By Jordan Kuehne
LOVES PARK, Ill. (Sunday, October 4th, 2009) -- Josh Nelms was down and out with 100 laps to go in the Budweiser 200, but with a few great adjustments and a lot of determination, the Chicagoland driver found himself wearing the wreath today at the 44th annual National Short Track Championships at the Rockford Speedway. Nelms etched his name in the history books with a late race pass, using the low line to push past the venerable Jeff Kendall with 21 laps remaining and hitting his marks the rest of the way to lay claim to the title of 2009 National Short Track Champion. Kendall, a six-time Dells Raceway Park track champion, led the opening 179 laps of the event before Nelms' daring maneuver, and had to hold off a hard-charging 'Fast' Eddie Hoffman for the bridesmaid's position. Lowell Bennett had a solid run to take home fourth while Jon Reynolds Jr. battled through adversity to collect a top five, finishing fifth. In the Mid-American Stock Car Series, Jeremy Spoonmore made it back-to-back at the National Short Track Championships, proving last year's victory was no fluke with a dominating title defense in the Mtn Dew 75. In the RoadRunners, veteran racer Sonny Schoffen went wire-to-wire to claim the O'Reilly Auto Parts 44, holding off Ricky Nielsen for the victory.

By Jordan Kuehne

Love’s Park, Ill. (October 4, 2009) – It’s safe to say Jeremy Spoonmore has been enjoying his 2009 Mid-American Stock Car Series campaign. The Somonauk, Ill. veteran won his second consecutive National Short Track Championships feature event at Rockford Speedway Sunday afternoon by capturing the MTN Dew 75. Spoonmore has yet to finish outside of the top five and has notched two wins in a handful of appearances this season.

“I would have never guessed. After the first one, I thought that would be great. But this one was even better,” Spoonmore said.

In the 2008 event, Spoonmore swiped the lead in the 75-lap feature by utilizing the inside lane on lap nine. One year later, the lead belonged to Spoonmore by lap ten after three laps of side-by-side action with pole-sitter Mike Beyer.

Lyle Nowak moved from his 19th starting spot to finish second, Bill Prietzel finished third, Mark Pluer was fourth and Justin Neisius rounded out the top five.

“The car stuck on the bottom and it just got better and better,” Spoonmore said. “I knew I was going to have to go [there] quick like last year.”

Loves Park, IL- The fiercest rivalry in the Midwest short track racing scene will be on display October 3 and 4 during the 44th annual National Short Track Championship at Rockford Speedway. Chicagoland Champions Brett Sontag and Eddie Hoffman have both filed entries for the Super Late Model portion of ‘One Great Racing Weekend’.

Sontag and Hoffman have been involved in hotly contested battles this summer at Grundy County Speedway, bringing the Morris, IL faithful to their feet numerous times amidst a sea of cheers and boos. Now the rivalry travels north to Rockford Speedway for an event both drivers were in contention to win last season. Sontag impressed all in attendance as he charged on the inside twice to pressure the lead pack before mechanical woes sent him out of the race. Hoffman, a three time NSTC Champion was involved in an opening lap incident and battled through the field to finish in the runner-up position to Minnesota’s Josh Vadnais.

Loves Park, IL- Super Late Model entries have begun arriving for the 44th annual National Short Track Championship (NSTC) at Rockford Speedway which begin Friday October 2 and conclude with a 200 lap feature event Sunday afternoon October 4. Those filing their entries early for the prestigious event include 2007 NSTC victor Josh Vadnais, Lowell Bennett, Rich Bickle, Jr. and Jeff Kendall.