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Two New Champs Hope To Claim NSTC Victories
By: Kevin Ramsell
Wednesday, September 13, 2006 (Loves Park, IL) – Two first-time Rockford
Speedway champions hope to continue their season success at the 41st Annual
Chicago International Trucks National Short Track Championships on September
22-24. Both easily come from different generations.
Gene Marocco is only 66 years young when he claimed the Coca-Cola RoadRunner
championship at the Rockford Speedway. He started racing six years ago
after he got the itch from competing in the annual Loves Park Police vs.
Businessman Grudge Race.
In 2004, he surprised not only himself but others by taking home the NSTC
RoadRunner title, “It was great,” Marocco stated. “I didn’t
realize it was such a big deal, but it was.”
The victory didn’t come easily for Marocco. “I was just hanging on
for the last five laps with Billy Robinson behind me,” Marocco
recalled. “We were both getting loose coming out of turn four, and it
was a case of who got loose the worse. But, we did hold on and it was
great.”
Brock Behnke, a second generation driver in his early 20’s took home his
first Grand National championship. His championship came based on some
advice of his father, Dave. “My dad always said just to finish up in
the top five and do the best you can,” Behnke stated. “And that is
what I have been trying to do.”
Behnke hopes to turn his NSTC luck around. “I would like to finish it
this year,” Behnke stated. “Over the last couple of years I
haven’t done so well. I would like to go out and try to win it or at
least finish it.”
Both Marocco and Behnke can’t wait for the 2006 edition of this historic
event. Behnke sums the weekend up the best. “Having the out of
town guys come and race, having fun with them. Everybody helps each
other out, it’s great.”
The three day event will feature 10 different divisions competing in 689 laps
of feature racing along with qualifying, qualifying races and last chance
races. Friday night will be highlighted with a Winged Women on Wheels
25-lap feature, Area Sportsman 50-lap feature, RoadRunners 41-lap feature, and
a 25-lap Hornet feature.
Saturday will feature qualifying and qualifying races for the CRA Super Series
along with the Grand National 41-lap feature, American Short Tracker 41-lap
feature, Hobby Stox 41-lap feature and the Big 8 Series Twin 75’s.
Sunday afternoon will close out the three day event the Mid-American Series
75-lap feature and the main event, the CRA Super Series Chicago International
Trucks 200.
Tickets are on sale now at the track office by calling (815) 633-1500 or
visiting the track’s website at www.rockfordspeedway.com.
Competitor booklets are available by calling the track office.
The 41st Annual Chicago International Trucks National Short Track
Championships at the Rockford Speedway, it will be “One Great Racing
Weekend.”
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