By: Eric Huenefeld
From top to bottom, Saturday nights in the year 2011 at the Rockford Speedway will forever be remembered as nights filled with drama and excitement. Nights that produced some of the most competitive short track racing anywhere, and nights that produced season long points battles that came down to the bitter end. When the dust settled on Whelen Engineering's Night of Champions Saturday, three of the four titlists were first timers, and champions ranged from seasoned veterans to fresh-faced youngsters.

NASCAR All American Sportsmen
A-Main 01 -- 1. Austin Nason, Roscoe; 2. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 3. Doug Bennett, Brodhead, Wis; 4. Justin Sellers, Carol Stream; 5. Josh Thiering, South Beloit; 6. Matt Lundberg, Rockford; 7. Brad Gerke (r), Loves Park; 8. Darrell Garman, South Beloit; 9. Scott Lawver, Roscoe; 10. Brandon Swinbank (r), Rockford; 11. Joshua Lundy (r), Loves Park; 12. Joey Thomas, Rockford; 13. John Dietrich, Carol Steam.

Five Champions will be crowned at Rockford Speedway this Saturday Night September 10 during Whelen NASCAR Championship Night. A full night of NASCAR action includes the NASCAR Stanley Steemer Late Models, Bargain Hunter Sportsman, Budweiser American Short Trackers, Mtn Dew RoadRunners, the Sam’s Drive-In Outhouse Race and the return of the popular Late Model Showdown Match Races. Saturday night will also feature the first ever RoadRunner non-winners feature encompassing all RoadRunners that did not pick up a feature win this season, it promises to be an interesting 15 lap feature. After the races, everyone is invited into the pit area for the Champion’s Party.

Rockford Speedway invites all Public Safety and Medical Professionals to be their guest during this event, simply show your badge/work ID at the gate to gain free admission. Spectator Gates open at 5, qualifying begins at 5:55 with the first race at 7:07pm. Adult tickets are $12, students (ages 12-17) $8, kids (ages 6-11) $5 with children ages five and under are admitted free. For more information visit www.rockfordspeedway.com or call 815-633-1500.

This is the 10th anniversary of the 9-11 attack on our nation and we want to honor those who put their lives at stake every day. There will be a special opening ceremony this Saturday night which will include many area public safety agencies. Two pieces of steel from ground zero will be marched out onto the track by bagpipers with colorguard members behind the steel. There will be an invocation, taps will be played, the ringing of the fire bell, a 21 gun salute and the national anthem will then be performed, after which all safety vehicles will be paraded off the track. For additional information please contact Jeff Stringer at 815-693-2493.

By Kari Shear-Carlson
September 8, 2011 - 20 year-old Michael Bilderback just came off of what he called an "unbelievable" win at Slinger Super Speedway, his first ever Super Late Model victory. He unloaded with a pretty fast race car, took the lead in the feature around lap 30, and led until the checkered flag fell on lap 100.

Racing action at Rockford Speedway for tonight, Saturday September 3 has been cancelled due to rain, the NASCAR Whelen Championship night will take place next Saturday night, September 10.

By: Eric Huenefeld
To many, Saturday night at Rockford Speedway was being billed as a "Wild Card Race" in the chase for Season Championships. With large car counts in each class, and with points races tightening in the Stanley Steemer NASCAR Late Models, Bargain Hunter Sportsman and Budweiser American Short Trackers, there was a sense of urgency and unpredictability about this Late August night. In some divisions, the point battle would tighten. However, dramatic swings in another race would give one of the points leader's a major late season lift in the season long ledger.

NASCAR All American Sportsmen
A-Main 01 -- 1. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 2. Brandon Swinbank (r), Rockford; 3. Brad Gerke (r), Loves Park; 4. Matt Lundberg, Rockford; 5. Austin Nason, Roscoe; 6. Doug Bennett, Brodhead, Wis; 7. Justin Sellers, Carol Stream; 8. Tim Jendrycki (r), Round Lake; 9. Darrell Garman, South Beloit; 10. Josh Thiering, South Beloit; 11. Scott Lawver, Roscoe; 12. Joshua Lundy (r), Loves Park; 13. Rich Hinerichsen, II, Machesney Park.

Boats will be destroyed Saturday night August 27 at Rockford Speedway during Nick’s Beatin’ ‘N Bangin’ Boat Race. Trucks and Vans will attempt to break their opponents’ boat from the tow vehicles in an attempt to be the last driver with his boat in tow at the end. The point battles tighten with just three weeks of racing left for the Stanley Steemer NASCAR Late Models, Bargain Hunter Sportsman, Budweiser American Short Trackers, Mtn Dew RoadRunners and Sam’s Drive-In Australian Pursuit Race.

Saturday night marks Round IV of the Gilley’s Cool 5 Series, with drivers vying for their share of the $12,500 point fund and fans will have a chance to walk away $1,000 richer if they can correctly identify the top 4 Late Model feature finishers, entry forms are available at the gate.

Remember, you can save $2 off your admission with a Rock River Valley Food Pantry Racing For Hunger Wristband available at Windsor Auto Sales.

By: Eric Huenefeld
It had been 43 days since Stanley Steemer NASCAR Late Model points leader Ryan Carlson last visited Rockford Speedway victory lane. In that time, Carlson also saw his fair share of bent sheet metal, struggling race cars and watched his nearly 50 point lead evaporate.

Saturday night, Carlson would do his best to erase the negatives of the past five plus weeks in topping the evenings 30 lap main event. The feat was anything but easy, as the Loves Park driver would have a mirror full of his two chief rivals for a majority of the race. Carlson held strong and took the trophy, his fourth of the season.