PHOTOS- CHAMPION PHOTOS

By: Eric Huenefeld
On Whelen's Night of Champions at Rockford Speedway Saturday night, the racing fans of the Forest City were treated to some of the best hard-nosed, door-to-door racing of the 2008 season on the historic quarter mile oval. It was a proper way to bring the curtain down on one of the most competitive seasons in the Speedway 's 61 year history, where each division would see anywhere from seven to ten different winners!

The Stanley Steemer NASCAR Late Model feature stole the show on this grand night. With a top-notch field of 17 cars taking the green flag, coupled with a large invert, the race was anyone's to win. And from the very start of the race, it was evident this one would come down to the bitter end. Two Wisconsinites, Bill Niles and Noel Ramge, led the field to green. Ramge and Niles would battle hard on the opening lap, until Ramge would slip around Niles for the lead. Behind Ramge, business picked up in a hurry. Steve Rubeck would go to work on Niles to take second and Matt Berger would pounce from 8th to take third by lap five. Berger and Rubeck would begin to go side-by-side and at the same time, trade barbs with Ramge for the lead. Eventually, Berger would slide by Rubeck and set his sights on Ramge.

Also emerging from the field was Jon Reynolds Jr. The Roscoe native came into the night third in the points, despite not yet claiming a feature in 2008. Reynolds would charge from his 10th starting spot to 3rd by lap 15 and begin to dance with Berger. The two would continue to trade paint for second and then the lead, catching Ramge and making it a three way go up front. Ramge would hold off an aggressive move by Reynolds Jr. on the last lap to win the race by a mere 6 inches, with Berger settling for third. Ramge's win was his second feature win of the year in his first full racing season at Rockford Speedway.

Jerry Gille, meanwhile, sailed through the field early to romp into the top five by lap 5 after starting in 12th. Gille would jump to 4th and hold the spot and win his first ever Rockford Speedway Late Model Track Championship. Gille, who lost out on last year's track title by only one point to Ricky Bilderback, left very little doubt this season. The veteran driver all but clinched the title a week ago. Gille finished the season with three victories. Bilderback finished the race in 5th and the season second in points.

Ron Morris did his best to continue the parody in the Bargain Hunter Sportsman division, winning the division's 25 lap feature and becoming the divisions 10th different winner of the year. Morris jumped around Dave Edwards on lap one and held off the advances of Doug Bennett for the victory. The win for Morris was his first in over 5 years at the Speedway .

Coming into the evening, Fred Nason led Brock Behnke by 14 points in the Sportsman season standings. Nason would prevail in the points on this night, despite a furious late-race charge by Behnke, who would end up fifth behind Justin Sellars. Nason's title was his third at the track, and second consecutive crown. Nason was the division's leading winner, taking four wins, while Behnke, the 2006 titleist, took a pair of wins.

Nick Cina Jr. became the leading feature winner in 2008 in the Budweiser American Short Tracker division, taking his third win on the season. Cina had to be patient, working form his fourth place starting spot to the lead on lap 3, getting around Keith Pierce and Nick Letsinger for first and second, respectively. Quickly emerging as a contender behind Cina was Aaron Rude, who was hunting for his second win of the year with his 'Fabulous Ford Pinto.' Cina and Rude would toil for the top spot, until Rude was taken around on lap 15 to bring out the yellow. Points leader BJ Sparkman planted himself on Cina's tail, but could never move around the white #10 for the win. Sparkman would settle for second and also notch his third track title, and second consecutive. Sparkman's only win of the year in the division came on opening night. Rookie of the Year Steve Erickson Jr. would take third, followed by Kelly Evink and Keith Pierce, who a season best fifth place finish.

As always, the Coca-Cola Roadrunners closed the Saturday night curtain in style, with a white knuckle 20 lap feature. Two old pros, Richard Nielson and Gene Marocco would go side by side for the lead over the final 12 laps before Nielson would prevail for his first Saturday night feature win of the year. Marocco came home second, followed by Terrance Robinson, who on this night was crowned the division's champion. Robert Roush followed Robinson through the field to take the fourth spot.

Bargain Hunter Sportsman

A-Main 01 -- 1. Ron Morris, Belvidere ; 2. Doug Bennett, Brodhead , Wis ; 3. Fred Nason, Roscoe; 4. Justin Sellers (r),

Carol Stream ; 5. Brock Behnke, South Beloit ; 6. Dave Edwards, Salem , Wis ; 7. Randy Samples (r), Rockton; 8. Chris

Gantz (r), Rockford ; 9. Darrell Garman, Machesney Park ; 10. Warren (Butch) Swinbank, Rockford ; 11. Don Exline, Oak

Lawn; 12. Deanna Hurd, Rochelle; 13. Ron Young, Rockford .

