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.

Lyle Nowak has visited victory lane at Rockford Speedway many times but he never did it during the National Short Track Championships, until today. The seasoned veteran took home the Mid-American Series Mountain Dew 75. (Jim Ambruoso Photo)by Matt Panure
Having trimmed nearly 90 points off his deficit in standings over the past three races, the defending Mid-American Stock Car Series is just happy to be in the title conversation. He was even happier to be back in victory lane Sunday afternoon.

For the third time in his Mid-American career Lyle Nowak captured a win at Rockford Speedway. With two previous wins in the Spring Classic, it was Nowak’s first time etching his name in the record books as a winner of the National Short Track Championships MTN Dew 75-lap feature event.

“I just love Rockford Speedway,” Nowak said. “Today we had a really good race car and it didn’t fade. It was as good when we started as when we finished today.”

With his win Nowak cut James Swan’s point lead from 73 points to 47 points. Swan’s advantage over Nowak just two races ago was over 130 points.

“We’re thrilled to be in the mix,” Nowak said, claiming he thought he lost a title shot in spring after a DNF at Rockford. Content to be in the hunt, Nowak knows future business is at hand. “We’re going to go to La Crosse and race James as hard as we can and we’ll see what happens.”

Nowak’s ascent from his tenth-place starting spot began early in the 75 lapper. Scott Null quickly disposed of pole-sitter Frank Slabenek Jr. and brought the entire outside line with him – including Nowak who started on the outside of the fifth row.

By the time the first caution fell for a spinning Jeff Olson on lap five, Nowak already had secured a spot in the top five.

With a heavy preference for the outside line at the historic Rockford Speedway, Nowak emphasized the importance of track position and being placed on the top side.

It was a historical day for Steve Carlson, put his name in the record books by tying the late great Joe Shear with his eighth National Short Track Championship. Pictured with Steve is Rockford Speedway's CEO Jody Deery. (Jim Ambruoso Photo)by Kari Shear-Carlson
The American Speed Association® Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment and GrandStay Hospitality made its debut at Rockford Speedway for the 46th Annual National Short Track Championship event. Steve Carlson took home his eighth NSTC victory, tying the late Joe Shear.

“This means a lot to me because it means I just tied Joe Shear and he was one great race car driver,” said a very happy Carlson from victory lane.

Twenty seven cars took the green flag as the #72 of Jacob Geode and #45 of Rich Bickle led the field to green. The first caution fell on lap seven for a spin in turn two.

Per the double-file restart rule, Goede chose the outside line followed by Carlson, while Bickle chose the inside. The cars restarted on lap 14 and Carlson did not waste any time working on Jacob Goede. As the top five started to pull away from the rest of the field, Tim Schendel was starting to look racy.

Bickle was challenging Carlson to get the second spot back as Goede started to extend his lead. The top three began to break away as fourth through tenth continued to battle nose to tail.

Ross Kenseth started to make a move for the eighth spot as Schendel was in hot pursuit for Kenseth. The #23 of Weinkauf made a move around John Reynolds Jr. after a hard fought battle for 6th. Andrew Morrissey and Ross Kenseth tried to follow suit.

Morrissey gave a little tap to Reynolds to let him know he was there, but did not take the spot. Reynolds, Morrissey, Kenseth, and Tim Schendel battled it out for the seventh through tenth positions.

On lap 61, Jeremy Lepak spun and nosed the turn four wall. The race restarted on lap 70 with Goede still remaining on point. Carlson stayed on his heels and was all over his bumper for the top spot.

Doug Hornickel Photo | fastlapphoto.comby Kari Shear-Carlson
“I was not expecting Berger to pull into the pits, but you know what, I got it!!!” said Doug Bennett, the ASA Midwest Sunoco Sportsman Tour 2011 National Short Track Champion winner.

Twenty-six cars took the green flag for the Sunoco Sportsman feature at Rockford Speedway on Saturday night. Darrell Garman and Justin Sellers led the field to the green. Before lap one was completed the #95 of Bob Hansberry lost a wheel and slammed hard into the turn two wall.

The field set up for a complete restart, but once again the caution flag fell as #12 of Scott Lawver and the #6 of Garman made contact with Garman landing in the turn one wall.

Justin Sellers inherited the lead and led them back to the green on lap two. Debris on the track brought out the third caution of the night. Finally the field was able to get a solid green run. Sellers continued to lead the field for the next 12 laps before a slow car in turn two brought out another caution

If the beginning of the race was not exciting enough, point leader, Chris Marek was powering through the field. He and Sellers raced side-by-side as Marek ducked to the inside in attempt to take the top spot.

