Category: Results

Recap by Jason D Searcy

Elko (MN) – September 23, 2017

Lakeville Minnesota’s Chris Marek won his third career Big 8 Late Model series event this past Saturday night at Elko Speedway.

Marek, who started the race from fifth place, did not get to the front of the field until lap 38, navigating his way through one of the deepest Big 8 Series feature fields in recent memory. Prior Lake Minnesota’s Chad Walen held the lead early on in the 58 lap race, trading barbs with Fairbault native Bryan Wrolstad. On lap 18, Wrolstad pushed past Walen and inherited the race lead. Meanwhile, Marek finally made his way to the front by lap 31 and challenged Wrolstad for the top spot. Seven laps later, Marek climbed to the lead and held off the late race challenges of Elko Speedway track champion Jacob Goede on his way to the win.

“The car was really solid all day, we knew we weren’t the fastest car on the short run, but we had a pretty good long run piece and it payed off for the end,” said Marek “going cautionless really helped us.”

This is the second time that Marek has won at Thunderstruck, a race ran in memory of Dan Ryan, a former Elko racer and car owner who passed away from ALS in 2009. Marek also won the Big 8 series race in 2013. “This race is extra special because Dan was a good friend of my whole family and he was a mentor to me” said Marek.

Goede started tenth and finished second in his first ever Big 8 race, while Wrolstad held on and captured a podium finish in third. Series point leader Michael Bilderback started eleventh and moved up to finish in the fourth position while nine-time Elko Speedway champion Donny Reuvers rounded out the top 5.

The 58 lap race featured 25 starters and ran caution free.

Big 8 Late Model Series
Official Results
9th Annual “Thunderstruck
Elko (MN) Speedway

1. Christopher Marek, Lakeville, MN
2. Jacob Goede, Carver, MN
3. Bryan Wrolstad, Fairbault, MN
4. Michael Bilderback, South Beloit, IL
5. Donny Reuvers, Dundas, MN
6. Brody Willett, Alburnett, IA
7. Owin Giles, New Market, MN
8. Joe Neisius, Rosemount, MN
9. Dylan Moore, Northfield, MN
10. Grant Brown, Prior Lake, MN
11. Chad Walen, Prior Lake, MN
12. Derek Lemke, Shakopee, MN
13. Michael Ostdiek, Lakeville, MN
14. Ryan Kamish, Farmington, MN
15. Jacob Zellmer, Burlington, WI
16. Justin Neisius, Eagan, MN
17. Jeremy Miller, Rockford, IL
18. Jon Lemke, Shakopee, MN
19. Jared Duda, St Michael, MN
20. Jerry Mueller, Richfield, WI
21. Jeff Partington, Farmington, MN
22. Jacob Vanoskey, Hartford, WI
23. Tyler Brown, Carol Stream, IL
24. Tim Sargent, South Beloit, IL
25. Tyler Hromadka, Brookfield, WI

Fast Time: Sargent
Car Count: 25 Big 8 Late Models

Current Big 8 Late Model Series Points
Top 10

1 Michael Bilderback 702
2. Jeremy Miller 601
3. Brody Willett 508
4. Ryan Kamish 447
5. Jerry Mueller 391
6. Jake Zellmer 367
7. Jake Vanoskey 353
8. Tim Sargent 349
9. Tyler Hromadka 313
10. (Tie) Tyler Brown ® 274
Jared Duda 274

Story by: Eric Huenefeld
Photo by: Hotshot Photography

Over the course of the last three racing seasons, Michael Bilderback has gone as the weather has gone. When summer draws longer and the weather gets warmer, it seems Bilderback gets warm right along with the conditions.

For the second straight season, the South Beloit Illinois native is on a summertime winning streak with the Big 8 Late Model Series. After winning last Friday night’s Miller Lite Larry Detjens Memorial Race at State Park Speedway in Wausau WI, Bilderback collected his second straight Series win at Wisconsin International Raceway, topping his foes in the 38 lap ‘Dixieland Delight.’

Bilderback, second quickest in Qualifying, started from the seventh position and initially found trouble getting to the front, thanks in part to some torrid side-by-side battles ahead of him. At the front of the line, first and second place starters Jerry Mueller and Jake Zellmer dueled for the lead, with Mueller eventually sneaking to the front. Zellmer soon found himself locked in a battle with Iowa’s Brody Willett for the second, with Willett eventually taking the position away from Zellmer.

