Local Headlines

LOVES PARK, Ill. (Saturday, May 28th, 2011) -- Jerry Gille didn't have his engine, didn't have the fastest car, and didn't have much of a lead with five laps remaining tonight at the Rockford Speedway. And yet, none of that really mattered because in the end, the former two-time Stanley Steemer NASCAR Late Models champion did what he often does, using some veteran guile to fend off a hard charging Jon Reynolds Jr. and find his way back to victory lane for the first time in 2011.

One week after leading the opening 12 laps of the feature before his motor went south, the veteran used a borrowed engine from Brandon Eash's machine to power himself to the win and close within 31 points of new top dog Ryan Carlson. The standings received a major shakeup after Carlson, points leader Tim Sargent, and Kyle Shear were caught up in an early race incident. Young Austin Nason continued to exhibit his extraordinary talent en route to the checkers in the Bargain Hunter Sportsman, assuming command of the points lead, while Brett McCoy took his dad's Mtn Dew RoadRunner to the winner's circle after surviving a late race restart. In their first visit to the high banks this season, the Illini Midget Series put on an awesome display of side-by-side racing action before Patrick Bruns prevailed with a late race move.

The 30-lap headliner for the Stanley Steemer NASCAR Late Models got off to a fast and furious start as Kyle Lapier and Wayne Friemund went door-to-door for the lead from the drop of the green flag. After Freimund used the high line to take over the top spot on the third lap, Lapier drove across the nose of Ryan Carlson and spun into the turn one outside wall.

Several drivers had nowhere to go in the chain reaction aftermath including points leader and fast qualifier Tim Sargent, Kyle Shear, and Carlson. The mayhem forced all four cars involved to head to the pits for repairs with only Sargent, the winner of the last two features, and Lapier managing to return to the track on the lead lap. Unfortunately for ‘RC’, it was the second trip into the fence on the evening after a mishap during qualifying totaled his primary machine.

After a lengthy caution to clean up the debris strewn around the race track, racing resumed with 28 laps remaining and Wayne Freimund holding onto the lead. Jerry Gille swiftly shuttled past nephew Jake for second before setting his sights on the lead.

The two-time champion shook off Freimund and found himself out front with four laps in the books as Jon Reynolds Jr. entered the picture. ‘Driver X’ threw his hot rod into the corner and pushed his machine to the inside of Freimund, going side-by-side over the next five laps before Reynolds Jr. emerged with the bridesmaid’s position.

Shortly after Reynolds Jr. secured the spot, a second caution flew with 20 laps to go after Vern Fagerberg smacked the turn four wall. On the restart, Gille built a five car length advantage over ‘Driver X’ as Jake Gille settled into third.

As the laps ticked off at a quick pace, Reynolds Jr. slowly reeled in his longtime nemesis, closing to within two car lengths with five laps remaining. ‘Driver X’ had an extra $500 to drive for after accepting the Garber Collision & Glass Challenge during opening ceremonies, forcing him to start at the back of the pack and drive through the field for the win. With the dollar signs in his eyes and a rocketship beneath his feet, Reynolds Jr. managed to get alongside of Gille with four laps to go but couldn’t close the deal.

With the white flag in the air, ‘Driver X’ and his Hoosier slicks slid up the track and Reynolds Jr’s last gasp effort for a win to fall short. Jerry Gille had just enough power for his first victory of the season and it was even sweeter considering the fact it came just one week after the two-time champion lost an engine while leading.

"I'm getting old and tired," the victorious veteran mused afterwards. "Gotta thank Jon for racing me clean out there like he usually does. Raced me hard, fair, and clean. I really, really felt like we could win last week so I also gotta thank Brandon and John Eash for lending me their engine after we lost one last weekend."

Jake Gille's strong evening ended with a third place finish while Wayne Freimund edged out young Mitch Garfield for fourth.

Scott Lawver launched himself into the top spot when the 25-lap Bargain Hunter Sportsman main event got underway. As the leader tried to pull away from the field, 2010 RoadRunner champ Robert Roush and last weekend’s feature winner, Matt Lundberg, gave chase.

Austin Nason joined the fray out front and grabbed third from Lundberg using the low line to propel himself into a podium spot. The fast qualifier was actively pursuing second when a debris caution flew and halted the proceedings on lap nine.

On the restart, Nason nabbed the bridesmaid’s position displaying veteran guile that belied his 15-year-old frame. Lundberg landed in third as a second caution flew a lap later after Justin Sellers and Matt Berger made contact and sent the defending champ spinning across the frontstretch in front of oncoming traffic. Brad Gerke couldn’t avoid Berger’s machine and made minor contact but was able to resume – Berger wasn’t so lucky as his night ended on the hook.

Nason wasted no time making his move for the lead when racing action resumed, diving to the bottom of Lawver in turn one and emerging with the top spot as they exited onto the backstretch with 14 laps to go. Lundberg worked his way into second and stayed within shouting distance of the young gun out front as Lawver fell off the pace. Former champion Doug Bennett got by the vet for third as Nason continued to lead the way up front.

