FIKE CLAIMS BADGER MIDGET TITLE
HINES WINS SECOND STRAIGHT FIREMANS NAT'LS

SUN PRAIRIE, WI, September 1, 2002--Tracy Hines, captured the 21st annual Fireman's Nationals presented by Coca-Cola, for the second straight year, Sunday Night at Angell Park Speedway. Aaron Fike emerged as the Badger Midget Series Champion in the season finale for the series, despite finishing 20th in the event.
Scott Hatton paced the initial lap, before Davey Ray who was challenging Fike for the title took over the lead. Ray began increasing his lead each lap over a tightly bunched field of cars. Ray enjoyed a ten car length advantage when he spun on the ninth lap. Ray restarted at the tail of the field. Hatton now assumed the lead and held it for a lap before Chad DeSelle moved in front, while Hines moved into fourth place.
Fike spun exiting turn two on the 14th lap running fourth, and was clipped by defending series champ Dan Boorse. The event was stopped, when it was discovered Fike needed medical attention, as a foreign object struck Fike entering his face sheild. Fike was transported to Columbus Hospital, and treated for facial injuries, and a slight concussion.
Hines chased down DeSelle passing him for the lead on the 17th lap, and began stretching his lead. Jay Drake who started last after missing qualifications now was running tenth. Hines began lapping the tail of field on the 30th lap, and Drake continued his charge throught the field.
Hines enjoyed a three second lead, over Hatton with ten laps remaining as Drake was now in third. A stalled car bunched up the field, with three laps remaining but on the restart Hines pulled away unchallenged. Hines drove the Wilke-PAK Motorsports/Stealth-Seco-Mopar#11 entry. Hatton, Drake, Matt Westfall in a second Wilke-PAK entry, and DeSelle rounded out the top five finishers. Ray finished sixth. Final standings show that Fike finished 26 points ahead of Ray, becoming the youngest champion in the 66 year history of the organization, at the age of 19.