Over the years, the Rock Island Grand Prix has amassed an amazing history that places it among the most storied events in U.S. karting.

History of the Rock Island Grand Prix

Rock Island Grand Prix Winners

History of The Rock Island Grand Prix

-- 2012: Nine first-time winners delivered an impactful performance, accounting for feature wins in 11 of 15 racing classes. Connor Lund and Mason Chelootz came within an eyelash of joining the Grand Prix's short list of competitors winning three or more races in the same year. Canadian Cory Cacciavillani became a first-time winner and the ninth foreign-born driver to win at the local Labor Day Weekend tradition. Four former champs also held off youngsters for wins -- Jordon Musser in King of the Streets, Caleb Loniewski in 2-Cycle Pro Open, Brian McHattie in TAG Masters and Tony Neilson in Komet Senior.

-- 2011: Heavy Saturday afternoon rain pushed qualifying to Sunday morning. Entries were up about 20 percent over the previous year. Michael Giessen won the new 2-cycle Pro Open class and Derek Crockett became the new King of the Streets. Gary Lawson ran his impressive list of Rock Island wins to 22 in Yamaha Super Can Heavy and Sam Beasley doubled up with wins in TAG Senior and Rotax Senior. Logan Bearden and Chase Jones won the junior classes with Kurt Mathewson and John Dixon taking Masters wins. Five new class lap speed records were set.

-- 2010: Great weekend of racing highlighted by no red flags. Improved safety was attributed to incorporation of Scribner barrier system into the track design. Entries rebounded slightly with 239 running in 15 classes. Kyle Wiegand once again won the King of the Streets race and the North American Street Championship. Gary Lawson added 4 more wins to his historic total. Alec Udell won both junior classes and Phil DeLaO won twice in Leopard and Rotax.

-- 2009: The sagging economy gave the sport and the Grand Prix a huge hit as only 222 racers turned out, but that didn’t stop the great racing. Gary Lawson built on his record-setting win total by taking four wins, only having to give two back after technical DQs. Michele Bumgarner repeated as winner of TAG Senior. In the first running of King of the Streets as a stock moto class, Texan Jordon Musser brought home The Rock. Wins by Bumgarner and Canadian Justin de Sa in Rotax Senior ran the total wins by foreign-born drivers to eight in the history of the event. Junior racing returned with Sam Beasley winning the Tom Argy Junior Sportsman race and Austin Self winning TAG Junior.

-- 2008: The Philippines’ Michele Bumgarner became the first female driver to win at the Rock Island Grand Prix, winning the TAG Senior race. Californian Alex Speed won the coveted King of the Streets crown to take home $4,000 and Kyle Wiegand won $4,000 in the ICC North American Street Championship. Iowa’s Johnny Johnson won the TAG SuperPro class and Steve Kilsdonk survived some on-track accidents to win the 4-cycle Rumble at The Rock race. Derek Crockett won the 125cc stock moto race after Poland-born Chicago driver Voytek Burdzy led early but faded at the end.

-- 2007: Ohio's Gary Lawson became the all-time winningest driver at the Rock Island Grand Prix, pushing past Illinois' Jason Birdsell with a pair of victories. However, Lawson's chances to add to those 12 career victories fell prey to lapped traffic in a pair of races he started on the pole and a costly disqualification in another class he led on the last lap. Lawson was DQ'd in the $2,000-to-win Rumble at The Rock,' after getting tied up while blocking a pass by Indiana's Taylor Moore. The day's big money winners were Arizona's Alan Rudolph (his fifth King of the Streets) and Indiana's Kyle Wiegand (ICC North American Street Championship), who each earned $4,000 for their victories. Poland's Voytek Burdzy (125cc Masters) pushed the number of foreign-born winners to six.

-- 2006: Gary Lawson won multiple races in his fourth straight trip to The District, moving within a victory of the Rock Island Grand Prix's career win mark. Travis DeVriendt and Tony Neilson also pushed the event's list of all-time local winners to 10. Indiana’s Kyle Wiegand lowered his track record in the Intercontinental C race with a fast lap of 31.176 seconds. England's Martin Pierce won the TAG Senior race for Wildkart. Alan Rudolph reclaimed the King of the Streets title. Fast-lap records were set in five classes before rain slowed times, even delaying the Junior Sportsman race for an hour.

