The Big Horsepower of Super Late Model racing will be on display this Saturday July 14 during the Miller Lite All-Star 100 at Rockford Speedway. Former event winners Rich Bickle (1989) and Ryan Carlson (2010) are amongst the early entries. Speeds of nearly one hundred miles per hour will be seen as the cars dive onto the big high banks for one hundred action packed laps. Many observers feel the track record of 12.772 seconds (82.305MPH) set in October of 2010 by Brian Johnson, Jr is in jeopardy of being broken this Saturday. With the combination of four barrel carburetors and the new Hoosier Racing Tire F-25/F-48 compound being utilized, records are likely to be set during Race Car Help Qualifying.

Bickle who has returned to the Midwest scene after a successful campaign in NASCAR’s elite divisions is amongst the favorites to win this year’s edition. Bickle has recorded wins in Wisconsin already this year and looks to add another Rockford triumph to his list of accomplishments. In his last three starts at Rockford, Bickle has found his way to the front only to be denied a win including last year’s All-Star 100 victory. Other out of town drivers to watch include Brennon Willard, a standout driver at Missouri’s Lebanon I-44 Speedway, Slinger Speedway ace Steve Apel who always runs near the front when he visits Rockford, Central Wisconsin front runner Jeff Weinfurter and emerging female star Kelsey Bauer.

The local contingent will prove to be tough as well as Michael Bilderback, Brian Johnson, Jr, Ryan Carlson, Steve Rubeck and Jon Reynolds, Jr have all filed entries for Saturday night. Carlson, the defending weekly NASCAR Stanley Steemer Late Model Champion at Rockford recorded an All-Star 100 victory two seasons ago after having suffered a broken back in the same event a year prior. Bilderback captured a long distance event at Rockford when he won the Spring Classic in 2008 and is hot off a fourth place finish in the Slinger Nationals earlier this month. Steve Rubeck has the best Super Late Model resume of the local connection, having recorded three Super Late victories at the tough quarter mile oval. Brian Johnson, Jr will be behind the wheel of the Lefthander Chassis ‘House Car’ and is the current track record holder. Another driver with local ties that should be considered a contender is ‘Driver X’ Jon Reynolds, Jr who will pilot a Super Late Model for the first time in 2012 after two successful seasons in the Super Late Model ranks.

The All-Star 100 is one of Midwest racing’s oldest traditions, first being contested in 1978 by the ARTGO Challenge Series. Past winners include Dick Trickle, Mark Martin, Joe Shear, Dave Watson, Eddie Hoffman, Butch Miller, Ross Kenseth, Larry Schuler and Al Schill.

Adult general admission tickets are $20, students ages 12-17 are $10, ages 6-11 are $5 with children ages 5 and under admitted free. Spectator gates open at 5pm, qualifying gets underway at 6pm with the first race at 7:07pm. In addition to the Super Late Models, fans will be treated to the Bargain Hunter Sportsman, American Super Cups, RockStar Energy RoadRunners and Sam’s Drive-In 2nd Over the Line Wins Race. For additional information or to purchase advance tickets visit www.rockfordspeedway.com or contact the Speedway Box Office at 815-633-1500.

Former Rockford Speedway All-Star 100 Winners

Year Name
1978 Dick Trickle ARTGO
1979 Mark Martin ARTGO
1980 Dick Trickle ARTGO
1981 Joe Shear ARTGO
1982 Dave Watson ARTGO
1983 Dick Trickle ARTGO
1984 Bobby Allison ARTGO
1985 Joe Shear ARTGO
1986 Dick Trickle ARTGO
1987 Al Schill ARTGO
1988 Butch Miller ARTGO
1989 Rich Bickle ARTGO
1990 Larry Schuler ARTGO
1991 Kevin Cywinski ARTGO
1992 Joe Shear ARTGO
2007 Eddie Hoffman ASA Late Models
2008 Trent Snyder ASA Late Models North
2009 Ross Kenseth ASA Late Models North
2010 Ryan Carlson ASA Late Models North
2011 Erik Jones CRA Jeg’s All-Stars Tour

Miller Lite All-Star 100
Entries as of July 11, 2012
(an updated entry list will be released Friday as entries continue to arrive daily)

Car #
Driver Name
1 Jeremy Schulz
2 Michael Bilderback
3 Brennon Willard
3 Jeff Weinfurter
7 Kelsey Bauer
10 Tony Strupp, Jr
16 Steve Apel
19 Brian Johnson, Jr
21 Dave Tomczak
22 Jeremy Spoonmore
45 Rich Bickle
52 Keith Tolf
54 Erik Pierce
55 Ryan Carlson
61 Steve Rubeck
140 Curt Tillman
X Jon Reynolds, Jr