By Jordan Kuehne

LOVES PARK, Ill. (Sunday, April 18th, 2010) – A sunny day became even brighter for young Casey Johnson when the hotshoe from Wisconsin held off James Swan in what proved to be the winning move, etching his name into the history books with a victory in the 33rd annual Spring Classic at the Rockford Speedway on Sunday. Johnson fended off Swan’s late race challenge to finish second in the season-opening BRP Big 8 Series presented by Gandrud Chevrolet ‘Spring Classic 58’, but claimed the top spot after original race winner Jon Reynolds Jr. was disqualified during post-race inspection for an illegal carburetor.

Two-time National Short Track Champion Jeremy Lepak jumped out to the early lead in the 58-lap main event for the BRP Big 8 Series presented by Gandrud Chevrolet. Fast qualifier Jon Reynolds Jr. wasted no time in moving up from his fourth place starting spot to challenge for the lead, using a slide job to push his rocket to the top spot on lap four.

Reynolds Jr. began to build a cushion up front while the battle for second heated up. Lepak and Tim Sargent went door-to-door for two laps before Sargent finally grabbed the bridesmaids’ position. The fast and furious action throughout the field led to the first caution as Bobby Wilberg got together with Wayne Freimund on the front stretch with 13 circuits completed.

On the ensuing restart “Driver X”, Jon Reynolds Jr, exploded to the front as Casey Johnson and 2009 Big 8 Series Rookie of the Year James Swan battled for third. The pair fell back into the clutches of two-time series champion Jeremy Miller, who worked his way past Johnson on the outside for the fourth position.

Swan held off Miller and mounted a challenge of his own on Sargent for second, playing bumper tag with the second-place driver as the race hit the halfway mark. The battle for second soon became a three-car melee as Miller once again joined the fray, peeking on the inside of Swan for third.

The second yellow flag of the race flew with 16 laps remaining as Jimmy Ganski got turned around in the middle of turn two. Veteran Steve Dobbratz made an early exit to the pits during the caution after a mechanical failure ended his day early.

Tim Sargent suffered a major disappointment on the restart, getting together with Reynolds Jr. on the front stretch and spinning into the infield, forcing the South Beloit driver to the rear of the field. Swan was the benefactor of Sargent’s mishap, taking the inside line as the green flag waved.

Reynolds Jr. managed to nudge by Swan exiting turn four as Casey Johnson re-entered the picture, jumping past Swan on the outside and inheriting the runner-up spot. Another caution followed for Kyle Wolosek’s wounded car which started on fire due to a fuel leak. Wolosek made it into the pits without harm as Johnson eyed his opportunity to steal the win away from the dominant “Driver X”.

The spin cycle was not over though, as Tanner Whitten spun into the turn two outside wall with five laps remaining, bringing out another caution in the process.

The final restart featured another Reynolds Jr. maneuver to break free of Johnson’s machine, this time on the outside as the Rockford regular staved off the Wisconsin driver to cross the finish line first. Reynolds Jr. was disqualified during post-race inspection however, handing the win over to Johnson whose name is now etched forever in the Rockford Speedway history books. The victory was Johnson's first in the Big 8 Series and elevates him into the early points lead.

“It was a solid day for us,” a pleased Johnson stated after the race. “We fought hard and tried to keep the car clean all day, and in the end we did that. James (Swan) was really pushing us down the stretch but we held him off.”

A hungry Swan collected second while Jeremy Miller started out his 2010 season with a solid third-place finish. Jeremy Lepak made a late race charge to come home fourth and Matt Berger reacquainted himself with Rockford, exhibiting his skills with a strong fifth-place showing to round out the top five.

Kyle Shear rallied from a 15th place starting spot to finish sixth while Wisconsin native Corey Jankowski jumped 13 spots to claim the seventh position. The Powersource Hard Charger Award went to Mark Hartline, who scored a top-10 with a ninth-place finish after beginning the race in 24th.

