Big 8 Series

By: Tom Ace

This Friday night June 29, the Big 8 Late Model Series makes one of it’s traditional stops for one of the series’ more well known events.

The ‘Best Weekly Warriors in the Country’ descend upon Madison International Speedway this weekend for the Colony Brands ‘Salute to America,’ a 48 lap showcase of some of the great champions in Big 8 late Model Series history.

A glance at the Expected Entry list shows a total of 48 career Big 8 Late Model Series victories represented in the field as well as nearly 50 track and series championships among the drivers who plan to do battle on ‘Wisconsin’s Fastest Half Mile’ this Friday night.

Leading the way is current Big 8 Late Model Series point leader Jeremy Miller, who started the 2018 season off right by collecting the top prize during the season opening ‘Clash at the Downs’ June 1 at Hawkeye Downs in Cedar Rapids Iowa. The win started Miller’s quest for an unprecedented fifth Series championship the right way. A four-time track champion at ‘MIS,’ Miller has also won the last two Series stops at his home track and a three-peat would further solidify his chances of a ‘high five’ at seasons end.

But the list of challengers is very deep for this Friday night’s tilt and includes names like three-time Big 8 Series champion Michael Bilderback, multi-time Madison International Speedway champion Bobby Wilberg, former ‘Salute to America’ winner and Rockford Speedway point leader ‘Driver X’ Jon Reynolds Jr, three-time Madison International Speedway champion Dale Nottestad and 2015 Madison International Speedway champion Zach Riddle. Of those drivers listed, Nottestad is a three-time Series winner at ‘MIS,’ more than any other active Big 8 racer, while Riddle has won two of his three career Big 8 Series events at MIS.

Other drivers to keep an eye on this weekend include former Salute to America winners Brady Liddle and John Baumeister Jr. Baumeister was also the winner of last Friday night’s 30 lap feature race at MIS. Iowa teenager Brody Willett is ‘locked in’ on grabbing his first career Series win, but will have to hold off the likes of former Madison International Speedway Rookie of the Year Matt Lundberg and Minnesota hot shoes Joe Neisius and Ryan Kamish.

Young talent taking to the track for Friday night’s Salute to America includes Big 8 Rookie of the Year candidates Grant Brown, Nick Egan and Jacob Nottestad as well as local favorite Brent Edmunds and 2017 Big 8 Series Rookie of the Year Tyler Brown.

Adding to the excitement of this year’s event, the USAC Silver Crown Champ Car Series makes it’s first ever trip to Madison International Speedway for a 100 lap race to run in companion with the Big 8 Late Model Series. Following the racing program, the largest racetrack Fireworks Display in the Midwest lights up the sky.

For more information on Madison International Speedway and the Salute to America, please visit misracing.com or call 608-835-9700.

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

Colony Brands Salute to America Madison International Speedway Expected Entry List (as of 6/26)

00- Brody Willett Alburnett, IA
2- Michael Bilderback South Beloit, IL
X- Jon Reynolds Jr Loves Park, IL
13- Nick Egan Slinger, WI
14- Grant Brown Prior Lake, MN
14- Zach Riddle Cottage Grove, WI
15- Pat Richgels Lake Mills, WI
18- Brady Liddle Oregon, WI
19- John Baumeister Jr Beloit, WI
20- Tyler Brown Carol Stream, IL
21- Mike Lloyd Davis, IL
21- Shane Morrissey Cuba City, WI
28- Bobby Wilberg Beloit, WI
34- Troy Hintzsche Genoa, IL
42- Ryan Kamish Farmington, MN
43- Jeremy Miller Rockford, IL
49- Jerry Mueller Richfield, WI
51- Dale Nottestad Cambridge, WI
66- Chris Storey Burlington, WI
71- Mark Greb Coralville, IA
75- Joe Neisius Rosemount, MN
78- Matt Lundberg Rockton, IL
87- Brent Edmunds Monticello, WI
97- Jacob Nottestad Stoughton, WI

Colony Brands Salute to America ORDER OF EVENTS

3:30 pm- Pit Gate Opens 5:00 pm- Big 8 Late Model Practice (until 4:55 pm) 6:15 pm- Qualifying Begins (Big 8 Series, USAC Silver Crown) 7:10 pm- Drivers Meeting 7:30 pm Racing Begins!

