Doug Hornickel Photo - fastlapphoto.comby Matt Panure
Whether it’s for feature wins or championships, these two keep finding each other. Representing seven of the last 11 MASCS championships – many of which were contested head-to-head – Bill Prietzel and James Swan put on another show Sunday.

Prietzel and Swan captivated an eager crowd through all 50 circuits of the Mid-American Stock Car Series feature at Rockford Speedway with Prietzel performing a goal-line stand in the final laps to hang on for his first MASCS win at the quarter-mile.

“It was definitely a challenge all the way,” Prietzel said. “James is really good here, and he was a little faster than we were. But I was in the preferred lane and he just couldn’t get by us on the bottom.”

It wasn’t for lack of effort on Swan’s part. Closing the gap several times throughout, Swan made contact with Prietzel’s left rear quarter-panel in an attempt to shake the long-time MASCS veteran and three-time champion.

“I really, really wanted to pass Bill, you have no idea. But I wasn’t going to wreck him to do it,” Swan said. “I gave him a little shove here and there just to play with him, because I knew I had the better car. If I couldn’t pass him clean, I wasn’t going to pass him.”

No harm, no foul, Prietzel said. “He tried and bumped us a couple times, but that’s Rockford, it’s not an issue.”

The biggest break of the race for Prietzel happened before the green flag was in the hand of MASCS starter Dave Sankey. Prietzel was scheduled to start on the outside of the second row, behind Jake Finney. After his heat race, Finney noticed issues on his machine and decided it was not in race condition. Prietzel moved to the outside of the front row alongside Ryan Gutknecht.

by Big 8 Media PR
Defending Spring Classic Champion and 2010 Jefferson Speedway Track Champion Casey Johnson has filed his entry to defend his title during the 34th Spring Classic on Sunday afternoon April 17 at Rockford Speedway. The 2008 Dells Raceway Park Champion Mike Ehde will also return to Big 8 Late Model Series action when he returns to Rockford where he recorded his only series win during the 2007 Spring Classic.

Spring Classic Big 8 Entry List

This Sunday afternoon, the top weekly racers from Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota will begin their 2010 campaign on the high banks of Rockford Speedway. A total of 9 current and past short track champions have filed entries for the 33rd annual Spring Classic, which will see both the Big 8 Series Late Models and Mid-American Stock Cars in action. Three drivers looking to defend their 2009 triumphs will tighten their belts for the first time this season including two time defending Rockford Speedway titlist Jerry Gille, Madison International and 2007- 2008 Big 8 Series Champion Jeremy Miller as well as Dells Raceway Park Champ Corey Jankowski.

The sound of roaring engines will fill the air at Rockford Speedway this Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. Pepsi presents the 62nd Season Opener Saturday night April 25 featuring the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series while Sunday afternoon will play host to the rescheduled 32nd annual Spring Classic highlighted by the BRP Big 8 Late Models in the SPYDER 108 and Mid-American Stock Car 50.

By Jordan Kuehne
LOVES PARK, IL (Sunday, April 19, 2009) -- The 32nd annual Spring Classic scheduled for today, April 19th at Rockford Speedway has been postponed due to inclement weather that moved into the area early this morning. The event will now be ran on Sunday afternoon April 26th featuring the BRP Big 8 Series presented by Gandrud Chevrolet in their season-opening SPYDER 108 and the Mid-American Stock Car Series taking on the high-banked quarter-mile in a 50 lap bout.

The schedule next Sunday will follow the same format, with spectator gates opening at 11am, qualifying will begin at 11:15am with the first race at 1pm. Pit passes, tickets and coupons from the April 19 event will be honored on April 26 Spring Classic. Thirty eight Big 8 Series teams took to the track on Saturday and are expected to return along with a strong Mid-American contingent for the postponed event. For more information please call the Speedway Box Office at 815-633-1500 or visit www.rockfordspeedway.com

By Jordan Kuehne
LOVES PARK, IL (Wednesday, April 15, 2009) – Michael Bilderback does not struggle with many things, but one of his biggest challenges the last couple years has been learning patience. That same patience was on display all winter long as the 17-year-old South Beloit native waited for the chance to defend his title at the 32nd annual Spring Classic on Sunday, April 19th at the Rockford Speedway.

Bilderback, nephew to seven-time Rockford Speedway Late Model champion Ricky Bilderback, had to exercise patience last winter after suffering a devastating defeat in the BRP Big 8 Series presented by Gandrud Chevrolet in 2008, finishing runner-up to the series champion, Jeremy Miller, by one point. After going to Oktoberfest ahead in points, Michael had the chance to seal the deal only to witness Miller come from behind, making the feature through a last chance race and completing a late race pass on Mike Ehde to win by a single point.