Heat 01 -- 1. Darrell Garman, Machesney Park ; 2. Ron Morris, Belvidere ; 3. Deanna Hurd, Rochelle; 4. Randy

Samples (r), Rockton; 5. Ron Young, Rockford ; 6. Dave Edwards, Salem , Wis.

Heat 02 -- 1. Brock Behnke, South Beloit ; 2. Chris Gantz (r), Rockford ; 3. Fred Nason, Roscoe; 4. Justin Sellers (r),

Carol Stream ; 5. Warren (Butch) Swinbank, Rockford ; 6. Doug Bennett, Brodhead , Wis ; 7. Don Exline, Oak Lawn .

Time Trial -- 1. Don Exline, Oak Lawn ; 2. Chris Gantz (r), Rockford ; 3. Fred Nason, Roscoe; 4. Brock Behnke, South

Beloit ; 5. Justin Sellers (r), Carol Stream ; 6. Warren (Butch) Swinbank, Rockford ; 7. Doug Bennett, Brodhead , Wis ; 8.

Randy Samples (r), Rockton; 9. Ron Morris, Belvidere ; 10. Dave Edwards, Salem , Wis ; 11. Deanna Hurd, Rochelle; 12.

Darrell Garman, Machesney Park ; 13. Ron Young, Rockford ; 14. Ricky Bilderback, Rockton; 15. Ricky Nielsen,

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Chris Gantz (r), Rockford ; 2. Brock Behnke, South Beloit ; 3. Don Exline, Oak Lawn ; 4. Fred Nason,

Roscoe; 5. Warren (Butch) Swinbank, Rockford ; 6. Justin Sellers (r), Carol Stream .

Budweiser American Short Trackers

A-Main 01 -- 1. Nick Cina, Jr, Roscoe; 2. Boyce (BJ) Sparkman, Machesney Park ; 3. Steve Erickson, Jr (r), Machesney

Park; 4. Kelly Evink, Machesney Park ; 5. Keith Pierce, Machesney Park ; 6. Brett McCoy, Belvidere ; 7. Nick Letsinger,

Rockford ; 8. Tanner Atchison, Byron; 9. Steven Allman, Oconomowoc , Wis ; 10. Jack Atchison, Stillman Valley ; 11.

Aaron Rude, Cambridge , Wis ; 12. Artt Higbee, Rockford ; 13. Jeffery Turnure, Rockford ; 14. David Russell, Rockford ; 15.

Zach Rodriguez, Rockton; 16. Dave Lee, Rockford ; 17. Tim Melvin, Machesney Park .

Heat 01 -- 1. Tanner Atchison, Byron; 2. Jack Atchison, Stillman Valley ; 3. Steven Allman, Oconomowoc , Wis ; 4. Zach

Rodriguez, Rockton; 5. Keith Pierce, Machesney Park ; 6. Nick Letsinger, Rockford ; 7. Artt Higbee, Rockford ; 8. David

Russell, Rockford ; 9. Dave Lee, Rockford .

Heat 02 -- 1. Aaron Rude, Cambridge , Wis ; 2. Boyce (BJ) Sparkman, Machesney Park ; 3. Nick Cina, Jr, Roscoe; 4.

Brett McCoy, Belvidere ; 5. Steve Erickson, Jr (r), Machesney Park ; 6. Kelly Evink, Machesney Park ; 7. Tim Melvin,

Machesney Park ; 8. Jeffery Turnure, Rockford .

Time Trial -- 1. Kelly Evink, Machesney Park ; 2. Boyce (BJ) Sparkman, Machesney Park ; 3. Steve Erickson, Jr (r),

Machesney Park ; 4. Aaron Rude, Cambridge , Wis ; 5. Brett McCoy, Belvidere ; 6. Tim Melvin, Machesney Park ; 7. Nick

Cina, Jr, Roscoe; 8. Jeffery Turnure, Rockford ; 9. Keith Pierce, Machesney Park ; 10. Nick Letsinger, Rockford ; 11. Jack

Atchison , Stillman Valley ; 12. Tanner Atchison, Byron; 13. Zach Rodriguez, Rockton; 14. Steven Allman, Oconomowoc,

Wis ; 15. Artt Higbee, Rockford ; 16. Dave Lee, Rockford ; 17. David Russell, Rockford .

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Steve Erickson, Jr (r), Machesney Park ; 2. Aaron Rude, Cambridge , Wis ; 3. Brett McCoy,

Belvidere ; 4. Kelly Evink, Machesney Park ; 5. Tim Melvin, Machesney Park ; 6. Boyce (BJ) Sparkman, Machesney Park .