Big 8 Series Heat Races (10 laps)

USAC Silver Crown Series 100 lap race

Big 8 Series Colony Brands ‘Salute to America’ (48 laps)

FIREWORKS Display following the races

REMAINING 2018 BIG 8 LATE MODEL SERIES SCHEDULE: Fri June 29- Colony Brands Salute to America (Madison International Speedway, Oregon WI) Fri July 27- Larry Detjens Memorial Race (State Park Speedway, Wausau WI) Tues Aug 7- Dixieland Delight (Wisconsin Int’l Raceway, Kaukauna WI) Sat Sept 22- 10th Annual ‘Thunderstruck 93’ (Elko Speedway, Elko New Market, MN) Sat Sept 29- 53rd Annual National Short Track Championships (Rockford Speedway) Sat Oct 6- 49th Oktoberfest Race Weekend (La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway, West Salem, WI)

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please visit www.big8series.com

By: Kip Ripley

For a fourth consecutive year, the Big 8 Late Model Series returns to Hawkeye Downs in Cedar Rapids Iowa.

But this year, for the first time ever, the ‘Best Weekly Warriors in the Country” will start their season at Hawkeye Downs.

Following the weekend washout of the annual season opening Spring Classic at Rockford Speedway back in April, the 2018 Big 8 Late Model Series season will officially tip-off at the 93 year old half-mile located in Eastern Iowa.

The McGrath Family of Dealerships “Clash at the Downs IV” takes place this Friday night June 1 at Hawkeye Downs and if tradition holds true, the race itself will feature a strong field of cars and a thrilling finish. An average of 27 cars have entered the three previous editions of this event with each feature coming down to some tense moments at the end of 48 laps.

Hometown drivers will be among the favorites this Friday night, including Alburnett teen Brody Willett and Cedar Rapids Late Model ace Griffin McGrath. Willett, who won the Opening Night feature race at Hawkeye Downs two weeks ago, finished third in last year’s Big 8 Series points and is hungry for his first ever Series win. A late-race tangle one year ago at the “Clash” dashed any hopes Willett had of winning the big race on his hometrack and with that in mind, Willett may be a force to be reckoned with Friday night.

McGrath has been fast in each of the three previous editions of the “Clash,” setting Fast Time in both 2015 and 2017 while finishing runner up in the 48 lap feature race each of the last two seasons. Last year, McGrath ended up one spot short of victory while Minnesota’s Joe Neisius captured his first ever Big 8 Series win. Neisius is not only entered in this weekends event, but plans to chase the Big 8 Series championship in 2018.

Four-time Big 8 Series champion Jeremy Miller returns to Hawkeye Downs this weekend in search of a series-leading 13th career win. Miller has seen success in the past at Hawkeye Downs, but has yet to taste victory in a Big 8 Series race at at the big half mile. Minnesota’s Ryan Kamish was a solid fifth place finisher in last season’s “Clash at the Downs.” The finish helped propel Kamish to fourth place in Big 8 Series points and this year the Lakeville native returns to the Series once again.

Multi-time Hawkeye Downs track champion Brian Gibson is also entered in this Friday night’s ‘Clash,’ aiming for a first Big 8 Series win. Gibson’s previous best Big 8 finish is fourth in the inaugural running of the event in 2015. Former Big 8 and Rockford Speedway champion ‘Driver X’ Jon Reynolds Jr has thrown his name into the ring for Friday night’s big-go-round in Cedar Rapids and is joined by former Madison International Speedway Rookie of the Year Matt Lundberg and reigning Big 8 Late Model Series Rookie of the Year Tyler Brown.

