Bilderback Returns to Victory Lane at Madison

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Nelms, Cain, and Thompson Also Winners

August 1, 2025 (Oregon, WI)

Michael Bilderback won the 48 lap feature for the Big 8 Late Models as part of LiUNA Local 464 Night at Madison International Speedway. Josh Nelms (Mid Am), Lincoln Cain (Legends), and Bentley Thompson (Bandoleros) also went home with checkered flags.

Young fans also had an opportunity to race their bikes, trikes, big wheels, and power wheels during intermission as part of this long-standing tradition at Madison. The speedway would like to thank all of the organizations and businesses who donated items for the prize giveaways.

Bilderback Best of the Big 8

Michael Bilderback passed Austin Nason with six laps to go to get the win in the 48 lap race for the Big 8 Late Models. It was his third Big 8 win of the season and his third Big 8 career win at Madison.

The star-studded field of twenty-one Big 8 cars who collectively had a total of 230 wins at Madison in various divisions came to the green flag courtesy of Austin Nason and Ryan Goldade. Nason took the early lead with Schissel passing Goldade for second. On lap 7 Goldade moved up to second with Jeremy Miller taking third on lap 9.  One lap later Michael Bilderback and Jake Gille took the fourth and fifth spots as the field began to stretch out.

With thirty laps to go, Nason’s advantage over Goldade was 1.1 seconds while Miller and Bilderback were applying heavy pressure in an attempt to overtake Goldade.  On lap 22 Miller passed him for second and started to hunt down the leader.  Bilderback powered his way past Goldade on lap 24 to crack the top three.

Both Miller and Bilderback were closing on Nason and with twenty laps to go the lead was down to less than half a second. On lap 33 Bilderback looked to pass Miller but was unsuccessful for the time being. This allowed Jake Gille and Will Rece to catch the top three.

With ten laps to go Bilderback pulled to the inside of Miller and took second one lap later.  Bilderback was on Nason’s rear bumper and with six laps to go moved to the inside to take the lead coming out of turn four.  Nason was not about to let Bilderback get away as he tried his best to stay close, but wasn’t able to retake the lead as Bilderback raced his way to victory lane.  Miller finished third followed by Gille and Rece.

In a post race interview Bilderback said, “Hats off to my crew for getting this car ready.”  He also thanked his family and made reference to the success of all of the former Rockford Speedway drivers in the field as seven of the top ten finishers were all former stars there.  His comment was so appropriate on a night when a Rockford reunion was being held at Madison.

Heat winners were Morgan Schissel and Ryan Goldade.

Fast time was set by Zack Riddle with a lap of 18.636 (96.587 mph).

Josh Nelms Takes Home Mid Am Checkered Flag

Josh Nelms took the lead on lap 14 and held off Scotty Gardner Jr. to win the 30 lap main event for the Mid Am Racing Series.  For Nelms It was his second career win at Madison.

The field came to the green flag paced by Phil Speciale and Cody Clubb. Clubb took the early lead with Kyle Brick up to second before the caution flag came out on the first lap and then again one lap later. Brick would take the lead on lap 3 and opened up a four car length advantage.  Bobby Gash moved up to third followed by Daniel Calhoun and Connor Kosowski.  The race stayed green until a spin on lap 9 brought out the race’s third caution.

Points leader and Madison winner earlier this year, Scotty Gardner Jr., who was relegated to the rear of the field after an earlier incident, was the man on the move as he worked his way up to ninth place just prior to the caution flag.

Brick and Clubb brought the field back to green. Clubb raced back to the lead followed by Brick with Josh Nelms leaping up to third on lap 10. The top three broke away from the pack with Nelms moving into second on lap 12 and started closing in on Clubb.  On lap 14 Nelms took the lead while Clubb and Brick were side by side for second.  Gardner Jr. was still on the move as he took the fourth spot at the half-way point as the top four increased their lead over the field.  But he wasn’t done as he moved by Clubb for the third spot on lap 19 before another spin and the caution flag.

Nelms led the field back to the green with Gardner Jr. getting by Brick for second.  Another spin brought out the caution flag with seven laps to go.  Nelms continued to lead with Gardner Jr. in pursuit and with five laps to go had increased his lead to three lengths.  Nelms was able to keep Gardner Jr. at bay and pick up the win with Brick finishing third followed by Clubb and Kosowski.

“The car was good and it was good in practice.  The restarts made me a little nervous, but we just had to persevere,” said Nelms.