-- 2005: Despite an event-high 411 entrants, Gary Lawson won three races for the second time. Mike Welsh is the only other Grand Prix competitor to ever win three or more races two separate years. Kyle Wiegand and Pennsylvania's Billy Dickson also won twice. Wiegand repeated as the King of the Streets and lowered his day-old track record in two classes. A 31.406-second lap in the Intercontinental C trumped his fastest run in the King, marking the first time the event's signature race did not own the course mark. Only one of the 15 racing classes didn't set a lap record in Sunday features, as 92 drivers flew by their event standards, set just a day earlier in time-trial qualifying.

-- 2004: Terry Riggins was hired as race director after Tom Argy Jr. was tragically killed in an auto accident in November 2003. Using what was called the greatest comeback in event history, Mike Welsh capped his second three-win performance in his hometown event. The pole-sitting Welsh rebounded from a horrible start in the last race of the day, erasing a 3.5-second deficit in the final eight laps to win the Yamaha Medium class. In all, a record 11 polesitters won races on a weekend when the event's all-time number of entrants was tied at 391.

-- 2003: The tiny town of Mentor, Ohio, accounted for four of the 15 victories in Gary Lawson (3 wins) and protege Ritchie Kuhn (junior champ). Lawson almost won a fourth race in the rain but finished second after a spinout ruined a late lead.

-- 2002: Frenchman Nelson Phillippe became just the second foreign winner in event history. Overall, 10 first-time Rock Island winners came from an event-high 391 entrants and 254 drivers.

-- 2001: A not-for-profit corporation was organized to take over the races in partnership with The District. Rudolph was again The King of the Streets. The star-studded victory list included fellow former multiple-race champions such as Iowans Mike Welsh and Scott Evans and Illinoisans Jason Birdsell and Todd Bolton.

-- 2000: Mike Welsh joined Jason Birdsell and Eric Jones as the only Rock Island champs to win more than two races in the same year. Coupled with the junior-class championship by fellow Davenport Iowa resident Michael Dittmer, Welsh's three wins helped double the hometown title-take in the event.

-- 1999: With no red flags flying for the first time in event history, Illinoisans Todd Bolton and Dan Schmalshof each karted away a pair of titles.

-- 1998: Jason Birdsell won a Rock Island record five races in one day and came close to winning all nine of the events he entered. Taylor Ridge, Illinois' Andy Cook and Rock Island's Travis Porter also were winners.

-- 1997: A midsummer cancellation of the races was forced by legal liability issues raised in a lawsuit stemming from the accident-marred 1995 event. The District assumed control in a race reorganization.

-- 1996: Tom Argy Jr. was hired as race director. Eric Jones claimed four races, and Davenport's Brian Harris and Bettendorf's Brandon Powell became the first QC drivers to gain first-place money, each benefiting from one of eight accidents in the finals.

-- 1995: Two tandems of siblings dominated the accident-marred action, with Indiana's Brent and Brian Smith, and Kentucky's Jarrod and Jeremy Whitledge, combining to win five of the 14 races. Four red flags before the end of three races forced a driver's meeting and the installation of several emergency safety measures.

-- 1994: A cold, hard rain marked the event's maiden voyage. Such notable names as Alan Rudolph, Eric Jones and Scott Evans each won twice.

-- 1993: Tom Ott and Mike Berg were behind a push to bring a karting street race to the Quad-Cities. However, plans for The Rock Island Argus newspaper to partner with Gus Traeder’s Quincy-based Professional Karting Association on a Labor Day race were put on hold by the Great Flood of 1993.