A crop of fresh and talented faces also join the Big 8 Series fray in 2018, including Prior Lake Minnesota’s Grant Brown, Slinger Wisconsin’s Nick Egan and Cambridge Wisconsin’s Jacob Nottestad. All three drivers should be a force to be reckoned with by season’s end.

McGrath Family of Dealerships “Clash at the Downs IV”
Expected Entries (21 as of May 30)

00 Brody Willett Alburnett, IA
X Jon Reynolds Jr Loves Park, IL
13 Nick Egan Slinger, WI
14 Grant Brown Prior Lake, MN
17 Brian Gibson Walford, IA
19 Michael Haggar Hanover, MN
20 Tyler Brown Carol Stream, IL
43 Jeremy Miller Rockford, IL
43 Scott Siems Cedar Rapids, IA
49 Jerry Mueller Richfield, WI
53 Jared Duda St Michael, MN
58 Tyler Kingery Prior Lake, MN
64 Griffin McGrath Cedar Rapids, IA
66 Chris Storey Burlington, WI
71 Mark Greb Coralville, IA
72 Brad Osborn Janesville, IA
75 Joe Neisius Rosemount, MN
76 Chad Siems Shellsburg, IA
78 Matt Lundberg Rockton, IL
80 Ryan Kamish Lakeville, MN
97 Jacob Nottestad Cambridge, WI

McGrath Family of Dealerships
‘’Clash at the Downs IV’
ORDER OF EVENTS

3:00 pm- Pit Gate Opens for Big 8 Series teams
4:30 pm- Big 8 Late Model Practice (until 4:55 pm)
5:10 pm – Big 8 Late Model Series Final Practice (until 5:30 pm)
6:00 pm – Big 8 Late Model Qualifying (Note: Drivers meeting to follow)
6:45 pm – 7:05 pm Big 8 Autograph Session under Flag-Stand
7:25 pm PRE-RACE CEREMONIES
7:30 pm HEAT RACES

BIG 8 SERIES HEAT RACES– 10 laps
Sportsman Heats
Legends Heats
BIG 8 SERIES LAST CHANCE RACE– 12 laps (if necessary)
Hobby Stock Heats
Hornet Heats

–Intermission–

**In-Car Intros for Late Model Feature**
BIG 8 LATE MODEL SERIES ‘Clash at the Downs IV” (48 laps)
**Top 3 LM Finishers to the frontstretch**

(Remaining Four Feature races to follow the Big 8 Race)

REMAINING 2018 BIG 8 LATE MODEL SERIES SCHEDULE:
Fri June 1- ‘Clash at the Downs IV” presented by McGrath Family of Dealerships (Hawkeye Downs, Cedar Rapids, IA)
Fri June 29- Salute to America (Madison International Speedway, Oregon WI)
Fri July 27- Larry Detjens Memorial Race (State Park Speedway, Wausau WI)
Tues Aug 7- Dixieland Delight (Wisconsin Int’l Raceway, Kaukauna WI)
Sat Sept 22- 10th Annual ‘Thunderstruck 93’ (Elko Speedway, Elko New Market, MN)
Sat Sept 29- 53rd Annual National Short Track Championships (Rockford Speedway)
Sat Oct 6- 49th Oktoberfest Race Weekend (La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway, West Salem, WI)

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please visit www.big8series.com

2018 Hawkeye Downs Entry

Big 8 Series officials today have released the entry form for “Clash at the Downs IV” presented by the McGrath Family of Dealerships set to take place at Hawkeye Downs in Cedar Rapids Iowa on Friday June 1.

The entry form may be found on the series’ website (big8series.com) under the “Entries” heading. Advance entries will be accepted until 11:59 PM on Wednesday May 30.

For the first time ever, “Clash at the Downs IV'” is set to open the Big 8 Late Model Series points chase with the cancellation of April’s ‘Spring Classic’ at Rockford Speedway following unseasonably cold and winter-like conditions.

