By Jordan Kuehne

LOVES PARK, IL (Friday, July 3, 2009) – Kyle LaPier had the right idea in mind on what to do after a late caution flew in the Budweiser American Short Trackers headliner tonight. “Hammer the gas pedal and go.” A late race crash bunched the field up putting the Sparkman brothers on LaPier’s back bumper but he managed to keep them in his rearview mirror all the way to finish, collecting his second feature win of the season at the Rockford Speedway. The “Franklin Flyer”, Bill Prietzel, held off a late race charge from Matt Pate for the first open-wheeled Modified feature victory in five years on the high-banked quarter mile. “Rambo” Rick Corso and Allen Bekielewski also picked up feature wins on the evening.

Matt Booker grabbed the early lead in the 25-lap Budweiser American Short Trackers feature and was out front when the first caution flew three laps in for an unassisted Bobby Carter spin in turn one. Kyle LaPier, trying to make it a clean sweep on the night, immediately challenged Booker for the lead on the restart. LaPier made the inside lane work, moving into the top spot halfway in and bringing BJ Sparkman with him into second.

Sparkman threatened over the next nine laps but couldn’t make the pass stick when the second yellow of the race flew after Matt Woelber and Jeffery Turnure Jr. made contact sending Woelber into the backstretch wall. LaPier had a good restart and held off both Sparkman brothers to prevail in the three lap dash to the finish, adding the feature trophy to his growing collection that already included a trophy dash victory and a heat race romp earlier in the evening.

“I didn’t really want to see that late caution,” a pleased LaPier stated after his victory. “Both Sparkmans were coming on strong at the end but we managed to pick up our second win of the year, it feels good.”

BJ Sparkman, George Sparkman, Scott Hoeft and Jason Bragg rounded out the top five.

The open-wheeled Midwest Modifieds made their return to the Rockford Speedway tonight and track officials split the 24-lap feature into two segments of 12 laps apiece, inverting the field at the halfway mark. Matt Pate led the first 12 laps before the invert placed him in the fourth position.

Bill Tandetzke led the field back to the green flag but didn’t hold onto it for long as Bill Prietzel took the top spot away four laps later. Prietzel’s job wasn’t finished though as he fended off a late challenge from Pate before taking the checkered flag.

“We ran a dirt car tonight and still managed to win,” a happy Prietzel stated in victory lane. “It would only take us 30 minutes to make this car a winner on dirt, we didn’t change the shocks or anything, so to bring home the victory tonight is a great feeling.”

Russ Moberly, Tandetzke and Jason Jensen completed the top five.

Allen Bekielewski took away the lead late from Randy Reynolds for the win in the 15-lap Crap Scrappers Hornet swarm. Bekielewski made the last lap move entering turn one and beat Reynolds to the line to pick up the victory.

Justin Pearson, Steve McBride and Solomon Barker finished the top five.

“Rambo” Rick Corso charged from his fifth place starting position into the lead in six laps and managed to hold on for the win in the 15-lap Midwest Indy Club Racing feature. The battle was for second as Kyle Lynn, Jim Thiel and Mark Findley all made challenges for the runner-up spot. It was Thiel edging out Lynn and Findlay at the line for the bridesmaid’s position.

Richard Kossak finished fifth.

Larry Shear won the Spectacular Drags driving his hot rod to the no holds barred victory.

NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action returns tomorrow night, Saturday, July 4th, as Gilley’s Heating and Cooling presents the 10,000 watt fireworks special with the Goodyear Stateline Challenge round one scheduled. The ‘Star Spangled 76’ will kick off the second annual Goodyear Stateline Challenge as Team Rockford battles the drivers from Team Jefferson for bragging rights and ‘Sammy the Stateline Sow’, the special trophy awarded to the track with the lowest points from its top five late model finishers. Over 30 late model entries are expected for the special event. The Bargain Hunter Sportsman and the Mtn Dew RoadRunners ‘Midnight Ride of Paul Revere’ are also featured plus the Sam's Drive-In RoadRunner Challenge Flagpole Race.

Gates open at 5pm with qualifying at 5:45pm and the green flag waves at 7:07pm.

For more information, including a full 2009 racing schedule and more, please visit the track website at www.rockfordspeedway.com or call the Speedway Box Office at (815) 633-1500.

NASCAR American Short Trackers

A-Main 01 -- 1. Kyle Lapier (r), Belvidere; 2. Boyce (BJ) Sparkman, Machesney Park; 3. George Sparkman, Loves Park; 4. Scott Hoeft (r), Watertown, Wis; 5. Jason Bragg, Rockford; 6. Nick Cina, Jr, Roscoe; 7. Steve Erickson, Jr, Rockton; 8. Brett McCoy, Belvidere; 9. Keith Pierce, Machesney Park; 10. Zach Rodriguez, Rockton; 11. Rachel Sparkman, Loves Park; 12. David Russell (r), Rockford; 13. Victor Young, Genoa; 14. Artt Higbee, Rockford; 15. Bobby Carter, Machesney Park; 16. Jeffery Turnure II (r), Rockford; 17. Matt Woelber (r), Belvidere; 18. Laura Siarkiewicz (r), Algonquin; 19. Matt Booker (r), Wonder Lake.

Heat 01 -- 1. Rachel Sparkman, Loves Park; 2. Keith Pierce, Machesney Park; 3. Jeffery Turnure II (r), Rockford; 4. Jack
Atchison, Stillman Valley; 5. David Russell (r), Rockford; 6. Artt Higbee, Rockford; 7. Laura Siarkiewicz (r), Algonquin.

