By Jordan Kuehne

LACROSSE, Wis. (Saturday, October 9th, 2010) -- Steve Rubeck won the battle but Jeremy Miller won the war. After a commanding performance landed Rubeck in victory lane for his triumph in the Big 8 Series presented by Gandrud Chevrolet 'Oktoberfest 48' tonight, Miller took an unprecedented third series title home, locking up the championship at LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway with a seventh place effort.

The top ten was enough to clinch the title as Miller's top competition, James Swan, struggled for most of the day before ending up 14th. Rubeck's trip to Oktoberfest victory lane marked his first foray into the Big 8 Series winner's circle. The venerable veteran made an early pass for the lead and never looked back, surviving several late restarts to take the checkers.

Brad Powell assumed the early lead in the Big 8 Series presented by Gandrud Chevrolet ‘Oktoberfest 48’, pacing the 28 car field around LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway with Steve Rubeck in tow.

Rubeck didn’t wait long to apply some pressure to Powell’s bumper as the Illinois veteran eyed an opening on the low line, diving to the bottom groove with seven laps in the books to steal the top spot away. With the Big 8 championship up for grabs on the final night of the 2010 campaign, points leader Jeremy Miller entered the feature with a lead in the standings spanning just over 30 markers.

The two-time champion’s only competition for the title, James Swan, had to punch his ticket to the main event through a last chance race after failing to earn a spot in the field during a qualifying session that featured 53 cars trying to make the show. The first caution flew with 39 laps remaining for a Todd Korish accident on the backstretch.

With the green flag in the air on the restart, mayhem broke out when Nick Barstad got turned around on the frontstretch leaving nowhere to go for several drivers including Rod Brewe, Brent Kirchner, Dan Lensing, Ty Majeski, and Corey Janikowski. When racing resumed, it was Rubeck jumping back out front as Kyle Shear made a quick move to snatch second from Powell.

Miller set his sights on the top five and an even larger cushion in the points, peeking to the inside of fast qualifier Zach Riddle for fifth. Riddle rallied, pulling away from Miller as Rockford Speedway champion Tim Sargent took eighth from Matthew Henderson as the halfway mark came and went.

Skylar Holzhausen saw his top ten run evaporate with 22 laps to go when a cut down tire forced the young gun into the pits. Up front, Rubeck continued to extend his margin as the ‘Mayor of Monroe Center’ began to negotiate lapped traffic.

As the laps ticked off at a rapid fire pace, Jon Reynolds Jr. made his move into the top five. ‘Driver X’ exploded past Miller and Riddle to find himself in fifth as he tried to track down fourth place Tony Bagstad.
Reynolds Jr. worked over Bagstad with three laps left, trying a last lap pass on the bottom line that came up a few feet short. Nobody could catch Rubeck though as the Monroe Center driver rocketed into victory lane, collecting his first Big 8 Series win on short track racing’s biggest stage.

“The competition in this series is just amazing,” the ‘Oktoberfest 48’ winner admitted afterwards. “I got out front there and the car was just fast. Each restart I was able to get back out front and get away again because the tires held up so well and didn’t get dirty on us. I’ve got the crew to thank for giving me a chance to get out there and compete for the win.”

Jeremy Miller’s seventh place finish proved to be more than enough to lock up the title, enabling the Rockton, Illinois pilot to fly away with an unprecedented third Big 8 Series championship. Miller edged out James Swan by 47 points to make it a triumvirate of Big 8 Series crowns in one of the fastest growing racing series in the nation.

“It’s not easy to get one of these (Big 8 titles), that’s for sure,” Miller beamed while his crew members sprayed him with Gatorade and celebrated on the frontstretch. “We go back each year in the offseason and come back with a new package each time and it seems like the competition gets tighter and tighter every go-around. And that’s why it feels so good to be back on this stage with the big trophy because that’s what my team and I work for each year. It wouldn’t be possible without them busting their butts all year long to give me fast race cars.”

Kyle Shear’s stellar run landed him a second place finish and a top five finish in the Big 8 Series points standings, coming home fourth overall.

“We got out there early and I was racing Brad (Powell) hard for that top spot,” stated a happy Shear on the post-race interview stage. “The car was a little snug towards the latter stages of the race but it got off the corners well. We tore up so many race cars overall this year so it feels good to end the (Big 8 Series) season on a high note with this finish. Maybe we can come back and improve one spot in the JMCK63 tomorrow.”

Taking down the last podium spot with a third place effort was local driver Brad Powell.

“Steve just had too much for all of us out there,” Powell quipped after a hard-earned top three. “Once I got out there I tried to get away and get some distance but I could see him coming. The car was good off the corners and it’s nice to get a good finish because that’s no easy feat in this series.”

