Category: Results

Story By: Adam Glatczak

Jon Reynolds, Jr.’s 2018 trip to State Park Speedway was a lot like
his 2014 visit to the track.

In both trips, the number 10 figured heavily into the equation, maybe
all too appropriate for the Loves Park, Ill., racer known as Driver X.
More importantly, the final results were a success both times for
Reynolds, including Friday night when he won the 58-lap Big 8 Late
Models feature, highlighting the first night of the 38th annual Larry
Detjens Memorial at the track.

Reynolds came from starting 10th in the field, took the lead from
Michael Ostdiek on lap 32 and pulled away to win by a full
straightaway over Ostdiek and the field for his second Big 8 win in
the series’ seven visits to State Park Speedway. It also was the 12th
Big 8 feature win all-time for Reynolds, who is one victory behind
leaders Michael Bilderback and Jeremy Miller for series honors.

“I don’t know if you believe in numbers or not,” said Reynolds to
track announcer Curt Keene in victory lane after the race, “but in
2014 when we won here, we parked in pit stall number 10, we won the
heat and we won the feature. Today we pitted in pit stall number 10,
we won the heat and we won the feature.”

The pass that would decide the race’s eventual winner didn’t come
easily for Reynolds. He got inside Ostdiek on the backstretch on the
32nd circuit and cleared him quickly as Ostdiek backed off in the
corner in an attempt to cross over underneath Reynolds himself.

Reynolds was not fazed, but Ostdiek was not finished, either. The 2016
winner of the Big 8’s trip to the track got into the back of Reynolds
two laps later in turns three and four, causing both cars to get
loose. Reynolds saved his car from spinning, and Grant Brown briefly
made his way all the way up to second, sneaking past Ostdiek.

Brown and Ostdiek would battle for second for the next 14 laps,
including getting side-by-side on two different occasions. That was
good news for Reynolds, who worked lapped traffic and drove away from
the rest of the leaders to build a big lead he never relinquished.

The race’s opening stages were dominated by Nick Egan, who started on
the pole and led the first 19 laps convincingly. Egan showed strength
while pulling away after the first restart, but was never the same
after the second restart. He drifted up the track on the second and
was passed by Ostdiek on lap 20, and soon faded back to fifth before
being involved in a tangle with Rayce Haase on lap 26 that sent both
to the back.

Reynolds bided his time early but got some help when the race’s
complexion changed dramatically on the 17th lap. Racing deep in the
pack, Hunter Drefahl and Todd Handrick got together in turn one, with
Handrick’s car coming to a stop in the middle of the track. The
leaders came around and a number of them ran straight into trouble,
with third-place Jacob Nottestad, points leader Miller and fast
qualifier Brody Willett all suffering damage that took them out of the
race.

There was more bad news for frontrunners a few laps later after the
restart. A fierce battle for position on lap 18 resulted in the cars
of Ostdiek, Jerry Mueller and Joe Neisius going three-wide into turn
three.

All three cars came out without incident, but the same couldn’t be
said when another three-wide run into the third turn resulted in
contact between third-place Jerry Mueller and State Park Speedway
regular Travis Volm, causing the latter to spin into the middle of the
track between the third and fourth turns. Minnesota’s Jared Duda was
unable to avoid him, causing heavy damage to the nose of Volm’s car.

Volm was able to return despite missing the front nose sheet metal on
his car and briefly moved back up to fifth, but the rest of the race
belonged to Reynolds.

Ostdiek finished second in his first start on the tour this year,
while Neisius finished third. Brown finished fourth and Mueller came
back to finish fifth.

“This is definitely a racy track, we just came up a little short,”
said Ostdiek. “I think we were a second-place car, Reynolds he sure
was quick…but all in all it was a good night for us.”

“It’s our first time here, it’s definitely got some quirks, it’s
tricky to drive this place,” said Neisius. “I’ll take a third coming
out here against these guys that have been here several times.”

Race Results
Larry Detjens Memorial Race (58 laps)
State Park Speedway (Wausau, WI)
Friday July 27 2018

1. Jon Reynolds Jr Loves Park, IL
2. Michael Ostdiek Lakeville, MN
3. Joe Neisius Rosemount, MN
4. Grant Brown Prior Lake, MN
5. Jerry Mueller Richfield, WI
6. Nick Egan Slinger, WI
7. Todd Handrick Wausau, WI
8. Rayce Haase Wausau, WI
9. Dave Cabelka Wausau, WI
10. Travis Volm Mosinee, WI
11. Jared Duda St Michael, MN
12. Mark Greb Coralville, IA
13. Chris Storey Burlington, WI
14. Jacob Nottestad Stoughton, WI
15. Jeremy Miller Rockford, IL
16. Brody Willett Alburnett, IA
17. Hunter Drefahl Evansville, WI
18. Justin Woller Kimberly, WI

Preliminary Race Winners: Ostdiek, Miller, Reynolds
Fast Qualifier: Willett
Car Count: 18 Big 8 Late Models

Big 8 Late Model Series Point Standings
(Top 10, as of 7/28/18)

1. 43 Jeremy Miller 323
2. X Jon Reynolds Jr 294
3. 00 Brody Willett 271
4. 13 Nick Egan ® 252
5. 14 Grant Brown ® 245
6. 75 Joe Neisius 222
7. 97 Jacob Nottestad ® 221
8. 49 Jerry Mueller 217
9. 66 Chris Storey 169
10. 42 Ryan Kamish 159

Although he might not race at Madison as much as he did last year, Michael Bilderback made the most of it tonight by winning the Montgomery Ward 48 for the Big 8 Late Models as part of Colony Brands Salute to America Night at Madison.

