Rockford Speedway
Encyclopedia
Rockford Speedway is a 1/4 mile short track high banked asphalt oval. It is located in the city of Loves Park
on Illinois Route 173
near Rockford
. Rockford Speedway is the only racetrack running under NASCAR
sanction in Illinois
.
It hosts weekly local-level events during the summer racing season as well as occasional regional- and national-level events. Notable special events at the track include trailer races, endurance races, the Spring Classic, ALl-Star 100, Bahama Bracket Nationals, and the National Short Track Championship.
venue. Despite a death in the pits at the speedway several weeks after opening, on June 16, 1948, the track continued operation. Rockford Speedway is known for being the first track to develop an economical late model
program as well as being an early adopter of the short track Saturday night racing program.
.
-sanctioned Whelen All-American Series
late model
race, along with All American Sportsmen, American Short Trackers and Road Runners. On Wednesday nights it hosts The Road Runner Super Summer Series, Bandits, Winged Women on wheels, Figure 8's
, Legends, Bandoleros,and spectacular drags.
). Joe Shear
(1967-1972) won six titles. Travis Kvapil
started racing at Rockford at age 16 and was the 1994 track champion in the American Short Tracker division. Rich Bickle
was the track's sportsman rookie of the year in 1980.
Several notable people started their racing careers at Rockford. NASCAR crew chief Chad Knaus
was his father's crew chief for his championship race car. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series official John Darby
got his start at Rockford in 1971 as an owner of a street stock. In 1976 he became crew chief for a late model that he owned which won the 1977 championship. He stopped owning the racecar in 1982 and became a track official. He moved up the NASCAR ranks as a technical official, and by 1994 he was the director for the NASCAR Busch Series (now Nationwide Series). After three years he was named the NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series director of competition.
Northern Division, and USAC
National Midget
s.
The track held its 45th annual national short track championship (NSTC) in 2010. The three day event had 12 divisions racing as of the 2007 championship. Track promoters decided to host the first 200 lap event in late 1966 to pit the best drivers in Chicagoland
against the best drivers in the Central Wisconsin Drivers Association. Drivers competing at the event are primarily from Illinois and Wisconsin, although drivers from other states often participate. The event was sanctioned by ARTGO
for several years, and it became part of the CRA Super Series
tour in 2004. In 2005, it was part of the ASA Late Model Series
. It was not part of any tour for several years until the ASA Midwest Tour
took over in 2011.
Joe Shear was the first driver to win eight NSTCs and Steve Carlson tied his record in 2011. Other multiple winners include Jeremy Lepak, Dick Trickle
, and Eddie Hoffman.
The first event was won by Wisconsin short track racer Trickle by a lap over Chicagoland stock-car champion Roy Martinelli. Trickle was billed as the winningest short track driver in history with estimates of his win total between 1,000 and 1,200 races. Years later, Trickle commented, "I really do treasure that one in 1966. There were a lot of behind-the-scenes things that went on there. Number one, I had never run outside my own backyard, you might say, which is the central Wisconsin area. I never ran somewhere except in my own little circuit, but I had won there. The first time I ever stepped out of the central Wisconsin area was to the Rockford Nationals in 1966."
Loves Park, Illinois
Loves Park is a city in Winnebago County, Illinois, United States. In recent years, the city spread across the eastern Winnebago county line and now reaches into Boone County, Illinois...
on Illinois Route 173
Illinois Route 173
Illinois Route 173 is an east–west state road that runs from Illinois Route 251 in the Rockford suburb of Machesney Park east to Illinois Route 137 in Zion near the Illinois-Wisconsin border; this is a distance of . Illinois Route 173 is also one of the northernmost east-west state highways...
near Rockford
Rockford, Illinois
Rockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Often referred to as "The Forest City", Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2010 U.S. census, the city was home to 152,871 people, the third most populated...
. Rockford Speedway is the only racetrack running under NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
sanction in Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
.
It hosts weekly local-level events during the summer racing season as well as occasional regional- and national-level events. Notable special events at the track include trailer races, endurance races, the Spring Classic, ALl-Star 100, Bahama Bracket Nationals, and the National Short Track Championship.
History
The track was built in 1947 by a farmer and group of investors. Hugh Deery eventually bought into the speedway and was the sole owner by 1966. It is run by his widow, Jody Deery (as of 1984). It opened in 1948 as a midget car racingMidget car racing
Midget cars, also Speedcars in Australia, are very small race cars with a very high power-to-weight ratio and typically use four-cylinder engines.-Cars:Typically, these cars have 300 to 400 horsepower and weigh...
venue. Despite a death in the pits at the speedway several weeks after opening, on June 16, 1948, the track continued operation. Rockford Speedway is known for being the first track to develop an economical late model
Late model
A "late model car" is a car which has been recently designed or manufactured, often the latest model. The term is broadly used in car racing, and often appears in common use, as in "The officer was driving an unmarked, late model sedan."There is no precise...
program as well as being an early adopter of the short track Saturday night racing program.
