By Kraig McCay
Eddie May held off a determined Matt Berger to record his second career NASCAR Stanley Steemer Late Model win Saturday Night at Rockford Speedway during Cintas Scouts Night. Scott Lawver registered his one hundred and first feature victory at the high banked quarter mile oval on a night which also saw seventy-two year young Gene Marocco find his way into victory lane at the conclusion of the RockStar Energy RoadRunner feature. Indiana native Lamont Critchett wheeled his way to the Illini Racing Series Midget triumph and Tim Dickson proved that his Ford was Built Tough in the first ever Tough Truck Tug-of-War.

When the dust settled after a lap 6 restart, it was a two man show at the front of the Cintas 30. Eddie May, the former Lake Geneva Raceway Champion found himself in a knock out, drag out brawl with Matt Berger over the final twenty laps. All eyes were glued to the leaders as Berger pressured May in true short track action, high, low and a few taps for good measure just to let him know he was there. May ever the veteran was unflustered and held off each attempt his counterpart through his way to steal the lead and win away. May, who recorded his first Rockford victory on May 19 would repeat the feat, leaving Berger in the runner-up position. There were some intense moments from third on back throughout the event and young Matthew Clossey impressed again holding off seven time Champion Ricky Bilderback and two time Champion Jerry Gille as the three of them completed the top five running order as race’s end.

Many drivers appeared to have the car to beat in the Bargain Hunter Sportsman 25 lap main event. Doug Bennett and Mike Beyer worked their way through traffic as the two fastest qualifiers started deep within the field. Scott Lawver was joined by Rob Goodman and Justin Sellers in a three car breakaway at the front as Beyer, Bennett, Daryl Gerke and rookie Johnny Robinson II swapped positions seemingly every lap as they sought the lead trio. Robinson II eventually prevailed ahead of that group and worked the inside line to his advantage, getting past Sellers, making a daring move on Goodman, but he would run out of time to catch the six time track Champion Lawver. Goodman held onto third at the stripe over Bennett, while Sellers recorded another top five effort.

The open wheeled excitement of the Illini Racing Series Midgets lived up to its billing Saturday night, bringing the fans to their feet. Patrick Bruns applied the pressure to late race leader Lamont Critchett over the closing eight laps trying the high side, down by the infield grass and anywhere else looking for the advantage. As the white flag flew, a bobble out of turn two by Critchett opened the door for Bruns to make one more dive low for the win but it was Critchett taking the winner’s hardware back across state lines to Indiana. Fast qualifier Sean Murphy finished a strong third followed by Mike Gass and young Derrick Gough.

A new line-up system in the RockStar Energy RoadRunners has given a new outlook to Gene Marocco. Full field inverts put the fastest drivers right in the mix of all of the action when the green flag flies. Marocco claims he is having a lot of fun with it and Saturday night’s Cintas 20 was no different. Jeff Allendorf secured the lead just after the half way point as he sought his first career win but Marocco squeezed underneath Allendorf out of turn four with four laps remaining. The runner-up spot went to current point leader Bobby Frisch, Allendorf turned in a solid third place run ahead of Dennis Smith, Jr and Howie Ware.

Ten of the biggest and baddest trucks were entered in the first ever Tough Truck Tug-of-War and when the tire and diesel smoke cleared it was Tim Dickson emerging victorious in his Ford.

Racing action continues this upcoming week as Rockford Speedway will host two events on Wednesday June 27. At 1pm it is the Kid’s Day Camp Racing Sparktacular in which kids of all ages are treated to a fun filled afternoon of racing entertainment for just $1. Then on Wednesday Night at 7:07pm it’s the annual Fastor Pastor Races as part of the Wild Wednesday Night program. For more information visit www.rockfordspeedway.com. Next Saturday night June 30 is Round II of the Gilley’s Cool 5 Series, featuring the Stanley Steemer Star Spangled 76 lap Late Model feature. One lucky fan could walk away $1,500 richer if they correctly predict the top four finishers of that event.

