PHOTOS

By: Eric Huenefeld
Matt Berger has been one of the top runners all year long in the Stanley Steemer NASCAR Late Models at Rockford Speedway this 2008 season. He has set numerous fast times, won dashes and heats and sat as high as second in the point standings. The only thing left for the veteran driver to do was pop into victory lane on a Saturday night in the Speedway's premier division. Berger accomplished that goal this week on the high-banked quarter mile, becoming the sixth different winner in the Late Model class at Rockford this season.

It was a sweet victory for Berger, who destroyed his car on lap seven of the Star Spangled 76. Berger and his crew thrashed on the car until 2 PM Saturday afternoon before finally getting it race ready. Berger would aggressively charge to the point after battling with front row starters Noel Ramge and Jake Gille. Gille and Berger would trade paint for one whole lap before Berger put his car on point during the fourth circuit. As the field headed to turn one, the rim-riding Gille would nick the wall and then be stuffed into it by an equally loose Jon Reynolds Jr. Reynolds Jr. would continue with minimal damage, while Gille would be done for the evening.
From there the race would go non-stop over the final 26 laps. Reynolds Jr. would take the runner-up spot behind Berger. Points leader Jerry Gille had another good night, coming home in third. Ryan Carlson held of seven-time track champ Ricky Bilderback for the fourth spot. Carlson and Bilderback dueled side-by-side for the majority of the race.

Excitement was everywhere in the Coca-Cola Roadrunner feature, with tight racing and wild incidents filling the 20 lap main event. It was no contest up front, with Ricky Nielson running away from every challenger on every opportunity. The racing deep in the field was tremendous, with packs of five and six going three wide for position. This wild racing led to a colossal collision that sent Josh Lundy into the front stretch wall and into a barrel roll down the straightaway. Lundy was okay, the car was not.

Everyone else drove away from the wreck and the race resumed with Nielson leading. A close quarters battle then began to develop between Gene Marocco and Robert Roush for the second spot. The two would swap spots until one final yellow with three laps to go. On the restart, no one could catch Nielson as he won his second feature of the year. Marocco bested Roush for second. David Lignell would make a late race move on point leader Terrance Robinson to take the fourth spot.

Former track champion Tim Melvin won his second feature of the season in the Budweiser American Short Trackers to keep pace with points leader BJ Sparkman. Melvin patiently made his way to the bumper of Brett McCoy and made his move to the top spot on lap 11 of the 25 lap event. Behind him, a furious second place duel between Sparkman and Aaron Rude was ongoing. Rude ended up winning the battle, taking the runner-up spot ahead of Sparkman who would place third. Nick Cina Jr. would take the fourth spot.

Bargain Hunter Sportsman point leader Fred Nason made sure everyone had a cheap meal Sunday, leading every lap from the pole and winning his 25 lap feature. Nason laid claim to his third feature win of the season in the division. The win also put the Popeye's Point Leader Bonus into effect, which gave the fan's in attendance a chance for half-price chicken from Popeye's on Sunday with their ticket stub. Following Nason across the line was top rookie Chris Gantz, who would challenge Nason, but never got beside or around the two-time track champion. Brock Behnke would take third, with fast timer Don Exline taking fourth.

John Vaasch Jr. was victorious in the 18 lap Stock Car Classics feature. Vassch Jr. made a late race move around Pat "Hacksaw" Heaney for the win. Heaney would end up third behind Randy Vaasch.

NASCAR All American Sportsmen
A-Main 01 -- 1. Fred Nason, Roscoe; 2. Chris Gantz (r), Rockford; 3. Brock Behnke, South Beloit; 4. Don Exline, Oak Lawn; 5. Warren (Butch) Swinbank, Rockford; 6. Justin Sellers (r), Carol Stream; 7. Randy Samples (r), Rockton; 8. Ron Young, Rockford; 9. Ricky Nielsen, Rockford; 10. Ron Morris, Belvidere; 11. Beau Lawson (r), Machesney Park.