Track
The track is an asphalt-paved nominal 1/4 mile. The measured length of the track is 0.29167 mile (0.4693961978 km). It is highly banked at the turns and relatively flat on the front and back stretches. It is banked at 22 degrees in the 50 feet (15.2 m)-wide corners and 8 degrees in the 40 feet (12.2 m)-wide straightaways. Inside the 1/4 mile oval track is a Figure 8 trackFigure 8 racing
Figure 8 racing is a form of racing that combines elements of oval racing, demolition derby, and road racing.-Track:Racing is done on a track shaped like an 8. The cars cross paths at the center of the 8, which is known as the "crossover". Because of this layout, crashes are inevitable...
.
Weekly programs
The tracks offer two weekly programs during much of the season. On Saturdays it hosts a NASCARNASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
-sanctioned Whelen All-American Series
Whelen All-American Series
The Whelen All-American Series is a points championship for NASCAR sanctioned local racetracks around the United States and Canada....
late model
Late model
A "late model car" is a car which has been recently designed or manufactured, often the latest model. The term is broadly used in car racing, and often appears in common use, as in "The officer was driving an unmarked, late model sedan."There is no precise...
race, along with All American Sportsmen, American Short Trackers and Road Runners. On Wednesday nights it hosts The Road Runner Super Summer Series, Bandits, Winged Women on wheels, Figure 8's
Figure 8 racing
Figure 8 racing is a form of racing that combines elements of oval racing, demolition derby, and road racing.-Track:Racing is done on a track shaped like an 8. The cars cross paths at the center of the 8, which is known as the "crossover". Because of this layout, crashes are inevitable...
, Legends, Bandoleros,and spectacular drags.
Notable racers and participants
Track champions include seven-time champions Bobby Wilberg (1991, 1995 - 2000) and John Knaus (father of Hendrick Motorsports Crew Chief Chad KnausChad Knaus
Chad Anthony Knaus is the current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series crew chief for Jimmie Johnson. He is currently employed at Hendrick Motorsports. Knaus has 52 victories as Jimmie Johnson's crew chief and is the only NASCAR crew chief to win five consecutive championships. He has been a crew chief in...
). Joe Shear
Joe Shear
Joe Shear was an American racecar driver from Clinton, Wisconsin. He won an estimated 350 races in his career, including four of his last five races. Fred Nielsen, Shear's car owner from 1975 to 1984 and 1986 to 1994, said that his team won 250 races and he estimates that Shear won 600 races...
(1967-1972) won six titles. Travis Kvapil
Travis Kvapil
Travis Kvapil is an American race car driver. He currently drives for Front Row Motorsports in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.-Early career:...
started racing at Rockford at age 16 and was the 1994 track champion in the American Short Tracker division. Rich Bickle
Rich Bickle
Richard "Rich" Bickle, Jr. is a journeyman NASCAR driver. Bickle, who has never completed a full season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, has a long history in short track racing.-Early career:...
was the track's sportsman rookie of the year in 1980.
Several notable people started their racing careers at Rockford. NASCAR crew chief Chad Knaus
Chad Knaus
Chad Anthony Knaus is the current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series crew chief for Jimmie Johnson. He is currently employed at Hendrick Motorsports. Knaus has 52 victories as Jimmie Johnson's crew chief and is the only NASCAR crew chief to win five consecutive championships. He has been a crew chief in...
was his father's crew chief for his championship race car. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series official John Darby
John Darby (NASCAR official)
John Darby is an American motor racing official, currently serving as Managing Director of Competition Director of NASCAR. In this capacity, oversees the competition directors of the Sprint Cup Series , the NASCAR Nationwide Series, and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series...
got his start at Rockford in 1971 as an owner of a street stock. In 1976 he became crew chief for a late model that he owned which won the 1977 championship. He stopped owning the racecar in 1982 and became a track official. He moved up the NASCAR ranks as a technical official, and by 1994 he was the director for the NASCAR Busch Series (now Nationwide Series). After three years he was named the NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series director of competition.
Stock car special events
The track holds events in the ASA Midwest Series, Jeg'sCRA All-Star Tour, Must-See Xtemem Sprint Car Series, Mid American Stock Car Series events, Big 8 Limited Late Model Touring Series, monster trucks, and enduros. Series that held races at the track include: NASCAR RE/MAX Challenge Series, the Wisconsin Challenge Series, ASA Late Model SeriesASA Late Model Series
ASA Late Model Series is a nationally touring American stock car racing series. Founded by Ron Varney in 2003 as the "USPRO Cup Series" , it was renamed "ASA Late Model Series in when it was purchased by the American Speed Association in 2004...
