Rockford Speedway/NSTC PR
LOVES PARK, IL (Saturday, October 1, 2011) – The famous wreath was about two feet off the ground, but Ty Majeski felt like a bigger man as he held off some of the best Big 8 Series competitors to win Parent Petroleum 108 on Saturday night at Rockford Speedway. Majeski, along with Doug Bennett, Ray Search and Mike Marden each etched their names into the history books for the 46th Annual National Short Track Championships.

“It is unbelievable. I held off Miller, Rubeck, and Wilberg for the win. This is unbelievable,” Majeski said. “We have come a long way this year.”

Majeski took the early lead over Kyle Shear on lap three. Majeski had a car length lead on Jesse Bernhagen and Jeremy Miller until the first caution flew on lap 39 when Tim Sargent and Dale Nottestad made contact coming off of turn two causing Nottestad to spin.

A lap was completed until a melee in turn three in which James Swan and Wayne Friemund were involved and went to the pits. Majeski continued to lead at the re-start with Bernhagen in second, Miller in third, Jake Gille in fourth and Steve Rubeck in fifth.

Another caution flew on lap 41 when Chris Blawat and Casey Johnson made contact coming off of turn four causing Blawat to go around. On the re-start, Miller was able to get by Bernhagen for second and set his sights on Majeski.

With 62 laps to go, Miller looked on the inside of Majeski for the lead but Majeski was able to hold on to the top spot. Miller tucked in behind him to plan his next opportunity. Rubeck, the current Big 8 Series point leader, moved up to fourth.

At the halfway mark, it was Majeski, Miller, Bernhagen, Rubeck, and Jake Gille. Bobby Wilberg, who started 17th, worked his way up to sixth.

Caution flew on lap 71 when Kyle Shear was going slow coming off of turn four and appeared to blew his engine crossing the start/finish line causing him to spin into the infield. On the re-start, Rubeck took advantage of the choose a lane re-start by being the first car on the inside line. Rubeck and Miller battled for second when the green flag dropped. Miller was able to hold on to the spot while Majeski still held on to the lead. Wilberg was up to fourth.

Miller was looking for a way to get by Majeski while Rubeck was doing the same to Miller. The caution flew with 28 laps to go when Nottestad and John Beinlich made contact in turns one and two.

Caution flew with 20 laps to go when Chad Stevens went for a wild ride as he rode the top of the wall in turns one and two. Stevens was all right but was done for the night.

On the re-start, Wilberg took the inside line on re-start and took over second from Miller. A lap later Wilberg would spin coming out of turn two and make contact with Jake Gille. Wilberg would head to the pits and was done for the night.

Ten cars were involved in a melee in turn three with 18 laps to go as Miller made contact with Casey Johnson causing Miller to spin in front of the field. Miller told officials that he got loose and Johnson was given his spot back.

Rubeck took over the second spot and began to challenge Majeski for the lead with 15 laps to go. Rubeck would go on the inside to challenge, but Majeski was getting a lot of momentum on the outside to hold on to the top spot.

Dale Nottestad then went for is own wild ride in turns one and two to bring out the caution with eight laps to go. Nottestad was able to walk away.

It was a two-car battle for the win in the last eight laps between Majeski and Rubeck. Rubeck would make the move to the inside coming out of the final corner, but it was Majeski taking his first Big 8 Series win.

Casey Johnson came back to finish third with Jake Gille in fourth. Tim Sargent rounded out the top five.

Big 8 Series Limited Late Models
A-Main 01 -- 1. Ty Majeski (r), Seymour, Wis; 2. Steve Rubeck, Rockford; 3. Casey Johnson, Stoughton, Wis; 4. Jacob Gille, Machesney Park; 5. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 6. Jesse Bernhagen, Markesan, Wis; 7. Tony Bagstad, Westby, Wis; 8. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 9. Dave Edwards, Salem, Wis; 10. Davey Pennel, Sparta, Wis; 11. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 12. Jeremy Miller, Rockton; 13. Dale Nottestad, Cambridge, Wis; 14. John Beinlich, Prairie View; 15. Chris Blawat, Palmyra, Wis; 16. Bob Wilberg, Beloit, Wis; 17. Chad Stevens, Orfordville, Wis; 18. Steve Dobbratz, Rio, Wis; 19. Tom Gille, Winnebago; 20. Kyle Shear, Roscoe; 21. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 22. Brandon Eash, Machesney Park; 23. James Swan, Lake Geneva, Wis; 24. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 25. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford.

