By Jordan Kuehne

OREGON, WI. (Sunday, May 3, 2009) – Ross Kenseth did it again tonight, collecting his third career BRP Big 8 Series presented by Gandrud Chevrolet feature win in the Joe Shear Classic 38. The 15-year-old Kenseth rallied from a sluggish start using a little bit of luck to best a field of 51 Big 8 Series late models at Madison International Speedway and in the process, bringing the packed house to their feet in approval.

Kenseth, the 2008 Big 8 Series Rookie of the Year, and fellow young gun Michael Bilderback led the field to green in one of two tribute events to the late Midwest short track legend, Joe Shear. Bilderback would jump out to the early lead in the 38-lap Big 8 Series main event as Kenseth faded from his second place starting spot back to fourth by lap three.

Brooklyn, Wi. native and Madison International Speedway regular Zach Riddle took the lead away from Michael Bilderback on lap 11 diving down low into turn one and making it stick to claim the top spot.

Fast qualifier Bobby Wilberg, pulling double duty on the evening, was the first victim on Kenseth’s charge back to the front, falling to fifth after Kenseth passed him on lap 14 and brought Scott Broughton with him into fourth. On lap 16, Kenseth got underneath Bilderback exiting turn two and took away second.

Up front, Riddle was pulling away from the field building a 20 car length lead by the time the first caution came out on lap 23 when Casey Johnson blew a motor entering turn one and knocked down the wall. Tim Sargent spun out on the frontstretch to avoid the accident. Riddle almost spun as well when he hit Johnson’s oil trail but managed to hold on.

Riddle's trouble wasn’t over though as he was forced to stop in the middle of turns one and two because his radio had come unplugged. Consequently, Riddle’s spotter was unable to prevent him from hitting a garbage barrel causing Riddle to smash the nose of his 2009 Ford Fusion in and dragging debris around the track. Riddle was forced to retire to the pits shortly after track workers removed the barrel from underneath his front valance and Kenseth took advantage of the leader's misfortune to inherit the top spot.

Kenseth would quickly jump out to a five car length lead on the restart but Scott Broughton closed the gap and started working the inside of Kenseth’s Blain’s Farm & Fleet 2009 Ford Fusion on lap 27. Broughton wasn’t able to complete the pass on Kenseth before the second caution of the race flew on lap 32 when Ed Szegalowski Jr. spun around in turn two.

The field would bunch up for another restart and this time Broughton would stay right on Kenseth’s back bumper when the green flag waved. It wouldn’t matter though as Kenseth pulled away from the field en route to the checkered flag winning by a solid eight car lengths over Broughton.

Rounding out the top five were two-time defending BRP Big 8 Series champion Jeremy Miller, Michael Bilderback and his uncle, 2006 Big 8 Series champion Ricky Bilderback.

Kyle Shear, driving the #36 tribute car in honor of Joe Shear, finished 12th.

Beloit’s Bobby Wilberg took home fast time in qualifying with a lap of 18.841 seconds.

Skylar Holzhausen and Brady Liddle brought home the wins in the last chance races.

The BRP Big 8 Series presented by Gandrud Chevrolet will be in action again on Tuesday, June 30th as they return to Madison International Speedway as part of The Swiss Colony All-Star Challenge event.

For more information on the Big 8 Series, please visit their website at www.big8series.com.

Big 8 Series Limited Late Models

A-Main 01 - 1. Ross Kenseth, Spring Valley; 2. Scott Broughton, Stoughton, Wis.; 3. Jeremy Miller, Rockton; 4. Michael Bilderback, South Beloit; 5. Ricky Bilderback, Rockton; 6. John Baumeister, Jr., Lake Geneva, Wis.; 7. Ryan Goldade, Edgerton, Wis; 8. Jesse Saunders, Sun Prairie, Wis; 9. Andrew Kulka, Deerfield, Wis; 10. Travis Dassow, West Bend, Wis; 11. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 12. Kyle Shear, Roscoe; 13. Skylar Holzhausen, Bangor, Wis; 14. Chad Stevens, Orfordville, Wis; 15. Brady Liddle, Oregon, Wis; 16. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 17. Kevin Knuese, Waukesha, Wis; 18. Rich Schumann Jr., Portage, Wis; 19. Todd Schmitz, Verona, Wis; 20. Steve Apel, Colgate, Wis; 21. Ed Szelagowski Jr, Westfield, Wis; 22. Bob Wilberg, Town of Beloit, Wis; 23. Zach Riddle, Brooklyn, Wis; 24. Casey Johnson, Stoughton, Wis.