Results by Year

2008	2007	2006	2005
2004	2003	2002	2001
2000	1999	1998	1996
	1995	1994

Rock Island Grand Prix Track Lap Speed Records

TAG Senior: Brandon Jones, Billings, Mo., 32.814 (2006).
4-Cycle Clone Heavy: Travis DeVriendt, Sherrard, Ill., 38.749 (2011).
Yamaha Super Can Heavy: Joey King, Silvis, Ill., 35.209 (2006).
Pro Open: Michael Giessen, St. Louis, Mo, 32.963 (2011)
Leopard: Sam Beasley, Le Roy, Iowa, 33.435 (2010) .
TAG Junior: Austin Self, Austin, Tex,, 33.769 (2010).
King of the Streets (125cc Shifter/Stock Moto): Kyle Wiegand, Bargersville, Ind., 32.576 (2011).
125 shifter (King/Pro ICC) Kyle Weigand, Bargersville, Ind. 31.474 (2005)
4-Cycle Clone Medium: Travis DeVriendt, Sherrard, Ill., 38.193 (2011).
Yamaha Super Can Medium: Gary Lawson, Mentor, Ohio, 34.716 (2005).
125cc Shifter Masters: Shayne Shipley, Middletown, Ind., 32.412 (2006).
TAG Masters: John Dixon, Evansville, Ind., 33.667 (2006).

NOTE: North American Street Championship (ICC/KZ2): Kyle Wiegand, Bargersville, Ind., 31.176 ('06 feature, course record).

---- Classes No Longer Run -----

Rotax Senior: Sam Beasley, LeRoy, Iowa, 33.333 (2011).
2-Cycle Pipe Heavy: Mike Welsh, Davenport, Iowa, 34.180 (2005).
2-Cycle Controlled Super Stock: Jason North, Devonshire, Bermuda, 35.865 ('00 feature).
2-Cycle Senior Sportsman: Gary Lawson, Mentor, Ohio, 36.834 ('05 feature).
4-Cycle Light: Dustin Morris, Birdsboro, Pa., 37.813 ('03 qualifying).
4-Cycle Medium: Billy Dickson, West Decatur, Pa., 37.041 ('05 feature).
4-Cycle Heavy: Gary Lawson, Mentor, Ohio, 37.350 ('06 feature).
4-Cycle Super Heavy: Andy Cook, Taylor Ridge, Ill., 40.419 ('99 feature).
4-Cycle Super Stock: Contested before lap times were first recorded.
4-Cycle Senior Animal Heavy: Billy Dickson, West Decatur, Pa., 35.543 ('05 feature).
4-Cycle Sportsman: Contested before lap times were first recorded.
Rumble at The Rock (4-Cycle Animal Medium): Jason Birdsell, St. Joseph, Ill., 35.867 (2006).
80cc Shifter: John Johnson, Marshalltown, Iowa, 33.966 ('02 feature).
125cc Shifter (Pro ICC): Kyle Wiegand, Bargersville, Ind., 31.476 ('05 feature).
125cc Moto Shifter (semi-pro): Chris Farrell, Park City, Utah, 32.133 ('05 feature).
250cc Biland: Kyle Wiegand, Bargersville, Ind., 34.687 ('02 feature).
CIK Intercontinental A: Joey King, Silvis, Ill., 32.187 ('05 feature).
Formula Y Direct Drive: Justin Stefani, Des Moines, Iowa, 37.489 ('98 feature).
HPV-100 Pro Heavy: James Perkins, Rocky River, Ohio, 35.966 ('02 feature).
Junior 4-Cycle Animal: Taylor Moore, Lake Village, Ind., 37.809 ('05 feature).
Junior 4-Cycle: Tim Goettsch, Bettendorf, Iowa, 39.788 ('03 qualifying).
Rotax Junior: Bristol Gunderson, Seabrook, Tex., 34.007 (2010).
North American Street Championship (ICC/KZ2): Kyle Wiegand, Bargersville, Ind., 31.176 ('06 feature, course record).
Rotax Masters: John Dixon, Evansville, Ind., 35.073 (’09 feature).
TAG SuperPro: Johnny Johnson, Marshalltown, Iowa, 33.210 ('08 feature).
Tom Argy Junior Sportsman: Sam Beasley, LeRoy, Iowa, 37.089 (’09 feature).
U.S. 820: Contested before lap times were first recorded.
Yamaha Light: Todd Bolton, Bowen, Ill., 35.664 ('99 feature).
Yamaha Medium: Joey King, Silvis, Ill., 33.379 ('05 feature).

