By: Eric Huenefeld
On Tuesday July 11 1978, a ‘star’ was born.
Rockford Speedway’s ‘All Star 100’ was contested for the first time on that day, a concept designed by promoters John McKarns and Art Frigo which scheduled short track races on a Tuesday to allow NASCAR’s elite racers the chance to compete at tracks like Rockford against the top Late Model racers of the day.
The dynamic of ‘current stars vs future stars’ created a one-of-a-kind and soon to be copied formula for tracks and series across America. And while many tracks near and far took that concept and ran with it, one thing has remained true about Rockford Speedway’s All Star 100; an All Star win at Rockford puts you in the team picture among stock car racing’s elite.
One only has to look at the list of repeat winners of the All Star 100 to realize what it takes to win the event. Just two men have won the star-studded sprint more than once. Their names? Dick Trickle and Joe Shear…two of the faces on short track racing’s “Mount Rushmore.” Trickle, the seven-time ARTGO Challenge Series champion, won four All Star 100 races, more than anyone else. His triumph in the inaugural All Star 100 in 1978 was hard earned, outrunning future NASCAR stars Rusty Wallace and Neil Bonnett en route to victory. Trickle also captured All Star gold in 1980, 1983 and 1986.
Shear, a two-time ARTGO Challenge Series champion, won the All Star 100 three times. His first victory in 1981 helped deny Mark Martin from becoming a two-time winner, while his 1985 victory came by outrunning Trickle and Martin. Shear’s third and final All Star 100 win came in 1992, as he was one of just seven cars left on the lead lap of a physical 100 lap affair. Along with being a three-time All Star 100 winner, trailed only Trickle in all-time ARTGO Challenge Series wins.
Defending All Star 100 winner Ty Majeski and 2008 All Star 100 winner Trent Snyder could both join the exclusive club of repeat All Star 100 winners, as both drivers have entered this weekend’s event. Majeski has experienced a terrific 2016 season so far, winning ten races while also being chosen as a member of NASCAR Next. Majeski won his first All Star 100 last season by besting Snyder, who led the race during it’s early stages. A late-race restart put Snyder on Majeski’s tail, leading to a wild scramble to the checkers, which saw Majeski hit the line first.
Even if Snyder or Majeski cannot find victory lane Saturday night, the accomplishment of winning this great event still puts them on a pedestal with some of stock car racing’s best. Recent NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin out-distanced Larry Detjens for his only All Star 100 win in 1979. Fellow NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison raced the last few laps of the 1984 All Star 100 with a flat tire and was still able to outrun Don Leach and Bobby Dotter for the win. Then, in 2011, a teenager from Michigan raced his way into All Star 100 history, pocketing one of his first major wins. Five years later, Erik Jones is a NASCAR Truck Series champion and currently has won more Xfinity Series races than any other Series regular in 2016.
Can Majeski or Snyder become just the third repeat winner of the All Star 100? Or will a new name be etched into history this Saturday night? Come see for yourself this Saturday night at Rockford Speedway! Gates open at 5 PM, with Qualifying at 5:55 PM and racing at 7:07 PM. The ARCA Midwest Tour will run a full show, including the Kar Korner All Star 100 and will be joined by the Stanley Steemer NASCAR Late Models and Kickstart Roadrunners. Both the Late Models and Roadrunners will be contesting ‘Gilley’s Double Features,” meaning the night will be filled with FIVE separate feature races! Also on the card is a “$1000 Match Race” between “Driver X” Jon Reynolds Jr and Ty Majeski.
Adult admission is $20, with Students (ages 12-17) admitted for $10. Children ages 6-11 are $5 while kids 5 and under are admitted FREE. For more information, please visit rockfordspeedway.com or call 815-633-1500.
For more information on the ARCA Midwest Tour, please visit arcamidwesttour.com.