NASCAR Stanley Steemer Late Models
A-Main 01 -- 1. Eddie May, Crystal Lake; 2. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 3. Matthew Clossey, Beloit, Wis; 4. Ricky Bilderback, Roscoe; 5. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 6. Jacob Gille, Machesney Park; 7. Mitchell Garfield, Gilberts; 8. Wayne
Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 9. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 10. John Beinlich, Prairie View; 11. Austin Nason (r), Roscoe; 12. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 13. Steve McBride, South Beloit.
Heat 01 -- 1. Austin Nason (r), Roscoe; 2. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 3. Matthew Clossey, Beloit, Wis; 4. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 5. Steve McBride, South Beloit; 6. John Beinlich, Prairie View; 7. Eddie May, Crystal Lake.
Heat 02 -- 1. Jacob Gille, Machesney Park; 2. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 3. Mitchell Garfield, Gilberts; 4. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 5. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 6. Ricky Bilderback, Roscoe.
Time Trial -- 1. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 2. Ricky Bilderback, Roscoe; 3. Mitchell Garfield, Gilberts; 4. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 5. Jacob Gille, Machesney Park; 6. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 7. Matthew Clossey, Beloit, Wis; 8. Eddie
May, Crystal Lake; 9. Austin Nason (r), Roscoe; 10. Steve McBride, South Beloit; 11. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 12. John Beinlich, Prairie View; 13. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford.
Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 2. Mitchell Garfield, Gilberts; 3. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 4. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 5. Ricky Bilderback, Roscoe; 6. Jacob Gille, Machesney Park.

Bargain Hunter Sportsman
A-Main 01 -- 1. Scott Lawver, Roscoe; 2. Johnny Robinson, II (r), Beloit, Wis; 3. Rob Goodman, McHenry; 4. Doug Bennett, Brodhead, Wis; 5. Justin Sellers, Carol Stream; 6. Bob Moeller, McHenry; 7. Brett McCoy, Belvidere; 8. Warren
(Butch) Swinbank, Rockford; 9. Tim Jendrycki, Round Lake; 10. Brandon Swinbank, Fitchburg, Wis; 11. Joshua Lundy, Loves Park; 12. Daryl Gerke, Whitelaw, Wis; 13. Mike Beyer, Machesney Park.
Heat 01 -- 1. Brandon Swinbank, Fitchburg, Wis; 2. Warren (Butch) Swinbank, Rockford; 3. Bob Moeller, McHenry; 4. Scott Lawver, Roscoe; 5. Joshua Lundy, Loves Park; 6. Tim Jendrycki, Round Lake; 7. Rob Goodman, McHenry.
Heat 02 -- 1. Johnny Robinson, II (r), Beloit, Wis; 2. Daryl Gerke, Whitelaw, Wis; 3. Justin Sellers, Carol Stream; 4. Doug Bennett, Brodhead, Wis; 5. Mike Beyer, Machesney Park; 6. Brett McCoy, Belvidere.
Time Trial -- 1. Doug Bennett, Brodhead, Wis; 2. Mike Beyer, Machesney Park; 3. Justin Sellers, Carol Stream; 4. Brett McCoy, Belvidere; 5. Johnny Robinson, II (r), Beloit, Wis; 6. Daryl Gerke, Whitelaw, Wis; 7. Rob Goodman, McHenry; 8.
Bob Moeller, McHenry; 9. Scott Lawver, Roscoe; 10. Warren (Butch) Swinbank, Rockford; 11. Tim Jendrycki, Round Lake; 12. Brandon Swinbank, Fitchburg, Wis; 13. Joshua Lundy, Loves Park.
Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Mike Beyer, Machesney Park; 2. Johnny Robinson, II (r), Beloit, Wis; 3. Daryl Gerke, Whitelaw, Wis; 4. Doug Bennett, Brodhead, Wis; 5. Brett McCoy, Belvidere; 6. Justin Sellers, Carol Stream.