Heat 02 -- 1. Jason Bragg, Rockford; 2. Bobby Carter, Machesney Park; 3. Zach Rodriguez, Rockton; 4. Brett McCoy,
Belvidere; 5. Victor Young, Genoa; 6. Matt Woelber (r), Belvidere; 7. Matt Booker (r), Wonder Lake.

Heat 03 -- 1. Kyle Lapier (r), Belvidere; 2. Steve Erickson, Jr, Rockton; 3. Boyce (BJ) Sparkman, Machesney Park; 4. George Sparkman, Loves Park; 5. Nick Cina, Jr, Roscoe; 6. Scott Hoeft (r), Watertown, Wis.

Time Trial -- 1. Boyce (BJ) Sparkman, Machesney Park; 2. George Sparkman, Loves Park; 3. Steve Erickson, Jr,
Rockton; 4. Kyle Lapier (r), Belvidere; 5. Nick Cina, Jr, Roscoe; 6. Scott Hoeft (r), Watertown, Wis; 7. Zach Rodriguez,
Rockton; 8. Bobby Carter, Machesney Park; 9. Jason Bragg, Rockford; 10. Brett McCoy, Belvidere; 11. Victor Young,
Genoa; 12. Matt Woelber (r), Belvidere; 13. Keith Pierce, Machesney Park; 14. Jack Atchison, Stillman Valley; 15.
Rachel Sparkman, Loves Park; 16. Jeffery Turnure II (r), Rockford; 17. David Russell (r), Rockford; 18. Artt Higbee,
Rockford; 19. Laura Siarkiewicz (r), Algonquin; 20. Matt Booker (r), Wonder Lake.

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Kyle Lapier (r), Belvidere; 2. Nick Cina, Jr, Roscoe; 3. Boyce (BJ) Sparkman, Machesney Park; 4. George Sparkman, Loves Park; 5. Steve Erickson, Jr, Rockton; 6. Scott Hoeft (r), Watertown, Wis.

Hornets

A-Main 01 -- 1. Alan Bekielewski, Roscoe; 2. Randy Reynolds, Rockford; 3. Justin Pearson, Belvidere; 4. Steve
McBride, South Beloit; 5. Solomon Barker, South Beloit; 6. Brian Mayer, Machesney Park; 7. Vinny Mangiaracina,
Rockford; 8. Mark Vicencio, Rockford; 9. Nick Lasher, Machesney Park; 10. Adam Barclay, Machesney Park; 11. Scott
Schelling, Rockton; 12. David Pautsch, Jr, Roscoe; 13. Ryan Ostenson, Beloit, Wis; 14. Jake Vicencio, Rockford; 15.
Bryan Ellis, Loves Park.

Heat 01 -- 1. Randy Reynolds, Rockford; 2. Justin Pearson, Belvidere; 3. Solomon Barker, South Beloit; 4. Jake
Vicencio, Rockford; 5. David Pautsch, Jr, Roscoe; 6. Scott Schelling, Rockton; 7. Ryan Ostenson, Beloit, Wis; 8. Adam
Barclay, Machesney Park; 9. Allen Meyers, Beloit, Wis.

Heat 02 -- 1. Alan Bekielewski, Roscoe; 2. Vinny Mangiaracina, Rockford; 3. Steve McBride, South Beloit; 4. Mark
Vicencio, Rockford; 5. Brian Mayer, Machesney Park; 6. Nick Lasher, Machesney Park; 7. Bryan Ellis, Loves Park.

Challenge 01 -- 1. Steve McBride, South Beloit; 2. Mark Vicencio, Rockford; 3. David Pautsch, Jr, Roscoe.

Midwest Modifieds

A-Main 01 -- 1. Bill Prietzel, Richfield, Wis; 2. Matt Pate, Menomonee Falls, Wis; 3. Russ Moberly, Slinger, Wis; 4. Bill Tandetzke, Milwaukee, Wis; 5. Jason Jensen, Racine, Wis.

Heat 01 -- 1. Matt Pate, Menomonee Falls, Wis; 2. Russ Moberly, Slinger, Wis; 3. Bill Prietzel, Richfield, Wis; 4. Jason Jensen, Racine, Wis.

Time Trial -- 1. Matt Pate, Menomonee Falls, Wis; 2. Bill Prietzel, Richfield, Wis; 3. Russ Moberly, Slinger, Wis; 4. Jason Jensen, Racine, Wis.

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Matt Pate, Menomonee Falls, Wis; 2. Bill Prietzel, Richfield, Wis; 3. Russ Moberly, Slinger, Wis; 4. Jason Jensen, Racine, Wis.

Midwest Indy Racing Club

A-Main 01 -- 1. Rick Corso, McHenry; 2. Jim Thiel, Johnsburg; 3. Kyle Lynn, Lake Geneva, Wis; 4. Mark Findley, Spring
Grove; 5. Richard Kossak, Somonauk; 6. John Benkert, McHenry; 7. Tim Roach, Janesville, Wis.

Heat 01 -- 1. Kyle Lynn, Lake Geneva, Wis; 2. Rick Corso, McHenry; 3. Tim Roach, Janesville, Wis; 4. Mark Findley,
Spring Grove; 5. John Benkert, McHenry; 6. Richard Kossak, Somonauk; 7. Jim Thiel, Johnsburg; 8. Jason Mahoney, Chicago; 9. Vernon Brown, Waunakee, Wis.