By Kraig McCay
Seven time Late Model Champion Ricky ‘The Rocket’ Bilderback returned to victory lane for the first time in over two years Saturday night at Rockford Speedway. Wisconsin’s Daryl Gerke became the third generation of his family to win at the quarter mile facility following a dramatic last turn pass of Scott Lawver in order to record his first Sportsman triumph. George Sparkman officially threw his hat in the ring of American Short Tracker contenders after a dominating drive to the front while Dennis Smith, Jr claimed RoadRunner honors on Tebala Shrine Family Night.

Former Lake Geneva Raceway Late Model Champion Eddie May has collected two feature victories this season at Rockford. His front row starting mate has seven NASCAR Stanley Steemer Championships, tying him with Bobby Wilberg and John Knaus atop the history books. The stout front row brought the field of twenty cars to green and it was Bilderback getting the early lead as the duo raced into turn three on the opening lap. May was left to battle with Rookie of the Year front runner Austin Nason to battle for the second position, on the fifth circuit Nason’s machine looped out of turn four bringing out the first of three cautions. Now Jerry Gille and Matt Berger were glued to May’s back bumper with Berger being the first to get past May nine laps into the event.

After a late race caution, Jerry Gille temporarily moved into second and made his bid to the inside of Bilderback for the top spot. That was short lived as Berger once again pressured to the outside of Gille to reclaim second with five laps to go. Meanwhile an entertaining battle that included the likes of Mike Beyer, Alex Papini, Mitch Garfield, 2011 Champ Ryan Carlson and fast qualifier Driver X Jon Reynolds, Jr played out behind the lead trio. Garfield gained the upper hand and would pressure Gille to the finish while Reynolds attempted to fend off Carlson over the closing laps for fifth. When the checkered flag flew, it was Bilderback returning to victory lane followed by Berger, Gille, Garfield and Reynolds.

Rookie Patrick Featherston and Butch Swinbank led the Bargain Hunter Sportsman field for the opening two circuits but Scott Lawver quickly hustled his mount into the top spot in pursuit of his one hundred and second feature triumph. Daryl Gerke followed Lawver’s lead, utilizing the low line to grab second two laps later. By the midway point, the excitement level had risen to great levels as Gerke was firmly inside of Lawver who had point leader Doug Bennett pinned to the tail of his car. Bennett was the next to attempt a race winning pass after shooting past Gerke on the high side and then diving to Lawver’s left. After eight laps of trying, Bennett was unable to succeed opening the door for Gerke with three laps to go. The third generation driver once again looked inside Lawver as the field stacked up behind the leaders. When the white flag waved, Lawver had the advantage by inches, that role reversed when the field crossed at the checkered flag as Gerke won his first ever feature at Rockford by less than an inch over Lawver. Rookie Johnny Robinson II collected third over Bennett with Justin Sellers posting another solid run with a fifth place effort.

For a while, it looked like Tim Dix was going to get past early Miller Lite American Short Tracker leader Chris Jones to become the first ‘International’ car to win in the division. An early caution allowed the field to catch back up to the leaders and soon Scotty Hoeft and Jason Bragg were the ones that many thought had the chance of knocking Jones from atop the leader board. Bragg’s hope at victory ended in a cloud of smoke when he spun to the infield grass. George Sparkman, the five time division Champ hugged the inside with ten to go to claim second from Hoeft and motored past Jones a lap later as the two exited turn two. Sparkman never looked back, recording win number three on the season. Jones was second followed by Hoeft, last week’s winner Nick Cina, Jr and Zach Rodriguez.

Shawn Rickelman went three wide to take early control of the RockStar Energy RoadRunner 20 lap feature. He maintained that lead following a lap two caution after Derek Nichol made hard contact with the turn three wall, Nichol would walk away. As the laps continued to click off, Arlyn Roush, Gene Marocco, Howie Ware, Dennis Smith, Jr and Bobby Frisch sliced their way past their fellow competitors. Marocco’s chances at victory were ended when he cut a right front tire. Dennis Smith, Jr was the first of the point leaders to get to Rickelman, taking over the top spot at the halfway mark. Roush moved into second three laps later and Frisch muscled his way into third with three laps remaining. Smith, Jr collected the winner’s hardware, Roush was second with Frisch completing the podium positions. Ware ended the night in forth and Rickelman held onto a top five feature finish.

Jon Reynolds, Jr holds a slim two point advantage over Jerry Gille in the Gilley’s Cool 5 Series standings. A pair of fives sit atop the Sportsman and American Short Tracker Gilley’s standings with Doug Bennett and George Sparkman leading their respective divisions. Bobby Frisch leads Dennis Smith by just three points in RoadRunner GC5 standings. The next Gilley’s Cool 5 event takes place on Saturday night August 25.