Rock Island Grand Prix Winners

125cc Shifter (Pro/King of Streets)
’12 & ‘09: Jordon Musser, Coppell, Tex.
’11: Derek Crockett, Cahokia, Ill.
’06, '01, '00, '98 & '94: Alan Rudolph, Gilbert, Ariz.
‘10,‘05 & ‘04: Kyle Weigand, Bargersville, Ind.
‘03: Bobby Wilson, Dousman, Wis.
'02: Scott Speed, San Dimas, Cal.
'99: A.J. Whisler, Martin, Ohio
'96: Joey Hand, Elk Grove, Calif.
'95: Mark Barth, Waterford, Mich.

125cc Masters
’12: Lance Lane, Algonquin, Ill.
’11: Kurt Mathewson, Carmel, Ind.
’10: Chris Enderlein, St. Paul, Minn.
’09: Kurt Mathewson, Indianapolis, Ind.
’08: Collin Lynn, Melissa, Tex.
’07: Voytek Burdzy, Poland/Schiller Park, Ill.
’06: Dan Roe, Minnetonka, Minn.
‘05: Bonnier Mouton, Irvine, Cal.
‘04: Bonnier Moulton, Irvine, Cal.
‘03 & ‘02: John Kindhart, Lake Dallas, Tex.

TAG Senior/ TAG SuperPro
’12: Mason Chelootz, Houston, Texas
’11 & ‘10: Sam Beasley, LeRoy, Iowa
’09 & ’08: Michele Bumgarner, Philippines
’08: Johnny Johnson, Marshalltown, Iowa
’07 & ‘05: Caleb Loniewski, Michigan City, Ind.
’06: Martin Pierce, England
‘04: Jim Cassi, Minneapolis, Minn.
'03: Matt Champagne, Ontario, Canada

TAG Masters
’12: Brian McHattie, Youngstown, Ohio
’11& ‘06: John Dixon, Evansville, Ind.
’10 & ‘04: Mack McCormack, Athens, Ala.
’09 & ’08: Scott Hamble, Indianapolis, Ind.
’07: Brian McHattie, Youngstown, Ohio
‘05: Aaron Combs, San Marcos, Cal.
'03: Mike Combs, Sheridan, Ill.

Leopard
’12: Cory Cacciavillani, Leamington, Ont. Canada
’11: Michael Politis, Brooklyn, N.Y.
’10: Phil DeLaO, Peoria, Ariz.
’09: Caleb Loniewski, Michigan City, Ind.

TAG Junior
’12: Dustin Stross, Ft. Myers, Fl.
’11: Chase Jones, Greenwood, Ind.
’10: Alec Udell, Angleton, Tex.
’09: Austin Self, Austin, Tex.

Yamaha SuperCan Heavy (was Super Spts. Heavy)
’12: Tony Jump, DeKalb, Ill.
’11 & ’10: Gary Lawson, Mentor, Ohio
’09,’08,’07,’06: Michael Dittmer, Davenport, Iowa

Yamaha SuperCan Medium (was Super Spts. Medium)
’12: William McLaughlin, Mooresville, Ind.
’11: Caleb Loniewski, Michigan City, Ind.
’10,’08,’07,’05,’03: Gary Lawson, Mentor, Ohio
’09 & ’06: Tim Goettsch, Bettendorf, Iowa
’04 & ’00: Mike Welsh, Davenport, Iowa
’02 & ’99: Todd Bolton, Camp Point, Ill.
’01 & ’98: Jason Birdsell, St. Joseph, Ill.
’96: Eric Jones, Granger, Iowa
’95: Kevin Snyder, Taylorville, Ill.

4-cycle Clone Medium
’12: Jesse Clossey, Janesville, Wis.
‘11& ’10: Travis DeVriendt, Sherrard, Ill.

4-cycle Clone Heavy
’12: Connor Lund, Davis, Ill.
’11: Leo Carr, Bettendorf, Iowa

Briggs & Stratton 206 Medium
’12: Connor Lund, Davis, Ill.

Pro Open
’12: Caleb Loniewski, Michigan City, Ind.
’11: Mike Giessen, St. Louis, Mo.

