Posted by Rockford Speedway on 9/6/2005, 10:39 am
Board Administrator

KAHLER, NASON, BRIDGES, NIELSEN WIN AT ROCKFORD By: Kevin Ramsell Saturday, September 03, 2005 (Loves Park, IL) - Bob Kahler, Fred Nason, Frank Bridges and Rick Nielsen captured feature wins at the Rockford Speedway. Kahler posted his first feature win of the season in the NASCAR Late Model division. Kahler battled with Chad Misslich for the lead at the beginning of the 30-lap event. Kahler would grab the spot on lap 3. Ricky Bilderback moved to second on lap 5. Bilderback would catch up to Kahler at the halfway mark of the event. Bilderback made four attempts to go on the inside of Kahler to take over the top spot. The last attempt came on the final lap as Bilderback got on the inside of Kahler coming off of turn two. But Kahler would hold off Bilderback for the win. Jerry Gille had a great run to finish third. Jon Reynolds Jr. was fourth with Kyle Melvin rounding out the top five. Kahler dedicated his win to his late father, who passed away earlier this year. Nason went home with the NASCAR Grand National feature win. Hansberry and Ron Young battled for the lead at the wave of the green flag. Hansberry would pull away from Young in his Barracuda. Hansberry would pull away to capture his win. Young held off a hard charging Fred Nason to finish second. Both Hansberry and Young failed post-race inspection to give Nason the win. Bridges won his first feature of the season in the Budweiser American Short Tracker division. Bridges and Keith Pierce battled for the top spot early in the 25-lap feature event. Bridges would pull away from Pierce to take over the top spot. Bridges would go on to hold off Aaron Rude to win his first ever feature win. Current Point Leader, BJ Sparkman was third. Dave Wagner and Randy Samples rounded out the top five. Nielsen won another feature in the RoadRunner division. It took three attempts to get the 20-lap feature event going. Steven Penn grabbed the early lead, but he brought out the first official caution when he spun in turns one and two causing a six-car accident. Kelly Barclay inherited the lead at the re-start. Rick Nielsen moved from his fourth starting position to challenge for the top spot on lap 4. The two raced side-by-side until Nielsen took over the top spot on lap 8. Nielsen would go on to win the event with Dennis Smith Jr. second. Kris Nilson had a strong run to finish third. Gene Marocco and David Lignell rounded out the top five. A special thanks goes to Douglas Fry Motorsports who initially donated $100 towards the relief efforts in the Gulf area from Hurricane Katrina. The Rockford Speedway fans then showed their support by donating over $1,300. RoadRunner driver, Derek Nichol, also invited fans to sign the hood of his car for a donation. Nichol did state than an anonymous donor would match whatever is donated at the track. YellowBook presents Monday Funday on Labor Day Monday with the racing action starting at 12:30 p.m. The Coca-Cola RoadRunners, Figure 8, Winged Women on Wheels, Hornets, Legends, Bandoleros, Super Cup and FIRA will be in action. Plus, the fans will get their chance to participate in Spectacular Drags. Next Saturday night, Budweiser and LaMonica Beverages present NASCAR Championship Night. Champions will be crowned in the NASCAR Late Model, NASCAR Grand National, Budweiser American Short Trackers and Coca-Cola RoadRunner divisions along with a Heroes Tribute. Racing action begins at 7:07 p.m. The 40th Annual National Short Track Championships will take place on September 22-25, 2005 at the Rockford Speedway. Advance tickets are on sale now. There will be 15 divisions racing with over 1,000 laps of feature action. For more information, please call the track office at (815) 633-1500 or visit the track?s website at www.rockfordspeedway.com.