Racing resumes this Wednesday night at Rockford Speedway during Equipment Depot Wild Wednesday featuring the RoadRunner Super Summer Series, Winged Women on Wheels, Misfits and Spectacular Drags. As a special bonus the Bandits and Figure 8’s will contest double features. Spectator gates open at 5:30, racing begins at 7:07pm. Then on Saturday night August 4, Kar Korner presents the World Famous Figure 8 Trailer Race of Destruction. Tickets are available now by calling the Speedway Box Office at 815-633-1500 or online at www.rockfordspeedway.com

NASCAR Stanley Steemer Late Models
A-Main 01 -- 1. Ricky Bilderback, Roscoe; 2. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 3. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 4. Mitchell Garfield, Gilberts; 5. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 6. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 7. Eddie May, Crystal Lake; 8. Mike Beyer,
Machesney Park; 9. Jacob Gille, Machesney Park; 10. Matthew Clossey, Beloit, Wis; 11. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 12. Brandon Eash, Machesney Park; 13. Dave Edwards, Salem, Wis; 14. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 15. Steve
McBride, South Beloit; 16. Timothy Slater, Hampshire; 17. John Beinlich, Prairie View; 18. Austin Nason (r), Roscoe; 19. Kyle Shear, Roscoe; 20. Alex Papini, Machesney Park.
Heat 01 -- 1. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 2. Jacob Gille, Machesney Park; 3. John Beinlich, Prairie View; 4. Dave Edwards, Salem, Wis; 5. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 6. Steve McBride, South Beloit; 7. Timothy Slater, Hampshire.
Heat 02 -- 1. Eddie May, Crystal Lake; 2. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 3. Alex Papini, Machesney Park; 4. Mike Beyer, Machesney Park; 5. Kyle Shear, Roscoe; 6. Brandon Eash, Machesney Park; 7. Matthew Clossey, Beloit, Wis.
Heat 03 -- 1. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 2. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 3. Austin Nason (r), Roscoe; 4. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 5. Mitchell Garfield, Gilberts; 6. Ricky Bilderback, Roscoe.
Time Trial -- 1. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 2. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 3. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 4. Austin Nason (r), Roscoe; 5. Mitchell Garfield, Gilberts; 6. Ricky Bilderback, Roscoe; 7. Eddie May, Crystal Lake; 8. Kyle Shear, Roscoe;
9. Alex Papini, Machesney Park; 10. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 11. Matthew Clossey, Beloit, Wis; 12. Mike Beyer, Machesney Park; 13. Brandon Eash, Machesney Park; 14. Jacob Gille, Machesney Park; 15. Dave Edwards, Salem,
Wis; 16. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 17. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 18. Steve McBride, South Beloit; 19. John Beinlich, Prairie View; 20. Timothy Slater, Hampshire.
Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Ricky Bilderback, Roscoe; 2. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 3. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 4. Mitchell Garfield, Gilberts; 5. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 6. Austin Nason (r), Roscoe.

Bargain Hunter Sportsman
A-Main 01 -- 1. Daryl Gerke, Whitelaw, Wis; 2. Scott Lawver, Roscoe; 3. Johnny Robinson, II (r), Beloit, Wis; 4. Doug Bennett, Brodhead, Wis; 5. Justin Sellers, Carol Stream; 6. Brett McCoy, Belvidere; 7. Patrick Featherston II (r), Byron; 8.
Warren (Butch) Swinbank, Rockford; 9. Tim Jendrycki, Round Lake; 10. Joshua Lundy, Loves Park; 11. Brandon Swinbank, Fitchburg, Wis; 12. Matt Lundberg, Rockford.
Heat 01 -- 1. Joshua Lundy, Loves Park; 2. Warren (Butch) Swinbank, Rockford; 3. Brandon Swinbank, Fitchburg, Wis; 4. Tim Jendrycki, Round Lake; 5. Patrick Featherston II (r), Byron; 6. Scott Lawver, Roscoe.
Heat 02 -- 1. Johnny Robinson, II (r), Beloit, Wis; 2. Doug Bennett, Brodhead, Wis; 3. Daryl Gerke, Whitelaw, Wis; 4. Matt Lundberg, Rockford; 5. Justin Sellers, Carol Stream; 6. Brett McCoy, Belvidere.
Time Trial -- 1. Doug Bennett, Brodhead, Wis; 2. Daryl Gerke, Whitelaw, Wis; 3. Johnny Robinson, II (r), Beloit, Wis; 4. Matt Lundberg, Rockford; 5. Brett McCoy, Belvidere; 6. Justin Sellers, Carol Stream; 7. Scott Lawver, Roscoe; 8. Tim
Jendrycki, Round Lake; 9. Patrick Featherston II (r), Byron; 10. Warren (Butch) Swinbank, Rockford; 11. Joshua Lundy, Loves Park; 12. Brandon Swinbank, Fitchburg, Wis.
Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Johnny Robinson, II (r), Beloit, Wis; 2. Brett McCoy, Belvidere; 3. Doug Bennett, Brodhead, Wis; 4. Justin Sellers, Carol Stream; 5. Daryl Gerke, Whitelaw, Wis; 6. Matt Lundberg, Rockford.

