Posted by Rockford Speedway on 7/1/2005, 10:46 am
Board Administrator

BEHNKE, LIGNELL, MAYBERRY & KIEFER WIN AT ROCKFORD By: Kevin Ramsell Wednesday, June 29, 2005 (Rockford, IL) - Mother Nature made an attempt to take over the Full Throttle Wednesday racing program. But the showers ended to early and it allowed Dave Behnke, Dave Lignell, Jack Mayberry and Chad Kiefer to drive home with feature wins. Dave Behnke captured the feature win in the Grand National division. Behnke started on the pole and led all the way. But it was not an easy drive for him. Current point leader, Travis Eldridge started on the outside of the front row and tried to challenge for the lead. But, Behnke ran a consistent race that no one could get alongside to challenge. Matt Lundberg moved from his sixth starting position to second by lap 14. Lundberg caught the tail of Behnke with 9 laps to go. Lundberg tried as many times as he was allowed to get a good run on the inside of Behnke for the lead. But Behnke's car was running very well on the outside and was able to hold off Lundberg for the win. Dave Lignell gave the fans something to cheer about as the current point leader took home the feature win in the Coca Cola RoadRunner division. Chad Smith took the early lead in the 20-lap feature event and was quickly challenged by Lignell on the second lap. The only caution flew on lap 3 for debris in turns one and two. Smith continued to lead on the re-start. On lap 5, Lignell got on the inside of Smith to battle for the lead. The two raced side-by-side for the final 15 laps. But the race would not come down to Lignell and Smith. Dan Carlson patiently worked his way towards the front. By lap 14, he was up to 4th place. With three laps to go, Carlson made it three wide for the lead for the last three laps. When the three came of turn four on the final lap, it was Lignell who made the leap to the finish line first. Carlson was second and Smith was third. Because Lignell is the point leader and won the feature, all fans in attendance were getting half price chicken at the Rockford area Popeye's Chicken and Biscuits. Carlson?s car failed to past post race inspection and was disqualified for the evening. Sherry Dillavou captured the first Winged Women on Wheels 15-lap feature event. Natasha Hillary had the lead in the early going. But it wasn't long before Dillavou, Vachenzia Jester and Shonna Frisch made it to the top three and competed for the top spot. Dillavou and Jester raced side-by-side for the top spot in the remaining four laps. Dillavou was able to hold off Jester for the win. Dillavou's car, along with Amy Flippo's, failed post race inspection and was disqualified for the evening In the second feature, Jester started sixth and it didn't take long for her to make it to the front. By lap 3, she was already into third place with Frisch in the lead. Two laps later, Jester got on the inside of Frisch coming off of turn four to take the lead. Jester would go on to win the second feature. Jester was also the overall winner for the WWOW division. Jack Mayberry held off "The Sheriff" Chris Gantz to win the Figure 8 feature. Mayberry took the lead from Jerry Mesch on the second lap. Gantz did everything he could to catch up to Mayberry, but ran out of laps. It was Mayberry?s second straight feature win. Chad Keifer took home the 13-lap Hornet Swarm. Jonathan Carsey took the early lead. Keifer battled his way to the top spot by lap 7. Keifer held off the balance of the field to take home an exciting win. It?s a big weekend at the Rockford Speedway. On Saturday, July 2nd it's Instant Jungle Night at the races with the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series along with the RoadRunner Flagpole race and a 10,000-WATT Fireworks Extravaganza. On Sunday, July 3rd, Villani's Specialty Auto Parts presents America?s Birthday Bash with the Grand Nationals, Winged Women on Wheels, Hornets, Figure 8, Spectacular Drags plus a 10,000-WATT Fireworks Extravaganza. And on Monday, July 4th, Gilley's Heating and Air Conditioning presents Monday Funday @ Night with the NASCAR Late Models, RoadRunners, Legends, Bandoleros, Super Cup, FIRA and Paul Revere's Midnight Ride plus a 10,000-WATT Fireworks Extravaganza. Racing each night begins at 7:07 p.m. For more information, please visit the track's website at www.rockfordspeedway.com or call the track?s office at (815) 633-1500.