Tony Bagstad finished fourth while Jon Reynolds Jr. capped off a solid year in the Big 8 Series with a fifth place effort.

The Big 8 Series presented by Gandrud Chevrolet will have their annual banquet at the Forest Hills Lodge in Rockford, Illinois in January before making a return to the Midwest for another exciting season of racing action in 2011.

For more information on the Big 8 Series, visit the series website at www.big8series.com or call the Rockford Speedway Box Office at (815)633-1500.

Big 8 Series Results

2010 Race 6 of 6

Big 8 Series Late Models

'Oktoberfest 48' -- 1. Steve Rubeck, Monroe Center; 2. Kyle Shear, Roscoe; 3. Brad Powell, LaCrosse, Wis; 4. Tony Bagstad, Westby, Wis; 5. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 6. Zach Riddle, Brooklyn, Wis; 7. Jeremy Miller, Rockton; 8. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 9. Dale Nottestad, Cambridge, Wis; 10. Davey Pennel, Sparta, Wis; 11. Matthew Henderson, Coon Valley, Wis; 12. Shawn Pfaff, Sparta, Wis; 13. Jimmy Ganski, Rosholt, Wis; 14. James Swan, Lake Geneva, Wis; 15. Rich Schumann Jr., Portage, Wis; 16. Bob Wilberg, Beloit, Wis; 17. Bill Niles, Holmen, Wis; 18. Troy Rave (r), Westby, Wis; 19. Jon Lemke, Greenfield, Minn.; 20. Rod Brewe, Appleton, Wis; 21. Cardell Potter, Camp Douglas, Wis; 22. Skylar Holzhausen, Bangor, Wis; 23. Dan Lensing, Poplar Grove; 24. Nick Barstad (r), Prior Lake, Minn.; 25. Ty Majeski, Seymour, Wis; 26. Brent Kirchner, Lacrosse, Wis; 27. Corey Jankowski, Tomah, Wis; 28. Todd Korish, Holmen, Wis.

Last Chance "A" 01 -- 1. Skylar Holzhausen, Bangor, Wis; 2. Jimmy Ganski, Rosholt, Wis; 3. Chris Skrede, Sparta, Wis; 4. John Baumeister, Jr., Lake Geneva, Wis; 5. Bo Bennish, Wausau, Wis; 6. Cory Kemkes, Appleton, Wis; 7. Ed Szelagowski Jr, Westfield, Wis; 8. Bill Shavlik, West Bend, Wis; 9. Rick DeVito, Camp Douglas, Wis; 10. Troy Rave (r), Westby, Wis; 11. Mike Ehde, Prairie du Chien, Wis; 12. Derek Childs, Poynette, Wis; 13. Jacob Vanoskey (r), Hartford, Wis; 14. Jes Tenner, Melrose, Wis; 15. Adam Eckes, Auberndale, Wis; 16. Mike DeKeuster, Kenosha, Wis.

Last Chance "A" 02 -- 1. James Swan, Lake Geneva, Wis; 2. Jon Lemke, Greenfield, Minn.; 3. Shayne Poehnelt, Spring Green, Wis; 4. Tanner Whitten (r), Congerville; 5. Jason Hicks, Elkhorn, Wis; 6. Doug Brown, Prior Lake, Minn.; 7. Bob Wilberg, Beloit, Wis; 8. John Raupp, Reedsburg, Wis; 9. Ryan DeStefano, Colgate, Wis; 10. Travis Stanley, Prior Lake, Minn.; 11. Kyle Wolosek, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis; 12. Danny Heying, Waukesha, Wis; 13. Mark Brooner, Warrens, Wis; 14. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 15. Tim Hagen, La Crescent, Minn..

Heat 01 -- 1. Bill Niles, Holmen, Wis; 2. Todd Korish, Holmen, Wis; 3. Cory Kemkes, Appleton, Wis; 4. Skylar
Holzhausen, Bangor, Wis; 5. Jon Lemke, Greenfield, Minn.; 6. Tanner Whitten (r), Congerville; 7. Ed Szelagowski Jr, Westfield, Wis; 8. Mike Ehde, Prairie du Chien, Wis; 9. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 10. Tim Hagen, La Crescent, Minn..

Heat 02 -- 1. Dan Lensing, Poplar Grove; 2. Corey Jankowski, Tomah, Wis; 3. Jimmy Ganski, Rosholt, Wis; 4. Doug Brown, Prior Lake, Minn.; 5. Ryan DeStefano, Colgate, Wis; 6. Bo Bennish, Wausau, Wis; 7. Bill Shavlik, West Bend, Wis; 8. Mark Brooner, Warrens, Wis; 9. John Raupp, Reedsburg, Wis; 10. Mike DeKeuster, Kenosha, Wis.

