend and crew. Reynolds was a runner up in heart stopping fashion ahead of Gille, with Kyle Shear making his Rockford Speedway return and taking fourth spot. “Insane” Wayne Freimund had another solid feature run, finishing in fifth spot.

In the Miller Lite American Short Trackers, it was Rockford’s Joe LaMarca who had a very powerful showing, and a successful Saturday night. LaMarca would set a blistering fast lap in time trials, putting the field on notice early. LaMarca would then start in the middle of a solid feature field and have troubles advancing through the traffic jam in the races early stages. Ahead of LaMarca, Rachel Sparkman would shoot to the lead from her outside front row starting spot, with Scotty Hoeft trailing her in second spot.

Sparkman would not be seriously challenged for the lead over the races first 15 laps, however, a yellow flag with 10 laps to go would erase her lead and put the entire pack at her bumper. Could the third generation driver hold on for the win, her third career in the division? We will never truly know. As the green flag waived, Sparkman’s car sputtered to a stop and just like that, her night was done. This gave new life to the rest of the field, with Scotty Hoeft inheriting the lead.

The yellow was also a fresh start for drivers like LaMarca, and opening night feature winner Nick Cina Jr. Both drivers would choose the bottom of the racetrack on the “cone restart” and begin to make progress on their competition. LaMarca quickly made his move to the front of the field just two laps after the restart, disposing of Hoeft. Behind that battle, Cina would fight with Zach Rodriguez and Chris Jones for position, moving past Jones but settling in behind Rodriguez.

LaMarca held on for the win, with Rodriguez notching a runner up in his first start of the season. Cina was third, followed by “The Boogeyman” Jason Bragg in fourth and Jones in fifth. The win was LaMarca’s fourth in a Short Tracker in just two-plus years behind the wheel.

The traditional Saturday night curtain closers, the Rockstar Energy Drink Roadrunners, put on another free-wheeling feature event, which saw another last lap tussle for the win, the third in three weeks for the division. After a lap one pile up in turn three, which involved 6 cars, all who were able to drive away, the field would be led by Josh Carter. Carter, searching for his first career Roadrunner win, would set sail from the field. He, along with “Vanilla Ice” Adam Cartwright, would separate themselves from the pack. The two lead drivers were aided by a run of 17 straight green flag laps, and appeared to be set up to settle it amongst themselves. However, last week’s feature winner Anthony Lloyd saw it differently. Lloyd would move to third and by lap 15 would catch the lead duo thanks in part to lap traffic with just three to go.

But Lloyd, after moving to second spot, would get into Carter for the lead while charging hard with two laps to go, sending both cars to the tail of the field. Cartwright was in perfect position now for his first ever Roadrunner win, but would have one of the best in “Bullet Bob” Frisch right behind him on the restart. Frisch, who came from the depths of the 26 car field, took the lead on the white flag lap and held on for his first feature win of the year. Cartwright nabbed a career best second place finish, followed by Ricky Nielson in third. Ray Hardesty was fourth, with Jason Brockway rounding out the top five.

Racing action resumes this Saturday Night May 12 during Loves Park Motorsports Ladies Night, all escorted ladies will be admitted free.  Racing action includes the Late Models, Sportsman, RoadRunners, Hornets plus the Morning Make-Up Dash.  Spectator gates open at 5, qualifying at 5:55 with the first big race at 7:07pm.  For additional information visit www.rockfordspeedway.com or call the Speedway Box Office at 815-633-1500.

NASCAR Stanley Steemer Late Models

A-Main 01 --  1. Mitchell Garfield, Gilberts; 2. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 3. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 4. Kyle Shear, Roscoe; 5. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 6. Austin Nason (r), Roscoe; 7. Matthew Clossey, Beloit, Wis; 8. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 9. John Beinlich, Prairie View; 10. Jacob Gille, Machesney Park; 11. Ricky Bilderback, Roscoe; 12. Danny Church (r), Big Bend, Wis; 13. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 14. Steve McBride, South Beloit; 15. Kyle Lapier, Belvidere; 16. Curt Tillman, Roscoe; 17. Timothy Slater, Hampshire; 18. Tom Gille, Winnebago.

Heat 01 --  1. Jacob Gille, Machesney Park; 2. Matthew Clossey, Beloit, Wis; 3. Kyle Lapier, Belvidere; 4. Curt Tillman, Roscoe; 5. John Beinlich, Prairie View; 6. Danny Church (r), Big Bend, Wis; 7. Steve McBride, South Beloit; 8. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 9. Timothy Slater, Hampshire.

Heat 02 --  1. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 2. Ricky Bilderback, Roscoe; 3. Kyle Shear, Roscoe; 4. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 5. Austin Nason (r), Roscoe; 6. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 7. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 8. Mitchell Garfield, Gilberts; 9. Tom Gille, Winnebago.

Time Trial --  1. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 2. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 3. Ricky Bilderback, Roscoe; 4. Kyle Shear, Roscoe; 5. Mitchell Garfield, Gilberts; 6. Austin Nason (r), Roscoe; 7. Tom Gille, Winnebago; 8. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 9. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 10. John Beinlich, Prairie View; 11. Jacob Gille, Machesney Park; 12. Matthew Clossey, Beloit, Wis; 13. Kyle Lapier, Belvidere; 14. Danny Church (r), Big Bend, Wis; 15. Curt Tillman, Roscoe; 16. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 17. Steve McBride, South Beloit; 18. Timothy Slater, Hampshire.