Northern Division, and USAC
United States Automobile Club
The United States Auto Club is one of the sanctioning bodies of auto racing in the United States. From 1956 to 1979, the USAC sanctioned the United States National Championship, and from 1956 to 1997 the organization sanctioned the Indianapolis 500...
National Midget
Midget
A midget is a short person with relatively average bodily proportions in comparison with other human beings. The term is often improperly used to describe a person with the medical condition dwarfism. The two terms are often used synonymously because both terms originate as words defining small...
s.
National Short Track Championship
Chicagoland
The Chicago metropolitan area, or Chicagoland as it is commonly called within the area, is the metropolitan area associated with the city of Chicago, Illinois and its suburbs. It is the area that is closely linked to the city through social, economic, and cultural ties...
against the best drivers in the Central Wisconsin Drivers Association. Drivers competing at the event are primarily from Illinois and Wisconsin, although drivers from other states often participate. The event was sanctioned by ARTGO
ARTGO
The ARTGO Challenge Series was a United States midwest late model short track racing series that ran from 1975 until 1998. Many race car drivers have used the ARTGO series as a stepping stone to get into ASA, ARCA, and NASCAR. A guy by the name of Art Frigo created the series with the help of Bob...
for several years, and it became part of the CRA Super Series
CRA Super Series
The CRA Super Series is a Super Late Model stock car racing series owned and operated by the Champion Racing Association. It is a touring series based in the Midwest United States. It was formerly known as the Kendall Late Model Series and the Sunoco Super Series. The series utilizes late model...
tour in 2004. In 2005, it was part of the ASA Late Model Series
ASA Late Model Series
ASA Late Model Series is a nationally touring American stock car racing series. Founded by Ron Varney in 2003 as the "USPRO Cup Series" , it was renamed "ASA Late Model Series in when it was purchased by the American Speed Association in 2004...
. It was not part of any tour for several years until the ASA Midwest Tour
ASA Midwest Tour
The American Speed Association Kwik Trip Midwest Tour Presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment is a pavement Super Late Model Touring Series based in the Midwest United States...
took over in 2011.
Winners
Joe Shear was the first driver to win eight NSTCs and Steve Carlson tied his record in 2011. Other multiple winners include Jeremy Lepak, Dick Trickle
Dick Trickle
Richard "Dick" Trickle is a retired American race car driver. He raced for decades around the short tracks of Wisconsin, winning many championships along the way. Trickle has competed in the ASA, ARTGO, ARCA, All Pro, IMCA, NASCAR, and USAC.In more than an estimated 2,200 races, Trickle has logged...
, and Eddie Hoffman.
The first event was won by Wisconsin short track racer Trickle by a lap over Chicagoland stock-car champion Roy Martinelli. Trickle was billed as the winningest short track driver in history with estimates of his win total between 1,000 and 1,200 races. Years later, Trickle commented, "I really do treasure that one in 1966. There were a lot of behind-the-scenes things that went on there. Number one, I had never run outside my own backyard, you might say, which is the central Wisconsin area. I never ran somewhere except in my own little circuit, but I had won there. The first time I ever stepped out of the central Wisconsin area was to the Rockford Nationals in 1966."
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2011 | Steve Carlson |
| 2010 | Brett Sontag Brett Sontag Brett Sontag ; is a racecar driver from Joliet, Illinois. He competed in the American Speed Association National Tour and the NASCAR RE/MAX Challenge Series... |
| 2009 | Josh Nelms |
| 2008 | Josh Vadnais |
| 2007 | Jeremy Lepak |
| 2006 | Jeremy Lepak |
| 2005 | Eddie Hoffman |
| 2004 | Eddie Hoffman |
| 2003 | Ron Breese Jr. |
| 2002 | Steve Rubeck |
| 2001 | Eddie Hoffman |
| 2000 | Steve Carlson |
| 1999 | Steve Carlson |
| 1998 | Steve Carlson |
| 1997 | Joe Shear Joe Shear Joe Shear was an American racecar driver from Clinton, Wisconsin. He won an estimated 350 races in his career, including four of his last five races. Fred Nielsen, Shear's car owner from 1975 to 1984 and 1986 to 1994, said that his team won 250 races and he estimates that Shear won 600 races... |
| 1996 | Steve Carlson |
| 1995 | Steve Carlson |
| 1994 | Scott Hansen |
| 1993 | Steve Carlson |
| 1992 | Steve Carlson |
| 1991 | Butch Miller Butch Miller (racing driver) Butch Miller is a racecar driver. He drives the #07 Toyota Tundra part time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series on a limited basis, and is also a crew chief for SS-Green Light Racing. He is a multiple champion in the now-defunct American Speed Association stock car series... |
