SUN PRAIRIE, WI (August 2, 1998) -- Just one night after chasing home Steve Knepper and Jason Leffler at the Belleville Midget Nationals, Jerry Coons, Jr. proved that he is one of the hottest midget racers in the U.S. by setting fast time, finishing second in the dash and winning the Badger Midget Auto Racing Association's "Fredenberg 50" at Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, WI, Sunday night.

Coons, Jr., Tuscon, AZ, who, Friday night, also broke the 25 lap track record at Belleville, KS previously held by NASCAR standout Jeff Gordon, moved passed Quinn McCabe, Loves Park, IL during a restart on lap 23 to take the lead in the 50 lap main event. Coons used the inside line to pass McCabe in turns one and two. The win is Coons' third A-feature victory of the season in Badger competition. He is also currently fourth in the USAC National Midget Series point standings.

Coons explained the pass for the lead. "the guy in second at the time (Marty Davis) left the top open so I drove around him coming off of turn four and it looked like Quinn (McCabe) was a little loose on the top so I stuck it down on the bottom and held it down there until I was sure that I was by him cleanly."

Coons dominated the next 20 laps, at one point opening up a straightaway lead on the field. A late race re-start allowed Dan Boorse, Whitefish Bay, WI to power past Kevin Doty, Burlington, Iowa and challenge Coons, Jr. for the lead, but Coons' car exited turn two with more momentum and he was able to pull away from Boorse for the win.

"I figured Doty was having his hands full and he was going to try to set-up Coons, so I just tried to get my momentum up and go around the outside as hard as I could." Boorse said. "After I got by Doty I tried to get inside of Coons figuring that maybe I'd break his rhythm if I was able to pull ahead and lead a lap or two."

The restart was the result of a red flag which was thrown when Doug Schenck, Oregon, WI jumped the cushion in turn three and flipped twice against the outer guardrail. Schenck's car tore down several of the park's sponsor boards during the flip and momentarily caught fire.

The red flag was one of three thrown during the night for flipping cars. The first of which was for Aaron Fiscus, Madison, WI who's car careened off the inside guardrail on the opening lap and flipped. Three laps later Bryce Collings, Roger Corrigan, John Jones, Chris Maxson, Randy Koch, Randy Fiscus, Dean Billings and Boyd Calvert all collided while trying to avoid the car driven by Brad Webber which had slowed on the backstretch. Four cars went upside down in the incident and only Calvert was able to continue. None of the drivers involved in the wrecks received significant injuries.

In victory lane, Coons, Jr. explained his connections to the Fredenberg family. "Dan Fredenberg and I race together in Arizona in the sprint cars and he and I have done some serious wheel to wheel battles, but he has always raced me clean. I was hoping he could find a ride here tonight. I know this night means a lot to the whole Fredenberg family."

Rounding out the top five in the event were Boyd Calvert, Mt Horeb, WI who finished third, Scott Hatton, Roscoe, IL fourth and Kevin Olson, Machesney Park, IL fifth.

By virtue of the fact that Boorse finished one position ahead of Calvert, he will continue to increase his points lead for the BMARA season championship.

The Badger Midgets will be back in action this Sunday night at Angell Park Speedway for the Rich Vogler Memorial race. USAC National Midget Series defending champion Jason Leffler, Long Beach, CA is expected to compete.

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