Heat winners were Tim Schmitt, Daniel Calhoun, and Kyle Brick.

Nelms was fast qualifier with a lap of 19.626 (91.715 mph)

Lincoln Cain is Two for Two at Madison

For the second time this season, Lincoln Cain took home the checkered flag for the Legends in their twenty lap main event.

Fourteen cars came to the green flag led by Michael Cina and James Berndsen.  Cina took the early lead before Berndsen claimed the top spot.  The first yellow flag came out when three cars got together on the front stretch on lap 4.  Marianna Kubicz paced the field back to green with Cain eventually taking the lead on lap 5.  Ryan Laatsch moved up to second with Eric Blumer and Kubicz racing for the third spot. On lap 9 Blumer would win the race for third with  Jacob Stark passing Blumer for third on lap 14.

With five laps to go, Cain had a sizeable lead over the second place car of Laatsch.  Nobody was going to be able to catch the speedy Cain who easily picked up the win followed by Laatsch, Stark, Blumer, and Kubicz. For Cain it was his third career Legends win at Madison.

Alex Kniewel and Stark won the heat races.

Laatsch was fastest in qualifying with a lap of 13.748 (65.464 mph).

Bentley Thompson Best of the Bandoleros

Bentley Thompson won the fifteen lap “A” feature for the Bandoleros and as a result earned a clean sweep for the night.  Jaxxston Jump was the winner in the “B” feature.

Twelve cars took the green flag for the Bandoleros “A” Feature led by Jarrett Reynolds and Ransom Tate.  Jase Riedner was able to take the early lead before Emily Billings made the pass for the lead on lap 3 with Thompson up to second one lap later.

Billings and Thompson powered away from the pack before making contact on lap 7 which allowed Gage Kubicz to take the lead.  Thompson would eventually regain the lead and survive a series of caution flags to pick up the checkered flag.  Kubicz finished second followed by Oldenhoff, Ryder Robinson, and Wesley Baumeister.

Jump made the most of his first time at Madison by winning the ten lap “B” Feature. Jump, Axel Oldenhoff, and Thompson were the heat winners.

Thompson set fast time with a lap of 14.497 (62.082 mph).

Next Friday night (August 8th) at Madison it’s Cheese Curd Cup V with all of the action taking place on the famous “Ring of Fire.”  See the Midwest Dash Series, Bandits, Hobby Stocks, Roto Rooter 6Shooters, and the Finishline Towing High School Racing Association battle it out to see who can become the “Big Cheese.”

Results

Big 8

Qualifying

  1. 1. 14ZR-Zack Riddle, 18.6360; 2. 2DN-Dale Nottestad, 18.7430; 3. 5JM-Jeremy Miller, 18.7690; 4. 50JG-Jacob Gille, 18.7850; 5. 28BW-Bobby Wilberg, 18.7850; 6. XJR-Jon Reynolds Jr, 18.8080; 7. 71MS-Morgan Schissel, 18.8260; 8. 28RG-Ryan Goldade, 18.8330; 9. 14AN-Austin Nason, 18.8350; 10. 15CP-Carson Phillips, 18.8520; 11. 2MB-Michael Bilderback, 18.8780; 12. 15WR-Will Rece, 18.9070; 13. 11RS-Randy Sargent, 18.9120; 14. 49JM-Jerry Mueller, 18.9720; 15. 13SG-Scott Gardner Jr, 19.0080; 16. 13BL-Brandon Laing, 19.1580; 17. 18BL-Brady Liddle, 19.2060; 18. 11JL-Josh Lundy, 19.4030; 19. 86SV-Steve Vaughn, 19.5400; 20. 25BB-Brody Beyer, 19.7280; 21. 12DR-Dave Ratkowski, 21.6240

Big 8 Late Models – Heat 1 8 Laps

  1. 1. 71MS-Morgan Schissel, Pardeeville, WI [1], 2. 50JG-Jacob Gille, Winnebago, IL [2], 3. 14ZR-Zack Riddle, Brooklyn, WI [4], 4. 14AN-Austin Nason, Roscoe, IL [5], 5. 5JM-Jeremy Miller, Rockford, IL [3], 6. 2MB-Michael Bilderback, South Beloit, IL [6], 7. 11RS-Randy Sargent, South Beloit, IL [7], 8. 18BL-Brady Liddle, Oregon, WI [9], 9. 13SG-Scott Gardner Jr, Dyer, IN [8], 10. 86SV-Steve Vaughn, Rockford, IL [10], 11. 12DR-Dave Ratkowski, Janesville, WI [11]

