Rockford, IL- For the first time ever, Illinois Vintage Racing will compete on the 61 year old Rockford Speedway, Saturday night August 16. The historical value of the cars competing with this group in unmatched.

Perhaps the most interesting car to Rockford area fans will be the 1964 Chevelle being driven by former Sante Fe Speedway Champion Bill Knippenberg. This car was originally ran by the late Joe Shear, the six time Rockford Speedway toured the countryside claiming numerous checkered flags while behind the wheel of this machine.

Knippenberg was also instrumental in the creation of the 1970 Dick Trickle Mustang replica that will be in action Saturday night. Chicagoland artists hand painted this car at the World of Wheels earlier this year, creating an exact duplicate of the car Trickle drove to wins at Rockford’s National Short Track Championships and the Minnesota Fair.

Additional cars include a 1951 Fabulous Hudson Hornet that Butch Dunn has created after Doc Hudson from the movie Cars, Dave Kilbourn’s 1970 ‘Ed Howe Tribute’ Camaro, a 1959 Ford Thunderbird driven by Pat Echlin as well as former USAC driver Vern Schumann behind the wheel of his 1935 Ford Coupe. All told, over ten vintage cars are expected in addition to the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series event which will also include an Auto Soccer match between the USA and Canada. Gates open at 5, qualifying is slated for 5:45 with the first race at 7:07, for more information visit www.rockfordspeedway.com.