Bilderback Uses Outside Lane To Claim 5th Spring Classic
2025-04-26
For the fifth time in his career, Michael Bilderback won the historic Spring Classic event. Getting back-to-back Classic wins for the second time, he has now won 100% of the Big 8 Series races at Grundy County Speedway (IL) so far.
QUALIFYING
Eighteen cars took time, the car piloted by David Einhaus would scratch from the event prior to qualifying with mechanical issues.
Jon Reynolds Jr took home the $108 bonus when he set the fastest time of the field with a 15.451 second lap.
HEAT RACES
The first heat race of the evening started with Jerry Mueller and Carson Phillips on the front row. Mueller took the lead early on but the field quickly slowed when Alex Braseth came to a stop with an issue.
As the green flew again, Randy Sargent trid to take a look for the lead but ended up slipping back and Jayden Johnson took over second. In the final laps Johnson was all over Mueller but was unable to complete the pass before the checkered flag flew.
Heat two saw Grant Brown and Bilderback lead the field. It wasn't long before Bilderback powered around on the outside and walked away from the rest.
Jake Gille would get up to second before the end of the heat with Trevor Robinson taking third.
FEATURE RACE
For the first two laps after green flag flew on the 58-lap feature, Franc Beldowski edged Tom Gille for the lead.
On lap three, the field was halted for a scary incident involving Jon Reynolds Jr when his car shot up the track in turn three, briefly riding the wall and landing on its roof.
Luckily, Reynolds Jr. was not injured and even rode back to the pits in the car on the tow truck.
When it came time to choose lanes for the next restart, the first five cars all took the inside which allowed Bilderback to move to the outside of the front row.
As the track went green once again, Bilderback used the outside momentum to power around for the top position.
Seven laps into the event, contact between Tom Gille and Beldowski caused several cars to lose control. This would end the evening for 2024 Rookie of the Year Josh Lundy, who hit the wall in turn two.
Bilderback paced ahead of Jake Gille, Robinson, and Sargent during the mid-part of the race until it was slowed again with 28 to go. Mueller and Tom Gille came to a stop in turn four after making contact entering three.
For the next 10 laps, the front of the field remained unchallenged besides Sargent moving past Josh Nelms for third. With 15 to go, Sargent got to the back of Jake Gille and urgently made his way into second.
With burnt out tires, Sargent was unable gain ground on Bilderback who easily took the checkered flag for the 21st time in the Big 8 Series.
The next Big 8 Series race takes place on Friday, May 23rd at Madison International Speedway.
