Feature Notebook:

Lap 168 – Apel spins in four. Johnson still leads.

Lap 155 – Apel and Nason battling for the lead. Two make contact off of four, Apel spins, both to the rear.  Johnson takes over the lead.

On the restart on lap 137, Landry Potter, Alex Prunty and James Swan tangle on the backstretch.  Swan went off on the flatbed.  Prunty drove to the pits and Potter continued.

Still under caution on lap 137.  One to go to restart and Jon Reynolds Jr’s motor makes a weird sound.  He pulls off the track. Apel will take over the lead.

Lots of shuffling around in the top five. Reynolds leads when the caution flies on lap 133 for Rob Braun & Jim Olson’s tangle in turn four.  Reynolds leads Apel, Nason, Johnson and Prunty.

Back to green, Reynolds continues to lead.  Caution flies on lap 102 when Josh Nelms gets sideways in turn three in front of Trent Snyder.  Both continue, Dana Czach was collected and had some right front damage.

At the halfway break, Reynolds has led all the way. Alex Prunty is second with Casey Johnson in third.  Austin Nason is third and Steve Apel rounds out the top five.

Lap 78 – Michael Bilderback and Casey Johnson are battling for third with Johnson on the inside.  The two appear to make contact, with Bilderback hitting the wall.  Staying green, but Bilderback to the pits with possible rear end issue.

72 laps complete when the second caution flies for Jim Olson’s spin in turns one and two. Top five: Reynolds, Prunty, Bilderback, Nason, and Johnson.

First caution on lap 39 for Mike White’s spin.  Reynolds leads Apel, Prunty, Nason, Johnson and Bilderback.

Pre-Feature Notebook: 

Jim Olson’s car was qualified by Bobby Wilberg and Larry Schuler’s was qualified by Ricky Baker on Saturday.  Both of their cars will make up the sixth row due to the driver’s change.  Originally, there was going to be qualifier and last chance races on Saturday, but due to the weather, those were cancelled.

Johnson rolled a one for an invert of five for today’s race.

Starting Lineup:

1	89	Ryan Ferrell
2	51	Steve Apel
3	89m	Brad JJ Mueller
4	x	Jon Reynolds Jr.
5	5	Casey Johnson
6	11	Alex Prunty
7	45	Trent Snyder
8	14	Austin Nason
9	0	Josh Nelms
10	97	James Swan
11	24	Jim Olson
12	30	Larry Schuler
13	66	Landry Potter
14	2	Michael Bilderback
15	28	Jake Finney
16	50	Jake Gille
17	33	Dana Czach
18	20	Danny Church Jr.
19	4	Robert Maynor
20	00	Mike White
21	13	Mikie Breiner
22	98	Rob Braun

 

Time Trial Results: 

1	5	Casey Johnson	12.967
2	x	Jon Reynolds Jr.	12.977
3	89m	Brad JJ Mueller	12.986
4	24	Jim Olson	13.004
5	51	Steve Apel	13.103
6	89	Ryan Ferrell	13.126
7	30	Larry Schuler	13.151
8	11	Alex Prunty	13.191
9	45	Trent Snyder	13.205
10	14	Austin Nason	13.209
11	0	Josh Nelms	13.237
12	97	James Swan	13.25
13	66	Landry Potter	13.259
14	2	Michael Bilderback	13.292
15	28	Jake Finney	13.296
16	50	Jake Gille	13.315
17	33	Dana Czach	13.393
18	20	Danny Church Jr.	13.416
19	4	Robert Maynor	13.443
20	0	Mike White	13.498
21	40	Curt Tillman	13.636
22	40	Curt Tillman	18.58
23	45	Trent Snyder	21.023
24	13	Mikie Breiner	99.999
25	12	Brad Kossow	99.999
26	98	Rob Braun	99.999

 

Car Count: 26

 

Entry List: 

00	Mike White	Monee, IL
0	Josh Nelms	Lockport, IL
2	Michael Bilderback	South Beloit, IL
4	Robert Maynor	Hartland, WI
5	Casey Johnson	Edgerton, WI
X	Jon Reynolds Jr.	Loves Park, IL
11	Alex Prunty	Lomira, WI
12	Brad Kossow	Union Grove, WI
13	Mikie Breiner	Johnsburg, IL
14	Austin Nason	Roscoe, IL
20	Danny Church Jr.	Williams Bay, WI
24	Jim Olson	Harvard, IL
28	Jake Finney	Sycamore, IL
30	Larry Schuler	Minooka, IL
33	Dana Czach	West Chicago, IL
40	Curt Tillman	Rockton, IL
45	Trent Snyder	Glen Ellyn, IL
50	Jake Gille	Winnebago, IL
66	Landry Potter	Genoa City, WI
89	Ryan Ferrell	East Troy, WI
89m	Brad JJ Mueller	Random Lake, WI
97	James Swan	Lake Geneva, WI
98	Rob Braun	Wales, WI
51	Steve Apel	Milwaukee, WI

 

Qualifying Format: Qualifying was held on Saturday with the best of two laps.

 

Event Schedule: 

Noon – Autograph session

12:40pm – Opening Ceremonies

1:00pm – Racing

Who to Watch For: Jon Reynolds Jr. is the defending winner after he and Casey Johnson had a spirited battle last year.  Brad JJ Mueller is still looking for his first NSTC win.  Current Kulwicki Driver Development point leader Alex Prunty is making his Rockford debut.  Trent Snyder is looking for another big victory at Rockford Speedway.

 

The Track: Rockford Speedway is a quarter-mile oval located north of downtown Rockford, IL.  It is in its 69th consecutive year of operation.

 

Weather: Temps in the 60’s with partly cloudy skies.

 

 

What Won the Race: Casey Johnson inherited the lead after Steve Apel and Austin Nason tangle while battling for the lead with 45 laps to go.  Apel and Nason made contact off of turn four causing Apel to spin on the front stretch.  Both recovered where Nason finished second and Apel was third.

 

The Finish: 

1	5	Casey Johnson
2	14	Austin Nason
3	51	Steve Apel
4	89m	Brad JJ Mueller
5	0	Josh Nelms
6	28	Jake Finney
7	33	Dana Czach
8	98	Rob Braun
9	45	Trent Snyder
10	4	Robert Maynor
11	24	Jim Olson
12	13	Mikie Breiner
13	66	Landry Potter
14	2	Michael Bilderback
15	11	Alex Prunty
16	30	Larry Schuler
17	97	James Swan
18	x	Jon Reynolds Jr.
19	20	Danny Church Jr.
20	00	Mike White
21	89	Ryan Ferrell
22	50	Jake Gille

 

Winning Quote: “It’s unbelievable. Usually this weekend takes a lot of luck.  These races are rough races and you just have to keep your head in there and be there in the end,” Johnson said.  “We were there at the end. We didn’t have the best car in either races but inherited the lead and able to hang on.”

 

On the Move: Rob Braun had limited practice time and started shotgun on the field.  He survived to finish eighth.

 

Biggest Loser: Michael Bilderback had a tough weekend.  He had a strong car in the early going until tagging the wall and loss many laps.

 

Speed Central: National Short Track Championships at Rockford (IL)