Heat 03 -- 1. Ty Majeski, Seymour, Wis; 2. Brent Kirchner, Lacrosse, Wis; 3. Danny Heying, Waukesha, Wis; 4. Jason Hicks, Elkhorn, Wis; 5. Derek Childs, Poynette, Wis; 6. Chris Skrede, Sparta, Wis; 7. Kyle Wolosek, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis; 8. Travis Stanley, Prior Lake, Minn.; 9. Jes Tenner, Melrose, Wis; 10. Rick DeVito, Camp Douglas, Wis.

Heat 04 -- 1. Nick Barstad (r), Prior Lake, Minn.; 2. Cardell Potter, Camp Douglas, Wis; 3. James Swan, Lake Geneva, Wis; 4. Troy Rave (r), Westby, Wis; 5. John Baumeister, Jr., Lake Geneva, Wis; 6. Shayne Poehnelt, Spring Green, Wis; 7. Bob Wilberg, Beloit, Wis; 8. Jacob Vanoskey (r), Hartford, Wis; 9. Adam Eckes, Auberndale, Wis.

Heat 05 -- 1. Brad Powell, LaCrosse, Wis; 2. Steve Rubeck, Monroe Center; 3. Rod Brewe, Appleton, Wis; 4. Zach Riddle, Brooklyn, Wis; 5. Davey Pennel, Sparta, Wis; 6. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 7. Dale Nottestad, Cambridge, Wis.

Heat 06 -- 1. Kyle Shear, Roscoe; 2. Rich Schumann Jr., Portage, Wis; 3. Tony Bagstad, Westby, Wis; 4. Jeremy Miller, Rockton; 5. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 6. Matthew Henderson, Coon Valley, Wis; 7. Shawn Pfaff, Sparta, Wis.

Time Trial -- 1. Zach Riddle, Brooklyn, Wis; 2. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 3. Davey Pennel, Sparta, Wis; 4. Jeremy Miller, Rockton; 5. Steve Rubeck, Monroe Center; 6. Matthew Henderson, Coon Valley, Wis; 7. Dale Nottestad, Cambridge, Wis; 8. Tony Bagstad, Westby, Wis; 9. Rod Brewe, Appleton, Wis; 10. Rich Schumann Jr., Portage, Wis; 11. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 12. Shawn Pfaff, Sparta, Wis; 13. Brad Powell, LaCrosse, Wis; 14. Kyle Shear, Roscoe; 15. Skylar Holzhausen, Bangor, Wis; 16. Doug Brown, Prior Lake, Minn.; 17. Derek Childs, Poynette, Wis; 18. James Swan, Lake Geneva, Wis; 19. Cory Kemkes, Appleton, Wis; 20. Dan Lensing, Poplar Grove; 21. Danny Heying, Waukesha, Wis; 22. Cardell Potter, Camp Douglas, Wis; 23. Todd Korish, Holmen, Wis; 24. Jimmy Ganski, Rosholt, Wis; 25. Brent Kirchner, Lacrosse, Wis; 26. Bob Wilberg, Beloit, Wis; 27. Bill Niles, Holmen, Wis; 28. Mike DeKeuster, Kenosha, Wis; 29. Ty Majeski, Seymour, Wis; 30. Nick Barstad (r), Prior Lake, Minn.; 31. Jon Lemke, Greenfield, Minn.; 32. Corey Jankowski, Tomah, Wis; 33. Jason Hicks, Elkhorn, Wis; 34. Troy Rave (r), Westby, Wis; 35. Tanner Whitten (r), Congerville; 36. Ryan DeStefano, Colgate, Wis; 37. Chris Skrede, Sparta, Wis; 38. Shayne Poehnelt, Spring Green, Wis; 39. Ed Szelagowski Jr, Westfield, Wis; 40. John Raupp, Reedsburg, Wis; 41. Kyle Wolosek, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis; 42. John Baumeister, Jr., Lake Geneva, Wis; 43. Mike Ehde, Prairie du Chien, Wis; 44. Bo Bennish, Wausau, Wis; 45. Travis Stanley, Prior Lake, Minn.; 46. Jacob Vanoskey (r), Hartford, Wis; 47. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 48. Bill Shavlik, West Bend, Wis; 49. Jes Tenner, Melrose, Wis; 50. Adam Eckes, Auberndale, Wis; 51. Tim Hagen, La Crescent, Minn.; 52. Mark Brooner, Warrens, Wis; 53. Rick DeVito, Camp Douglas, Wis; 54. A.J. Henriksen, Mooresville, N.C.; 55. John DeAngelis, Jr, Hubertus, Wis.