---------- Classes No Longer Run ----------------

Rotax Senior
’12: Mason Chelootz. Houston, Texas
’11: Sam Beasley, LeRoy, Iowa
’10: Phil DeLaO, Peoria, Ariz.
’09: Justin de Sa, Ottawa, Canada
'02: Jordon Musser, Coppell, Tex.
'01: Tim Lobaugh, Bardoa, Mich.
'00: Kyle Wiegand, Bargersville, Ind.

Rotax Junior
’11: Logan Bearden, Leander, Texas
’10: Alec Udell, Angleton, Tex.

Komet Senior (was Yamaha Heavy, 2-cycle Pipe Heavy)
’12: Tony Neilson, Delmar, Iowa
’11: Brandon Cather, Rock Island, Ill.
’10: Drake Ostrom, Moline, Ill.
’09, ’08 & ‘05: Tim Goettsch, Bettendorf, Iowa;
’07 & ’06: Tony Neilson, Delmar, Iowa
‘04: Michael Welsh, Davenport, Iowa
'03, ’00 & ‘99: Todd Bolton, Bowen, Ill.
'02: Jacob Otto, Marshalltown, Iowa
'01 & '94: Scott Evans, Des Moines, Iowa
'98 & '96: Michael Bailliez, Glasford, Ill.
'95: Jarrod Whitledge, Henderson, Ky.

Animal Heavy
’10, ’09, ’08, ‘07, 06: Gary Lawson, Mentor, Ohio

Animal Medium (Rumble at The Rock)
’10 & ‘09: Gary Lawson. Mentor, Ohio
’08: Steven Kilsdonk, Middleton, Wis.
’07: Scott Kleman, Farmington, Mich.
’06: Travis DeVriendt, Sherrard, Ill.

Intercontinental C (KZ2)
’10, ’09, ’06, ‘05 & ‘02: Kyle Wiegand, Bargersville, Ind.
‘04& '03: Alan Rudolph, Gilbert, Ariz.

2-cycle Super Sportsman (Medium)
’06: Tim Goettsch, Bettendorf, Iowa
‘05: Gary Lawson, Mentor, Ohio
‘04 & ‘00: Michael Welsh, Davenport, Iowa
'03: Gary Lawson, Mentor, Ohio
'02 & '99: Todd Bolton, Camp Point, Ill.
'01 & '98: Jason Birdsell, St. Joseph, Ill.
'96: Eric Jones, Granger, Iowa
'95: Kevin Snyder, Taylorville, Ill.

125cc Shifter (Semi-Pro/Moto)
’06: Kyle Krueger, Bonney Lake, Wash.
’05 & ‘03: Rob Pretts, North Branch, Minn.
‘04 & ‘01: Dan Roe, Cokato, Minn.
'02: Nelson Phillippe, France/Fla.
'00: Rob Thurman, Clayton, Cal.

Yamaha Medium
’07, ‘04 & ‘01: Michael Welsh, Davenport, Iowa
’06: Christopher Larson, Trinity, Fl.
‘05: Joey King, Silvis, Ill.
'03: Todd Bolton, Bowen, Ill.
'02: Jacob Otto, Marshalltown, Iowa
'00: Jason Birdsell, St. Joseph, Ill.
'99 & '95: Dan Schmalshof, Adair, Ill.
'98: Scott Evans, Des Moines, Iowa
'96: Brian Harris, Davenport, Iowa
'94: Rick Fulks, Jacksonville, Ill.

2-cycle Junior Sportsman
’12: Killian Keaveny, Annandale, Minn.
’09: Sam Beasley, LeRoy, Iowa
’08 &’07: Justin Jennings, LeGrange, Mo.
’06: Josh Call, Avon, Ind.
'95: Chris Shearburn, Springfield, Ill.
'94: Dan Schmalshof, Adair, Ill.

Intercontinental A
’06: Eric Morrow, Indianapolis, Ind.
‘05: Johnny Johnson, Marshalltown, Iowa
‘04: Not run
'03: Sean Israel, Fayetteville, Ga.

