Hatton Captures Badger Midget Opener

By Bryan Gapinski, Sun Prairie, Wis., May 16, 2004--Scott Hatton captured the 50-lap Badger Midget Series season opener Sunday Night at Angell Park Speedway. The event marked the start of the 68th year of racing for the Badger, the oldest active sanctioning organization in midget auto racing.
Pole sitter Aaron Fiscus paced the intinial lap before Brandon Waelti took over the lead. Kevin Doty running second was closing on Waelti when he spun on the sixth lap, moving Doty to the tail. Doty began moving back to the front on the restart.
Defending series champion Davey Ray suffered a flat tire on the tenth lap bringing out the caution, and retired from the event. Waelti maintained his lead over Hatton despite two more caution flags before lap 20 when Fiscus flipped. Fiscus escaped injury in the accident.
Hatton shadowed Waelti before moving into the lead on the backstretch on the 27th lap. Cody Wisensel flipped one lap later. On the restart Hatton paced the field easily before fast qualifier Josh Wise moved into second, on the 32nd lap. Hatton maintained his advantage over Wise for the remainder of the distance despite heavy lapped traffic. Hatton driving the Huston Solution Racing Stealth-Mopar finished with a 3.24 second advantage. Doty who passed 18 cars after his early race spin finished third. Waelti, and Chad DeSelle rounded out the top five. Hatton holds a 28 point lead heading into the next series event at the facility on May 23.