Trophy Dash 01 --  1. Kyle Shear, Roscoe; 2. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 3. Mitchell Garfield, Gilberts; 4. Austin Nason (r), Roscoe; 5. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 6. Ricky Bilderback, Roscoe.

Miller Lite American Short Trackers

A-Main 01 --  1. Joe LaMarca, Rockford; 2. Zach Rodriguez, Rockton; 3. Nick Cina, Jr, Belvidere; 4. Jason Bragg, Machesney Park; 5. Christopher Jones, Capron; 6. Scott Hoeft, Watertown, Wis; 7. Keith Pierce, Machesney Park; 8. George Sparkman, Loves Park; 9. Artt Higbee, Rockford; 10. Rachel Sparkman, Belvidere; 11. Nick Letsinger, Rockford; 12. David Russell, Jr, Rockford; 13. Eric Connell, Fort Atkinson, Wis; 14. Alan Bekielewski, Roscoe.

Heat 01 --  1. Eric Connell, Fort Atkinson, Wis; 2. Nick Letsinger, Rockford; 3. David Russell, Jr, Rockford; 4. Keith Pierce, Machesney Park; 5. Alan Bekielewski, Roscoe; 6. Rachel Sparkman, Belvidere; 7. Artt Higbee, Rockford.

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

Time Trial --  1. Joe LaMarca, Rockford; 2. Zach Rodriguez, Rockton; 3. George Sparkman, Loves Park; 4. Nick Cina, Jr, Belvidere; 5. Jason Bragg, Machesney Park; 6. Christopher Jones, Capron; 7. Scott Hoeft, Watertown, Wis; 8. Kyle Lapier, Belvidere; 9. Rachel Sparkman, Belvidere; 10. Nick Letsinger, Rockford; 11. Alan Bekielewski, Roscoe; 12. Eric Connell, Fort Atkinson, Wis; 13. David Russell, Jr, Rockford; 14. Keith Pierce, Machesney Park; 15. Artt Higbee, Rockford.

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

RockStar Energy RoadRunners

A-Main 01 --  1. Bobby Frisch, Beloit, Wis; 2. Adam Cartwright, Marengo; 3. Ricky Nielsen, Rockford; 4. Raymond Hardesty, McHenry; 5. Jason Brockway, Machesney Park; 6. Dennis Smith, Jr, South Beloit; 7. Gene Marocco, Machesney Park; 8. Sam Christofano, Rockford; 9. James Gregory, Winnebago; 10. Lloyd Hawkins, Machesney Park; 11. Jonathan Stoltz, Freeport; 12. Brian Mayer, Machesney Park; 13. Jason Van Hise, Loves Park; 14. Derek Nichol, Roscoe; 15. Josh Carter, Rockford; 16. Anthony Lloyd, Loves Park; 17. Kenneth Brazee III, Rockford; 18. Kyle McQuality, Stillman Valley; 19. Brent Garnhart, Machesney Park; 20. Alex Chabucos, Machesney Park; 21. Jeff Allendorf, Belvidere; 22. Dustin Radant, Machesney Park; 23. Curt Nighswonger, Rockford; 24. Arlyn Roush, Woodstock.

Heat 01 --  1. Josh Carter, Rockford; 2. Curt Nighswonger, Rockford; 3. James Gregory, Winnebago; 4. Brent Garnhart, Machesney Park; 5. Kenneth Brazee III, Rockford; 6. Steven Dover, Rockford; 7. Kyle McQuality, Stillman Valley; 8. Dustin Radant, Machesney Park.

Heat 02 --  1. Adam Cartwright, Marengo; 2. Gene Marocco, Machesney Park; 3. Bobby Frisch, Beloit, Wis; 4. Raymond Hardesty, McHenry; 5. Jason Brockway, Machesney Park; 6. Alex Chabucos, Machesney Park; 7. Derek Nichol, Roscoe; 8. Jeff Allendorf, Belvidere; 9. Austin Fowler, Loves Park.

Heat 03 --  1. Ricky Nielsen, Rockford; 2. Brian Mayer, Machesney Park; 3. Arlyn Roush, Woodstock; 4. Jason Van Hise, Loves Park; 5. Anthony Lloyd, Loves Park; 6. Dennis Smith, Jr, South Beloit; 7. Lloyd Hawkins, Machesney Park; 8. Jonathan Stoltz, Freeport; 9. Sam Christofano, Rockford.

Challenge 01 --  1. Jason Van Hise, Loves Park; 2. Lloyd Hawkins, Machesney Park; 3. Jeff Allendorf, Belvidere; 4. Adam Cartwright, Marengo; 5. Raymond Hardesty, McHenry; 6. Dustin Radant, Machesney Park; 7. Jonathan Stoltz, Freeport; 8. Brent Garnhart, Machesney Park; 9. Kenneth Brazee III, Rockford; 10. Steven Dover, Rockford.

Trophy Dash 01 --  1. Arlyn Roush, Woodstock; 2. Jason Van Hise, Loves Park; 3. Anthony Lloyd, Loves Park; 4. Dennis Smith, Jr, South Beloit; 5. Brian Mayer, Machesney Park; 6. Jonathan Stoltz, Freeport.