| 1990 | Rich Bickle Rich Bickle Richard "Rich" Bickle, Jr. is a journeyman NASCAR driver. Bickle, who has never completed a full season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, has a long history in short track racing.-Early career:... |
| 1989 | Tim Fedewa Tim Fedewa Tim Fedewa is a NASCAR driver and son of former race car driver Butch Fedewa. Tim is a spotter in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and currently spots for Marcos Ambrose.-Family:... |
| 1988 | John Ziegler |
| 1987 | Joe Shear Joe Shear Joe Shear was an American racecar driver from Clinton, Wisconsin. He won an estimated 350 races in his career, including four of his last five races. Fred Nielsen, Shear's car owner from 1975 to 1984 and 1986 to 1994, said that his team won 250 races and he estimates that Shear won 600 races... |
| 1986 | Mike Alexander Mike Alexander (NASCAR) Mike Alexander was an American racing driver. He won the NASCAR Weekly Series national championship in 1983. He also raced in Winston Cup and in the Busch Series.-Career before national racing:... |
| 1985 | Joe Shear Joe Shear Joe Shear was an American racecar driver from Clinton, Wisconsin. He won an estimated 350 races in his career, including four of his last five races. Fred Nielsen, Shear's car owner from 1975 to 1984 and 1986 to 1994, said that his team won 250 races and he estimates that Shear won 600 races... |
| 1984 | Al Schill, Sr. |
| 1983 | Joe Shear Joe Shear Joe Shear was an American racecar driver from Clinton, Wisconsin. He won an estimated 350 races in his career, including four of his last five races. Fred Nielsen, Shear's car owner from 1975 to 1984 and 1986 to 1994, said that his team won 250 races and he estimates that Shear won 600 races... |
| 1982 | Joe Shear Joe Shear Joe Shear was an American racecar driver from Clinton, Wisconsin. He won an estimated 350 races in his career, including four of his last five races. Fred Nielsen, Shear's car owner from 1975 to 1984 and 1986 to 1994, said that his team won 250 races and he estimates that Shear won 600 races... |
| 1981 | Junior Hanley |
| 1980 | Jim Sauter Jim Sauter (NASCAR) Jim Sauter is a former NASCAR race car driver from Necedah, Wisconsin.-Racing career:Sauter started racing in 1964 in a modified at Raceway Park in Savage, Minnesota. He moved up to late models the following year. Sauter moved to Wisconsin, and his career took off after he won the North Star 500... |
| 1979 | Dick Trickle Dick Trickle Richard "Dick" Trickle is a retired American race car driver. He raced for decades around the short tracks of Wisconsin, winning many championships along the way. Trickle has competed in the ASA, ARTGO, ARCA, All Pro, IMCA, NASCAR, and USAC.In more than an estimated 2,200 races, Trickle has logged... |
| 1978 | Dick Trickle Dick Trickle Richard "Dick" Trickle is a retired American race car driver. He raced for decades around the short tracks of Wisconsin, winning many championships along the way. Trickle has competed in the ASA, ARTGO, ARCA, All Pro, IMCA, NASCAR, and USAC.In more than an estimated 2,200 races, Trickle has logged... |
| 1977 | Mark Martin |
| 1976 | Dave Watson |
| 1975 | Joe Shear Joe Shear Joe Shear was an American racecar driver from Clinton, Wisconsin. He won an estimated 350 races in his career, including four of his last five races. Fred Nielsen, Shear's car owner from 1975 to 1984 and 1986 to 1994, said that his team won 250 races and he estimates that Shear won 600 races... |
| 1974 | Joe Shear Joe Shear Joe Shear was an American racecar driver from Clinton, Wisconsin. He won an estimated 350 races in his career, including four of his last five races. Fred Nielsen, Shear's car owner from 1975 to 1984 and 1986 to 1994, said that his team won 250 races and he estimates that Shear won 600 races... |
| 1973 | Mike Miller |
| 1972 | Joe Shear Joe Shear Joe Shear was an American racecar driver from Clinton, Wisconsin. He won an estimated 350 races in his career, including four of his last five races. Fred Nielsen, Shear's car owner from 1975 to 1984 and 1986 to 1994, said that his team won 250 races and he estimates that Shear won 600 races... |
| 1971 | Bill Retallick |
| 1970 | Wayne Stallsworth |
| 1969 | Ramo Stott Ramo Stott Ramo Stott is a retired American stock car driver from Keokuk, Iowa. He competed in NASCAR Winston Cup, USAC stock car, and ARCA.-USAC:... |
| 1968 | William "Whitey" Gerken |
| 1967 | Marlin "Shoes" Walbeck |
| 1966 | Dick Trickle Dick Trickle Richard "Dick" Trickle is a retired American race car driver. He raced for decades around the short tracks of Wisconsin, winning many championships along the way. Trickle has competed in the ASA, ARTGO, ARCA, All Pro, IMCA, NASCAR, and USAC.In more than an estimated 2,200 races, Trickle has logged... |