SUN PRAIRIE, WI (May 17, 1998) -- Despite a motor that was on the verge of overheating for much of the race, Marty Davis, #76, Racine, WI, raced away from the field and into the record books during the Badger Midget Auto Racing Association spring opener 50 Sunday night at Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. Davis broke a 36 year-old 50 lap record set by Billy Wood in 1962 in the caution free event.

Although Davis started on the pole and led all 50 laps of the event, his drive was not completely trouble free. "With about twenty laps to go my temperature warning light flashed on. The thing is set to come on when the water temperature in the engine reaches 230 degrees," Davis said. "I thought, here we go again, I was really worried because we had a similar situation during a 50 lap special last year where we led most of the race only to have a tire go down with just a few laps to go. I babied the motor for a few laps and when the light started to flash rather than stay on constantly, I just stood on it and hoped it would hold out."

Davis held a half-a-lap lead over second place, Kevin Doty, #11, Milan, Illinois, when the overheating problem occurred. Doty, who had challenged for the early race lead, was passed by Tony Elliot, #66 Kokomo, IN with 30 laps remaining but regained the posiiot pulled off at the halfway point with motor problems.

Ten laps later, Dan Boorse, #88, Whitefish Bay and Boyd Calvert, #23, Mt. Horeb who started next to each other in row five battled their way past Doty. "I really thought that when we passed Doty that we had the lead." Boorse said. "I never had a chance to get a good look at the scoreboard, there was so much traffic and the guys were two and three wide racing for position, I really had to concentrate on the track in front of me. When I finally did see Marty, my first thought was that he was a lapped car, he was so far ahead."

Boorse narrowed the lead to about five car lengths by the white flag lap.

"With about 10 laps to go, I finally realized he (Davis) was the leader and I went after him with everything I had, unfortunately, I think we came up about five laps short." Boorse added.

Davis, who designs and builds his own race cars elaborated on Boorse's run, "I really was too focused on what the car was doing and the noises it was making and how it was driving to think about who was behind me, or how close they'd be. Any win is a good win, but it's been a long time since we won at the Prairie … I'm really proud of my entire crew for how this car worked tonight."

Calvert, who finished third, continues to hold a season points advantage over Boorse.

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