Loves Park, IL (November 11, 2009)- Just two weeks after the conclusion of a successful 2009 season at Rockford Speedway, preparations are already underway for next year. Speedway crews have been replacing many sections of wall that were impacted during racing action this past season, while the Rockford Best Seal & Stripe crew has been filling various seems around the historic quarter-mile high banked paved oval.

“We have replaced three large sections of our concrete barrier which experienced their share of abuse last year.” Stated Director of Operations David Deery. “Filling the seems will help our track battle another harsh winter, so it is ready to go this Spring.” Speedway crews also refurbished much of the billboard structure which surrounds the track, nearly a dozen racecars made contact with these boards during the exciting season that concluded with over 130 machines taking the track during the October 25 Goblin 250 Enduro.

By Jordan Kuehne
LOVES PARK, Ill. (Sunday, October 18th, 2009) -- John Paul Odegaard logged a lot of mileage traveling to the Rockford Speedway for this weekend's 18th annual Bahama Bracket Nationals, and for the second consecutive year, the Minnesota driver made it time well spent, finding victory lane in the 50-lap 'A' Bracket main event and collecting a TIKI Torch trophy to commemorate his win. Odegaard started in eighth and quickly worked his way through the field, pushing past Matt Berger as the event approached the halfway point and holding on from there, collecting another October victory at the high-banked quarter mile. In the 'AA' Bracket, Scott Lawver rallied back from a late-race spin to come out on top, fending off Brad Carson for the win.

By Jordan Kuehne
LOVES PARK, Ill. (Saturday, October 17th, 2009) -- James Swan took flight tonight at the Rockford Speedway, pacing a field of almost 200 cars in setting fast time and collecting the Short Track News Fast Qualifier Award at the 18th annual Bahama Bracket Nationals. On a chilly October day, Swan was blazing fast, laying down a blistering lap of 14.333 seconds to top a field of 150 bracket cars. In addition to that, 44 Hornets took to the track as Brad Chandler set the mark to beat with a quick time of 17.135 seconds. 30 races were conducted as most of the field was set for tomorrow's Bahama Bracket 50-lap feature events.

By Jordan Kuehne
LOVES PARK, Ill. (Sunday, October 4th, 2009) -- Josh Nelms was down and out with 100 laps to go in the Budweiser 200, but with a few great adjustments and a lot of determination, the Chicagoland driver found himself wearing the wreath today at the 44th annual National Short Track Championships at the Rockford Speedway. Nelms etched his name in the history books with a late race pass, using the low line to push past the venerable Jeff Kendall with 21 laps remaining and hitting his marks the rest of the way to lay claim to the title of 2009 National Short Track Champion. Kendall, a six-time Dells Raceway Park track champion, led the opening 179 laps of the event before Nelms' daring maneuver, and had to hold off a hard-charging 'Fast' Eddie Hoffman for the bridesmaid's position. Lowell Bennett had a solid run to take home fourth while Jon Reynolds Jr. battled through adversity to collect a top five, finishing fifth. In the Mid-American Stock Car Series, Jeremy Spoonmore made it back-to-back at the National Short Track Championships, proving last year's victory was no fluke with a dominating title defense in the Mtn Dew 75. In the RoadRunners, veteran racer Sonny Schoffen went wire-to-wire to claim the O'Reilly Auto Parts 44, holding off Ricky Nielsen for the victory.

By Jordan Kuehne