Rockford NSTC Sunday - Casey Johnson Doubles Up!

After the late night Saturday, I got to the Rockford Speedway around 11:00 a.m., just as the Mid-American Stock Car Series cars were hitting the track for practice.

This was followed by Super Cup practice. If you don't know what Super Cup is, they are 1/2 scale race cars that resemble full size NASCAR Sprint Cup cars powered by 13 hp Honda engines. To get more on Super Cup racing, please click here.

Following Super Cup practice, the schedule continued with some hot laps with the NASON's LANDSCAPING 'Faster Than a Speeding Bullet' qualifying for the Mid-American Series.

After a short break the Opening Ceremonies commenced.

First up for the Sunday's racing was the rain delayed 25 lap Hornet/Bandit Challenge. These cars are the 4-cylinder sub-compact cars.

Nick Schmidt in the #09 outlasted the field to take the checkered flag.

Following the Hornet/Bandit Challenge was a series of Heat Races for the Mid-America series won respectively by #47 Kenny Joosten, #88 Rick Corso and #66 Marty McKinney

After the Heat races, we had one of the more entertaining races of the day, the Super Cup cars. There were only ten cars in the field, but what a show they put on. They were led to the green by #16 Maggie Struthers. It was fun to watch Trevor Addams #2 and Zachary Tinkle #53, last year's NSTC Super Cup winner, come through the pack and to the front. In the final laps Trevor and Zachary put on a show of side by side racing with Trevor and Zachary swapping the lead. On the last lap it was Trevor edging Zachary.

After the Super Cup, it was another of the rain delayed races, the Roadrunner "25". There were thirteen Roadrunner's in the field. Adam Cartwright #42  started on the outside pole and quickly took the lead. He led the whole race but was challenged on nearly every lap. There were several dust-ups, but nothing serious. In the end Adam brought it home in first.

After an exciting Roadrunner race, the Mid-American Stock Car Series was up with their Gary Vercauteren Memorial 50 lap feature event. In this event it was Kevin Gentile with the fast lap and getting his "Bullet".

With his win in his Heat race, #47 Kenny Joosten led the field to the green. The race was somewhat calm until lap 11 and then lap 13, when their were wrecks in turn one and between turns 3 &4. When the race  resumed, all was calm until lap 19 when a major crash occurred on the main straightaway. I couldn't see what started it, but I did see #23 Cody Clubb get turned and roll over onto its roof. As the crash continued the other #23 Dan Gilster also rolled over coming to rest in the infield on its wheels. However, there was an engine fire which emergency personnel were able to extinguish. After the clean-up, Ron Vandermeir took the lead closely followed by Kevin Gentile. Kevin pressured Ron, but could not pass him. Ron took the checker with Kevin second and Ryan Gutknecht coming in third.

The Finale for the 51st National Short Track Championships was the 200 lap feature for the Super Late Models. During time trials, it was Edgerton, Wisconsin's Casey Johnson running the fastest lap and getting his "Bullet".

At the start of the race, Driver X, Jon Reynolds Jr. shot to the lead. Jon stretched his lead until the caution fell at Lap 40 for a minor incident. At the restart, Jon again shot out to a lead. He maintained that lead  through the half time break and a rolling red flag caused by a brief misty rain. At a restart at lap 140, Jon could not get going,  in what was described as a motor problem. After having the dominant car all day, it was a disappointing finish for Jon.  Shortly, after the restart and Jon's retirement from the race, Steve Apel and Austin Nason got together causing a spin. Steve recovered and continued and Austin was sent to the back of the field. At the restart, Casey Johnson took the lead. Once he got the lead, he wasn't about to relinquish it, taking the checkers. Casey had a double for the weekend winning not only this one, but the Saturday night Big 8 race. He is only the second driver in the history of the National Short Track Championship to do the double. The other was the legendary Joe Shear. Finishing second was Austin Nason and third went to Steve Apel. This was a great end to a super weekend of racing.

​To see all the images from Sunday, please click here.