When it was announced early in the season that this would be the final year of racing for the Rockford Speedway, I checked my calendar and picked out a couple dates to make the trip over to get one last view of the historic quarter-mile paved oval. This would also satisfy my goal of getting to at least one pavement race a year, but when questionable weather kept me from going it came down to one last chance this past Saturday only to have other plans get in the way. It was impressive seeing videos from Rockford with packed grandstands on a cold day where fans had to park elsewhere since the process of turning the old facility into a commercial property had already begun.
I will cherish the memories of the several trips that I made to Rockford over the years including a Tuesday night visits from NASCAR stars, a couple of National Short Track Championship Sundays and my final trip there for a Bahama Brackets National. From tracking these points I noted that there was a solid increase in the Late Model car count at Rockford this season and it will be interesting to see what those drivers do going forward. Will they now run at Madison on Friday nights or will they move to the Super Late Model division and go to the Grundy County Speedway. Or will they sell their race cars and take up another action sport like skydiving or pickleball? Will any of the pavement tracks in the region move to Saturday night to fill the void left by Rockford's closing?
It will be interesting to see how this evolves, but with the Final Lap being completed at Rockford I can now, for the seventh time, give you my annual rundown for the points in both the Super Late Models and the Late Model divisions that race on the paved tracks here in the upper Midwest.
In the Supers Brock Heinrich ends the three year reign of Justin Mondeik, who slipped to fourth this season, to take his title in these standings. Heinrich was a four-time feature winner in his fourteen top five finishes this season. In 2022 Mark Eswin was just one point shy of sharing the title with Mondeik and this year his falls just two markers short as he again takes runner-up honors with six wins in thirteen top fives. Grundy County Speedway regular Eddie Hoffman rolls home third this year improving from a twelfth place ranking in '22. The veteran Chicagoland speedster had three wins in thirteen top fives.
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| From the Brock Heinrich Racing Facebook page |
Seven years of tracking these points and now seven championships for Jacob Goede in the Late Model division. With wins coming at both Elko and La Crosse to bring that total to eight, Goede rang up twenty-six top five finishes on the season. With his fourth win of the season in that final event at Rockford, Jon Reynolds Jr. secured the runner-up spot with sixteen top-fives and Jesse Bernhagen ranks third after scoring nine victories in fourteen top five outings.
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| From the Jacob Goede Racing Facebook page |
Midwest Pavement
Super Late Models Final 2023
Pos. Driver Hometown Points
1 . Brock Heinrich Wausau WI 49
2 . Mark Eswein Wisconsin Rapids WI 47
3 . Eddie Hoffman Wheaton IL 44
4 . Justin Mondeik Merrill WI 41
5 . Gabe Sommers Richford WI 40
6 . Dalton Zehr Menomonie WI 38
7 . Jordan Theil Appleton WI 35
8 . Luke Fenhaus Wausau WI 35
9 . Sawyer Effertz Kaukauna WI 35
10 . Anthony Danta Orland Park IL 31
11 . Travis Volm Mosinee WI 31
12 . Darek Gress Neillsville WI 30
13 . Steve Apel West Bend WI 27
14 . Jason Weinkauf Merrill WI 25
15 . Ty Majeski Seymour WI 25