Miller Lite American Short Trackers
A-Main 01 -- 1. George Sparkman, Loves Park; 2. Christopher Jones, Capron; 3. Scott Hoeft, Watertown, Wis; 4. Nick Cina, Jr, Belvidere; 5. Zach Rodriguez, Rockton; 6. Joe LaMarca, Rockford; 7. Nick Letsinger, Rockford; 8. Leo Bujak, III
(r), Spring Grove; 9. Rachel Sparkman, Belvidere; 10. David Russell, Jr, Rockford; 11. Alan Bekielewski, Roscoe; 12. Tim Dix, Beloit, Wis; 13. Jack Atchison, Stillman Valley; 14. Jason Bragg, Machesney Park; 15. Keith Pierce, Machesney Park; 16. Ron Bridges, Machesney Park; 17. Kyle Lapier, Belvidere.
Heat 01 -- 1. Alan Bekielewski, Roscoe; 2. Keith Pierce, Machesney Park; 3. Leo Bujak, III (r), Spring Grove; 4. Christopher Jones, Capron; 5. David Russell, Jr, Rockford; 6. Nick Letsinger, Rockford; 7. Ron Bridges, Machesney Park; 8. Jack Atchison, Stillman Valley; 9. Kyle Lapier, Belvidere.
Heat 02 -- 1. Zach Rodriguez, Rockton; 2. George Sparkman, Loves Park; 3. Joe LaMarca, Rockford; 4. Scott Hoeft, Watertown, Wis; 5. Nick Cina, Jr, Belvidere; 6. Rachel Sparkman, Belvidere; 7. Jason Bragg, Machesney Park; 8. Tim Dix, Beloit, Wis.
Time Trial -- 1. Nick Cina, Jr, Belvidere; 2. Rachel Sparkman, Belvidere; 3. George Sparkman, Loves Park; 4. Joe LaMarca, Rockford; 5. Zach Rodriguez, Rockton; 6. Scott Hoeft, Watertown, Wis; 7. Jason Bragg, Machesney Park; 8.
Tim Dix, Beloit, Wis; 9. Kyle Lapier, Belvidere; 10. Christopher Jones, Capron; 11. Nick Letsinger, Rockford; 12. Leo Bujak, III (r), Spring Grove; 13. Alan Bekielewski, Roscoe; 14. Keith Pierce, Machesney Park; 15. David Russell, Jr,
Rockford; 16. Ron Bridges, Machesney Park; 17. Jack Atchison, Stillman Valley.
Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Joe LaMarca, Rockford; 2. Nick Cina, Jr, Belvidere; 3. Zach Rodriguez, Rockton; 4. George Sparkman, Loves Park; 5. Scott Hoeft, Watertown, Wis; 6. Rachel Sparkman, Belvidere.

RockStar Energy RoadRunners
A-Main 01 -- 1. Dennis Smith, Jr, South Beloit; 2. Arlyn Roush, Woodstock; 3. Bobby Frisch, Beloit, Wis; 4. Howie Ware, South Beloit; 5. Shawn Rickelman, Rockton; 6. Adam Cartwright, Marengo; 7. Jason Van Hise, Loves Park; 8. Alex
Chabucos, Machesney Park; 9. Raymond Hardesty, McHenry; 10. Kenneth Brazee III, Rockford; 11. Ricky Nielsen, Rockford; 12. Brian Mayer, Machesney Park; 13. Linnea Lundy, Loves Park; 14. Gene Marocco, Machesney Park; 15.
Josh Carter, Rockford; 16. Dustin Radant, Machesney Park; 17. Derek Nichol, Roscoe.
Heat 01 -- 1. Shawn Rickelman, Rockton; 2. Alex Chabucos, Machesney Park; 3. Adam Cartwright, Marengo; 4. Dustin Radant, Machesney Park; 5. Raymond Hardesty, McHenry; 6. Linnea Lundy, Loves Park; 7. Austin Fowler, Loves Park;
8. Josh DiGiovanni, Machesney Park; 9. Josh Carter, Rockford; 10. Kenneth Brazee III, Rockford.
Heat 02 -- 1. Gene Marocco, Machesney Park; 2. Derek Nichol, Roscoe; 3. Howie Ware, South Beloit; 4. Bobby Frisch, Beloit, Wis; 5. Brian Mayer, Machesney Park; 6. Dennis Smith, Jr, South Beloit; 7. Arlyn Roush, Woodstock; 8. Jason Van Hise, Loves Park.
Challenge 01 -- 1. Raymond Hardesty, McHenry; 2. Jason Van Hise, Loves Park; 3. Kenneth Brazee III, Rockford; 4. Dustin Radant, Machesney Park; 5. Adam Cartwright, Marengo.
Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Howie Ware, South Beloit; 2. Brian Mayer, Machesney Park; 3. Gene Marocco, Machesney Park; 4. Dennis Smith, Jr, South Beloit; 5. Bobby Frisch, Beloit, Wis; 6. Arlyn Roush, Woodstock.