Last Chance "A" 01 -- 1. Skylar Holzhausen, Bangor, Wis; 2. Rich Schumann Jr., Portage, Wis; 3. Chad Stevens, Orfordville, Wis; 4. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 5. Jeremy Lepak, Appleton, Wis; 6. Mike Lloyd, Davis; 7. Tim Noble, Janesville, Wis; 8. James Swan, Lake Geneva, Wis; 9. Jim Duchow, Kaukauna, Wis; 10. Ed Szelagowski Jr, Westfield, Wis; 11. Mike Taylor, Stoughton, Wis; 12. Barnaby Tomazevic, Appleton, Wis; 13. Justin Schultz, Rio, Wis; 14. Todd Oliver, Bangor, Wis; 15. Brad Becker, Burlington, Wis; 16. Brad Norgard, Pell Lake, Wis; 17. Tim Springstroh, Kaukauna, Wis; 18. John Ovadal, Jr., Watertown, Wis.

Last Chance "A" 02 -- 1. Brady Liddle, Oregon, Wis; 2. Steve Apel, Colgate, Wis; 3. Todd Schmitz, Verona, Wis; 4. Casey Johnson, Stoughton, Wis; 5. Cardell Potter, Camp Douglas, Wis; 6. Jacob Finney, Sycamore; 7. Kevin Knuese, Waukesha, Wis; 8. Nathan Oppliger, Oregon, Wis; 9. Adam Degenhardt, LaCrosse, Wis; 10. Brent Kirchner, Lacrosse, Wis; 11. Tyler Kelley, Oregon, Wis; 12. Dann Barber, Oregon, Wis; 13. Davey Pennel, Sparta, Wis; 14. Vern Fagerberg, Bloomingdale; 15. Jacob Vanoskey, Hartford, Wis; 16. Jonny Hentges, Jordan, Minn.; 17. Alex Jones, Middleton, Wis; 18. Ty Reedy, Holmen, Wis.

Time Trial -- 1. Bob Wilberg, Town of Beloit, Wis; 2. Jeremy Miller, Rockton; 3. Zach Riddle, Brooklyn, Wis; 4. Ross Kenseth, Spring Valley; 5. Michael Bilderback, South Beloit; 6. Scott Broughton, Stoughton, Wis; 7. John Baumeister, Jr., Lake Geneva, Wis; 8. Ricky Bilderback, Rockton; 9. Ryan Goldade, Edgerton, Wis; 10. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 11. Andrew Kulka, Deerfield, Wis; 12. Kyle Shear, Roscoe; 13. Jesse Saunders, Sun Prairie, Wis; 14. Travis Dassow, West Bend, Wis; 15. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 16. Cardell Potter, Camp Douglas, Wis; 17. Rich Schumann Jr., Portage, Wis; 18. Brady Liddle, Oregon, Wis; 19. Skylar Holzhausen, Bangor, Wis; 20. Steve Apel, Colgate, Wis; 21. Chad Stevens, Orfordville, Wis; 22. Todd Schmitz, Verona, Wis; 23. Mike Lloyd, Davis; 24. Casey Johnson, Stoughton, Wis; 25. Tim Springstroh, Kaukauna, Wis; 26. Nathan Oppliger, Oregon, Wis; 27. Jeremy Lepak, Appleton, Wis; 28. Ty Reedy, Holmen, Wis; 29. John Ovadal, Jr., Watertown, Wis; 30. Adam Degenhardt, LaCrosse, Wis; 31. Tim Noble, Janesville, Wis; 32. Tyler Kelley, Oregon, Wis; 33. James Swan, Lake Geneva, Wis; 34. Kevin Knuese, Waukesha, Wis; 35. Jim Duchow, Kaukauna, Wis; 36. Jacob Finney, Sycamore; 37. Barnaby Tomazevic, Appleton, Wis; 38. Brent Kirchner, Lacrosse, Wis; 39. Ed Szelagowski Jr, Westfield, Wis; 40. Jacob Vanoskey, Hartford, Wis; 41. Justin Schultz, Rio, Wis; 42. Jonny Hentges, Jordan, Minn.; 43. Mike Taylor, Stoughton, Wis; 44. Davey Pennel, Sparta, Wis; 45. Brad Becker, Burlington, Wis; 46. Alex Jones, Middleton, Wis; 47. Brad Norgard, Pell Lake, Wis; 48. Vern Fagerberg, Bloomingdale; 49. Todd Oliver, Bangor, Wis; 50. Dann Barber, Oregon, Wis; 51. A.J. Henriksen, Mooresville, N.C..