By: Kevin Ramsell
Tuesday, September 25, 2007 (Loves Park, IL) – The 42nd Annual Chicago International Trucks National Short Track Championships is not just based on one race, its based on the great racing action that the fans will see throughout the upcoming weekend on September 28-30.

It’s a great opportunity for the fans to see the best they read about or watch at their local tracks, come together and race against each other and see who will be the best of the best.

The competitors will have their first opportunity at the .29167 high-banked oval on Thursday, September 27th for practice from 5:30-9:00 p.m.

On Friday, September 28th, practice will begin at noon for any of the weekend competitors. At 4:00 p.m., the grandstand will open for the fans with Nason’s Landscaping “Faster Than A Speeding Bullet” qualifying starting at 5:30 p.m.

The racing action will get underway at 7:07 p.m. with the Weekly Warrior Late Models, American Short Trackers, All-American Sportsman, RoadRunners, and the Hornet vs. Bandit divisions competing in qualifying and feature races.

The Weekly Warrior Late Models will feature some of your favorite late model competitors from Rockford, Jefferson, Columbus, La Crosse and other local tracks. This division along with the American Short Trackers, All-American Sportsman, and RoadRunners will each be competing in a 42-lap feature event.

After the racing action, both fans and competitors are invited to the Budweiser Pavilion for an after race party.

Five more divisions will take their turn at the Rockford Speedway on Saturday, September 29th.

The main gates will open 2:00 p.m. with Nason’s Landscaping “Faster Than A Speeding Bullet” qualifying starting at 2:15 p.m.

The National Short Track Super Late Models will make their qualifying runs in this afternoon session. Defending NSTC champion Jeremy Lepak, Grundy Speedway champion Tom Smith, seven-time Rockford champion Ricky Bilderback, 2007 Rockford Runner-Up Jerry Gille, former Spring Classic champion Larry Schuler, NASCAR Busch & Truck Series competitor Frank Kreyer, Minnesota hot shoe Adam Royle, 1984 NSTC Champion Al Schill, 2002 NSTC champion Steve Rubeck, and former Lake Geneva Raceway champion Eddie May are some of the competitors already entered into this weekend’s event.

The USST Super Trucks, Big 8 Series, Area Sportsman, and Hobby Stox will also take part in this afternoon qualifying session.

Following qualifying, fans are invited to the pit area for an Open Pit Party until 5:30 p.m.

The racing action will get underway at 5:05 p.m. with qualifying races for all five divisions and feature races for the Big 8 Series, Area Sportsman, USST Super Trucks, and Hobby Stox.

The Big 8 Series will be competing in Twin 58-lap feature events on Saturday night. Jeremy Miller will attempt to extend his 58-point lead over defending Series champion Ricky Bilderback. Last year, Bilderback won the overall NSTC title while Mike Beyer and Ryan Carlson took home the feature wins.

The trucks will return to the historic event for the first time since 2005 as the USST Super Trucks will compete in a 42-lap feature event.

The Area Sportsman race will be one to watch. Last year, Scott “Chico” Riedner and Fred Nason put on one heck of a battle with Nason holding off Riedner’s “Shaggen Waggon” to win. Could history repeat itself this year?

After the racing action, the Budweiser Pavilion will be open for another After Race Party.

The main gates will open at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday morning with Nason’s Landscaping “Faster Than A Speeding Bullet” qualifying for the Mid-American Series starting at 11:15 a.m.

At 11:30 a.m., a fan autograph session will be taking place in the Budweiser Pavilion.

The racing action will get underway at 12:30 p.m. with Mid-American Heats and Last Chance races for the National Short Track Super Late Models.

Then three feature races will highlight the afternoon with the Big 8/Local Short Track Feature Winners Invite feature event.

Then the stars of the National Short Track Super Late Models will challenge the high banks in a 200-lap main event. Will Jeremy Lepak take home his second NSTC title or will the veteran Al Schill return and re-claim his NSTC title or will a new name be added to the great list of champions?

Johnny Senerchia along with his Mid-American Series competitors will follow up with their 75-lap feature race. Senerchia is looking to make it three in a row for NSTC victories.

For a complete schedule and ticket information, please visit the Speedway’s website at www.rockfordspeedway.com or call the track office at (815) 633-1500.

Overnight parking is available and hotels are nearby.

If you are coming to the track via Interstate 39/90, you are in luck as a new exit opened earlier this year at Hwy. 173. Take that exit and go 2.8 miles west and the Speedway will be on your left.

Make your plans, get a car pool together (we know gas isn’t cheap), call your friends to join the other Midwest race fans for “One Great Racing Weekend!!!”