NASCAR Stanley Steemer Late Models

A-Main 01 -- 1. Noel Ramge, Helenville , Wis ; 2. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Roscoe; 3. Matt Berger, Loves Park ; 4. Jerry Gille,

Roscoe; 5. Ricky Bilderback, Rockton; 6. Steve Rubeck, Monroe Center ; 7. Tim Sargent, South Beloit ; 8. Mike Beyer,

Machesney Park ; 9. Nick Shutkas, Loves Park ; 10. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park ; 11. Jacob Gille, Winnebago; 12. Mark

Hartline, Gilberts; 13. Tyler Peterson (r), Lake Geneva , Wis ; 14. Bill Niles, Holmen , Wis ; 15. Leonard Reimer, Beloit ,

Wis ; 16. Robert Nelson (r), Solon Mills; 17. Alex Papini (r), Machesney Park .

Heat 01 -- 1. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 2. Steve Rubeck, Monroe Center ; 3. Noel Ramge, Helenville , Wis ; 4. Jacob Gille,

Winnebago; 5. Nick Shutkas, Loves Park ; 6. Bill Niles, Holmen , Wis ; 7. Tyler Peterson (r), Lake Geneva , Wis ; 8. Robert

Nelson (r), Solon Mills; 9. Leonard Reimer, Beloit , Wis.

Heat 02 -- 1. Mike Beyer, Machesney Park ; 2. Tim Sargent, South Beloit ; 3. Ricky Bilderback, Rockton; 4. Alex Papini (r),

Machesney Park ; 5. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Roscoe; 6. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park ; 7. Matt Berger, Loves Park ; 8. Jerry Gille,

Roscoe.

Time Trial -- 1. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 2. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park ; 3. Ricky Bilderback, Rockton; 4. Jon Reynolds, Jr.,

Roscoe; 5. Tim Sargent, South Beloit ; 6. Matt Berger, Loves Park ; 7. Mike Beyer, Machesney Park ; 8. Alex Papini (r),

Machesney Park ; 9. Nick Shutkas, Loves Park ; 10. Steve Rubeck, Monroe Center ; 11. Jacob Gille, Winnebago; 12. Noel

Ramge, Helenville , Wis ; 13. Bill Niles, Holmen , Wis ; 14. Tyler Peterson (r), Lake Geneva , Wis ; 15. Mark Hartline,

Gilberts; 16. Leonard Reimer, Beloit , Wis ; 17. Robert Nelson (r), Solon Mills.

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Ricky Bilderback, Rockton; 2. Matt Berger, Loves Park ; 3. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park ; 4. Jon

Reynolds, Jr., Roscoe; 5. Tim Sargent, South Beloit ; 6. Jerry Gille, Roscoe.

Coca-Cola Road
Runners

A-Main 01 -- 1. Richard Nielsen, Byron; 2. Gene Marocco, Machesney Park ; 3. Terrance Robinson, Beloit , Wis ; 4.

Robert Roush, Marengo; 5. Ricky Nielsen, Rockford ; 6. Christopher Jones, Rockford ; 7. Mike Vines, Byron; 8. David

Lignell, Rockford ; 9. Joshua Lundy, Loves Park ; 10. Vachenzia Jester, Beloit , Wis ; 11. John Logan, Jr., Loves Park ; 12.

Brian Smith, Rockford ; 13. Jeff Allendorf, Belvidere ; 14. Kyle Watts, Loves Park ; 15. Raymond Hardesty, McHenry; 16.

Howie Ware, South Beloit ; 17. Kenneth Brazee III, Rockford ; 18. Douglas Taylor, Rockford .

Heat 01 -- 1. Kenneth Brazee III, Rockford ; 2. Mike Vines, Byron; 3. Brian Smith, Rockford ; 4. Vachenzia Jester, Beloit ,

Wis ; 5. John Logan, Jr., Loves Park ; 6. Lloyd Hawkins, Machesney Park ; 7. Raymond Hardesty, McHenry; 8. Kyle Watts,

Loves Park ; 9. Howie Ware, South Beloit ; 10. Douglas Taylor, Rockford .

Heat 02 -- 1. Richard Nielsen, Byron; 2. Ricky Nielsen, Rockford ; 3. Christopher Jones, Rockford ; 4. Gene Marocco,

Machesney Park ; 5. Terrance Robinson, Beloit , Wis ; 6. Robert Roush, Marengo; 7. Joshua Lundy, Loves Park ; 8. David

Lignell, Rockford ; 9. Jeff Allendorf, Belvidere .

Challenge 01 -- 1. Robert Roush, Marengo; 2. Christopher Jones, Rockford ; 3. Kenneth Brazee III, Rockford ; 4. Kyle

Watts, Loves Park ; 5. Raymond Hardesty, McHenry; 6. Lloyd Hawkins, Machesney Park ; 7. Derek Nichol, Roscoe; 8.

Gene Marocco, Machesney Park .

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Ricky Nielsen, Rockford ; 2. Gene Marocco, Machesney Park ; 3. Robert Roush, Marengo; 4. David

Lignell, Rockford ; 5. Terrance Robinson, Beloit , Wis.