Corso Captures Big 8 Lake Geneva Win! By Kevin Ramsell

October 2, 2005;  Lake Geneva, WI. - In just his second series start, a determined Rick Corso regained the lead from five time defending Rockford Speedway Champion Ricky Bilderback with only four laps remaining to capture the 58 lap Big 8 Series feature Sunday afternoon at Lake Geneva Raceway. Kris Kelly, Jeff Goodwin and Sonny Schoffen followed the pair across the finish line during the Fall Classic Weekend.

Photo Highlights

Rick Corso (#88) held off a strong challenge from Ricky Bilderback to win the Big-8 Series Late Model feature. Bobby Wilberg won the second Big-8 dash. Ken Johnson won the first of the Big-8 series dashes.

Corso and Goodwin brought the field of twenty-four cars to the green flag with Corso jumping to the early lead. Goodwin tucked his Ford Taurus to the rear bumper of Corso's Monte Carlo as the likes to Tony Bagstad, Kris Kelly, Ricky Bilderback and current Big 8 point leader Jon Reynolds, Jr mounted their charge from mid-pack. The former Norway Speedway Champion, Kelly made his way into third and made his bid for second from Goodwin for nearly half
a dozen laps.

Kelly pulled into second just as the caution flag waved for the third and final time, relegating him back to third, with Bilderback in fourth for the restart. It didn't take long for Corso and Goodwin to pull away from the rest of the field as Kelly was left to battle with Bilderback, eventually surrendering the third position to Bilderback with twenty laps remaining. Bilderback would soon discard Goodwin, allowing him to apply heavy pressure to Corso.

While the lead pack battled, local favorites Sonny Schoffen and 2005 Lake Geneva Track Champion Josh Wallace began picking off positions in the top ten by utilizing the outside lane. Bagstad, Reynolds, Jr. and Mike Beyer had their hands full with the hometown talent, allowing the lead four to break away.

Bilderback used the inside line to pull even with Corso on the forty-fourth circuit, but neither driver could gain sole possession
of the lead. As flagman Greg Oliver signaled five laps remaining, Bilderback used a slip by Corso to pull ahead by just a fender length. However the crate powered machine of Corso roared back on the outside just one circuit later to regain the top spot. The two leaders continued their side by side battle for the remaining laps leaving Kris Kelly with the best seat in the house.

At the checkers, Corso crossed the line first, Bilderback scored his second straight runner-up finish, Kelly settled for a career
best third place run, with Goodwin a strong fourth and Schoffen in fifth after recovering from an earlier encounter with the
backstretch wall. Completing the top ten were, Wallace, Bagstad, Reynolds, Jr., former Mid-American Truck Series Champion Jeff Steenbergen and Beyer.

The Big 8 Series will crown their first ever Champion this Sunday during the 36th annual Oktoberfest Race Weekend at La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway. The top eight teams competing from current series points will be locked into the feature field for the Fest 40 with the remaining sixteen positions being filled by qualifying heats and a last chance race.

Series officials recently announced that they will use transponders during Sunday's practice session to determine the starting
grid for the qualifying heats. For more information on the Big 8 Series including rules and current points standings, please visit
www.big8series.com or call the Series Office at 815-633-1500. Tickets are still available for the Oktoberfest Race Weekend, go to www.lacrossespeedway.com or call the Speedway Box Office at 608-786-1525 for more information.

Big 8 Series Late Models
A-Main 01 -- 1. Rick Corso, McHenry; 2. Ricky Bilderback, Rockton; 3. Kris Kelly, Norway, Mich.; 4. Jeff Goodwin, Silver Lake, Wis; 5. Sonny Schoffen, Crystal Lake; 6. Josh Wallace, Pell Lake, Wis; 7. Tony Bagstad, Westby, Wis; 8. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Roscoe; 9. Jeff Steenbergen, Waupun, Wis; 10. Mike Beyer, Machesney Park; 11. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 12. Danny Heying, Waukesha, Wis; 13. Jason Erickson, Lake Mills, Wis; 14. Kyle Jarlsberg, Cambridge, Wis; 15.John Baumeister, Jr., Lake Geneva, Wis; 16. Mike Lloyd, Machesney Park; 17. Brian Ulrich, Racine, Wis; 18. ToddVerhagen, Kaukauna, Wis; 19. George Bohn, Machesney Park; 20. Mike Ehde, Prairie du Chien, Wis; 21. Bob Kahler,Belvidere; 22. Randy VanRoy, Kaukauna, Wis; 23. Mark Miller, Columbus, Wis; 24. Dr. Ken Johnson, Park Ridge.