16 . Blake Brown 24
17 . Max Kahler Caledonia IL 24
18 . James Lynch 23
19 . Alex Prunty Lomira WI 21
20 . Jacob Nottestad Utica WI 21
21 . Lowell Bennett Neenah WI 21
22 . Maxwell Schultz Reedsville WI 19
23 . Scott Tomasik 19
24 . Brent Strelka Fox Valley WI 18
25 . Dennis Prunty Knowles WI 18
26 . Ty Fredrickson Lakeville MN 18
27 . Jerad deBoer 17
28 . Ricky Baker Plainfield IL 17
29 . Grant Griesbach Pewaukee WI 16
30 . John Deangelis Hubertus WI 16
31 . Paul Shafer 16
32 . R.J. Braun Wales WI 16
33 . Braison Bennett Neenah WI 15
34 . John Beale Verona WI 15
35 . Jevin Guralski Wausau WI 14
36 . Levon VanDerGeest Merrill WI 14
37 . Casey Johnson Stoughton WI 13
38 . D.J. Weltmeyer Dyer IN 13
39 . Jeff Van Oudenhoven Appleton WI 13
40 . Jim Weber 13
41 . Riley Stenjam Utica WI 13
42 . Stan Zolodz 13
43 . Dillon Mackesy Wausau WI 12
44 . Larry Schuler Minooka IL 12
45 . Andy Monday Appleton WI 11
46 . Austin Nason Roscoe IL 11
47 . Brady Bill Reedsburg WI 11
48 . M.G. Gajewski Wausau WI 11
49 . Braden Berge Elkhorn WI 10
50 . Jesse Oudenhoven Kaukauna WI 10
51 . Jordan Devoy Lake Geneva WI 10
52 . Mike Litchfield Portage WI 10
53 . Darren Jackson Wisconsin Rapids WI 9
54 . Tony Brutti 9
55 . Brad Mueller Random Lake WI 8
56 . Corey Jankowski Tomah WI 8
57 . James Gregait 8
58 . Javin Guralski 8
59 . Keith Tolf 8
60 . Kole Guralski Wausau WI 8
61 . Paul Paine Mound MN 8
62 . Ryan Farrell East Troy WI 8
63 . Brad Keith 7
64 . Jeremy Lepak Wausau WI 7
65 . Nathan Kelly 7
66 . Rayce Haase Wausau WI 7
67 . Scott Koerner 7
68 . Billy Mohn Lakeville MN 6
69 . Carter Christensen 6
70 . Jeff Storm East Troy WI 6
71 . Jesse Bernhagen Stevens Point WI 6
72 . Nicholas Van Greenville WI 6
73 . Tucker Miller Wausau WI 6
74 . Casey Roderick Lawrenceville GA 5
75 . Colin Reffner Wisconsin Rapids WI 5
76 . Kris Kelly Norway MI 5
77 . Mike White 5
78 . Bryan Syer-Keske Lakeville MN 4
79 . Bubba Pollard Senoia GA 4
80 . Cole Butcher Hantsport NS 4
81 . Kendrick Kreyer Wisconsin Dells WI 4
82 . Rich Bickle Jr. Edgerton WI 4
83 . Scott Dunning 4
84 . Brent Edmunds Brodhead WI 3
85 . Dave Gentile 3
86 . Dennis Smith Jr. South Beloit IL 3
87 . Derek Thorn Lakeport CA 3
88 . Derrick VanDreel Wisconsin Rapids WI 3
89 . Josh Nelms Lockport IL 3
90 . Kyle Calmes Appleton WI 3
91 . Mark Mackesy Wausau WI 3
92 . Ryan Destefano Colgate WI 3
93 . Andrew Morrissey De Forest WI 2
94 . Brad Gajewski 2
95 . Carson Hocevar Portage MI 2
96 . Chad Butz Green Bay WI 2
97 . Jon Reynolds Jr. Loves Park IL 2
98 . Steve Seligman 2
99 . Barrett Polhemus Wimberly TX 1
100 . Clay Curts 1
101 . Jacob Vanoskey Hartford WI 1
102 . Jason Wells 1
103 . Johnny Sauter 1
104 . Michael Haggar 1
105 . Noah Gajewski Marathon WI 1
106 . Steve Dorer Lakeland FL 1
107 . Tim Springstroh De Pere WI 1
108 . Tristan Swanson Elko MN 1
109 . William Sawalich Eden Prairie MN 1
110 . Wyatt Brooks Pardeeville WI 1
Midwest Pavement
Late Model Final 2023
Pos. Driver Hometown Points
1 . Jacob Goede Carver MN 94
2 . Jon Reynolds Jr. Loves Park IL 61
3 . Jesse Bernhagen Markesan WI 57
4 . Michael Bilderback South Beloit IL 53
5 . Mike Litchfield Portage WI 53
6 . Jake Ryan Elko MN 49
7 . Kendrick Kreyer Wisconsin Dells WI 48
8 . Chad Walen Prior Lake MN 41
9 . Jason Erickson Fort Atkinson WI 40
10 . Skylar Holzhausen Sparta WI 40
11 . J.J. Vanderloop Freedom WI 38
12 . Zack Riddle Brooklyn WI 36
13 . Jacob Gille Winnebago IL 34
14 . Austin Nason Roscoe IL 31
15 . Billy Mohn Lakeville MN 31
16 . Bryce Miller Columbus WI 30
17 . Nick Nolden Sun Prairie WI 30
18 . Todd Verhagen Freedom WI 28
