03/09/2026
Wow another great story from Stan Kalwasinski can you imagine 500 laps in one of those cars?
“Back in the Day” – Before Rockford Speedway’s Hugh Deery and his Director of Competition Bill Earnest formulated plans for the annual National Short Track Championships stock car special in 1966, the quarter mile, banked paved oval was the scene of a numerous season-ending special events.
As documented countless times, stock car racing legend Dick Trickle was the winner of the inaugural NSTC 200, wheeling his two-barrel-equipped ’63 Ford No.99, to the win ahead of O’Hare Stadium champion Roy Martinelli and Minnesota’s Bruce Sparrman. Trickle took $1,645 back to his home in Wisconsin for his weekend effort. Fastest qualifier and Rockford late model champion William “Wh**ey” Gerken placed 14th in the 200 after experiencing tire issues. 17 of the race’s 30 starters were still running at the finish with Trickle being the only driver to complete 200 laps.
Previously…
The Forest City 200 was held on Saturday night, September 25, 1965, with Gene Marmor, wheeling his 1964 Chevy convertible No.5, defeating Bill Lutz. Lutz, Wh**ey Gerken and Joe Shear were lap leaders before Marmor took command. Earlier, Gerken had set a new track record during time trials with a lap of 15.34. Marmor was crowned the speedway’s late model champion.
The 1964 edition of the Forest City 200, held on Saturday night, October 3, with Gene Marmor scoring the win ahead of Roy Martinelli and Al Shear. Track champion Bob Chapman was not among the top finishers.
Al Shear won the Forest City special, 250 laps the distance, in 1963 with Jim Birks and Marmor winning 250 lappers respectively in 1962 and 1961. Birks bested Red Aase and Lauren Frazier in 1962 with Marmor topping Gerken in 1961. Track champions were Red Aase in 1963, Al Shear in 1962 and Don Harvey in 1961.
The speedway planned a 500-lap Monza-style event for October 2, 1960 with five 100-lap feature races on tap. Rich Kleich won the opening 100 lapper with Bill Van Allen winning the second ‘100’ and Kleich repeating a win in the third ‘100’. Track champion Don Harvey captured the fourth ‘100’ with Marmor taking the fifth and final 100-lap chase, gathering enough points to score the overall Monza championship.
1959 saw a 100-lap main event close the Rockford Speedway season with Gene Wood scoring the win ahead of Vaughn Gerke, Harvey, Aase and Ort Purdy. Track champion Jim Birks set a new qualifying track record with a lap of 17.30 seconds.
Modified stock cars closed the season in 1958 with Wisconsin’s Miles Melius winning a 100-lap headliner in September. Eddie Stillman and Tony Segro chased Melius to the checkered flag. Melius was the event’s fast time with a record lap of 15.91 seconds. Bob Udell was named the speedway’s champion
A 500-lap championship race was scheduled to close out the 1957 season on September 29. Gene Wood with relief help from Bob Udell captured the 500 lapper. The Wood/Udell duo bested Tony Segro and Elvar Lund, who teamed up for a second place finish. Speedway champion Red Aase finished third followed by Jim Birks, Elmer Musgrave, Milt Curcio, Nick Karelas, Bud Koehler, Vaughn Gerke and Bill Van Allen.
Tilford “Red” Aase was the winner of a 200-lap chase in September of 1956. Aase defeated Udell, Chet Scott, Owen Schneider and Ed Schroeder on Sunday afternoon, September 30. Aase claimed his first of three career track titles.
In 1955, the speedway scheduled another 500 lapper, which was cut short by rain at the 360-lap mark with Aase coming home the winner ahead of Van Allen, Hal Ruyle and Wh**ey Johnson. With a 250-lap break taking place, 18 or 34 starters took the checkered flag at the shortened ending distance. Don Harvey was the track champion. On the same afternoon, Indiana’s Dick Good won a 25-lap hot rod feature with Nick Karelas capturing a 20-lap main event for stock cars. Earlier, Good set a new track qualifying mark of 16.29.
On September 6, 1954, Skippy Michaels won a 250-lap stock car race ahead of Jim Birks and Tony Venturini. Tom Pistone was crowned the speedway’s Hurricane Racing champion.
1953 saw Chicago’s Ken Netzel win a 150 lapper on September 27. Netzel, who led the final 103 laps, defeated Lou Fegers, Herman Jordan and Larry Odo – all who were familiar with the Rockford oval and Soldier Field in Chicago. Pistone was the Hurricane stock car champion at both Rockford and Soldier Field with Al Shear winning the title at Milwaukee.
A 200-lap championship race was held on Sunday afternoon, September 28, 1952 with Kenny Johnson, from Franklin Park, Ill., nailing down the win. Johnson took the checkered flag with a lap and a half margin over Netzel, who was followed by Odo, Tony Venturini, Skippy Michaels and Rex Lohneis.
Future Indianapolis 500 winner Jim Rathmann coped a 50-lap stock car race on Labor Day night, September 3, 1951. Rathmann, who migrated from California to the Midwest, finished ahead of Pistone, Jordan and Kenny Johnson. Al Shear was named the Rockford stock car champion.
Chicago’s Johnny Aue was the winner of a 150-lap stock car chase on October 22, 1950, which closed out the season. Aue defeated Irv Kerbel and Bill Vanstone. California native Pat Flaherty, who would win the Indianapolis 500 in 1956, took overall stock car championship honors.
Stock cars and hot rods shared the weekly schedule of racing at the Rockford Speedway in 1949. Gilbert “Skippy” Michaels closed out the season with double feature stock car victories on October16, 1949, winning a 100 lapper in the afternoon and a 78-lap race in the evening. Jim Rathmann was crowned the speedway’s hot rod champion. Stock cars first appeared at the raceway on June 29, 1949 with Joe Granatelli winning the night’s main event.
Rockford Speedway opened for the first time on Wednesday evening, May 26, 1948, with California’s Johnny McDowell winning the night’s 20-lap midget racing feature race which was sanctioned by the American Automobile Association (AAA). By July, hot rod racing became part of the speedway’s weekly schedule with Vince Granatelli scoring the first hot rod feature race on Saturday night, July 10, 1948. The curtain came down on Rockford Speedway’s inaugural season on Sunday afternoon, October 17, 1948, with “Wild Willie” Sternquist, from Evanston, Ill., winning the day’s 75-lap hot rod feature race ahead of Dick Rathmann and Ray Erickson.
Photos: Gene Marmor and his No.5 late model won a number of big, season-ending, races at the Rockford Speedway. Track champions Al Shear ( #18), Red Aase ( #70), Jim Birks ( #48) and Don Harvey ( #7) were also winners at the speedway along with other early winners Gene Wood ( #53), Skippy Michaels ( #48), Jim Rathmann ( #43), Pat Flaherty ( #2) and “Wild Willie” Sternquist ( #29). (Rockford Speedway Photos)
