Swan Paces Enormous Field as 18th Annual Bahama Bracket Nationals Heat Up at Rockford

By Jordan Kuehne
LOVES PARK, Ill. (Saturday, October 17th, 2009) -- James Swan took flight tonight at the Rockford Speedway, pacing a field of almost 200 cars in setting fast time and collecting the Short Track News Fast Qualifier Award at the 18th annual Bahama Bracket Nationals. On a chilly October day, Swan was blazing fast, laying down a blistering lap of 14.333 seconds to top a field of 150 bracket cars. In addition to that, 44 Hornets took to the track as Brad Chandler set the mark to beat with a quick time of 17.135 seconds. 30 races were conducted as most of the field was set for tomorrow's Bahama Bracket 50-lap feature events.

The racing action at the Bahama Bracket Nationals is different from most events seen throughout the year, as cars from all divisions qualify and are then placed into brackets based on their qualifying times. After the 150 bracket cars qualified, it was James Swan topping the field and pacing the 'A' Bracket as each racing machine was placed into one of four brackets according to their time trials.

Throughout the evening, the action was intense on the high-banked quarter mile, as cars that were evenly matched duked it out for the opportunity to cement themselves into the feature field. Each bracket had four heat races as the top four drivers locked themselves into the 50-lap main events tomorrow, earning the chance to potentially win a trip to the Bahamas.

Teams that missed out on their chance to advance through the heat race battled their counterparts in the 15-lap Bermuda Bashes, a last chance heat that put two more drivers into tomorrow's feature fields.

Several area tracks were well-represented, as Rockford's own contingent of drivers led the way with 49 attendants for the weekend. The half-mile Illiana Motor Speedway in Schererville, Indiana had a strong collection of teams on hand, as 42 drivers made the trip. 17 teams that call Cedar Rapids, Iowa's Hawkeye Downs Speedway home journeyed across the Mississippi River to compete.

After a marathon day of racing had come to a close, a few familiar faces loomed large heading into tomorrow's full slate of action. Josh Nelms, fresh off the highlight of his career up to this point, a victory in the Budweiser 200 and the title of 2009 National Short Track Champion, qualified fifth and broke out in the heat race, putting on a display of driving acumen as he looks to add another win to his resume.

James Swan, fast qualifier and a venerable veteran on the Midwest racing scene, looked ready to take home another victory at the Bahama Bracket Nationals. His Big 8 Series compatriot, John Paul Odegaard, looked to defend his 2008 title in the 'A' Bracket, sending a clear message to the field that he was in top form again with a heat race victory.

Those three drivers and over 190 more will be on hand tomorrow looking to take home a TIKI torch, bragging rights, and the chance to make a tough decision of pocketing the winner's purse or selecting a trip to the Bahamas instead. The racing action promises to ratchet itself up a few levels as the Last Chance Events kick off the jam-packed day of excitement at the historic speedplant. Spectator gates open at 10am, with practice getting underway at 10:15am. The green flag will wave at high noon, as the 18th annual Bahama Bracket Nationals heat up with four 50-lap features. The day concludes with the Fabolous Foo Foo Races, 12-lap battles that are fraught with thrills and spills.

For more information on the 18th annual Bahama Bracket Nationals, including a full schedule of events and more, call the Speedway Box Office at (815)633-1500 (815)633-1500 or visit the track website at www.rockfordspeedway.com.

Bahama Bracket National Results

Heat 01 -- 1. AJ aka JP Odegaard, Brooklyn Center, Minn.; 2. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 3. James Swan, Lake Geneva, Wis; 4. Larry Clausen, Atkins, Iowa; 5. Brad Daugherty, Palo, Iowa; 6. Tim Ellis, Roscoe; 7. Dave Dotter, East Hazel Crest; 8. Wayne Huffman, Midlothian; 9. Patty Fosanen, Waukon, Iowa.

Heat 02 -- 1. Chad Bayuk, Joliet; 2. Michael Lange, West Allis, Wis; 3. Shaun Wiltjer, Gary, Ind.; 4. Rob Solo Rio (r), Hampshire; 5. Jeremy Tess, East Troy, Wis; 6. Ed Williams, Jr., Streamwood; 7. Chris Woodall, Calumet City; 8. Kurt Kleven, Cambridge, Wis; 9. Doug Bennett, Brodhead, Wis.

Heat 03 -- 1. Danny Church, Big Bend, Wis; 2. Dave Polak, Tinley Park; 3. Landry Potter, Genoa City, Wis; 4. Ron Morris 2);; 5. Joe Darnell, Machesney Park; 6. Bill Serviss, Posen; 7. Craig Amptmeyer, Lansing; 8. Michael Gilomen, Northfield, Minn.; 9. Josh Nelms, Lockport.

