by Kevin Ramsell
June 20, 2026 (Oregon, WI) – Michael Bilderback made a daring three-wide pass for the lead to capture the 48-lap Big 8 Series victory at Madison International Speedway on Friday night.
The victory was his record-setting 24th win in the Big 8 Series.
The South Beloit, IL veteran took over the lead on lap 15 by making a three-wide pass coming out of turn two as Jeremy Miller and Bobby Wilberg were side-by-side for the lead. The two appeared to touch and drifted up in turn two, leaving the inside lane for Bilderback to pass drivers and clear them going into three.
“On the initial restart when we got second behind Wilberg, he kind of rolled up high.
So, I didn’t know if his car was going to stay or not,” Bilderback explained. “I don’t know if his car faded that quick on that restart. He kept running himself and Miller up the hill, and they were going far quicker backwards than they were forwards, and I just, I had to take the opportunity. I figured they were going slow enough at that point that I could clear myself in the three and not have a true three-wide situation and potentially wreck something. Obviously, we never want to do that. But, you gotta take the moves.”
Bilderback would pull away from Miller to a 4.767-second victory.
Behind the top two, Jake Gille battled with Wilberg for the final podium spot. As the two came off of four, Wilberg appeared to get loose, allowing Gille to by and claim the third spot.
Wilberg was fourth, while defending Big 8 Series champion Randy Sargent rounded out the top five.
Bilderback won the heat race.
Miller was the fast qualifier with a lap time of 18.832 seconds.
The Big 8 Series will be back in action on Friday, June 5th, for Clash at the Downs XII at Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.