Heat 01 -- 1. Justin Sellers (r), Carol Stream; 2. Ron Young, Rockford; 3. Ricky Nielsen, Rockford; 4. Ron Morris, Belvidere; 5. Beau Lawson (r), Machesney Park; 6. Randy Samples (r), Rockton.

Heat 02 -- 1. Chris Gantz (r), Rockford; 2. Brock Behnke, South Beloit; 3. Don Exline, Oak Lawn; 4. Fred Nason, Roscoe; 5. Warren (Butch) Swinbank, Rockford.
Time Trial -- 1. Don Exline, Oak Lawn; 2. Chris Gantz (r), Rockford; 3. Brock Behnke, South Beloit; 4. Warren (Butch) Swinbank, Rockford; 5. Fred Nason, Roscoe; 6. Randy Samples (r), Rockton; 7. Justin Sellers (r), Carol Stream; 8. Ron Morris, Belvidere; 9. Ron Young, Rockford; 10. Beau Lawson (r), Machesney Park; 11. Ricky Nielsen, Rockford.

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Warren (Butch) Swinbank, Rockford; 2. Chris Gantz (r), Rockford; 3. Don Exline, Oak Lawn; 4. Brock Behnke, South Beloit; 5. Fred Nason, Roscoe; 6. Randy Samples (r), Rockton.

NASCAR American Short Trackers
A-Main 01 -- 1. Tim Melvin, Machesney Park; 2. Aaron Rude, Cambridge, Wis; 3. Boyce (BJ) Sparkman, Machesney Park; 4. Nick Cina, Jr, Roscoe; 5. Brett McCoy, Belvidere; 6. Zach Rodriguez, Rockton; 7. Jeffery Turnure, Rockford; 8. Larry Dickinson II, Cedarville; 9. Steven Allman, Oconomowoc, Wis; 10. Nick Letsinger, Rockford; 11. Keith Pierce, Machesney Park; 12. Glen Smith, South Beloit; 13. Victor Young (r), Genoa; 14. Artt Higbee, Rockford; 15. Kenny Marcellis, West Chicago; 16. Tanner Atchison, Byron; 17. Dave Lee, Rockford; 18. Steve Erickson, Jr (r), Machesney Park.

Heat 01 -- 1. Tanner Atchison, Byron; 2. Keith Pierce, Machesney Park; 3. Steven Allman, Oconomowoc, Wis; 4. Larry Dickinson II, Cedarville; 5. Victor Young (r), Genoa; 6. Kenny Marcellis, West Chicago; 7. Glen Smith, South Beloit; 8. Artt Higbee, Rockford; 9. Dave Lee, Rockford.

Heat 02 -- 1. Nick Cina, Jr, Roscoe; 2. Tim Melvin, Machesney Park; 3. Boyce (BJ) Sparkman, Machesney Park; 4. Aaron Rude, Cambridge, Wis; 5. Zach Rodriguez, Rockton; 6. Jeffery Turnure, Rockford; 7. Nick Letsinger, Rockford; 8. Brett McCoy, Belvidere.

Time Trial -- 1. Boyce (BJ) Sparkman, Machesney Park; 2. Nick Cina, Jr, Roscoe; 3. Steve Erickson, Jr (r), Machesney Park; 4. Aaron Rude, Cambridge, Wis; 5. Tim Melvin, Machesney Park; 6. Jeffery Turnure, Rockford; 7. Zach Rodriguez, Rockton; 8. Brett McCoy, Belvidere; 9. Nick Letsinger, Rockford; 10. Steven Allman, Oconomowoc, Wis; 11. Larry Dickinson II, Cedarville; 12. Tanner Atchison, Byron; 13. Keith Pierce, Machesney Park; 14. Glen Smith, South Beloit; 15. Victor Young (r), Genoa; 16. Kenny Marcellis, West Chicago; 17. Artt Higbee, Rockford; 18. Dave Lee, Rockford.