Jacob Nottestad and John Baumeister Jr. brought the field of twenty-seven Big 8 Late Models to the green flag with Nottestad gaining a slight advantage before the first caution flag waved on lap 2 for an incident back in the pack.

Nottestad was able to maintain his lead after the restart followed by Baumeister Jr. who passed Ryan Kamish for second on lap 3. Bilderback moved into third on lap 5 followed by Bobby Wilberg shortly before the caution flag waved on lap 6 for a spin.

Bilderback moved into second on the restart and on lap 9 worked his way to the inside of Nottestad coming out of turn four to take the lead. Back in the pack past winners Dale Nottestad and Jeremy Miller were up to the seventh and eight place positions.

Out front it was smooth sailing for Bilderback as he gladly welcomed the tight competition for top five positioning in his rear view mirror. By lap 20 his lead was up to ten car lengths while Jacob Nottestad and Baumeister Jr. were in a spirited battle for second.

Bilderback’s advantage would be negated when Pat Richgels made heavy contact with the wall in turn one bringing out the caution flag on lap 23.

Again, the restart was favorable for Bilderback as he quickly took a three car length lead over Baumeister Jr. who had overtaken Jacob Nottestad for second. But the car on the move now was Dale Nottestad who had worked his way up to fourth and pulled alongside Jacob Nottestad on lap 27 and eventually took the third position two laps later before the caution flag was displayed again for two cars that got together in turn two.

The cat and mouse game with the Big 8 cone continued as drivers chose the inside or outside lines behind Bilderback. After the green flag, Miller was now the car on the move as he moved up to fourth and on lap 33 would pull to the inside of Dale Nottestad and take over the third spot.

Three more cautions, the third on lap 42 involving top five cars of Dale Nottestad and Wilberg, and three more restarts were no problem for Bilderback who held off the hard-charging Miller to pick up the victory. Baumeister Jr. finished third followed by Jon Reynolds Jr. and Jacob Nottestad.

It was Bilderback’s first Big 8 win at Madison. He is now tied for most wins in the Big 8 Late Model Series.

Miller set fast time in qualifying and also picked up a win in the heat races along with Zack Riddle, Kamish, and Baumeister Jr.

Montgomery Ward 48 Unofficial Results
(1-10) Michael Bilderback, Jeremy Miller, John Baumeister Jr., Jon Reynolds Jr, Jacob Nottestad, Zack Riddle, Brody Willett, Ryan Kamish, Nick Egan, Brent Edmunds

(11-20) Grant Brown, Troy Hintzsche, Dale Nottestad, Bobby Wilberg, Jerry Mueller, Brady Liddle, Justin Neisus, Matt Lundberg, Chris Storey, Pat Richgels

(21-27) Shane Morrissey, Dylan Moore, Hunter Drefahl, Bill Drefahl, Michael Haggar, Joe Neisus, Mark Greb

Jeremy Miller, three-time Big 8 Series champion, advanced from his tenth starting position to claim victory in the caution-free 48 lap McGrath Family of Dealerships “Clash at the Downs” at Hawkeye Downs in Cedar Rapids Iowa Friday night.

The victory is Miller’s thirteenth career Big 8 Series win, which leads the all-time series wins list.
Miller grabbed the lead on the race’s 18th lap and slowly padded his lead from there over the course of the race’s final 30 laps.

“The outside just went at the start, I got lucky,” Miller said from victory lane. “I got up to third, and it was just meant to be tonight. Just a good night.”

Griffin McGrath, a Hawkeye Downs regular, captured his third career Big 8 Series fast qualifier award and made his way through the field to finish second, which was one spot short for his liking.

“The car was decent, it just sucked the first ten laps,” said McGrath. “I just could not get on the top, which is exactly what I like to do. I just couldn’t get up there with him.”

Another Hawkeye Downs regular rounding out the top-three was multi-time track champion Brian Gibson, who made his first start of the year in the Big 8 stop at Hawkeye Downs Friday night. The drive felt great for Gibson, who dealt with many challenges on route to his best Big 8 finish, including losing brakes early in the race, and being on a fire call all night before thanks to his responsibilities as a local fire department chief.

