By: Eric Huenefeld
The year was 2007. George W Bush was still President, Apple released the first IPhone and the Big 8 Late Model Series presented by Gandrud Chevrolet made its first trip to Dells Raceway Park.
On that sweltering Tuesday evening in June, rookie Matt Byrne was quick qualifier, while eventual Series champion Ricky Bilderback made a late race move on Mike Lloyd to score his only Big 8 Series win in the 58 lap race.
Seven years later, the ‘Best Weekly Warriors in the Country’ are finally set to make their return to the central Wisconsin speed plant for a date this Friday night July 4 as part of the ‘North American Cup’ Racing Weekend!
Friday night’s tilt features another strong list of entrants including defending Dells Raceway Park (DRP) champion Nick Nolden. Nolden, who won more features than anyone else last season at DRP, has already pocketed three wins at his home track this year. Other local favorites joining Nolden on the entry list include former DRP track champions Rich Schumann Jr, Mike Ehde and ‘Rocketman’ Dan Lensing, who currently sits sixth in Big 8 point standings.
No driver may be riding more momentum into the weekend’s race at DRP than ‘Driver X’ Jon Reynolds Jr. Last Friday night, Reynolds captured his eighth career Big 8 Series trophy, leading every lap of the ‘Salute to America 48’ at Madison International Speedway. The following night, Reynolds went from 20th to 1st on his way to victory in Rockford Speedway’s ‘Star Spangled 76’, pocketing nearly $2100 for his efforts. Reynolds, the 2006 Big 8 Series champion, made a big move in the series points last weekend and another solid run would put him in the conversation for the Big 8 point lead.
Speaking of momentum, defending Big 8 Series champion Casey Johnson will be at DRP Friday night. Johnson, fresh off a feature win last Saturday at Jefferson Speedway, is looking for his second Big 8 win of the year. Teenager Austin Nason, runner up in current Big 8 standings and defending Jefferson Speedway track champion Dale Nottestad, also will be part of the star-studded field Friday night in the Dells.
Other drivers to watch this Friday night include current Elko Speedway point leader ‘Cruiser’ Chris Marek, two-time LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway champion J Herbst, 2012 Big 8 Series Rookie of the Year Jesse Bernhagen, 2011 Slinger Speedway champion ‘Insane’ Wayne Freimund and John DeAngelis Jr, who is currently third in DRP point standings and ninth in Big 8 Series standings.
Spectator gates open Friday at 4 PM, with Quartermaster Time Trials set to begin at 5:15 PM. A complete program of Big 8 racing begins at 7:15 PM, along with the opening night of racing for the ‘Bandit Summer Nationals’. Adult admissions in $15, seniors (ages 65+) are $13, Students (ages 10-15) are $7 while Kids 9 and under are admitted FREE!
For more information on Dells Raceway Park and the North American Cup, please visit www.dellsracewaypark.com.
For more information in the Big 8 Late Model Series presented by Gandrud Chevrolet, please visit www.big8series.com.
Big 8 Late Model Series
Expected Entries (36 as of 8 AM 7/3/14)
‘North American Cup’
Dells Raceway Park
Friday July 4 2014
2- Shayne Poehnelt
2- Tim Sargent
3- Chris Marek
03- Cody Kippenhan
5- Casey Johnson
5- Dave Edwards
7- John DeAngelis Jr
9- Tony Brutti
X- Jon Reynolds Jr
14- Austin Nason
15- Michael Clapper
16- Luke Westenberg
17- Eric Connell
17- Gregg Pawelski
17- Jon Lemke
18- Mike Ehde
19- Dan Lensing
21- Shane Morrissey
23- Casey Strese
27- Collin Olson
28- Jesse Bernhagen
29- Garrett Goodwin
37- Mike Meyerhofer
46- Tom Jasinski
50- Jake Gille
51-Dale Nottestad
52- Steve Dobbratz
55- Craig Phillips
57- Mark English
67- Nick Nolden
71- Morgan Schissel
82- J Herbst
88- Mark Miller
88- Ken Jacoby
93- John Beinlich
95.3- Wayne Freimund