As the two came down the front stretch, contact was made. The two sailed through the infield and as Marek was attempting to recover, he slid in front of the field. Several cars spun and the #8 of Brian Turtle climbed the billboards and ended up on his side.

After the clean-up, the #91 of Matt Berger led the field to the green followed by Doug Bennett and Scott Null. With only nine laps remaining, Jerry Suderland took a nose dive into the front stretch wall and another caution fell with seven to go for debris and the #99 of Sellers in the turn one wall.

The famous wreath was about two feet off the ground, but Ty Majeski,Seymour, Wis; felt like a bigger man as he held off some of the best Big 8 Series competitors to win Parent Petroleum 108 on Saturday night at Rockford Speedway. (Jim Ambruoso Photo)by Rockford Speedway Media PR
The famous wreath was about two feet off the ground, but Ty Majeski felt like a bigger man as he held off some of the best Big 8 Series competitors to win Parent Petroleum 108 on Saturday night at Rockford Speedway. Majeski, along with Doug Bennett, Ray Search and Mike Marden each etched their names into the history books for the 46th Annual National Short Track Championships.

“It is unbelievable. I held off Miller, Rubeck, and Wilberg for the win. This is unbelievable,” Majeski said. “We have come a long way this year.”

Majeski took the early lead over Kyle Shear on lap three. Majeski had a car length lead on Jesse Bernhagen and Jeremy Miller until the first caution flew on lap 39 when Tim Sargent and Dale Nottestad made contact coming off of turn two causing Nottestad to spin.

A lap was completed until a melee in turn three in which James Swan and Wayne Friemund were involved and went to the pits. Majeski continued to lead at the re-start with Bernhagen in second, Miller in third, Jake Gille in fourth and Steve Rubeck in fifth.

Another caution flew on lap 41 when Chris Blawat and Casey Johnson made contact coming off of turn four causing Blawat to go around. On the re-start, Miller was able to get by Bernhagen for second and set his sights on Majeski.

With 62 laps to go, Miller looked on the inside of Majeski for the lead but Majeski was able to hold on to the top spot. Miller tucked in behind him to plan his next opportunity. Rubeck, the current Big 8 Series point leader, moved up to fourth.

At the halfway mark, it was Majeski, Miller, Bernhagen, Rubeck, and Jake Gille. Bobby Wilberg, who started 17th, worked his way up to sixth.

Caution flew on lap 71 when Kyle Shear was going slow coming off of turn four and appeared to blew his engine crossing the start/finish line causing him to spin into the infield. On the re-start, Rubeck took advantage of the choose a lane re-start by being the first car on the inside line. Rubeck and Miller battled for second when the green flag dropped. Miller was able to hold on to the spot while Majeski still held on to the lead. Wilberg was up to fourth.

Bobby Wilberg , Beloit, Wis; held off a charging Jon Reynolds Jr. to win the Stanley Steemer 36 Weekly Warrior Late Model feature. (Jim Ambruoso Photo)by Rockford Speedway Media PR
It was a wild night of racing action to open the 46th Annual National Short Track Championships at the Rockford Speedway. Bobby Wilberg, Rich Hinerichsen Jr., George Sparkman, Kris Nilson, Bryce Bailey and Dennis Smith Jr. all took home a feature win.

Bobby Wilberg held off Jon Reynolds Jr. to win the Stanley Steemer 36 Weekly Warrior Late Model feature. It was a great tight battle as the top-four were nose-to-tail throughout the second half of the main event. The seven-time track champion showed he knew his way around the famous quarter-mile oval as Reynolds would try many times to get on the inside of Wilberg to contest for the top spot. Ryan Carlson and Jerry Gille were right behind the top-two giving the fans an exciting battle to the checkered flag.

It was a wild Metro Medical 40 for the All-American Sportsman. Rich Hinerichsen II took the victory over Chris Gantz and Austin Nason. Hinerichsen took over the lead over from Brian Turtle on lap 19. He appeared that he was going to get a late challenge from Matt Berger and Matt Lundberg. Those two were battling for second, with eleven laps to go when they both got together on the backstretch causing them both to go into the outside wall. Berger went off on the flatbed while Lundberg rejoined at the back of the field. Hinerichsen led the field to the final ten laps uncontested to the win.

Two scary incidents occurred during the Metro Medical 40 event. The first came on lap five when Bobby Wilberg spun in turn four with a fire in his engine area. He was able to walk away but was done for the night. Then on lap 29, Josh Thiering went up in flames while going down the backstretch. The safety crew was able to put out the fire and Thiering was all right but was also done for the night.

George Sparkman picked up another NSTC American Short Tracker feature win. Sparkman would take over the lead with 13 laps to go as he got by Scott Hoeft for the top spot. Hoeft would hold on to second while Kyle Stark would finish third.