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Bettenhausen Classic Winner Bilderback Now Eyes Rockford Short Track Success
Loves Park, IL- Michael Bilderback took his weekly Late Model and put Chicagoland on notice last weekend by winning the 59th Tony Bettenhausen Classic at Grundy County Speedway. He did not just win it, he dominated on his way to the largest paying win of his career. Next weekend, Bilderback returns home to Rockford Speedway for the 55th National Short Track Championships. While it is a track where the South Beloit pilot has found much success, Rockford’s marquee 200 lap NSTC Championship feature has eluded him to this point.
It is one of the few races that his uncle, seven-time Rockford Champion Ricky Bilderback never won a NSTC main event at the historic quarter mile paved oval. The name of past NSTC winners is a who’s who of Midwest and National short track racing. Michael’s first career Super Late Model victory came at Rockford in 2012 during the mid-summer All-Star 100, he’s a proven winner. A disappointing sixth place finish after setting quick time in qualifications during the 2019 event did not live up to the expectations for the weekend. Now, Bilderback again has momentum behind him heading into ‘One Great Racing Weekend’.
As noted, there has been no lack of success for Bilderback at Rockford. The four-time Big 8 Late Model Series Champion sits second all-time on the NSTC Big 8 Winner’s List with three Saturday night triumphs. The 2005 Young Lion National Legends Car Champion shifted to Late Models at age 15 and by age 17 he had already won Rockford’s Spring Classic event. With Rockford track championships of his own coming in back to back seasons of 2016 and 2017 and then recording his third at the conclusion of 2019, Bilderback can now complete another trifecta by adding Sunday’s (October 4) NSTC 200 to his Spring Classic and All-Star 100 accomplishments.
Bilderback’s current plan is to race all three days of National Short Track Championships beginning behind the wheel of his weekly late model on Friday night October 2 during the NASCAR Night of Champions and then again in Big 8 competition on Saturday night. Friday night’s 40 lap feature and Saturday’s 108 lap go will lead into Sunday’s Super Late Model 200 lap main event. Bilderback has been held winless thus far in 2020 at Rockford but added a win at Madison International Speedway in August in addition to his Grundy victory a week ago.
Main gates will open at 3pm on Friday October 2 with Faster Than a Speeding Bullet Qualifying at 4pm, racing will begin at 6pm. Saturday’s spectator gates open at 2pm with qualifications at 2:15pm and racing at 5pm. Sunday morning will see gates open at 11am for a fan autograph session, with racing beginning at 1pm on Sunday afternoon. Friday admission prices are $18 for adults, $8 for kids ages 6-11 with ‘tots’ ages five and under admitted free. Adult admission is $22 on Saturday with kids tickets at $11 and ages five and under $4. Sunday prices are $25 for adults, $12 for kids and $6 for tots. Seating is general admission and at a limited capacity. Social distancing is required and masks are recommended. For additional information call the Speedway Box Office at 815-633-1500 or visit www.rockfordspeedway.com
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