Hagen Rebounds to Win Night Two at Belle Clair

By Bryan Gapinski
Belleville,Ill., June 26---California's Darren Hagen won the 75-lap POWRi Speedway Motors/Mid-State Equipment Badger Midget Racing Series co-sanctioned feature, Saturday Night at Belle-Clair Raceway. The event capped off the two-night Budweiser FanFest celebrating the 75th anniversary of midget auto racing in the greater St.Louis area.

Hagen took the lead at the start from the pole position followed by Brad Loyet. A multi-car accident on the opening lap, slowed action. On the restart Loyet's engine began misfiring, with Hagen leading the event. With Hagen running the cushion and Loyet using the lower groove the pair were the class of the field closely followed by Mike Hess.

Hagen who finished 19th in Friday's feature was passed by Loyet on Lap 66, but regained the lead with four laps remaining. Hagen driving the RFMS Racing owned Spike/Ford-Esslinger No. 3 finished one-car length ahead of Loyet at the finish, followed by Hess, Steve Knepper, and Andrew Felker. The victory was worth $4,000 for Hagen.

Loyet increased his POWRi point lead, while Hess has taken over the Badger point lead and currently holds a 28-point advantage over Brandon Waelti. Badger's next event will be July 2 at Dodge County Fairgrounds (Beaver Dam,Wis.), while POWRi resumes racing on July 5 at Macon (Ill.) Speedway.