Lundberg cut the deficit to within a single car length as the white flag waved but it wasn’t enough to catch his teenage counterpart. The young Austin Nason earned his second trip to victory lane in 2011 and firmly established himself as a bonafide contender for the crown, taking over the points lead by six markers over Lundberg.

Fast qualifier Doug Bennett rounded out a solid evening with a third place effort. Roush and rookie Brad Gerke finished off the top five in fourth and fifth respectively.

Brett McCoy surged to the early advantage in the 20-lap Mtn Dew RoadRunners big show. Dan Carlson and Gene Marocco worked through the 21 car field before settling into second and third as McCoy comfortable paced the lineup around the high banks.

With a scenic backdrop of Memorial Day fireworks courtesy of Loves Park’s Young at Heart Festival, a caution flew for Jeff Allendorf’s stalled machine on the frontstretch. On the restart, Marocco and Carlson jousted for second as McCoy slipped out to a solid three car length edge.

Marocco wasted little time erasing that deficit after he made his way around Carlson though, erasing McCoy’s lead and closing up to the leader’s bumper in under five laps. The old racing axiom, “catching him is one thing, passing him is another,” came to life out front as Marocco got alongside McCoy but couldn’t make the move stick.

A three-lap shootout was borne when Howie Ware turned around points leader Alex Papini’s car on the backstretch ending both driver’s nights – Papini due to issues related to the incident and Ware for his incendiary role in the caution.

On the restart, Carlson held up a charging Marocco just enough to enable McCoy to escape to the winner’s circle and claim his first checkered flag of the year.

“Dad thanks for letting me borrow your car for the night,” a smiling McCoy quipped afterwards. “The car was a little tight and that yellow at the end let me get away from Gene a bit there. It was a lot of fun.”

Marocco settled for a hard earned second while Carlson came home in third. Arlyn Roush continued his consistent campaign with a fourth place finish as Dennis Smith Jr. quietly worked his way into the top five ending up fifth.

Scott Koerner cornered the lead as the Illini Midget Racing Series made their 2011 debut at the high-banked speedplant built for cars just like these. As the 16 car field maneuvered around the quarter-mile oval, Ben Gillis sliced and diced through the field before inheriting the top spot when Koerner’s night was cut short with mechanical problems.

Local driver Tyler Deschaine made contact with Aaron Willis Jr. and sent the new track record holder shooting into the turn one wall with eight laps completed in the 25-lap feature event. When the green flag waved, Gillis grabbed a comfortable cushion and zoomed away into the night as Deschaine and Loran Critchett Jr. dueled for second.

Critchett rolled past Deschaine with 15 to go and by the time the halfway point came and went, he’d taken over the lead from Gillis. Deschaine followed suit and relegated
Ben Gillis to third as heat race winner Patrick Bruns busted through the lineup behind them. Bruns burst into the picture and grabbed the runner-up spot thanks in part to a Deschaine slip up in the corner.

Bruns quickly applied pressure to the leader and was closing on Loran Critchett Jr. when the yellow flag flew for a Lamont Critchett spin with four laps left setting up a shootout for the win.

The top two went side-by-side for the lead as Bruns looked high and low before escaping with the top spot behind a daring maneuver on the outside of Critchett Jr. with two to go. Bruns cruised through the final circuit and grabbed the opening win of the year for the Illini Midgets.

Loran Critchett Jr. settled for a disappointing second, edging Deschaine by a nose at the line. Tyler Trainor and Sean Murphy came home in fourth and fifth respectively completing the top five.

The always entertaining Sam’s Drive-In RoadRunner Challenge featured the frantic Stop ‘N Go Race tonight. A nine car field attempted to tackle the six lap challenge and win the race while avoiding racing’s version of musical chairs, being the last car running when Speedway General Manager Gregg McKarns threw up the big red stop sign.

Arlyn Roush snagged the lead on the opening lap and slammed the brakes in succession three times to prevail over Brett McCoy and Lloyd Hawkins in a fun and unique display of driving prowess.

‘Sky Rider’ Schneider rode his school bus into the stratosphere tonight with an amazing School Bus Jump that wowed an approving crowd. Schneider soared into the night air off the long ramp before crashing into a semi tractor-trailer and having to be removed via forklift. The stunt driver emerged unharmed after pinning the bus inside of the demolished trailer.

Racing returns to Rockford next Saturday night with the 64th anniversary celebration of the track's storied history featuring a full slate of racing action. On tap are the Stanley Steemer NASCAR Late Models, Budweiser American Short Trackers, Mtn Dew RoadRunners, and a special appearance from the Illinois Vintage Series, plus the Hornets and the Sam's Drive-In RoadRunner Challenge featuring the Double Spin 2 Win event.

A carload of people is just $30 until 6:30pm and anyone ages 64 and over gets in FREE while $6.40 specials will be running all evening long. Gates open at 5pm with qualifying scheduled for 6pm and the green flag waving at 7:07pm sharp.

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

This article posted by Rockford Speedway. Click here for more track information.