SUN PRAIRIE, WI (July 5, 1998) -- Scott Hatton won one of the biggest races of his career against the fastest A-main field ever to run at the Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, WI, during the Badger Midget Auto Racing Association Mid-Season 50 here Sunday night. Hatton survived the grueling event that just 11 cars managed to finish.

Hatton, Roscoe, IL grabbed the lead from the pole sitter, Aaron Fiscus, Madison, WI as the two exited turn four on the ninth lap of the feature event. Hatton held the lead until lap 12 when USAC National Midget series standout, Ricky Shelton moved by him on the inside of turn two. Through several yellow flag restarts Shelton continued to build on his lead until lap 26, when in dramatic fashion, his engine blew at top speed down the backstretch, sending a shower of sparks into the air. Hatton reclaimed the lead on the restart and held off the late race challenges of Shelton's Willoughby teammate, Jay Drake to record his first career 50 lap event victory at Angell Park Speedway.

"It feels real good, the motor ran super, the car handled great, everything was super." Hatton said from victory lane. "I was watching the scoreboard and I knew the guys that were behind me, I mean, I passed some fast guys … by lap 10 we were in the lead … we passed Olson and Boorse so I knew we were fast. When Shelton got by me I thought, 'just hang in there, you never know what can happen' … I'm just kind of lucky that he broke because I really wanted this win bad."

Late in the race Hatton favored a high line in turns three and four and the low groove through turns one and two to hold off the challenges of Drake, the current point leader in the USAC National Midget Series.

"Up in three and four … you really had to hold your breath running up there. It was really hard racing up there. Over here in one and two we were getting through there real good so it was kind of easy racing through there because your going a little slower, but up in three and four," Hatton explained, "you're really haulin' up there. I figured I found a groove up there so I stayed with it."

Last weeks winner, Jerry Coons, Jr., Tucson, AZ, who finished third this week, did a remarkable job saving his car from spinning after a mid race collision. Coons, who had been running fourth at the time of the incident, nearly stopped in turn three, but he was able to regain his momentum and continue the race.

"I really thought the engine was going to stall and luckily it didn't." Coons explained. "I don't really think I had anything for the leaders late in the race, it really seemed like we had a third place car tonight."

Kevin Doty, Burlington, IA, finished fourth by passing Australian, Adam Clarke off of turn four on the final lap.

Clarke, Newcastle, Aus., was pleased with the results of his first 50 lap race. "Tonight was the first time I qualified in the 14 second bracket, we won our heat and finished our first 50 lapper in fifth." Clarke said, "I thought the car was really good on long runs, and the last red gave everybody else a chance to recuperate and they just had a little better package than us … but we're happy to finish fifth … it was good."

All 16 cars to automatically qualify into the nights A-Feature recorded times in the 14 second bracket, which made the field the fastest ever at Angell Park Speedway. During the night two track records were set. Clay Klepper set the single qualifying lap record of 14.511 and Shelton set a new record for the fastest six laps ever run at Angell Park Speedway.

The Badger Midgets join NAMARS for a dual sanctioned show at Kokomo, Indiana beginning Wednesday of this week. The three day special event concludes on Friday night. The Badger Midgets will return to Angell Park Speedway this Sunday night.

xxx

Here's some pictures  from Sunday night.

OFFICIAL RESULTS 7/5/98 Angell Park Speedway

* NEW TRACK RECORD

Points Standings as of 7/5/98

POSITION, DRIVER/POINTS, PASS PTS, .......CAR # ,OWNER POINTS

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