Big 8 Late Models – Heat 2 8 Laps

  1. 1. 28RG-Ryan Goldade, Edgerton, WI [1], 2. 28BW-Bobby Wilberg, Beloit, WI [3], 3. 2DN-Dale Nottestad, Cambridge, WI [4], 4. 15WR-Will Rece, Stoughton, WI [6], 5. 15CP-Carson Phillips, Edgerton, WI [5], 6. XJR-Jon Reynolds Jr, Loves Park, IL [2], 7. 49JM-Jerry Mueller, Richfield, WI [7], 8. 13BL-Brandon Laing, South Beloit, IL [8], 9. 11JL-Josh Lundy, Roscoe, IL [9], 10. 25BB-Brody Beyer, Machesney Pk, IL [10]

Big 8 Late Models – Feature 48 Laps

  1. 1. 2MB-Michael Bilderback, South Beloit, IL [11], 2. 14AN-Austin Nason, Roscoe, IL [1], 3. 5JM-Jeremy Miller, Rockford, IL [7], 4. 50JG-Jacob Gille, Winnebago, IL [5], 5. 15WR-Will Rece, Stoughton, WI [12], 6. 11RS-Randy Sargent, South Beloit, IL [13], 7. 28RG-Ryan Goldade, Edgerton, WI [2], 8. XJR-Jon Reynolds Jr, Loves Park, IL [4], 9. 28BW-Bobby Wilberg, Beloit, WI [6], 10. 15CP-Carson Phillips, Edgerton, WI [10], 11. 71MS-Morgan Schissel, Pardeeville, WI [3], 12. 14ZR-Zack Riddle, Brooklyn, WI [9], 13. 13BL-Brandon Laing, South Beloit, IL [16], 14. 49JM-Jerry Mueller, Richfield, WI [14], 15. 11JL-Josh Lundy, Roscoe, IL [18], 16. 86SV-Steve Vaughn, Rockford, IL [19], 17. 25BB-Brody Beyer, Machesney Pk, IL [20], 18. 18BL-Brady Liddle, Oregon, WI [17], 19. 2DN-Dale Nottestad, Cambridge, WI [8], 20. 13SG-Scott Gardner Jr, Dyer, IN [15], 21. 12DR-Dave Ratkowski, Janesville, WI [21]

Mid Am

Qualifying

  1. 1. 13SG-Scott Gardner Jr, 19.5940; 2. 0JN-Joshua Nelms, 19.6260; 3. 43CK-Connor Kosowski, 19.6590; 4. 6KH-Kody Hubred, 19.6610; 5. 56SS-Shane Sapp, 19.6830; 6. 76BG-Bobby Gash III, 19.7110; 7. 8MM-Michael Moore, 19.7200; 8. 4DC-Daniel Calhoun, 19.7230; 9. 3KB-Kyle Brick, 19.7440; 10. 23CC-Cody Clubb, 19.7510; 11. 6PS-Phil Speciale, 19.8010; 12. 14AM-Andrew Meyerhofer, 19.8060; 13. 6GT-Greg Thorson, 20.0210; 14. 9TS-Tim Schmitt, 20.2190; 15. 8MG-Michael Gerike, 20.4880; 16. 113DD-Dave Dotter, 20.5430; 17. 99JT-Jim Thorson, 20.5870; 18. 86JF-Josh Fehrmann, 49.9990

Mid Am Racing – Heat 1 8 Laps

  1. 1. 9TS-Tim Schmitt, Muskego, WI [2], 2. 6GT-Greg Thorson, Las Vegas, NV [1], 3. 113DD-Dave Dotter, East Hazel Crest, IL [4], 4. 8MG-Michael Gerike, Crown Point, IN [3], 5. 99JT-Jim Thorson, Sugar Grove, IL [5], 6. 86JF-Josh Fehrmann, Kewaskum, WI [6]

Mid Am Racing – Heat 2 8 Laps

  1. 1. 4DC-Daniel Calhoun, Johnsburg, IL [3], 2. 6KH-Kody Hubred, Utica, WI [5], 3. 0JN-Joshua Nelms, Lockport, IL [6], 4. 76BG-Bobby Gash III, Orland Park, IL [4], 5. 14AM-Andrew Meyerhofer, Freedom, WI [1], 6. 23CC-Cody Clubb, Coal City, IL [2]