Heat 04 -- 1. Tom Prim, Thornton; 2. John Senerchia, New Lenox; 3. Mark Pluer, Brookfield, Wis; 4. Jim Hanson,
Cedar Rapids, Iowa; 5. Nick Shutkas, Loves Park; 6. Brock Behnke, South Beloit; 7. David Ballstaedt, Cedar Rapids,
Iowa; 8. Bill Rud, Streamwood.

Heat 21 -- 1. Tony Sancinati, West Allis, Wis; 2. Jim Tate, Jr., Watertown, Wis; 3. Jay Crichton, Lake Villa; 4. Dan Witt, Munster, Ind.; 5. Butch Wood, Homer Glen; 6. Scott Lawver, Roscoe; 7. John Cozzi, Alsip; 8. Ben Monday, Marshall, Wis; 9. Jacob McKown, Hobart, Ind.; 10. Cory Houdek, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Heat 22 -- 1. Ken Smart, Eagle, Wis; 2. Louis Ansolabehere, Minnetonka, Minn.; 3. Pat "Hacksaw" Heaney, Greenfield, Wis; 4. Pat Ligue, Chicago; 5. Eddie Wolf, Thornton; 6. Mark McLawhorn, Oaklawn; 7. Phil Malouf, Manitowish Waters, Wis; 8. Jeff Lillge, Dakota; 9. Mike Szekely, Alsip.

Heat 23 -- 1. Bob Rohweder, Valpraiso, Ind.; 2. Tom Homan, Antioch; 3. Brad Carson, Manteno; 4. Shannon Stoltz, Machesney Park; 5. Dan Huber, Paddock Lake, Wis; 6. Bobby Blood, Blue Island; 7. Ron Morris, Belvidere; 8. John Dietrich, Carol Steam; 9. Charlie Frisch, Beloit, Wis.

Heat 24 -- 1. Jeremy Cole, Crestwood; 2. Brian Kucaba, Orland Park; 3. Mark Pluer (2), Brookfield, Wis; 4. Mike Nelms, Lombard; 5. Don Fassett, Wisconsin Dells, Wis; 6. Johnny Robinson II, Beloit, Wis; 7. Ryan Farrell, East Troy, Wis; 8. Jimmy Robinson, Orfordville, Wis; 9. Rick Wilson, Frankfort.

Heat 31 -- 1. Craig Miller, Valparaiso, Ind.; 2. Ronnie Mink, Bristol, Wis; 3. Big Al Kuphal, Franklin, Wis; 4. Gary Kasperek, Tigerton, Wis; 5. Rich Berstler, Fairfax, Iowa; 6. Ed Klug, Oregon, Wis; 7. Bobbie Jean Wall, Lowell, Ind.; 8. Ed Hast, Grant Park; 9. Jeff Ogdon, Crete; 10. Tim Ellis (2), Roscoe.

Heat 32 -- 1. Chris Czaszwicz, Alsip; 2. Vaughn Lesko, Twin Lakes, Wis; 3. Scott Gardner, Blue Island; 4. Herb Moag, Oswego; 5. Don Lunsford, Oak Creek, Wis; 6. Cheryl Hryn, Posen; 7. Joey Thomas, Rockford; 8. Mike Smart,
Oconomowoc, Wis; 9. Bill Johnson, Antioch.

Heat 33 -- 1. Bob Walczak, Antioch; 2. Gary Sanders, Crest Hills; 3. Kevin Gress, Peotone; 4. Terrance Robinson, Beloit, Wis; 5. Dana Czach (2);; 6. Jeff Burrows, Sparta, Wis; 7. Rodger Stephenson, Cambridge, Wis; 8. Greg Hentrich, Hiawatha, Iowa; 9. Darrell Gay, Morris; 10. Michael Meyers, Beloit, Wis.

Heat 34 -- 1. Jeff Schultz, Elkhorn, Wis; 2. Malena Betzer, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; 3. Jeremy Robertson, Swisher, Iowa; 4. Greg Pruitt, Rockford; 5. Victor Young, Genoa; 6. Duayne Herb, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; 7. Jeffery Turnure, Rockford; 8. Alan Bekielewski, Roscoe; 9. Mike VanHowe, Crestwood.

Heat 41 -- 1. Rita Fields, Valparaiso, Ind.; 2. Brett McCoy, Belvidere; 3. Paul Reid, Hampshire; 4. Mike Doris, Huntley; 5. Ray Swan, Carol Stream; 6. Josh Carter, Rockford; 7. Brian Smith, Rockford; 8. Brad Jones, Rockton; 9. Lennard Groleau, S. Beloit.

Heat 42 -- 1. Bobby Frisch, Beloit, Wis; 2. Jeff Jeras, Waukon, Iowa; 3. Charlie Frisch (2);; 4. Brad Warthan, Sparta, Wis; 5. Jim Ehle, Belvidere; 6. Anthony Vito, Crystal Lake; 7. AJ Bettack, Genoa City, Wis; 8. Michael (Mike) Wallis, Machesney Park; 9. Ricky Nielsen, Rockford.

