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| July 23, 2009 News |
| Rock Island Grand Prix – The Top-15 Performances - Numbers 14 and 15 |
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The Rock Island Grand Prix - recognized as the world’s largest street race - will be celebrating its 15th anniversary when Labor Day 2009 weekend rolls around this September. From the previous 14 events - beginning with a cold, rainy inaugural race in 1994 and rolling through to last year’s bright, sunny and historic weekend – we have assembled a number of memories that drivers, crew members, and spectators will remember for a lifetime. To help commemorate the 15th running of the popular event, eKartingNews.com - along with the help of RIGP historians - has created a list of the 15 best driver performances of the Rock Island Grand Prix. We’ll be unveiling them over the next six weeks, beginning with numbers 14 and 15 today.
 | Alan Rudolph scored an emotional win in the King of the Streets race in 2006, joined by RBI's Richie Buxman and Big Al in post-race ceremonies
(Photo: EKN) |
No. 14 - Alan Rudolph Bids Farewell to RBI with King of the Streets Win - 2006
Taken from the eKartingNews.com report following the 2006 event, the team owner said it best; “If there is a better way to put the cap on a racing program, I don’t know what it is.” During that summer season, RBI Racing’s Richard Buxman made the tough decision to close down his namesake operation. The 2006 Rock Island Grand Prix was set as the final race for the squad and, as always, shifter kart veteran Alan Rudolph was again piloting an RBI machine, as he did from the day the company opened its doors, in the King of the Streets event.
Emotions were all over the board throughout the weekend as Rudolph and the RBI squad were confident in their package, but were faced with one of the toughest fields in recent years. Rudolph ended the King of the Streets qualifying session third in the order, less than a tenth off the pole time.
When the race came just after noon on Sunday, Rudolph engaged in a battle with the two-time defending winner Kyle Wiegand. Wiegand got the jump from outside row one to take the lead early, but Rudolph locked onto his bumper to begin the fight. Troubles for Wiegand put eventually him to the sidelines, allowing Rudolph to cruise to a 1.196-second victory for his fourth King of the Streets crown.
Following the victory lap with the checkered flag, you could see the tears through the visor of the always-focused Rudolph as Buxman and Rudolph’s father joined him for the crowning ceremonies at the start/finish line. It was a very emotional celebration, highlighting the close bond between a team owner and one of the greatest drivers in the history of the sport.
 | Caleb Loniewski came through to score the victory in a wild TaG Senior main event in 2005
(Photo: EKN) |
No. 15 - Loniewski Comes From Nowhere to Win TaG Senior in the Wet - 2005
When looking back over the 14 years of racing at the Rock Island Grand Prix, weather has played a vital role in the outcome of many of the events. In 2005, the TaG Senior group was hit with rain as they gridded for their feature event after bright sunny skies shined down throughout the event prior to their time slot. The wetness through a curveball at the stacked field and when the checkered flag fell, it was a charging Caleb Loniewski that emerged as the victor.
Multi-time Rotax Grand National champion Jordan Musser led the field into the opening corner but would be short lived as he went into the TechPro barriers at turn two. That shuffled up the field behind him. Adam Johnson and Chris Enderlein each took their turn at the lead before they would both retire early, handing over the point to Alan Rudolph. As the laps clicked off, Rudolph looked to the race in his grasp however the fans along the fence watched as Loniewski began to charge forward.
In the closing laps, Loniewski began to pick off a driver a lap until he had one driver left, Rudolph. The wily veteran, looking unusual with the rain jacket full of air looking like a parachute, began to look behind him each lap to see the Margay of Loniewski getting closer and closer as the track began to dry out each lap. On the final lap, Loniewski had made his way to Rudolph’s bumper and looked inside as they went into turn one. Unknowingly what was happening around the city blocks, the crown on the front straight stood in anticipation for the leaders to come around the final two corners. When they did, it was Loniewski with the lead and went on to lead just one lap, the final one for the checkered flag. |
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