The BRP Big 8 Series presented by Gandrud Chevrolet will be in action again on Memorial Day weekend when central Wisconsin speed plant Golden Sands Speedway plays host to the stars and cars, culminating in a 58-lap showdown. The Wisconsin Challenge Series super late models will be alongside as the doubleheader event rocks the Midwest on Monday, May 31st.

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

Big 8 Series Late Models

'Spring Classic 58' -- 1. Casey Johnson, Stoughton, Wis; 2. James Swan, Lake Geneva, Wis; 3. Jeremy Miller, Rockton; 4. Jeremy Lepak, Ringle, Wis; 5. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 6. Kyle Shear, Roscoe; 7. Corey Jankowski, Tomah, Wis; 8. Jimmy Ganski, Rosholt, Wis; 9. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 10. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 11. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 12. Jacob Finney, Sycamore; 13. Tanner Whitten, Congerville; 14. Ed Szelagowski Jr, Westfield, Wis; 15. Troy Rave, Westby, Wis; 16. Bob Wilberg, Beloit, Wis; 17. Jacob Vanoskey, Hartford, Wis; 18. Kyle Wolosek, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis; 19. Steve Dobbratz, Rio, Wis; 20. Eddie May, Crystal Lake; 21. Alex Papini, Machesney Park; 22. Michael Bilderback, South Beloit; 23. Mike Lloyd, Davis; 24. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford.

Last Chance "A" 01 -- 1. Mike Lloyd, Davis; 2. Corey Jankowski, Tomah, Wis; 3. Troy Rave, Westby, Wis; 4. Kyle Wolosek, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis; 5. Bill Shavlik, West Bend, Wis; 6. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 7. Vern Fagerberg, Bloomingdale; 8. Todd Handrick, Wausau, Wis; 9. Ed Szelagowski Jr, Westfield, Wis; 10. John Beinlich, Prairie View.

Heat 01 -- 1. Kyle Shear, Roscoe; 2. Jacob Finney, Sycamore; 3. Bill Shavlik, West Bend, Wis; 4. Troy Rave, Westby, Wis; 5. Vern Fagerberg, Bloomingdale; 6. John Beinlich, Prairie View; 7. Mike Lloyd, Davis.

Heat 02 -- 1. Tanner Whitten, Congerville; 2. Jacob Vanoskey, Hartford, Wis; 3. Corey Jankowski, Tomah, Wis; 4. Kyle Wolosek, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis; 5. Todd Handrick, Wausau, Wis; 6. Ed Szelagowski Jr, Westfield, Wis; 7. Mark Hartline, Gilberts.

Time Trial -- 1. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 2. Michael Bilderback, South Beloit; 3. Jeremy Miller, Rockton; 4. James Swan, Lake Geneva, Wis; 5. Jimmy Ganski, Rosholt, Wis; 6. Alex Papini, Machesney Park; 7. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 8. Bob Wilberg, Beloit, Wis; 9. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 10. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 11. Eddie May, Crystal Lake; 12. Jeremy Lepak, Ringle, Wis; 13. Casey Johnson, Stoughton, Wis; 14. Steve Dobbratz, Rio, Wis; 15. Troy Rave, Westby, Wis; 16. Corey Jankowski, Tomah, Wis; 17. Kyle Shear, Roscoe; 18. Tanner Whitten, Congerville; 19. John Beinlich, Prairie View; 20. Jacob Vanoskey, Hartford, Wis; 21. Jacob Finney, Sycamore; 22. Ed Szelagowski Jr, Westfield, Wis; 23. Bill Shavlik, West Bend, Wis; 24. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 25. Mike Lloyd, Davis; 26. Kyle Wolosek, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis; 27. Vern Fagerberg, Bloomingdale; 28. Todd Handrick, Wausau, Wis; 29. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 30. Skylar Holzhausen, Bangor, Wis.