By Kraig McCay
After a couple weeks of near misses, Matt Berger hustled his car into victory lane following Saturday night’s Stanley Steemer ‘Star Spangled 76’ NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model feature at Rockford Speedway. Justin Sellers became a first time winner in grand fashion in Bargain Hunter Sportsman action while point leader Joe LaMarca methodically worked his way to the front of the Miller Lite American Short Tracker field. Gene Marocco picked up his second feature triumph in as many weeks behind the wheel of his RockStar Energy RoadRunner.

Defending NASCAR Stanley Steemer Late Model Champion Ryan Carlson inched ahead of first row starting mate Wayne Freimund as the field completed the opening lap of the ‘Star Spangled 76’. Freimund hustled on the outside line to secure position one by the completion of lap two as Jake Gille, Jon Reynolds, Jr and fast qualifier Jerry Gille darted high and low on a march to the front. Contact between Berger and Freimund sent Freimund toward the wall as Berger motored into the lead on lap seven. The game of chess was halted when Carlson’s machine suffered mechanical woes and checked up on the races’ tenth circuit, sending him into the infield to speculate on what might have been. The only caution of the race came a half lap later when contact between Matthew Clossey and Jerry Gille sent Gille’s mount through the backstretch grass. Clossey utilized the track’s tap-out rule which allowed the two time Champion to reclaim his fifth running spot.

Reynolds, Jr chose the inside line on the restart and used it to his advantage, clearing Freimund and making a sensational save out of turn two to move to the back bumper of Berger. That was the closest challenge Berger received the remainder of the race as the former Sportsman Champion had the field covered, pulling away to a straightaway lead. Seven time Champ Ricky Bilderback shot to the inside of Jerry Gille to secure the fifth spot and applied pressure to Jake Gille through the finish which saw the order at the line as Berger, Reynolds, Jr, Freimund, Jake Gille and Bilderback. Reynolds, Jr now leads the Gilley’s Cool 5 Series standings after Round II, the next GC5 Series event is scheduled for Saturday July 28.

Sometimes a driver just has a hot hand, Justin Sellers has had that for the past month, however the dirt track star turned asphalt driver had been unable to show the winning hand when it counted. That all changed Saturday night when Sellers laid claim to the Stateline Staffing Services Dash and heat race victories in Bargain Hunter Sportsman competition. Last week’s feature winner Scott Lawver held off an early challenge from Rob Goodman and many may have thought Lawver was going to secure another victory. Sellers quickly moved from the eighth starting position and into second place once five laps had been recorded. Goodman was forced to contend with Doug Bennett for third allowing the two leaders to distance themselves from the pack. Multiple attempts by Sellers to inch ahead beneath Lawver failed and with half a dozen laps remaining Bennett was allowed to join in the battle for the win. Perhaps that was the incentive Sellers needed as he stuck his Camaro beneath Lawver a lap later and finally completed the winning pass, earning him his first ever feature win at Rockford Speedway. Lawver held off Bennett as Rookie Johnny Robinson continued to impress by holding off Matt Lundberg and fast qualifier Daryl Gerke at the finish.

The inside line was the place to be when the green flag waved on the Miller Lite American Short Tracker feature event as Nick Worman, Chris Jones and former division Champion Kyle Lapier claimed the top three spots early in the running. The trio of Scotty Hoeft, fast qualifier Nick Cina, Jr and point leader Joey LaMarca made a charge on that inside line. Hoeft would be the first of the three to take command of the race as he went fender to fender with Worman, finally gaining the advantage with ten laps to go. Hoeft’s stint atop the leader board was short lived, Nick Cina jumped into the lead with six laps remaining bringing Joe LaMarca with him on the inside. It appeared that the race would be decided in the final turn but it wasn’t to be, Cina surrendered the lead with four laps remaining, allowing LaMarca to record win two for the season. Hoeft held tough to pick up a second place showing. Meanwhile a hard charging George Sparkman was followed by his daughter Rachel Sparkman at the finish, Chris Jones completed the top five.

Cory Teran had been a RockStar Energy RoadRunner front runner four years ago and showed no signs of rust when he returned to action. Teran became locked into a grueling battle involving Alex Chabucos, Shawn Rickelman and Austin Fowler over the opening laps with Chabucos eventually claiming second ten laps into the hectic feature. Adam Cartwright was the first of the feature winners from this year to reach the lead pack but found the going a little tough as Chabucos and Teran held strongly onto their spots up front. Gene Marocco found the going a little easier in the very inside third lane and used that to catapult his into the lead with seven circuits remaining. Cartwright followed suit as Teran and Chabucos found their mirrors full of Bobby Frisch, Dennis Smith, Jr and Howie Ware. Nobody could challenge Marocco on this night, he was followed in the finishing order by Cartwright, Smith, Jr, Ware and Frisch.

