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Rockford’s NASCAR Night of Champions Opens 55th National Short Track Championships this Friday
Loves Park, IL- NASCAR Champions will be crowned this Friday night October 2 at Rockford Speedway as five racing divisions are set for the Opening night of the 55th annual National Short Track Championships. The NASCAR Late Models will be joined by the Sportsmen, American Short Trackers, Bandits and RoadRunners as all divisions will contest preliminary as well as feature events during the first of three days of action on the quarter mile paved oval during ‘One Great Racing Weekend’.
Seeking his third Rockford Speedway NASCAR Late Model title is Driver X, Jon Reynolds, Jr. Having won his first title in 2014 and again taking top honors in 2018, Reynolds holds a 21-point lead over Mike Beyer. Beyer, a long time late model competitor and Champion throughout the region has returned to his weekly roots after a trip to race during Florida’s Speedweeks this past February. Early season contender Dennis Smith, Jr who has Rockford titles in RoadRunner and Figure 8 action, sits third in the standings, 43 points behind Reynolds. A 40 lap Championship feature will highlight the Friday night racing program.
Defending Sportsmen Champion Johnny Robinson finds himself 37 markers behind his brother Trevor Robinson in the NASCAR Sportsmen Championship Hunt. Trevor is looking to record his first ever Sportsmen title and is 46 points ahead of 2018 Sportsmen Champion Howie Ware heading into Friday night’s 30 lap event. Also contesting a 30 lap feature will be the American Short Trackers. With the tightest point battle of the season, the AST division will crown its fourth first-time Champion in as many years. Veteran Tim Finstad has a one-point advantage over rookie Shawn Bowar with David Russell just eight points out of the lead and rookies Nick Schneider (-14) and Shawn Rickelman (-25) behind Finstad.
The RoadRunners and Bandit divisions will each have 25 lap feature events to conclude their seasons during NASCAR Night of Champions. Former Late Model driver Justin Wagner leads former Midwest Enduro standout Phil Speciale and 2016 RoadRunner Challenge Champion Jeff Allendorf heading into the RoadRunner Championship bout. Another driver in search of their first career Rockford Champions’ Coat is Cody Armato. Armato leads Erik Pearson by 19 points with the duo well ahead of third place point man Randall Sadler.
‘One Great Racing Weekend’ will feature three days of racing October 2-4. Main gates will open at 3pm on Friday 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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