Breese Takes the National Short Track Championships Title With A Sunoco Super Series Victory

Rockford, IL (September 21, 2003) – Ron Breese, Jr. grew up watching races at the Rockford Speedway, and always wanted to win the National Short Track Championships. Sunday he had a chance to fulfill that dream and he did. Starting on the outside of the front row, Breese jumped ahead at the green flag and led every lap of the EWT, Inc. 250, and the crowning event of the National Short Track Championships. The victory was the second Sunoco Super Series victory for the DeKalb, Illinois native, his first came last season at Anderson Speedway.

"It’s the only race that I can remember wanting to win since I was a small kid," stated a jubilant Breese in victory lane. “It got pretty exciting there at the end, but I was going to do what I had to do to win this one. I really enjoy racing with the Sunoco Super Series, and winning races sponsored by my teams sponsor EWT, Inc!”

Brian Hoppe was putting the heat on Breese for the lead when he attempted a bump and run on the white flag lap. Hoppe got beside Breese, but was pushed back by an equally strong move from Breese who turned right and pushed Hoppe back into second place. 2003 Rockford Speedway Late Model Champion Ricky Bilderback finished a strong third in his first ever Sunoco Super Series start. Random Lake, Wisconsin native, and 2003 Slinger Speedway Late Model Champion Brad Mueller finished fourth, the highest finishing Dodge entry. 2002 National Short Track Champion Steve Rubeck finished fifth. The Cherry Valley, Illinois veteran driver had the highest finishing Ford. 

Junior Hanley finished sixth to lead the Sunoco Super Series regulars. Hanley was returning to Rockford Speedway for the first time since 1981 when he claimed the National Short Track Championship. Sunoco Super Series veteran Jeff Lane finished in seventh, fighting his way back after going to the tail twice for on track incidents. Terry Fisher had his best Sunoco Super Series finish of the year in eighth place, driving for veteran car owner Floyd Fehl.  Current series points leader Bobby Parsley nurse home his ill handling car to a sixteenth place finish to retain his series points lead with one event left.

Yockey Motorsports Marketing Fast Qualifier Scott Hantz had a good day go away when he was attempting to pass Brian Hoppe for second on the high side, but got too high and spun in turn 2 on lap 232. This left Hoppe free to concentrate on Breese. Breese handled this challenge and was on his way to running out the race when Mike Monroe and Brad Wagner tangled on lap 245 bringing out the yellow.  Under Sunoco Super Series rules the last five laps must be run under the green flag, so on lap 251 Hoppe and Breese began a sprint to the finish that Breese won, but not with out a strong challenge from Hoppe.

Chuck Barnes Jr. extended his points lead over both his closest competitors in the Hubler Automotive Group/Blake Carburetion Rookie of the Year Race when he finished ninth in the EWT, Inc. 250, fighting to stay on the lead lap through out the middle of the event. Terry Fisher, Jr., currently third in Hubler Automotive Group/Blake Carburetion Rookie of the Year points, exited early do to an accident when he road up onto the wall in turns one and two, with two wheels on top of the wall in turn 2 before coming back down on all fours.  Tom Hernly Jr. had a solid run end with an ignition problem which forced him out of the EWT, Inc. 250 on lap 222, dropping him from eighth, where he was running, to his finish of 19th. Hernly is currently second in Hubler Automotive Group/Blake Carburetion Rookie of the Year points, he trails Barnes by 21 points with one series points event left at Winchester Speedway on October 5^th.

John Prestagaud, Crew Chief for Ron Breese, Jr., was the Gladiator GarageWorks Crew Chief Of The Race. Chuck Barnes Jr. was the Hubler Automotive Group/Blake Carburetion Rookie Of The Race. Frank Kreyer earned the Lane Automotive/ISKY Racing Cams Hardcharger Award. Kreyer finished 10^th after starting 25^th. Steve Rubeck and Frank Kreyer earned Goodyear Performance Awards. Ron Breese swept The Wax Shop Lap Leader Bonus Program. Breese received a total of $400 in bonuses for leading laps 50, 100, 150 and 200. Breese also got the Cometic Gaskets Halfway Bonus for leading lap 125 of the EWT, Inc. 250. Breese received the Sweet Manufacturing Sweet Move Of The Race Award for keeping the lead on the last lap even with contact from Brian Hoppe.

The next Sunoco Super Series event will be the Motordrome Super Late Model Challenge on Saturday, September 27 at Motordrome Speedway in Smithton, PA.

Day 1 at the National Short Track Championships brought a little bit of everything.  Too much for some, and not enough for others.  Scott Hantz is happy with fast time, a great draw and he will start in the second row.  JR Roahrig not so happy, after a wreck in practice he is forced to borrow a car from Eddie Hoffman, and makes the race with a provisional. Click Here

Chuck Barnes, Jr. needed to finish in the top 5 of the Last Chance race to assure himself of starting in tomorrows EWT, Inc. 250.  He left no doubt as he led from start to finish and won.  Matt Mylin a Rockford regular, finished second and Mike Lloyd finished third.

Last Chance Race Results

Scott Hantz set the fast time for the National Short Track Championships Saturday afternoon.  Hantz then drew a 3 for the invert putting himself in the second row.  Brian Hoppe is on the pole for the race with Ron Breese, Jr. on the outside of the front row.  Both racers are very familiar with the Rockford Speedway racing there a few times a year with different touring series.