Michael Bilderback Makes History at Lake Geneva Finale By Kevin Ramsell

October 1, 2006;  Lake Geneva, WI. - 15-year-old Michael Bilderback made history at the Victor Ford Final Fall Classic at the Lake Geneva Raceway. He held off his uncle, Ricky Bilderback, to win the Big 8 Series race and the final Limited Late Model event ever at the famous speed plant.

Michael started on the outside of the front row and he and Brian Ulrich led the field to the start of the 58-lap feature event. Michael got the jump as the green flag flew.

The first caution flew on lap 4 when Ulrich and Ryan Carlson got together in turns three and four causing Ulrich to spin. Michael led the field back to Greg Oliver’s green flag with Uncle Ricky right behind him.

Fast qualifier, Jeremy Miller moved from his first seventh starting spot up to third by lap 17. It was on lap 25, the Miller got by Ricky to take over the second spot.

On lap 31, Miller got on the inside of Michael to challenge for the top spot. The two ran side-by-side until Miller got the top spot on lap 33.

The caution flew on lap 34 when Jeff Goodwin spun in turn two. During the caution, it was discovered that Miller was leaking water and oil. Miller had to call it a night, handing the lead back to Michael. The red flag came out to put oil dry all over the track.

After a delay, Michael led the field back to the green with Uncle Ricky right on his bumper.

The young pilot, who has two Bandolero championships at the Lake Geneva Raceway, used his knowledge of the track to hold off his Uncle.

The final caution flew with three laps to for Chris Kelly’s spin in turns three and four causing a melee behind him.

With two laps to go, Uncle Ricky made his best attempt to get past his nephew but slipped coming out of turn four. This gave Michael the breathing room and an easy drive to his first ever checkered flag in only his second Big 8 Series start.

“Oh my God,” an excited Michael Bilderback stated in victory lane. “I love racing and this is only my second race in this, this is just awesome. I kinda shut him down a little bit because I wanted to get my first win.”

Brady Liddle started eleventh and came home third while Keith Tolf and Rick Corso rounded out the top five.

Miller’s bad luck and Ricky Bilderback’s second place finish put the two in a tie for the Big 8 Series point lead. The final event of the season will take place on Thursday night, October 5th at the opening night of the 37th Oktoberfest Race Weekend at the La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway.

For more information, please visit the track’s website at www.lacrossespeedway.com. For more information on the Big 8 Series, please visit their official website at www.big8series.com.

Big 8 Series Limited Late Models
A-Main 01 -- 1. Michael Bilderback, South Beloit; 2. Ricky Bilderback, Rockton; 3. Brady Liddle, Oregon, Wis; 4. Keith Tolf, Union Grove, Wis; 5. Rick Corso, McHenry; 6. Michael Kruschke, Greenfield, Wis; 7. Kris Kelly, Norway, Mich.; 8. Nate Van Wychen, Appleton, Wis; 9. John Baumeister, Jr., Lake Geneva, Wis; 10. Bob Kahler, Belvidere; 11. Brian Ulrich, Racine, Wis; 12. Nick Shutkas, Loves Park; 13. Ralph Gentile, Racine, Wis; 14. Kyle Jarlsberg, Cambridge, Wis;15. Billy Baumeister, Janesville, Wis; 16. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 17. Mike Lloyd, Machesney Park; 18. Josh Wallace, Pell Lake, Wis; 19. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 20. Jeremy Miller, Rockton; 21. Jeff Goodwin, Silver Lake, Wis; 22. Dr. Ken Johnson, Park Ridge; 23. George Bohn, Machesney Park; 24. Ronald Stoehr, Dousman, Wis; 25. Sonny Schoffen, Crystal Lake.

Last Chance "A" 01 -- 1. Billy Baumeister, Janesville, Wis; 2. Nate Van Wychen, Appleton, Wis; 3. Nick Shutkas, Loves Park; 4. Andy Niles, Holmen, Wis; 5. Brandon Conrad, Kaukauna, Wis; 6. Paul Loppnow, Burlington, Wis; 7. Ken Olson, Ft. Atkinson, Wis; 8. Tim Noble, Janesville, Wis; 9. Cory Kemkes, Appleton, Wis; 10. Tom 'Slick' Schuette, Fort Atkinson, Wis; 11. Dan Bowe, Mukwonago, Wis; 12. Rich Schumann Jr., Portage, Wis.

Last Chance "A" 02 -- 1. Ralph Gentile, Racine, Wis; 2. George Bohn, Machesney Park; 3. Mark Miller, Columbus, Wis; 4. Rob Braun, Wales, Wis; 5. Todd Verhagen, Kaukauna, Wis; 6. Mark English, Janesville, Wis; 7. Dave McCardle, Menomonee Falls, Wis; 8. Shawn Conley, Huntley; 9. Robert Maule, Trevor, Wis; 10. Jack Rabey, Brighton, Wis.