19 . Shaun Scheel Lake Mills WI 26
20 . Steve Bachman West Salem WI 26
21 . Brent Kirchner La Crosse WI 25
22 . Randy Sargent South Beloit IL 25
23 . Stephen Scheel Lake Mills WI 25
24 . Brian Henry Omro WI 24
25 . Kacey Korsmo Atkins IA 24
26 . Karter Stark Waterloo WI 24
27 . Riley Stenjem Utica WI 24
28 . Ryan Gutknecht Oak Creek WI 24
29 . Dale Nottestad Cambridge WI 23
30 . Ryan Varner Shorewood MN 23
31 . Mike Carlson West Salem WI 22
32 . Zach Prunty Lomira WI 22
33 . Bobby Wilberg Beloit WI 21
34 . Brady Bill Reedsburg WI 21
35 . Brent Strelka Freedom WI 21
36 . Bryan Monday Appleton WI 21
37 . Dennis Smith Jr. South Beloit IL 21
38 . T.J. Spierowski Appleton WI 20
39 . Tyler Schley Richfield MN 20
40 . Adam Bendzick New Prague MN 19
41 . Tom Berens Slinger WI 19
42 . Brandon Reichenberger Appleton WI 18
43 . Owin Giles New Market MN 18
44 . Kody King Clear Lake IA 17
45 . Nate Van Wychen Appleton WI 17
46 . Nick Clements West Salem WI 17
47 . Adam Degenhardt Cashton WI 15
48 . Hunter Covell-Paine Mound MN 15
49 . Matt Urban Milwaukee WI 15
50 . Chris Marek Lakeville MN 14
51 . Jeremy Miller Rockton IL 14
52 . Steve Carlson West Salem WI 14
53 . Michael Grueneberg Madison WI 13
54 . Mike Held 13
55 . Dylan Schuyler Jefferson WI 12
56 . Josh Thiering Machesney Park IL 12
57 . Mahlon Borntreger Elroy WI 12
58 . Michael Gudurski 12
59 . Jeremy Wolff Chaska MN 11
60 . Kyle Smith Lake Mills WI 11
61 . Colton Morgan Baraboo WI 10
62 . Danny Lehmkuhl Cedar Rapids IA 10
63 . Grant Brown Prior Lake MN 10
64 . Griffin McGrath Cedar Rapids IA 10
65 . Hunter Stenson Wisconsin Dells WI 10
66 . Ronnie Osborne Fitchburg WI 10
67 . Jerimy Wagner Onalaska WI 9
68 . Michael Ostdiek Lakeville MN 9
69 . Will Rece Stoughton WI 9
70 . Jackson Lewis New Market MN 8
71 . Luke Westenberg Jefferson WI 8
72 . Thayran Rezin Tomah WI 8
73 . Tony Bagstad Westby WI 8
74 . Wyatt Lemmers Appleton WI 8
75 . Scott Wolf Appleton WI 7
76 . Tom Carlson West Salem WI 7
77 . Alex Papini Rockford IL 6
78 . Cody Hoseweart 6
79 . Jordan Miklas Hartland WI 6
80 . Mark Ironside Swisher IA 6
81 . Noah Eisenhower Freeport IL 6
82 . Shane Radtke Jr. Johnson Creek WI 6
83 . Steve Anderson Jr. Farmington MN 6
84 . Dan Fredrickson Lakeville MN 5
85 . Donny Reuvers Dundas MN 5
86 . Jason Vandenberg Kimberly WI 5
87 . Jayden Dahlberg South Beloit IL 5
88 . Jeff Holtz Franksville WI 5
89 . Jerry Mueller Richfield WI 5
90 . Jordan Devoy Lake Geneva WI 5
91 . Matt Gajewski Wausau WI 5
92 . Max Kahler Caledonia IL 5
93 . Mitch DeCamp 5
94 . Steve Rubeck Rockford IL 5
95 . Willie Nelson Solon Mills IL 5
96 . Braison Bennett Neenah WI 4
97 . Bryan Syerkeske Lakeville MN 4
98 . Devin Schmidt Lakeville MN 4
99 . Tyler Deporter 4
100 . Brent Edmunds Monticello WI 3
101 . Dennis Prunty 3
102 . Drew Bernhagen Markesan WI 3
103 . Dusty Mann Farmington MN 3
104 . Jacob Vanoskey Hartford WI 3
105 . Justin Woller Wausau WI 3
106 . Max Steinhorst Reedsburg WI 3
107 . Michael Beamish Eagan MN 3
108 . Wayne Mackesy 3
109 . Zach Braun Slinger WI 3
110 . Billy Braun Wales WI 2
111 . Clayton Storey Burlington WI 2
112 . Evan Hassler 2
113 . Frank Beldowski Rockford IL 2
114 . Jerry Ziemiecki Corcoran MN 2
115 . Mark Eswein Wisconsin Rapids WI 2
116 . Morgan Schissel Mondovi WI 2
117 . Tyler Hromadka Colgate WI 2
118 . Austin Jahr Farmington MN 1
119 . Brandon Laing South Beloit IL 1
120 . Cole Howard Baraboo WI 1
121 . Jerry Stafford II South Beloit IL 1
122 . Keith Busekros Loves Park IL 1
123 . Mike Beyer Machesney Park IL 1
124 . Mike King Jr. Appleton WI 1
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