Heat 43 -- 1. Isaac LaCour Jr., Westmont; 2. Lloyd Hawkins, Machesney Park; 3. Jeff Allendorf, Belvidere; 4. Dave Lumsden, Jr., Rockford; 5. Nick Newton, Jefferson, Wis; 6. Anthony (Andy) Bristol, Rockford; 7. Tim Sehr, Des Plaines; 8. Adam Cartwright, Woodstock; 9. Kandi Floyd, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; 10. Gerry Galloway, Hanover Park.

Heat 44 -- 1. Don Lunsford (2), Oak Creek, Wis; 2. Eric Schoffen, Crystal Lake; 3. Mike Jucius, Oak Lawn; 4. Dana
Czach, Wauconda; 5. David Paskiewicz, Oregon, Wis; 6. Ryan Nuti, Edgerton, Wis; 7. Marvin Butler, Rockford; 8. Nick Wolak, Merrillville, Ind.; 9. Cody Erickson, Algonquin.

Bermuda Bash A 1 -- 1. Joe Darnell, Machesney Park; 2. Tim Ellis, Roscoe; 3. Bill Rud, Streamwood; 4. Bill Serviss, Posen; 5. David Ballstaedt, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; 6. Kurt Kleven, Cambridge, Wis; 7. Patty Fosanen, Waukon, Iowa; 8. Brad Daugherty, Palo, Iowa.

Bermuda Bash A 2 -- 1. Nick Shutkas, Loves Park; 2. Jeremy Tess, East Troy, Wis; 3. Josh Nelms, Lockport; 4.
Dave Dotter, East Hazel Crest; 5. Brock Behnke, South Beloit; 6. Wayne Huffman, Midlothian; 7. Michael Gilomen,
Northfield, Minn.; 8. Craig Amptmeyer, Lansing; 9. Ed Williams, Jr., Streamwood.

Bermuda Bash AA 1 -- 1. Butch Wood, Homer Glen; 2. Scott Lawver, Roscoe; 3. Mike Szekely, Alsip; 4. Ryan Farrell, East Troy, Wis; 5. Bobby Blood, Blue Island; 6. Mike Smart, Oconomowoc, Wis; 7. Phil Malouf, Manitowish Waters, Wis; 8. Jacob McKown, Hobart, Ind.; 9. Dan Huber, Paddock Lake, Wis; 10. Mike VanHowe, Crestwood; 11. Jeff Lillge, Dakota.

Bermuda Bash AA 2 -- 1. Ron Morris, Belvidere; 2. Don Fassett, Wisconsin Dells, Wis; 3. Eddie Wolf, Thornton; 4. Cory Houdek, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; 5. Johnny Robinson II, Beloit, Wis; 6. Mark McLawhorn, Oaklawn; 7. Bill Johnson, Antioch; 8. Ben Monday, Marshall, Wis; 9. Michael Meyers, Beloit, Wis; 10. John Cozzi, Alsip.

Bermuda Bash AAA 1 -- 1. Jeff Burrows, Sparta, Wis; 2. Jeffery Turnure, Rockford; 3. Lennard Groleau, S. Beloit; 4. Gerry Galloway, Hanover Park; 5. Rich Berstler, Fairfax, Iowa; 6. Dana Czach (2);; 7. Joey Thomas, Rockford; 8. Jeff Ogdon, Crete; 9. Greg Hentrich, Hiawatha, Iowa; 10. Darrell Gay, Morris; 11. Ed Klug, Oregon, Wis.

Bermuda Bash AAA 2 -- 1. Rodger Stephenson, Cambridge, Wis; 2. Tim Ellis (2), Roscoe; 3. Don Lunsford, Oak
Creek, Wis; 4. Bobbie Jean Wall, Lowell, Ind.; 5. Victor Young, Genoa; 6. Duayne Herb, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; 7. Ricky Nielsen, Rockford; 8. Alan Bekielewski, Roscoe; 9. Cheryl Hryn, Posen; 10. Ed Hast, Grant Park.

Bermuda Bash AAAA 1 -- 1. Josh Carter, Rockford; 2. Ray Swan, Carol Stream; 3. Anthony (Andy) Bristol, Rockford; 4. AJ Bettack, Genoa City, Wis; 5. Nick Wolak, Merrillville, Ind.; 6. Michael (Mike) Wallis, Machesney Park; 7. Nick Newton, Jefferson, Wis; 8. Marvin Butler, Rockford.

Bermuda Bash AAAA 2 -- 1. David Paskiewicz, Oregon, Wis; 2. Bill Serviss, Posen; 3. Tim Sehr, Des Plaines; 4. Jim
Ehle, Belvidere; 5. Brian Smith, Rockford; 6. Adam Cartwright, Woodstock; 7. Anthony Vito, Crystal Lake.