Last Chance "A" 01 -- 1. Steve Dobbratz, Rio, Wis; 2. Dave Edwards, Salem, Wis; 3. Tony Bagstad, Westby, Wis; 4. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 5. James Swan, Lake Geneva, Wis; 6. Davey Pennel, Sparta, Wis; 7. Eddie May, Crystal Lake; 8. Brady Liddle, Oregon, Wis; 9. Brad Norgard, Pell Lake, Wis; 10. Jacob Finney, Sycamore; 11. Ed Szelagowski Jr, Westfield, Wis; 12. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 13. John Paul Odegaard, Brooklyn Center, Minn.; 14. Jody Krueger, Edgerton, Wis; 15. Tory Adams, Madison, Wis.

Heat 01 -- 1. John Beinlich, Prairie View; 2. Bob Wilberg, Beloit, Wis; 3. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 4. Brady Liddle, Oregon, Wis; 5. Brad Norgard, Pell Lake, Wis; 6. Davey Pennel, Sparta, Wis; 7. Eddie May, Crystal Lake; 8. Jacob Finney, Sycamore; 9. Tory Adams, Madison, Wis; 10. Cody Lipstreuer, Genoa City, Wis.

Heat 02 -- 1. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 2. Casey Johnson, Stoughton, Wis; 3. Steve Dobbratz, Rio, Wis; 4. Dave Edwards, Salem, Wis; 5. Tony Bagstad, Westby, Wis; 6. James Swan, Lake Geneva, Wis; 7. Ed Szelagowski Jr, Westfield, Wis; 8. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 9. John Paul Odegaard, Brooklyn Center, Minn.; 10. Jody Krueger, Edgerton, Wis.
Qualifying Dash 01 -- 1. Kyle Shear, Roscoe; 2. Jacob Gille, Machesney Park; 3. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 4. Tom Gille, Winnebago; 5. Steve Rubeck, Rockford; 6. Chad Stevens, Orfordville, Wis; 7. Dale Nottestad, Cambridge, Wis.

Qualifying Dash 02 -- 1. Ty Majeski (r), Seymour, Wis; 2. Jesse Bernhagen, Markesan, Wis; 3. Jeremy Miller, Rockton; 4. Brandon Eash, Machesney Park; 5. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 6. Chris Blawat, Palmyra, Wis; 7. Jerry Gille, Roscoe.

Time Trial -- 1. Steve Rubeck, Rockford; 2. Jeremy Miller, Rockton; 3. Tom Gille, Winnebago; 4. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 5. Chad Stevens, Orfordville, Wis; 6. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 7. Jacob Gille, Machesney Park; 8. Jesse Bernhagen, Markesan, Wis; 9. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 10. Chris Blawat, Palmyra, Wis; 11. Kyle Shear, Roscoe; 12. Ty Majeski (r), Seymour, Wis; 13. Dale Nottestad, Cambridge, Wis; 14. Brandon Eash, Machesney Park; 15. Bob Wilberg, Beloit, Wis; 16. Casey Johnson, Stoughton, Wis; 17. Eddie May, Crystal Lake; 18. Steve Dobbratz, Rio, Wis; 19. John Beinlich, Prairie View; 20. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 21. Davey Pennel, Sparta, Wis; 22. Ed Szelagowski Jr, Westfield, Wis; 23. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 24. James Swan, Lake Geneva, Wis; 25. Zack Riddle, Cottage Grove, Wis; 26. Tony Bagstad, Westby, Wis; 27. Jacob Finney, Sycamore; 28. Dave Edwards, Salem, Wis; 29. Brady Liddle, Oregon, Wis; 30. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 31. Brad Norgard, Pell Lake, Wis; 32. Jody Krueger, Edgerton, Wis; 33. Tory Adams, Madison, Wis; 34. John Paul Odegaard, Brooklyn Center, Minn.; 35. Cody Lipstreuer, Genoa City, Wis.