Mid Am Racing – Heat 3 8 Laps

  1. 1. 3KB-Kyle Brick, Plainfield, IL [2], 2. 6PS-Phil Speciale, Elgin, IL [1], 3. 8MM-Michael Moore, Dyer, IN [3], 4. 13SG-Scott Gardner Jr, Dyer, IN [6], 5. 43CK-Connor Kosowski, Chicago, IL [5], 6. 56SS-Shane Sapp, Crystal Lake, IL [4]

Mid Am Racing – Feature 30 Laps

  1. 1. 0JN-Joshua Nelms, Lockport, IL [10], 2. 13SG-Scott Gardner Jr, Dyer, IN [11], 3. 3KB-Kyle Brick, Plainfield, IL [3], 4. 23CC-Cody Clubb, Coal City, IL [2], 5. 43CK-Connor Kosowski, Chicago, IL [9], 7. 4DC-Daniel Calhoun, Johnsburg, IL [4], 8. 6PS-Phil Speciale, Elgin, IL [1], 9. 8MM-Michael Moore, Dyer, IN [5], 10. 14AM-Andrew Meyerhofer, Freedom, WI [12], 11. 9TS-Tim Schmitt, Muskego, WI [14], 12. 99JT-Jim Thorson, Sugar Grove, IL [17], 13. 8MG-Michael Gerike, Crown Point, IN [15], 14. 56SS-Shane Sapp, Crystal Lake, IL [7], 15. 76BG-Bobby Gash III, Orland Park, IL [6], 16. 113DD-Dave Dotter, East Hazel Crest, IL [16], 17. 86JF-Josh Fehrmann, Kewaskum, WI [18], 18. 6GT-Greg Thorson, Las Vegas, NV [13]

Legends

Qualifying

  1. 1. 18RL-Ryan Laatsch, 13.7480; 2. 5LC-Lincoln Cain, 13.7780; 3. 11JS-Jacob Stark, 14.0860; 4. 8EB-Eric Blumer, 14.1170; 5. 21TE-Tyler Edmundson, 14.2210; 6. 111MK-Marianna Kubicz, 14.3220; 7. 11CS-Carter Stein, 14.3830; 8. 13JB-James Berndsen, 14.5370; 9. 13MS-Michael Sina, 14.6270; 10. 21TL-Trevor Lami, 14.6950; 11. 84KM-Kyle Mitchell, 14.7640; 12. 87AK-Alex Kniewel, 14.9450; 13. 114PK-Peyton Kubicz, 15.2170; 14. 35SO-Shawn Ogden, 15.3290

Legends – Heat 1 8 Laps

  1. 1. 87AK-Alex Kniewel, Rhinelander, WI [6], 2. 84KM-Kyle Mitchell, Middleton, WI [2], 3. 21TL-Trevor Lami, East Troy, WI [3], 4. 13JB-James Berndsen, Necedah, WI [5], 5. 13MS-Michael Sina, Whitewater, WI [4], 6. 114PK-Peyton Kubicz, Whitewater, WI [1], 7. 35SO-Shawn Ogden, Machesney Park, IL [7]

Legends – Heat 2 8 Laps

  1. 1. 11JS-Jacob Stark, Palmyra, WI [5], 2. 8EB-Eric Blumer, Sun Prairie, WI [4], 3. 11CS-Carter Stein, Germantown, WI [1], 4. 18RL-Ryan Laatsch, Milton, WI [7], 5. 5LC-Lincoln Cain, Slinger, WI [6], 6. 111MK-Marianna Kubicz, Whitewater, WI [2], 7. 21TE-Tyler Edmundson, Johnson Creek, WI [3]

Legends – Feature 20 Laps

  1. 1. 5LC-Lincoln Cain, Slinger, WI [9], 2. 18RL-Ryan Laatsch, Milton, WI [10], 3. 11JS-Jacob Stark, Palmyra, WI [8], 4. 8EB-Eric Blumer, Sun Prairie, WI [7], 5. 111MK-Marianna Kubicz, Whitewater, WI [5], 6. 87AK-Alex Kniewel, Rhinelander, WI [3], 7. 11CS-Carter Stein, Germantown, WI [4], 8. 21TE-Tyler Edmundson, Johnson Creek, WI [6], 9. 21TL-Trevor Lami, East Troy, WI [11], 10. 13MS-Michael Sina, Whitewater, WI [1], 11. 84KM-Kyle Mitchell, Middleton, WI [12], 12. 114PK-Peyton Kubicz, Whitewater, WI [13], 13. 35SO-Shawn Ogden, Machesney Park, IL [14], 14. 13JB-James Berndsen, Necedah, WI [2]