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Aaron Rude, Cambridge, Wis; 2. Boyce (BJ) Sparkman, Machesney Park; 3. Nick Cina, Jr, Roscoe; 4. Jeffery Turnure, Rockford; 5. Tim Melvin, Machesney Park.

NASCAR Late Models
A-Main 01 -- 1. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 2. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Roscoe; 3. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 4. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 5. Ricky Bilderback, Rockton; 6. Alex Papini (r), Machesney Park; 7. Noel Ramge, Helenville, Wis; 8. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 9. Tyler Peterson (r), Lake Geneva, Wis; 10. Bobby Davis, Winnebago; 11. Jacob Gille, Winnebago.

Heat 01 -- 1. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 2. Noel Ramge, Helenville, Wis; 3. Alex Papini (r), Machesney Park; 4. Jacob Gille, Winnebago; 5. Bobby Davis, Winnebago; 6. Tyler Peterson (r), Lake Geneva, Wis.

Heat 02 -- 1. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 2. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Roscoe; 3. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 4. Ricky Bilderback, Rockton; 5. Matt Berger, Loves Park.

Time Trial -- 1. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 2. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Roscoe; 3. Ricky Bilderback, Rockton; 4. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 5. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 6. Alex Papini (r), Machesney Park; 7. Jacob Gille, Winnebago; 8. Noel Ramge, Helenville, Wis; 9. Tyler Peterson (r), Lake Geneva, Wis; 10. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 11. Bobby Davis, Winnebago.

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 2. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 3. Ricky Bilderback, Rockton; 4. Alex Papini (r), Machesney Park; 5. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 6. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Roscoe.

NASCAR Road Runners
A-Main 01 -- 1. Ricky Nielsen, Rockford; 2. Gene Marocco, Machesney Park; 3. Robert Roush, Marengo; 4. David Lignell, Rockford; 5. Terrance Robinson, Beloit, Wis; 6. Lloyd Hawkins, Machesney Park; 7. Christopher Jones, Rockford; 8. Vachenzia Jester, Beloit, Wis; 9. Jeff Allendorf, Belvidere; 10. Arlyn Roush, Woodstock; 11. Sabrina Castillo, Rockford; 12. Robin Merigold, Monee; 13. Linnea Lundy, Loves Park; 14. Brian Smith, Rockford; 15. Raymond Hardesty, McHenry; 16. Kevin Nighswonger, Rockford; 17. Joshua Lundy, Loves Park; 18. Richard Edge, Marengo.

Heat 01 -- 1. Robert Roush, Marengo; 2. Arlyn Roush, Woodstock; 3. Ricky Nielsen, Rockford; 4. Sabrina Castillo, Rockford; 5. Raymond Hardesty, McHenry; 6. Richard Edge, Marengo; 7. Robin Merigold, Monee; 8. Brian Smith, Rockford; 9. Linnea Lundy, Loves Park; 10. Kevin Nighswonger, Rockford.

Heat 02 -- 1. Lloyd Hawkins, Machesney Park; 2. Vachenzia Jester, Beloit, Wis; 3. Gene Marocco, Machesney Park; 4. Christopher Jones, Rockford; 5. Richard Nielsen, Byron; 6. David Lignell, Rockford; 7. Terrance Robinson, Beloit, Wis; 8. Joshua Lundy, Loves Park; 9. Jeff Allendorf, Belvidere.

Challenge 01 -- 1. Gene Marocco, Machesney Park; 2. Robert Roush, Marengo; 3. David Lignell, Rockford; 4. Raymond Hardesty, McHenry; 5. Brian Smith, Rockford; 6. Arlyn Roush, Woodstock; 7. Robin Merigold, Monee; 8. Lloyd Hawkins, Machesney Park; 9. Sabrina Castillo, Rockford; 10. Richard Edge, Marengo.

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Richard Nielsen, Byron; 2. Jeff Allendorf, Belvidere; 3. David Lignell, Rockford; 4. Christopher Jones, Rockford; 5. Terrance Robinson, Beloit, Wis; 6. Joshua Lundy, Loves Park.