Rockford Speedway celebrates Independence Day on Wednesday Night July 4th when Gilley’s Heating and Cooling presents the 10,000 WATT Fireworks Extravaganza featuring the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere, a race in total darkness for the RoadRunner Super Summer Series. Racing also includes the Bandits, Spectacular Drags, Winged Women on Wheels, Misfits and Figure 8’s. Spectator gates open at 5pm, qualifying at 6:25 with racing at 7:07pm. Adult general admission tickets are $12, students ages 12-17 are $8, ages 6-11 $5 with kids 5 and under Free. Sections D-E-F are reserved for this event with pricing set at $15 for ages 12 and over and $5 for ages 0-11. For additional information or to order tickets call the Speedway Box Office at 815-633-1500 or visit www.rockfordspeedway.com

NASCAR Steemer Late Models

A-Main 01 -- 1. Matt Berger, ; 2. Jon Reynolds, Jr., ; 3. Wayne Freimund, , ; 4. Jacob Gille, ; 5. Ricky Bilderback, Roscoe; 6. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 7. Eddie May, ; 8. Mitchell Garfield, Gilberts; 9. Matthew Clossey, , ; 10. John Beinlich, Prairie View; 11. Timothy Slater, Hampshire; 12. Steve McBride, ; 13. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 14. Dave Edwards, , ; 15. Austin Nason (r), Roscoe; 16. Steve Rubeck, ; 17. Ryan Carlson, .

Heat 01 -- 1. Steve Rubeck, ; 2. Ryan Carlson, ; 3. Austin Nason (r), Roscoe; 4. John Beinlich, Prairie View; 5. Wayne Freimund, , ; 6. Timothy Slater, Hampshire; 7. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 8. Steve McBride, ; 9. Dave Edwards, ,

Heat 02 -- 1. Jacob Gille, ; 2. Jon Reynolds, Jr., ; 3. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 4. Matt Berger, ; 5. Eddie May, ; 6. Mitchell Garfield, Gilberts; 7. Matthew Clossey, , ; 8. Ricky Bilderback, Roscoe.

Time Trial -- 1. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 2. Matthew Clossey, , ; 3. Jon Reynolds, Jr., ; 4. Ricky Bilderback, Roscoe; 5. Jacob Gille, ; 6. Eddie May, ; 7. Mitchell Garfield, Gilberts; 8. Matt Berger, ; 9. Austin Nason (r), Roscoe; 10. Wayne Freimund, , ; 11. Ryan Carlson, ; 12. Timothy Slater, Hampshire; 13. Steve Rubeck, ; 14. John Beinlich, Prairie View; 15. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 16.

Dave Edwards, , ; 17. Steve McBride, .

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Eddie May, ; 2. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 3. Ricky Bilderback, Roscoe; 4. Jacob Gille, ; 5. Jon Reynolds, Jr., ; 6. Matthew Clossey, ,

Bargain Hunter Sportsman

A-Main 01 -- 1. Justin Sellers, ; 2. Scott Lawver, Roscoe; 3. Doug Bennett, , ; 4. Johnny Robinson, II (r), , ; 5. Matt Lundberg, ; 6. Daryl Gerke, , ; 7. Rob Goodman, McHenry; 8. Brett McCoy, ; 9. Tim Jendrycki, ; 10. Patrick Featherston II (r), Byron; 11. Brandon Swinbank, , ; 12. Darrell Garman, ; 13. Bob Moeller, McHenry; 14. Warren (Butch) Swinbank, ; 15. Kris Nilson, .

Heat 01 -- 1. Warren (Butch) Swinbank, ; 2. Scott Lawver, Roscoe; 3. Rob Goodman, McHenry; 4. Patrick Featherston II (r), Byron; 5. Kris Nilson, ; 6. Tim Jendrycki, ; 7. Matt Lundberg, ; 8. Brandon Swinbank, ,

Heat 02 -- 1. Justin Sellers, ; 2. Doug Bennett, , ; 3. Johnny Robinson, II (r), , ; 4. Darrell Garman, ; 5. Bob Moeller, McHenry; 6. Brett McCoy, ; 7. Daryl Gerke, ,

Time Trial -- 1. Daryl Gerke, , ; 2. Doug Bennett, , ; 3. Darrell Garman, ; 4. Justin Sellers, ; 5. Johnny Robinson, II (r), , ; 6. Kris Nilson, ; 7. Bob Moeller, McHenry; 8. Brett McCoy, ; 9. Rob Goodman, McHenry; 10. Matt Lundberg, ; 11. Scott Lawver, Roscoe; 12. Tim Jendrycki, ; 13. Warren (Butch) Swinbank, ; 14. Patrick Featherston II (r), Byron; 15.

