By: Russell Wheeler Jr.
The 2012 racing season came to a close Sunday at the Rockford Speedway with the running of the 21st Bahama Bracket Nationals. Despite Mother Nature pushing the festivities back two weeks, the same action that racers and fans continue to expect at this one-of-a-kind event was the main attraction. Nearly 170 drivers tried their luck at beating the clock and each other, and many of the 50 lap features came down to the last couple circuits.

Steve McBride # 86 South Beloit, IL was the runner up in the "Bahamas" Theme contest.

Pits "Bahamas" Theme contest was won my Nick Shuckes and friends.

Due to last weekend's weather system that drenched Rockford Speedway, entries are once again being accepted for the Bahama Bracket Nationals, now scheduled for Saturday and Sunday October 27 and 28. Nearly two hundred race teams helped fill the pit area and the two week delay allows for more competitors to join in the fun which places cars into brackets based on their qualifying speeds rather than by class. The top bracket, the A Bracket traditionally consists of Mid-American Stock Cars, Dirt and Asphalt Limited Late Models as well as Modifieds, Sportsman and one of a kind machines. The four cylinder brackets have grown in popularity each year as well, chances are if you have a racecar you can compete. An open practice session is slated for 5pm Friday October 26 followed by two days of the most exciting racing of the season. For entry forms, an updated schedule of events and additional information, visit www.rockfordspeedway.com or call the Speedway Box Office at 815-633-1500. Pit credentials from the original event will be honored again during the new weekend.

Bahama Brackets
A-Feature -- 1. Nick Shutkas, Loves Park; 2. Danny Church, Big Bend, Wis; 3. James Swan, Lake Geneva, Wis; 4. Mark Pluer, Brookfield, Wis; 5. Bill Tuckwell, Springbay; 6. Michael Lange, West Allis, Wis; 7. Joe Dynek, Kingston; 8. Mike Smart, Oconomowoc, Wis; 9. Ryan Farrell, East Troy, Wis; 10. Eddie Wolf, Thornton; 11. Dylan Harmon, Downers
Grove; 12. Darrell Gay, Morris; 13. Dean Patterson, Bridgeview; 14. Tony Sancinati, West Allis, Wis; 15. AJ aka JP Odegaard, Brooklyn Center, Minn.; 16. Brad Norgard, Pell Lake, Wis; 17. Tim Ellis, Roscoe; 18. Mark Swan, South Bend, Ind.; 19. Pat "Hacksaw" Heaney, Greenfield, Wis; 20. Ed Williams, Jr., Streamwood; 21. Tom Prim, Thornton; 22. Chris Storey, Burlington, Wis; 23. Tyler Peterson, Lake Geneva, Wis; 24. Billy Bob Wiltjer, Griffith, Ind..

Over 100 teams have already filed their entry for this weekend’s 20th annual Bahama Bracket Nationals presented by TIKI. That number is expected to double to over 200 once teams start rolling through the gates Friday at 1pm for the 5pm Open Practice and Open Time Trials. Racecars from across the Midwest will take on the Rockford Speedway high banks in two and three wide racing action that many call the best of the year. All cars will qualify on Saturday (12:30pm) which will set their bracket (groups of cars grouped together based on speed rather than by division/rules). Once qualifying concludes, Happy Half Hour Qualifying will begin which is usually over two hours of teams trying to better their speed as well as collect the $100 bonus for a perfect time (14.300 and 15.600 for the 4cyl ‘B’ bracket). Once 6pm rolls around Saturday night, hang on tight as the furious heat races and Bermuda Bashes take the track to help set the feature field. Drivers will go high and low in an attempt to not break-out (going .200 seconds faster than their qualifying time) and put their ride into one of Sunday’s 50 lap features. One lucky driver will be able to take advantage of the Sing for your Start on Saturday night during the Bud Light Last Blast Race Party in the Pavilion, in order to punch their card for the big show.

Click here to download and print the Schedule of Events for this weekend

By Jordan Kuehne

LOVES PARK, Ill. (Sunday, October 17th, 2010) – Patience is a virtue and Nick Shutkas rode it all the way to victory Sunday, taking home the main event at the Rockford Speedway’s 19th annual Bahama Bracket Nationals, surviving a caution-plagued ‘A’ Bracket 50-lap feature and holding off a hard-charging James Swan to find the winner's circle.

By Jordan Kuehne

LOVES PARK, Ill. (Saturday, October 16th, 2010) – One of the longest days in racing came to a close with a lot of questions answered and even more up in the air. The opening day of the 19th annual Bahama Bracket Nationals at the legendary Rockford Speedway helped set the majority of tomorrow’s feature fields as 206 cars qualified and set a time, looking to set themselves up for success in the main event.