Along with Bilderback, Braison Bennett and fast qualifier Jeremy Miller did their best to navigate both traffic and the tricky confines of the D-shaped half mile. Bilderback was the first of the three to bust out of the thicket and make his way forward, taking second by lap 11 and then beginning his pursuit of Mueller for the race lead. The tussle was lengthy, but finally on the 15th circuit, Bilderback moved to the head of the class. As the race moved along at a brisk caution-free pace, it was Bilderback manufacturing a straightaway advantage over the balance of the pack on his way to victory. Bennett eventually found his way to second place in the race’s final laps, while Miller settled for third while battling transmission issues. John Baumeister Jr claimed his third career Big 8 Series top five with a fourth place showing, while Minnesota’s Ryan Kamish rounded out the top five.

The Big 8 Late Model Series now takes a seven-week hiatus as drivers vie for track championships at their hometracks. The break leads up to the busiest part of the Big 8 schedule, ‘three races in three weeks’ to determine the 2017 Big 8 Late Model Series champion. The chase begins Saturday September 23 at Elko (MN) Speedway as part of the 9th annual Thunderstruck, then one week later at Rockford (IL) Speedway on “Short Track Saturday Night” September 30 at the 52nd National Short Track Championships. The curtain closes on the 2017 Big 8 Late Model Series season at LaCrosse (WI) Fairgrounds Speedway on Saturday October 7 during the 48th annual Oktoberfest Race Weekend.

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

Big 8 Late Model Series
‘Dixieland Delight’
Official Race Results

1. Michael Bilderback South Beloit, IL
2. Braison Bennett Menasha, WI
3. Jeremy Miller Rockford, IL
4. John Baumeister Jr Beloit, WI
5. Ryan Kamish Farmington, MN
6. Jerry Mueller Richfield, WI
7. Jake Zellmer Burlington, WI
8. Cody Kippenhan Ypsilanti, MI
9. Joey Pontbriand Norway, MI
10. Jake Vanoskey Hartford, WI
11. Tyler Hromadka Brookfield, WI
12. Brody Willett Alburnett, IA

Fast Qualifier: Miller

Big 8 Late Model Series
Point Standings (as of 8/2/17)

1. Michael Bilderback 602
2. Jeremy Miller 551
3. Brody Willett 431
4. Ryan Kamish 391
5. Jerry Mueller 347
6. Jake Vanoskey 313
7. Jake Zellmer 311
8. Tim Sargent 295
9. Tyler Hromadka 279
10. Tyler Brown (R) 236

For more information: big8series.com

Story by: Brandon Aschenbrenner
Photo by: Hotshot Photography

The Big 8 Late Models traveled back to State Park Speedway for what has become tradition on the Opening Night of the Larry Detjens Memorial Race Weekend Friday evening. And by the end of the evening, Michael Bilderback made winning a tradition as he not only set Fast Time, but won his Heat Race and the 58 lap Miller Lite Detjens Memorial Feature Race.

Brody Willett and Jeremy Lepak would start the feature event on the front row. Willett was able to grab the early lead and held Lepak behind him. An early caution three laps in saw Tyler Brown spin and collect Jeff Nowak and Jared Duda. All cars were eventually able to continue. Willett continued to lead after the restart until lap sixteen when Jake Vanoskey spun in turn four causing another caution. Willett once again would maintain the lead on the restart with the next yellow flying on lap twenty-two. This caution was caused when contact between Michael Ostdiek and Adam Pescheck caused the Ostdiek machine to spin in turn two.

Only three laps after this restart, Jeremy Miller and Derek Lemke got together in turn three and Lemke backed into the wall hard while Miller was able to continue. With thirty laps left, Bilderback, who found himself on the outside of the second row on the restart, made the pass on Willett and never looked back. Bilderback picked up his second feature of the season. Lepak was able to hang on to second, Ostdiek fought back for third. Muskego’s Jake Zellmer finished in fourth place, his best ever finish in a Big 8 Series event. Willett had a solid night, finishing fifth place int he feature while moving up to third in the Big 8 Late Model Series point standings.

This upcoming Tuesday night, the Big 8 Late Model Series returns to action at Wisconsin International Raceway with the ‘Dixieland Delight’ 38 lap feature. The race is scheduled as an undercard for the ARCA Midwest Tour Dixieland 250 featuring NASCAR champion Kyle Busch.