Pit Gates open at 3 PM on Friday June 1, with Practice beginning at 4:30 PM. Qualifying takes place at 6 PM with racing set to begin at 7:30 PM. The Big 8 Late Model Series is set to run a full program of preliminary races and a 48 lap feature and will be joined by the full compliment of Hawkeye Downs support classes.

Those looking to Practice before the event are welcomed to take part in the Wednesday night Open Practice sessions at Hawkeye Downs, which start at 5 PM and run until 7 PM.

For more information on Hawkeye Downs, please visit hawkeyedowns.org or call 319-365-8656.

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

After last weekend’s postponement and with no viable option in sight for a reschedule date, the 2018 Spring Classic at Rockford Speedway has officially been cancelled.

The cancellation marks just the third in 41 years that Spring Classic has been shelved, joining the 2014 and 2009 versions of the event, both bagged by subpar weather conditions.

The occasion also marks just the fifth time since 2004 (107 events) that a Big 8 Late Model Series event has been cancelled.

The 2018 Big 8 Late Model Series now becomes a seven race chase, as the season opens Friday night June 1 at Hawkeye Downs in Cedar Rapids Iowa with ‘Clash at the Downs IV.’

Rockford Speedway is set to finally open it’s gates for a 71st season this Saturday night April 21 with the Mountain Dew Season Opener, featuring the Stanley Steemer NASCAR Late Models, Bargain Hunter Sportsman, Miller Lite American Short Trackers, TED Transit Bandits & Kickstart Roadrunners. Race time is set for 7:07 PM this Saturday night.

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

For more information on Rockford Speedway, please call 815-633-1500 or visit rockfordspeedway.com.

The coldest start to the month of April in recorded history has claimed its fair share of victims as far as outdoor events are concerned in the upper Midwest this year.

Despite the brief tease of warm temperatures over the last couple days, miserable “spring” conditions are set to return this weekend. With that in mind, officials at Rockford Speedway have decided to postpone the 41st Annual Spring Classic originally slated for this Sunday afternoon April 15.

Both Rockford Speedway and Big 8 Series officials are working to find a suitable reschedule date for the event.

For more information on Rockford Speedway, please visit rockfordspeedway.com or call 815-633-1500.

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

Entry Form / Event Schedule

By: Eric Huenefeld

A quick look at the calendar shows that Spring is just a few days away.

Another look at the calendar shows that Spring Classic is just one month away!

The 41st Annual Spring Classic, the Midwest’s traditional season opening racing event, is slated for Sunday afternoon April 15 at Rockford Speedway. The Entry Form and Schedule of Events for Spring Classic are now available for viewing at big8series.com and rockfordspeedway.com.

Once again, the Big 8 Late Model Series headlines Spring Classic with an 88 lap feature race. The Mid-American Stock Car Series and the American Super Cup Series are also on the card as part of Spring Classic Sunday at Rockford Speedway. The Mid-American Series is slated for a 50 lap feature race, while the American Super Cups are set for a 20 lap feature. All three divisions will participate in a full day of racing, with Qualifying, Preliminary Races and Feature Events on the schedule.

Gates open on Sunday April 15 at 11 AM, with LPT “Faster Than a Speeding Bullet” Qualifying for all three divisions beginning at 11:30 AM. The first green flag flies at 1 PM.

Spring Classic racers will have a full day of Practice to get their cars dialed in for the season opener on Saturday April 14. Pit Gates open at 10 AM April 14, with the track open from Noon until 4 PM for Practice. Teams that practice on Saturday April 14 may keep their haulers parked in the Pit Area overnight, but no camping is permitted in the Pit Area. ‘Overnight Parking for Campers’ is permitted in the Rockford Speedway Parking Lot starting Friday April 13 at 5 PM.

For additional information regarding the 41st Annual Spring Classic, please visit rockfordspeedway.com or call 815-633-1500.

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