by Rockford Speedway Media PR
Over 100 teams have already filed their entry for this weekend’s 20th annual Bahama Bracket Nationals presented by TIKI. That number is expected to double to over 200 once teams start rolling through the gates Friday at 1pm for the 5pm Open Practice and Open Time Trials. Racecars from across the Midwest will take on the Rockford Speedway high banks in two and three wide racing action that many call the best of the year. All cars will qualify on Saturday (12:30pm) which will set their bracket (groups of cars grouped together based on speed rather than by division/rules). Once qualifying concludes, Happy Half Hour Qualifying will begin which is usually over two hours of teams trying to better their speed as well as collect the $100 bonus for a perfect time (14.300 and 15.600 for the 4cyl ‘B’ bracket). Once 6pm rolls around Saturday night, hang on tight as the furious heat races and Bermuda Bashes take the track to help set the feature field. Drivers will go high and low in an attempt to not break-out (going .200 seconds faster than their qualifying time) and put their ride into one of Sunday’s 50 lap features. One lucky driver will be able to take advantage of the Sing for your Start on Saturday night during the Bud Light Last Blast Race Party in the Pavilion, in order to punch their card for the big show.

Jim Ambruoso Photoby Jordan Kuehne
Patience is a virtue and Nick Shutkas rode it all the way to victory Sunday, taking home the main event at the Rockford Speedway’s 19th annual Bahama Bracket Nationals, surviving a caution-plagued ‘A’ Bracket 50-lap feature and holding off a hard-charging James Swan to find victory lane.

Shutkas worked his way to the front slowly, taking his time as the local veteran methodically picked off cars before overtaking John Paul Odegaard with 16 laps remaining and fending off Swan over the final ten laps and numerous restarts to grab the TIKI Torch trophy and the cash. In a heated ‘AA’ showcase, Billy Rud endured a late race rally from Landry Potter to come home victorious and notch a nice payday. Rud took over the race, inheriting the lead when Scott Lawver suffered the dreaded breakout up front.

Rick Wilson went side-by-side with Bob Moeller for ten laps before ending up in the winner’s circle in the ‘AAA’ Bracket while Bill Bush grabbed the ‘AAAA’ win after the original victor, Brad Norgard, broke out on the final lap. In the debut of 4-cylinder brackets at the Bahamas, Kyle Lapier grabbed the top prize in the ‘B’ Bracket headliner. Iowa driver Bryce Bailey made it two in a row, grabbing a second consecutive Bahama Brackets win in the ‘BB’ division and declaring the trip for two to the Bahamas his choice in victory lane.

The showcase event of the 2010 Bahama Bracket Nationals got off to a fast start as the 50-lap ‘A’ Bracket feature saw its first two leaders, Dirt Late Model wheelman Ed Williams Jr. and Sportsman driver Dave Pelak, break out and head to the pits. After an early caution slowed things down on lap five, Tom Prim took over the lead and paced the field back to green.

by Rockford PR
With many Midwestern tracks putting a bow on their season and wrapping things up, the 19th edition of the always festive Bahama Bracket Nationals at the legendary Rockford Speedway present one last chance at glory, redemption, or in many cases, fun racing for several drivers from around the region. With Mother Nature smiling down from above, over 180 wheelmen have already flocked to the pits at the high banked oval in what promises to be an exciting weekend for any race fan. With temperatures soaring into the 70's underneath blue skies, a horde of cars took to the track for Friday's open practice session.

By Jordan Kuehne
LOVES PARK, Ill. (Sunday, October 18th, 2009) -- John Paul Odegaard logged a lot of mileage traveling to the Rockford Speedway for this weekend's 18th annual Bahama Bracket Nationals, and for the second consecutive year, the Minnesota driver made it time well spent, finding victory lane in the 50-lap 'A' Bracket main event and collecting a TIKI Torch trophy to commemorate his win. Odegaard started in eighth and quickly worked his way through the field, pushing past Matt Berger as the event approached the halfway point and holding on from there, collecting another October victory at the high-banked quarter mile. In the 'AA' Bracket, Scott Lawver rallied back from a late-race spin to come out on top, fending off Brad Carson for the win.

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.

Loves Park, IL- When drivers make their way into Victory Lane this weekend at Rockford Speedway during the 18th annual Bahama Bracket Nationals, they will be rewarded with a TIKI brand torch for their efforts. This unique trophy fits nicely with this unique event which groups cars in racing brackets based on their qualifying speed rather than by a set division. Racing action will take place following qualifying on Saturday with a posted 6pm start time while the green flag will wave on Sunday October 18 at noon which will be capped with fifty lap feature events in all brackets.

TIKI, the brand trusted by millions, helps create a paradise in every backyard and now pit area. Offering a variety of outdoor products that deliver ambiance and proven mosquito repellency, TIKI products can be found at most major retailers or check out lamplight.com for news and information on exciting products by TIKI.

For more information on the Bahama Bracket Nationals including entry forms, schedule of events and rules please call the Rockford Speedway Box Office at 815-633-1500 or visit www.rockfordspeedway.com.