Big 8 Late Model Series
Miller Lite Larry Detjens Memorial
Official Race Results

1. Michael Bilderback South Beloit, IL
2. Jeremy Lepak Wausau, WI
3. Michael Ostdiek Lakeville, MN
4. Jake Zellmer Muskego, WI
5. Brody Willett Alburnett, IA
6. Jeremy Miller Rockford, IL
7. Ryan Kamish Farmington, MN
8. Adam Peschek Oconomowoc, WI
9. Kyle Kirberger Ramsey, MN
10. Bryan Wrolstad Northfield, MN
11. Jake Vanoskey Hartford, WI
12. Tyler Hromadka Brookfield, WI
13. Jerry Mueller Richfield, WI
14. Tyler Brown Carol Stream, IL
15. Jeff Nowak Weston, WI
16. Jared Duda St Michael, MN
17. Derek Lemke Shakopee, MN

Fast Time: Bilderback
Heat Race Winners: Bilderback, Lepak

Big 8 Late Model Serues
Point Standings (as of 7/29/17)

1. Michael Bilderback 484
2. Jeremy Miller 444
3. Brody Willett 361
4. Ryan Kamish 299
5. Tim Sargent 295
6. Jerry Mueller 266
7. Jake Vanoskey 248
8. Tyler Brown (R) 236
9. Jake Zellmer 231
10. Jared Duda 228

For more information: big8series.com

Story By: John Wells
Photo By: Guy Adams

For the second straight year, Jeremy Miller picked up the checkered flag in the ‘Salute to America’ 48 lap feature for the Big 8 Late Models at Madison International Speedway. Miller started eleventh and took the lead on lap 27 on his way to the checkered flag.

Tyler Brown and Tim Sargent led the field of seventeen cars to the green flag. Sargent was able to gain the early advantage. On lap 3 Bobby Wilberg passed Brown for second. Three laps later Brody Willett moved past Ryan Kamish for fourth place.

On lap 7, Wilberg moved to the inside of Sargent coming out of turn four to take the lead. Moving quickly up through the field was Miller who was fifth on lap 9.. On lap 11 Miller moved to the inside of Willett for the third position.

Miller moved past Sargent on lap 14 to take second and started to hunt down Wilberg. On lap 18, Wilberg’s lead was down to three car lengths over Miller as the leaders worked around lapped traffic. This allowed the pair to build a sizeable lead over the third place car of Michael Bilderback.

Miller took the lead on lap 27 when he found room on the low side coming out of turn two and worked his way past Wilberg. Miller was able to increase his lead on lap 31 when Wilberg got caught behind lapped traffic. Doing his best to dial in the top two, Bilderback was closing the gap on Wilberg.

Miller was able to increase his lead over Wilberg as the rest of the field was hoping for a caution flag, but it didn’t come out. Bilderback finished in third followed by Sargent and Willett.

“It’s crazy. This car has just been fast lately,” said Miller who became the all-time winningest driver in the Big 8.

“I’ve got to thank everyone who helps me out and allows me to do this out here,” said Wilberg.

Bilderback added, “We just didn’t work our way through traffic like we needed to tonight.”

Heat race wins went to Jeremy Miller and John Baumeister Jr. Miller also set fast time with a lap of 18.463, narrowly missing the Big 8 track record at Madison of 18.441.

‘Salute to America’
Race Results

1. Jeremy Miller Rockford, IL
2. Bobby Wilberg Beloit, WI
3. Michael Bilderback South Beloit, IL
4. Tim Sargent South Beloit, IL
5. Brody Willett Alburnett, IA
6. John Baumeister Jr Beloit, WI
7. Matt Lundberg Rockton, IL
8. Zach Riddle Cottage Grove, WI
9. Ryan Kamish Farmington, MN
10. Mike Lloyd Davis, IL
11. Jerry Mueller Richfield, WI
12. Cody Kippenhan Ypsilanti, MI
13. Jake Vanoskey Hartford, WI
14. Jared Duda St Michael, MN
15. Steve Vaughn Maple Park, IL
16. Tyler Hromadka Brookfield, WI
17. Tyler Brown Carol Stream, Il
DNS- Jake Zellmer Muskego, WI

BIG 8 LATE MODEL SERIES POINTS
(Top 10, as of 6.30.17)

1. Michael Bilderback 354
2. Jeremy Miller 343
3. Tim Sargent 295
4. Brody Willett 267
5. Ryan Kamish 205
6. Jerry Mueller 202
7. Mike Lloyd 186
8. Jake Vanoskey 180
9. Tyler Brown (R) 175
10. Jared Duda 166