4-Cycle Heavy (Raptor)
‘07: Travis DeVriendt, Sherrard, Ill.
’05 & ‘03: Billy Dickson, West Decatur, Pa.
’06 & ’04: Gary Lawson, Mentor, Ohio
'02: Eric Garland, Terre Haute, Ind.
'01: Mike Guerity, Charlotte, N.C.
'00: Rod Stewart, Jacksonville, Ill.
'99: Dan Newell, Des Moines, Iowa
'98: Matt Riggs, Pevly, Mo.
'96: Brian Smith, Evansville, Ind.
'95: Brent Smith, Indianapolis, Ind.
'94: Todd Lamb, Clawson, Mich.

Junior Animal
‘05: Taylor Moore, Lake Village, Ind.
‘04: Zachary Linsell, Wind Gap, Pa.

Junior 4-Cycle (Raptor)
'03 Ritchie Kuhn, Mentor, Ohio
'02: Tim Goettsch, Bettendorf, Iowa
'01: Joe King, Silvis, Ill.
'00: Michael Dittmer, Davenport, Iowa
'95: Chris Shearburn, Springfield, Ill.
'94: Brian Lay, Millbury, Ohio.

4-Cycle Light
'03: A.J. Lane, Carleton, Mich.
'02: Dustin Morris, Birdsboro, Pa.
'01 & '99: Rod Stewart, Jacksonville, Ill.
'00 & '94: Ryan Cassity, Mt. Zion, Ill.
'98: Jason Birdsell, St. Joseph, Ill.
'95 & '96: Brent Smith, Indianapolis, Ind.

4-Cycle Medium
’05: Billy Dickson, West Decatur, Pa.
’04: Scott Kleman, Northville, Mich.
'03: Gary Lawson, Mentor, Ohio
'02 & '01: Chris Harding, Ft. Wayne, Ind.
'00: Justin Gumley, Colts Neck, N.J.
'99 & '98: Jason Birdsell, St. Joseph, Ill.
'96: Eric Jones, Granger, Iowa
'95: Brian Smith, Evansville, Ind.
'94: Brent Smith, Indianapolis, Ind.

2-Cycle Controlled Super Stock
'01 & '00: Jason North, Devonshire, Bermuda
'99: Chris Russo, Louisville, Ky.
'98 & '96: Jason Birdsell, St. Joseph, Ill.
'95: Scott Evans, Des Moines, Iowa
'94: Scott Evans (heavy); Aaron Anderson, Rockford, Ill. (light).

Yamaha Light
'00 Mike Welsh, Davenport, Iowa;
'99: Dan Schmalshof, Adair, Ill.
'98: Michael Bailliez, Glasford, Ill.
'96: Jason Birdsell, St. Joseph, Ill.
'95: Dan Schmalshof, Adair, Ill.
'94: Scott Sellergren, Elk Grove, Ill.

4-cycle Super Heavy:
'99: Michael Worobey, Chicago, Ill.
'98: Andy Cook, Taylor Ridge, Ill.

Formula Y Direct Drive
'98: Travis Porter, Rock Island, Ill.
4-cycle Super Stock
'95: Rod Stewart, Jacksonville, Ill.

4-cycle Sportsman
'96: (4-Cycle Box Stock) Eric Jones,
Granger, Iowa;
'95: Chris Mudd, Kirksville, Mo.

U.S. 820
'96: J.D. Gunn, Gary, Ind.

HPV-100 Pro Heavy
'02 & '01: Todd Bolton, Camp Lake, Ill.

80cc Shifter
'02: Chris Jackson, Tuttle, Okla.
'01: Jacob Pierson, Bellvue, Col.
'00: Dan Roe, Minnetonka, Minn.
'99: Jason King, Maple Grove, Minn.

2-cycle Sr. Sportsman
’05 & ‘03: Gary Lawson, Mentor, Ohio
‘04: Cory Reeves, Franklin, Wis.
'02 & '99: Scott Evans, DesMoines, Iowa
'01 & '98: Jason Birdsell, St. Joseph, Ill.
'00: Mike Welsh, Davenport, Iowa
'96: (2-Cycle Senior Sportsman A) Eric Jones,
Granger, Iowa. (2-Cycle Senior Sportsman B)
Brandon Powell, Bettendorf
'95: Jerry Whitledge, Henderson, Ky
'94: Eric Jones (won both light and heavy
divisions).