Posted by Rockford Speedway on 10/3/2005, 12:50 pm
Board Administrator

NOBLE CAPTURES BIG 8 FEATURE WIN AT NSTC By: Kevin Ramsell Friday, September 23, 2005 (Loves Park, IL) - Tim Noble picked up one of the biggest wins in his career by capturing the Big 8 Series feature during the National Short Track Championships at the Rockford Speedway. BJ Sparkman, Matt Lundberg, Wanda Dobbs, Shawn Stringer, and Charlie Frisch also captured feature wins. Jason Schuler grabbed the early lead in the 58-lap main event for the Big 8 Series. On lap 5, Tony Bagstad and Chad Stevens made contact coming off turn two causing a melee on the backstretch. Steve Dobratz, Bob Kahler, Kyle Melvin, Dexter Bean and Rick Corso were involved. Jon Reynolds Jr and Mike Beyer made contact in turn four causing Beyer to spin to bring out the second caution on lap 8. Four laps later, the third caution flew for Kyle Melvin's spin in turn four. It was a great battle up front between Schuler and Matt Berger. Berger tried many times to get on the inside of Schuler, but was able to hold him off. Ricky Bilderback moved from his 12th starting spot to fourth by lap 32. On lap 45, Ryan Carlson spun in turns one and two to bring out the fourth caution. This bunched up the field for the final 13 laps. As the field came to green, Nick Shutkis and Bagstad got together in turn three. Bagstad had heavy damage and was done for the night. Stevens was also involved. On the re-start, Berger got on the inside of Schuler for the lead. The two came off of turn four and the two made heavy contact. Berger right front was ripped off but inherited the lead. Schuler spun in turn two to bring out the caution. During the caution, Big 8 officials gave Berger the consultation flag for his loose right front. This gave the lead to Tim Noble with Bilderback in second. Noble and Bilderback put on a great side-by-side battle for the final ten laps. At the checkers, it was Noble at the line over Bilderback. Reynolds Jr. recovered for a third place finish. Gille and Dennis Schmidt rounded out the top five. BJ Sparkman added his name to the long list of NSTC American Short Tracker winners, but it wasn't an easy task to accomplish. Dave Wagner grabbed the lead at the green flag of the 40-lap event. The best battle was for second between Steve Allman, George Sparkman, Nick Cina Jr., BJ Sparkman, and Aaron Rude. The five could be covered with a blanket. On lap 18, Nick Cina Jr. and George Sparkman made contact in turns three and four. Both spun and a melee ensued on the front stretch. Six cars were involved in the wreck including Cina and George Sparkman. BJ Sparkman, Allman, Rude, and Randy Samples were also involved. Cina, Rude and BJ Sparkman were able to continue. Wagner continued to lead on the re-start. BJ started shotgun on the field and he proved to the fans in attendance that he was on a mission. On lap 25, BJ worked his way up to the third position. Two laps later, he got on the inside of Mike Drays for second and then challenged Wagner for the lead. A lap later, BJ took over the lead. He would go on to his first ever NSTC American Short Tracker win. Wagner was able to hold on to second over Mike Drays. Jason Bragg and Bill Hobson rounded out the top five. Matt Lundberg captured the 40-lap Grand National feature win. Bob Hansberry grabbed the lead in the early part of the event. Lundberg started fourth and by lap 9, he got past Doug Bennett for second. Kyle Taylor started sixth and by lap 12, he was up to 3rd. Hansberry, Taylor and Lundberg battled for the top spot throughout the event. With 10 laps to go, Taylor got on the inside of Hansberry. The two came out of turn two and made contact. Both then went hard into the backstretch wall. Both were all right, but done for the evening. Lundberg took over the top spot and went on to collect his first NSTC feature win. Bennett came home second with Jeremy Wolff third. Fred Nason and Brock Behnke rounded out the top five. Charlie Frisch captured the 40-lap RoadRunner feature event. Brad Warthan and Derek Dobbs battled for the top spot in the early going of the event. Warthan would take over the spot on lap 5. The only caution flew on lap 9 when Rick Anderson spun in turn two and collected Greg Pruitt. On the re-start, Dave Lignell went on to challenge for the lead over Warthan. On lap 11, Lignell would take over the top spot. Lignell would lead until lap 25 when Frisch got on the inside of Lignell and quickly took over the top spot. Frisch would pull away to the win with Lignell in second. Warthan would come home third with Adam Moore in fourth. Jason Van Hise would round out the top five. Dobbs captured her third NSTC Winged Women on Wheels feature win. Amy Flippo grabbed the early lead in the 24-lap event over an early side-by-side battle with Jennifer Erickson. The only caution flew on lap 6 when Kelly Barclay got loose coming off of turn four and clipped Erickson and Cher Bryant. All three made contact with the inside wall. All were able to continue. Flippo continued to lead on the re-start. Dobbs went on the inside of Flippo to challenge for the top spot on lap 7. A lap later Dobbs took over the top spot. With four laps to go, Flippo caught up to Dobbs and challenged for the lead on the last lap, but Dobbs was able to hold off for the win. Vachenzia Jester came home third with Tammy Hawkins and Bryant rounding out the top five. Shawn Stringer captured the 25-lap Midwest Modified feature. Eddie Bentfield grabbed the early lead in the event. On lap 6, Stringer moved from his third starting position to challenge for the top spot. He would go on to hold off Chad Willett for the feature win. Ron Morris came home third with Jason Feyereisen and Bentfield rounding out the top five. The 40th Annual National Short Track Championships continue on Saturday, September 24th with feature races in the Area Sportsman, Northern Late Models, and Hobby Stocks. Plus, their will be qualifying races for the CRA Super Series, ASA Late Models, Mid-American Stock cars, and Mid-American Trucks. Nason?s Landscaping "Faster Than a Speeding Bullet" qualifying starts at 2:30 p.m. followed by a FREE Open Pit Party until 6:00 p.m. The racing action will start at 6:36 p.m.