Pickens First Kiwi Winner At 'Prairie

By Bryan Gapinski, Sun Prairie, Wis., August 29, 2004--New Zealand's Michael Pickens scored a surprising victory in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame Classic 25-lap Badger Midget Series feature Sunday Night at Angell Park Speedway.
Pickens became the first driver from New Zealand to score a feature victory in the 68-year history of the facility.
2004 Badger Champion Scott Hatton jumped into the lead at the start, closely followed by Pickens. Davey Ray passed nine cars in the first two laps, moving into the top ten. Hatton's lead was erased when a car stalled on the sixth lap brought out the caution. On the restart Pickens passed Hatton entering turn one to take the lead. The pair along with Pickens' teammate Adam Clarke pulled away from the tightly bunched field.
Clarke moved around Hatton into second place on the 12th lap. Five laps later Aaron Fike slowed with a flat tire, bringing out the caution. On the restart Pickens running at the track for the third time, led Clarke, and Hatton. Pickens driving the Smith-Woods Racing/Breka-Smith entry ran eight perfect laps to finish 0.97 seconds ahead of Clarke. Hatton, Ray, and Greg Lueckert completed the top five.
Hatton clinched his second career Badger Championship before the evenings events began by virtue of the August 28 event at the Raceway at PowerCom (Beaver Dam, Wis.) being rained out. Hatton become the 12th driver in Badger history to win more than one championship. The 23rd annual Fireman's Nationals presented by Coca-Cola will complete the season on September 5 at the track.