Heat 01 -- 1. Rick Corso, McHenry; 2. Kris Kelly, Norway, Mich.; 3. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 4. Brady Liddle, Oregon, Wis; 5. Jeremy Miller, Rockton; 6. Brian Ulrich, Racine, Wis; 7. Ricky Bilderback, Rockton.

Heat 02 -- 1. Kyle Jarlsberg, Cambridge, Wis; 2. Keith Tolf, Union Grove, Wis; 3. Michael Bilderback, South Beloit; 4. Sonny Schoffen, Crystal Lake; 5. Ronald Stoehr, Dousman, Wis; 6. Jeff Goodwin, Silver Lake, Wis; 7. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park.

Heat 03 -- 1. Mike Lloyd, Machesney Park; 2. Michael Kruschke, Greenfield, Wis; 3. Josh Wallace, Pell Lake, Wis; 4. Billy Baumeister, Janesville, Wis; 5. George Bohn, Machesney Park; 6. Nick Shutkas, Loves Park; 7. Mike Schmitz, Kenosha, Wis; 8. Tim Noble, Janesville, Wis; 9. Todd Verhagen, Kaukauna, Wis; 10. Rich Schumann Jr., Portage, Wis;11. Mark English, Janesville, Wis; 12. Ken Olson, Ft. Atkinson, Wis; 13. Shawn Conley, Huntley; 14. Dan Bowe, Mukwonago, Wis; 15. Jerry Eckhardt, Johnson Creek, Wis.

Heat 04 -- 1. John Baumeister, Jr., Lake Geneva, Wis; 2. Dr. Ken Johnson, Park Ridge; 3. Bob Kahler, Belvidere; 4. Ralph Gentile, Racine, Wis; 5. Nate Van Wychen, Appleton, Wis; 6. Mark Miller, Columbus, Wis; 7. Cory Kemkes, Appleton, Wis; 8. Rob Braun, Wales, Wis; 9. Andy Niles, Holmen, Wis; 10. Dave McCardle, Menomonee Falls, Wis; 11. Paul Loppnow, Burlington, Wis; 12. Jack Rabey, Brighton, Wis; 13. Tom 'Slick' Schuette, Fort Atkinson, Wis; 14. Robert Maule, Trevor, Wis; 15. Brandon Conrad, Kaukauna, Wis.

Champions Main Event -- 1. Rick Corso, McHenry; 2. Keith Tolf, Union Grove, Wis; 3. Sonny Schoffen, Crystal Lake; 4. Brian Ulrich, Racine, Wis; 5. Dr. Ken Johnson, Park Ridge; 6. Jeff Goodwin, Silver Lake, Wis; 7. Jack Rabey, Brighton,
Wis.

Time Trial -- 1. Jeremy Miller, Rockton; 2. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 3. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 4. Sonny Schoffen, Crystal Lake; 5. Ricky Bilderback, Rockton; 6. Michael Bilderback, South Beloit; 7. Brian Ulrich, Racine, Wis; 8. Keith Tolf, Union Grove, Wis; 9. Kris Kelly, Norway, Mich.; 10. Jeff Goodwin, Silver Lake, Wis; 11. Brady Liddle, Oregon, Wis; 12. Kyle Jarlsberg, Cambridge, Wis; 13. Rick Corso, McHenry; 14. Ronald Stoehr, Dousman, Wis; 15. Tim Noble, Janesville, Wis; 16. Bob Kahler, Belvidere; 17. Michael Kruschke, Greenfield, Wis; 18. Dr. Ken Johnson, Park Ridge; 19. Mike Lloyd, Machesney Park; 20. John Baumeister, Jr., Lake Geneva, Wis; 21. Todd Verhagen, Kaukauna, Wis; 22. Nate Van Wychen, Appleton, Wis; 23. Josh Wallace, Pell Lake, Wis; 24. Cory Kemkes, Appleton, Wis; 25. Nick Shutkas, Loves Park; 26. Mark Miller, Columbus, Wis; 27. George Bohn, Machesney Park; 28. Jack Rabey, Brighton, Wis; 29. Billy Baumeister, Janesville, Wis; 30. Brandon Conrad, Kaukauna, Wis; 31. Mark English, Janesville, Wis; 32. Rob Braun, Wales, Wis; 33. Ken Olson, Ft. Atkinson, Wis; 34. Dave McCardle, Menomonee Falls, Wis; 35. Jerry Eckhardt, Johnson Creek, Wis; 36. Ralph Gentile, Racine, Wis; 37. Mike Schmitz, Kenosha, Wis; 38. Paul Loppnow, Burlington, Wis; 39. Rich Schumann Jr., Portage, Wis; 40. Andy Niles, Holmen, Wis; 41. Shawn Conley, Huntley; 42. Robert Maule, Trevor, Wis; 43. Dan Bowe, Mukwonago, Wis; 44. Tom 'Slick' Schuette, Fort Atkinson, Wis; 45. Scott Bohl, Hartford,  Wis; 46. Lyle Bottlemy, Genoa City, Wis.