Heat 01 -- 1. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 2. Jeff Steenbergen, Waupun, Wis; 3. Kyle Jarlsberg, Cambridge, Wis; 4. Mike Lloyd, Machesney Park; 5. Todd Verhagen, Kaukauna, Wis; 6. Dennis Schmidt, Juneau, Wis; 7. Mike Ehde, Prairie du Chien, Wis; 8. Christopher LaRocque, Appleton, Wis; 9. Jeff Babb, Elgin; 10. James Gleesing, Richmond, Wis.

Heat 02 -- 1. Sonny Schoffen, Crystal Lake; 2. Brian Ulrich, Racine, Wis; 3. John Baumeister, Jr., Lake Geneva, Wis; 4. George Bohn, Machesney Park; 5. Bob Kahler, Belvidere; 6. Mike Taylor, Stoughton, Wis; 7. Kevin McCann, Monee; 8.Andy Evraets, Menominee Falls, Wis; 9. Kyle Melvin, Machesney Park; 10. Jack Rabey, Brighton, Wis.

Qualifying Dash 01 -- 1. Dr. Ken Johnson, Park Ridge; 2. Mike Beyer, Machesney Park; 3. Josh Wallace, Pell Lake,Wis; 4. Tony Bagstad, Westby, Wis; 5. Jeff Goodwin, Silver Lake, Wis; 6. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Roscoe; 7. Randy VanRoy, Kaukauna, Wis.

Qualifying Dash 02 -- 1. Bob Wilberg, Orfordville, Wis; 2. Ricky Bilderback, Rockton; 3. Rick Corso, McHenry; 4. Kris Kelly, Norway, Mich.; 5. Jason Erickson, Lake Mills, Wis; 6. Danny  Heying, Waukesha, Wis; 7. Mark Miller, Columbus, Wis.

Time Trial -- 1. Josh Wallace, Pell Lake, Wis; 2. Ricky Bilderback, Rockton; 3. Tony Bagstad, Westby, Wis; 4. Jason Erickson, Lake Mills, Wis; 5. Mike Beyer, Machesney Park; 6. Kris Kelly, Norway, Mich.; 7. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Roscoe; 8. Mark Miller, Columbus, Wis; 9. Dr. Ken Johnson, Park Ridge; 10. Rick Corso, McHenry; 11. Jeff Goodwin, Silver Lake, Wis; 12. Bob Wilberg, Orfordville, Wis; 13. Randy VanRoy, Kaukauna, Wis; 14. Danny Heying, Waukesha, Wis; 15. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 16. John Baumeister, Jr., Lake Geneva, Wis; 17. Jeff Steenbergen, Waupun, Wis; 18. Sonny Schoffen, Crystal Lake; 19. Ralph Gentile, Racine, Wis; 20. Bob Kahler, Belvidere; 21. Kyle Jarlsberg, Cambridge, Wis; 22. George Bohn, Machesney Park; 23. Mike Lloyd, Machesney Park; 24. Brian Ulrich, Racine, Wis; 25. Todd Verhagen, Kaukauna, Wis; 26. Kyle Melvin, Machesney Park; 27. Mike
Ehde, Prairie du Chien, Wis; 28. Andy Evraets, Menominee Falls, Wis; 29. Dennis Schmidt, Juneau, Wis; 30. Mike  Taylor, Stoughton, Wis; 31. Christopher LaRocque, Appleton, Wis; 32. Kevin McCann, Monee; 33. Jeff Babb, Elgin; 34.  Jack Rabey, Brighton, Wis; 35. James Gleesing, Richmond, Wis.