“(Third place), no brakes, up all night with no sleep. On Wednesday in practice we were way out in left field…it’s a moral victory without a doubt,” Gibson said. “I wish the brakes would have been working better I think we would have had something for Jeremy (Miller) and definitely Griff (McGrath).”

The Big 8 Late Model Series next heads to Madison International Speedway on Friday night June 29th for the annual ‘Salute to America’ event, a race in which Miller is the defending champion. The Big 8 Series will run alongside the USAC Silver Crown Champ Car Series at Madison on June 29 and the evening is scheduled to be capped off by a large Fireworks display.

For more information on the Big 8 Late Model Series, please visit big8series.com.

Official Race Results
McGrath Family of Dealerships “Clash at the Downs IV” (48 laps)
Hawkeye Downs Speedway (Cedar Rapids, IA)
Friday June 1, 2018

1. Jeremy Miller Rockford, IL
2. Griffin McGrath Cedar Rapids, IA
3. Brian Gibson Walford, IA
4. Nick Egan Slinger, WI
5. Matt Lundberg Rockton, IL
6. Jacob Goede Carver, MN
7. Brody Willett Alburnett, IA
8. Joe Neisius Rosemount, MN
9. Ryan Kamish Farmington, MN
10. Dylan Moore Northfield, MN
11. Grant Brown Prior Lake, MN
12. Michael Haggar Hanover, MN
13. Jon Reynolds Jr Loves Park, IL
14. Jerry Mueller Richfield, WI
15. Jacob Nottestad Stoughton, WI
16. Chris Storey Burlington, WI
17. Mark Greb Coralville, IA
18. Scott Siems Cedar Rapids, IA
19. Chad Siems Shellsburg, IA
20. Brad Osborn Janesville, IA
21. Tyler Brown Carol Stream, IL

Heat Race Winners: McGrath, Willett, Miller
Fast Qualifier: McGrath
Car Count: 21 Big 8 Series Late Models

By: Eric Huenefeld

Saturday night at Rockford Speedway, Michael Bilderback did what he’s done more than anyone else since the beginning of the 2015 racing season; win races.

The South Beloit native bagged his 24th win in three years in a dominant effort during the 108 lap Big 8 Late Model Series event which was part of the 52nd Annual National Short Track Championships (NSTC).

Bilderback, who started the race from the eleventh position, made his was to the front on lap 27 after a brief battle with polesitter Dale Nottestad. Following the pass for the lead, Bilderback was rarely challenged. Half of that fact was due to Bilderback’s sheer dominance, while the other half was due to the pace of the race. The 26-car starting field ran the 108 lap race in just 45 minutes, with only three yellow flags stopping the event. The final caution flew on lap 46, meaning the final 62 circuits of the race were run under green flag conditions.

The win, coupled with trouble for four-time Series champion Jeremy Miller, clinched an unprecedented third consecutive Big 8 Late Model Series championship for Bilderback, who also tied Miller for first place on the all-time Big 8 Series wins list with 12 feature wins.

In reference to National Short Track Championships, Bilderback is also on the cusp of not only more history, but a sizeable bonus on Sunday afternoon; if the 26 year old driver can win the 200 lap Super Late Model National Short Track Championship race, he will pocket a $1500 bonus for becoming the first ever driver to win all three Late Model features at NSTC in a single year.

Cambridge Wisconsin’s Dale Nottestad came home in second place, after leading 13 laps early in the event, with four-time Big 8 NSTC winner Jon Reynolds Jr taking third position. Former Rockford Speedway Track Champion Alex Papini finished fourth, with Iowa teenager Brody Willett rounding out the top five.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Big 8 Late Model Series ‘108’
52nd National Short Track Championships
Rockford Speedway

1. Michael Bilderback South Beloit, IL
2. Dale Nottestad Cambridge, WI
3. Jon Reynolds Jr Loves Park, IL
4. Alex Papini Rockford, IL
5. Brody Willett Alburnett, IA
6. Bobby Wilberg Beloit, WI
7. Adam Peschek Oconomowoc, WI
8. Jake Zellmer Muskego, WI
9. Tom Gille Winnebago, IL
10. John Baumeister Jr Beloit, WI
11. John Beinlich Cary, IL
12. Jake Vanoskey Hartford, WI
13. Chris Storey Burlington, WI
14. Jerry Mueller Richfield, WI
15. Dennis Smith Jr South Beloit, IL
16. Jeff Wakeman Streator, IL
17. Cody Kippenhan Ypslianti, MI
18. Ryan Kamish Farmington, MN
19. Steve Rubeck Rockford, IL
20. Jeremy Miller Rockford, IL
21. Tyler Hromadka Brookfield, WI
22. RJ Braun Wales, WI
23. Mike Lloyd Davis, IL
24. Jake Gille Winnebago, IL
25. Max Kahler Caledonia, IL
26. Jerry Gille Roscoe, IL

Fast Qualifier: Miller (New Track Record)
Prelim Winners: Miller, Bilderback, Smith Jr, Nottestad, Beinlich
Entries: 30 Big 8 Late Models