Illini Racing Series Midgets
A-Main 01 -- 1. Lamont Critchett, Demotte, Ind.; 2. Patrick Bruns, Champaign; 3. Sean Murphy, Elk Grove Village; 4. Mike Gass, Worth; 5. Derrick Gough, Roscoe; 6. Mike Anderson;; 7. Doug Orseske, Frankfort; 8. Brian Dobis, Frankfort; 9. Eddie Sauer, Davis; 10. Andrew Hennig;; 11. Jason Allen;; 12. Joe Knippel, Mokena; 13. Ben Gillis, Willowbrook; 14. Frank Reiss, Genoa; 15. Mike Smith;; 16. Aaron Schuck;.
Heat 01 -- 1. Patrick Bruns, Champaign; 2. Derrick Gough, Roscoe; 3. Lamont Critchett, Demotte, Ind.; 4. Sean Murphy, Elk Grove Village; 5. Mike Gass, Worth; 6. Joe Knippel, Mokena; 7. Mike Anderson;; 8. Doug Orseske, Frankfort.
Heat 02 -- 1. Ben Gillis, Willowbrook; 2. Frank Reiss, Genoa; 3. Brian Dobis, Frankfort; 4. Eddie Sauer, Davis; 5. Mike Smith;; 6. Jason Allen;; 7. Aaron Schuck;.
Time Trial -- 1. Sean Murphy, Elk Grove Village; 2. Joe Knippel, Mokena; 3. Lamont Critchett, Demotte, Ind.; 4. Mike Gass, Worth; 5. Derrick Gough, Roscoe; 6. Patrick Bruns, Champaign; 7. Mike Anderson;; 8. Doug Orseske, Frankfort;
9. Ben Gillis, Willowbrook; 10. Frank Reiss, Genoa; 11. Eddie Sauer, Davis; 12. Loran Critchett Jr., Alsip; 13. Brian Dobis, Frankfort; 14. Andrew Hennig;; 15. Aaron Schuck;.

RockStar Energy RoadRunners
A-Main 01 -- 1. Gene Marocco, Machesney Park; 2. Bobby Frisch, Beloit, Wis; 3. Jeff Allendorf, Belvidere; 4. Dennis Smith, Jr, South Beloit; 5. Howie Ware, South Beloit; 6. Arlyn Roush, Woodstock; 7. Brian Mayer, Machesney Park; 8.
Jason Van Hise, Loves Park; 9. Derek Nichol, Roscoe; 10. Austin Fowler, Loves Park; 11. Kyle McQuality, Stillman Valley; 12. Raymond Hardesty, McHenry; 13. James Gregory, Winnebago; 14. Josh Carter, Rockford; 15. David
Pautsch, Jr, Roscoe; 16. Linnea Lundy, Loves Park; 17. Dustin Radant, Machesney Park; 18. Ronald Stoltz, Rockford; 19. Shawn Rickelman, Rockton; 20. Ricky Nielsen, Rockford; 21. Kenneth Brazee III, Rockford; 22. Adam Cartwright,
Heat 01 -- 1. Shawn Rickelman, Rockton; 2. James Gregory, Winnebago; 3. Ronald Stoltz, Rockford; 4. Austin Fowler, Loves Park; 5. Linnea Lundy, Loves Park; 6. Dustin Radant, Machesney Park; 7. David Pautsch, Jr, Roscoe.
Heat 02 -- 1. Jeff Allendorf, Belvidere; 2. Adam Cartwright, Marengo; 3. Kenneth Brazee III, Rockford; 4. Josh Carter, Rockford; 5. Kyle McQuality, Stillman Valley; 6. Jason Van Hise, Loves Park; 7. Raymond Hardesty, McHenry.
Heat 03 -- 1. Bobby Frisch, Beloit, Wis; 2. Derek Nichol, Roscoe; 3. Howie Ware, South Beloit; 4. Arlyn Roush, Woodstock; 5. Gene Marocco, Machesney Park; 6. Ricky Nielsen, Rockford; 7. Brian Mayer, Machesney Park.
Challenge 01 -- 1. Jason Van Hise, Loves Park; 2. Raymond Hardesty, McHenry; 3. Kenneth Brazee III, Rockford; 4. Jeff Allendorf, Belvidere; 5. Ricky Nielsen, Rockford; 6. Dustin Radant, Machesney Park; 7. Ronald Stoltz, Rockford; 8. David Pautsch, Jr, Roscoe; 9. Arlyn Roush, Woodstock.
Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Howie Ware, South Beloit; 2. Gene Marocco, Machesney Park; 3. Adam Cartwright, Marengo; 4. Bobby Frisch, Beloit, Wis; 5. Arlyn Roush, Woodstock; 6. Ricky Nielsen, Rockford.