Bandoleros

Qualifying

  1. 1. 22BT-Bentley Thompson, 14.4970; 2. 4WB-Wesley Baumeister, 14.5850; 3. 126GK-Gage Kubicz, 14.6110; 4. 76OW-Oliver Weinkauf, 14.8500; 5. 62AO-Ace Oldenhoff, 14.8940; 6. 10EB-Emily Billings, 14.9200; 7. 29AO-Axel Oldenhoff, 14.9240; 8. 63JR-Jase Riedner, 14.9500; 9. 5RT-Ransom Tate, 14.9600; 10. 17RR-Ryder Robinson, 15.0110; 11. 13JR-Jarrett Reynolds, 15.0130; 12. 24BM-Blake Michael, 15.2250; 13. 95RH-Riley Hansberry, 15.5070; 14. 15LR-LJ Robinson, 15.6240; 15. 19JJ-Jaxxston Jump, 15.7090; 16. 49BA-Brayden Adams, 16.0260; 17. 14JM-Jack Maurer, 16.1860; 18. 25LN-Levi Nason, 16.3860; 19. 3JA-Jake Andrews, 18.2210

Bandoleros – Heat 1 6 Laps

  1. 1. 19JJ-Jaxxston Jump, Adams, WI [4], 2. 15LR-LJ Robinson, Beloit, WI [5], 3. 3JA-Jake Andrews, Woodstock, IL [7], 4. 49BA-Brayden Adams, Sun Prairie, WI [3], 5. 25LN-Levi Nason, Roscoe, IL [1], 6. 95RH-Riley Hansberry, Brodhead, WI [6], 7. 14JM-Jack Maurer, Brooklyn, WI [2]

Bandoleros – Heat 2 6 Laps

  1. 1. 29AO-Axel Oldenhoff, Lake Mills, WI [6], 2. 17RR-Ryder Robinson, Beloit, WI [2], 3. 63JR-Jase Riedner, Lodi, WI [5], 4. 5RT-Ransom Tate, Doylestown, WI [4], 5. 13JR-Jarrett Reynolds, Loves Park, IL [3], 6. 24BM-Blake Michael, Evansville, WI [1]

Bandoleros – Heat 3 6 Laps

  1. 1. 22BT-Bentley Thompson, Onalaska, WI [6], 2. 10EB-Emily Billings, Waterloo, WI [1], 3. 76OW-Oliver Weinkauf, Merrill, WI [3], 4. 62AO-Ace Oldenhoff, Lake Mills, WI [2], 5. 126GK-Gage Kubicz, Whitewater, WI [4], 6. 4WB-Wesley Baumeister, Beloit, WI [5]

Bandoleros – A Feature 15 Laps

  1. 1. 22BT-Bentley Thompson, Onalaska, WI [10], 2. 126GK-Gage Kubicz, Whitewater, WI [8], 3. 62AO-Ace Oldenhoff, Lake Mills, WI [6], 4. 17RR-Ryder Robinson, Beloit, WI [11], 5. 4WB-Wesley Baumeister, Beloit, WI [9], 6. 63JR-Jase Riedner, Lodi, WI [3], 7. 76OW-Oliver Weinkauf, Merrill, WI [7], 8. 24BM-Blake Michael, Evansville, WI [12], 9. 13JR-Jarrett Reynolds, Loves Park, IL [1], 10. 10EB-Emily Billings, Waterloo, WI [5], 11. 29AO-Axel Oldenhoff, Lake Mills, WI [4], 12. 5RT-Ransom Tate, Doylestown, WI [2]

Bandoleros – B Feature 10 Laps

  1. 1. 19JJ-Jaxxston Jump, Adams, WI [4], 2. 95RH-Riley Hansberry, Brodhead, WI [6], 3. 15LR-LJ Robinson, Beloit, WI [5], 4. 14JM-Jack Maurer, Brooklyn, WI [2], 5. 25LN-Levi Nason, Roscoe, IL [1], 6. 49BA-Brayden Adams, Sun Prairie, WI [3], 7. 3JA-Jake Andrews, Woodstock, IL [7]