Posted by Rockford Speedway on 4/11/2005, 11:39 am
Board Administrator

The 58th season opened at Rockford Speedway with a former track champion, first-time winner and the oldest driver racing taking home feature wins. Bobby Wilberg, the seven-time track champion returned to the weekly show and quickly showed that he hasn’t forgotten to race the quarter-mile oval. Wilberg started on the pole of the Coca Cola 30-lap feature and dominated the event. Defending track champion, Ricky Bilderback challenged Wilberg early but slipped back when his car got loose coming off of turn two on lap 12. Wilberg opened up a two-car length lead and went on to his first checkered flag of the season. With the new format, the top three will be starting further back in the field and Wilberg was asked about his feelings on it, “It really don’t effect me or Ricky (Bilderback), we are used to coming from the back. It will probably put on a better show for the fans.” Gene Maracco started his 65th birthday celebration by winning the Coca Cola Road Runner 20-lap feature. Maracco and David Lignell lead the field to the green flag. Lignell jumped out to the early lead. Maracco sat in second until two laps to go when he made his move to the inside going into turn one to take over the top spot. Maracco turned 65 on April 10th. Randy Samples took home his first ever feature win in the Budweiser American Short Tracker division. Samples started on the pole for the Coca-Cola 20-lap feature event. Samples along with Jason Bragg took off to a 20-car length lead over the rest of the field. With seven laps to go, Samples and Bragg got loose in turns one and two. Samples kept going while Bragg spun. His spin didn’t bring a caution, but two laps later Jason Evans and Tim Steger got together while entering turn one. Evans had front-end cosmetic damage and was able to continue. With three laps to go, Dave Eggert made contact with the wall in turns one and two that brought out the final caution. But the night belonged to Samples who cruised to his first ever feature win. “I love it. The guys busted their butts all winter long, worked hard on this car and did a great job.” An excited Samples said in victory lane. Full racing program returns to the Rockford Speedway next Saturday night along with the Legends, Bandeleros, and Supercup divisions with their heat races starting at 6:30 p.m. Also, bring your 20 oz. Coca Cola bottle for $2 off admission. For more information, please visit the track’s website at www.rockfordspeedway.com or call the track office at (815) 633-1500. 4/9/2005 - Rockford Speedway Results... &n bsp; NASCAR American Short Trackers A-Main 01 -- 1. Randy Samples, Rockton; 2. Donald Russell, Loves Park; 3. Steve Cavin, South Beloit; 4. Jason Evans, Loves Park; 5. Nick Cina, Jr, Loves Park; 6. Aaron Rude, Cambridge, Wis; 7. Jason Bragg, Rockford; 8. Tim Steger, Rockford; 9. Jack Atchison, Stillman Valley; 10. Larry Dickinson II, Rockford; 11. David Eggert, Loves Park; 12. Dave Wagner, Roscoe; 13. Boyce (BJ) Sparkman, Machesney Park. Heat 01 -- 1. Donald Russell, Loves Park; 2. Randy Samples, Rockton; 3. Jack Atchison, Stillman Valley; 4. Aaron Rude, Cambridge, Wis; 5. David Eggert, Loves Park; 6. Larry Dickinson II, Rockford. Heat 02 -- 1. Nick Cina, Jr, Loves Park; 2. Jason Evans, Loves Park; 3. Jason Bragg, Rockford; 4. Steve Cavin, South Beloit; 5. Tim Steger, Rockford; 6. Boyce (BJ) Sparkman, Machesney Park. NASCAR Late Models A-Main 01 -- 1. Bob Wilberg, Orfordville, Wis; 2. Ricky Bilderback, Rockton; 3. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Roscoe; 4. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 5. Bob Kahler, Belvidere; 6. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 7. Bill Hobson, Roscoe; 8. Chad Misslich, Rockford. Heat 01 -- 1. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Roscoe; 2. Ricky Bilderback, Rockton; 3. Bob Wilberg, Orfordville, Wis; 4. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 5. Bob Kahler, Belvidere; 6. Bill Hobson, Roscoe; 7. Chad Misslich, Rockford; 8. Matt Berger, Loves Park. NASCAR Road Runners A-Main 01 -- 1. Gene Marocco, Machesney Park; 2. David Lignell, Rockford; 3. Dan Sander, Rockton; 4. Pat Smith, Loves Park; 5. Billy Robinson, Orfordville, Wis; 6. Wanda Dobbs, Rockton; 7. Joshua Lundy, Rockford; 8. Terrance Robinson, South Beloit; 9. Tom Flippo, Jr., Byron; 10. Ricky Weimerskirk, Rockford; 11. Chad Smith, Poplar Grove; 12. Randy VonHaden, Rockford; 13. Duane Lounsbury, Beloit, Wis; 14. Jerry Mesch, Rockford; 15. Ricky Nielsen, Rockford; 16. Derek Nichol, Roscoe; 17. Jerry Jackson, Machesney Park; 18. Greg Pruitt, Rockford; 19. Robert Bielefeldt, Machesney Park; 20. Dennis Smith, Jr, Beloit, Wis; 21. Gilbert Brewer, Belvidere. B-Main 01 -- 1. Billy Robinson, Orfordville, Wis; 2. Derek Nichol, Roscoe; 3. Ricky Nielsen, Rockford; 4. Randy VonHaden, Rockford; 5. Duane Lounsbury, Beloit, Wis; 6. Greg Pruitt, Rockford; 7. Gilbert Brewer, Belvidere; 8. Jerry Mesch, Rockford; 9. Jerry Jackson, Machesney Park; 10. Chad Smith, Poplar Grove; 11. Robert Bielefeldt, Machesney Park; 12. Ricky Weimerskirk, Rockford; 13. Cory Teran, Machesney Park. Heat 01 -- 1. Pat Smith, Loves Park; 2. Gilbert Brewer, Belvidere; 3. Wanda Dobbs, Rockton; 4. Tom Flippo, Jr., Byron; 5. Derek Nichol, Roscoe; 6. Randy VonHaden, Rockford; 7. Steve Hillary, Machesney Park; 8. Greg Pruitt, Rockford; 9. Kyle Rogers, Machesney Park; 10. Robert Bielefeldt, Machesney Park. Heat 02 -- 1. Gene Marocco, Machesney Park; 2. Dan Sander, Rockton; 3. Chad Smith, Poplar Grove; 4. Billy Robinson, Orfordville, Wis; 5. Joshua Lundy, Rockford; 6. Duane Lounsbury, Beloit, Wis; 7. Jerry Jackson, Machesney Park; 8. Jerry Mesch, Rockford; 9. Gina Vanek-Davies, Janesville, Wis. Heat 03 -- 1. David Lignell, Rockford; 2. Ricky Weimerskirk, Rockford; 3. Terrance Robinson, South Beloit; 4. Ricky Nielsen, Rockford; 5. Dennis Smith, Jr, Beloit, Wis; 6. Dan Carlson, Rockford; 7. Cory Teran, Machesney Park. Challenge 01 -- 1. Pat Smith, Loves Park; 2. Jerry Jackson, Machesney Park; 3. Jerry Mesch, Rockford; 4. Dennis Smith, Jr, Beloit, Wis.