Swinbank, ,

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Justin Sellers, ; 2. Johnny Robinson, II (r), , ; 3. Doug Bennett, , ; 4. Daryl Gerke, , ; 5. Kris Nilson, ; 6. Darrell Garman, .

Miller LIte American Short Trackers

A-Main 01 -- 1. Joe LaMarca, ; 2. Scott Hoeft, , ; 3. George Sparkman, ; 4. Rachel Sparkman, ; 5. Christopher Jones, Capron; 6. Jason Bragg, ; 7. Eric Connell, , ; 8. Keith Pierce, ; 9. Kyle Lapier, ; 10. David Russell, Jr, ; 11. Nick Cina, Jr, ; 12. Nick Worman, ; 13. Nick Letsinger, ; 14. Tim Dix, ,

Heat 01 -- 1. Nick Letsinger, ; 2. Nick Worman, ; 3. Eric Connell, , ; 4. Christopher Jones, Capron; 5. Keith Pierce, ; 6. David Russell, Jr, ; 7. Alan Bekielewski, Roscoe; 8. Tim Dix, ,

Heat 02 -- 1. Scott Hoeft, , ; 2. George Sparkman, ; 3. Nick Cina, Jr, ; 4. Joe LaMarca, ; 5. Kyle Lapier, ; 6. Jason Bragg, ; 7. Rachel Sparkman, .

Time Trial -- 1. Nick Cina, Jr, ; 2. Joe LaMarca, ; 3. George Sparkman, ; 4. Scott Hoeft, , ; 5. Jason Bragg, ; 6. Kyle Lapier, ; 7. Rachel Sparkman, ; 8. Christopher Jones, Capron; 9. David Russell, Jr, ; 10. Nick Worman, ; 11. Eric Connell, , ; 12. Nick Letsinger, ; 13. Keith Pierce, ; 14. Tim Dix, , ; 15. Alan Bekielewski, Roscoe.

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. George Sparkman, ; 2. Scott Hoeft, , ; 3. Jason Bragg, ; 4. Kyle Lapier, ; 5. Nick Cina, Jr, ; 6. Joe LaMarca, .

RockStar Energy RoadRunners

A-Main 01 -- 1. Gene Marocco, ; 2. Adam Cartwright, Marengo; 3. Dennis Smith, Jr, ; 4. Howie Ware, ; 5. Bobby Frisch, , ; 6. Alex Chabucos, ; 7. Larry Dickinson II, , ; 8. Cory Teran, ; 9. Shawn Rickelman, Rockton; 10. Austin Fowler, ; 11. Brian Mayer, ; 12. Kenneth Brazee III, ; 13. Jeff Allendorf, ; 14. Raymond Hardesty,

McHenry; 15. Arlyn Roush, ; 16. James Gregory, Winnebago; 17. Josh Carter, ; 18. Derek Nichol, Roscoe; 19. Jason Van Hise, .

Heat 01 -- 1. Cory Teran, ; 2. Austin Fowler, ; 3. Shawn Rickelman, Rockton; 4. Larry Dickinson II, , ; 5. Alex Chabucos, ; 6. James Gregory, Winnebago; 7. Kenneth Brazee III, ; 8. Jeff Allendorf, ; 9. Josh Carter, ; 10. Raymond Hardesty, McHenry.

Heat 02 -- 1. Adam Cartwright, Marengo; 2. Bobby Frisch, , ; 3. Howie Ware, ; 4. Jason Van Hise, ; 5. Dennis Smith, Jr, ; 6. Derek Nichol, Roscoe; 7. Brian Mayer, ; 8. Gene Marocco, ; 9. Ricky Nielsen, .

Challenge 01 -- 1. Adam Cartwright, Marengo; 2. Jason Van Hise, ; 3. Raymond Hardesty, McHenry; 4. Kenneth Brazee III, ; 5. Ricky Nielsen, ; 6. Jeff Allendorf, ; 7. Larry Dickinson II, , .

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Howie Ware, ; 2. Gene Marocco, ; 3. Derek Nichol, Roscoe; 4. Dennis Smith, Jr, ; 5. Bobby Frisch, ,