Stratton Gains Point Lead With Victory

Sun Prairie,Wis., July 10, 2005-Danny Stratton scored a one car-length victory Sunday Night capturing the 25-lap Badger Midget Series feature at Angell Park Speedway. The win was Stratton's third in the past four events, and moved him into the series point lead.
Nick Lundgreen jumped into the lead at the start, while Stratton passed four cars on the opening lap. By the fourth lap Stratton moved into third, and one lap later was in second place. Rookie driver Chad Deher flipped hard in turn four bringing out the red flag on the ninth lap. Deher was uninjured in the incident which destroyed his car.
On the restart Stratton used the inside groove passing Lundgreen for the lead. Two laps later Lundgreen began falling off the leaders pace. Jerry Coons Jr. moved into second followed closely by Scott Hatton. The final seven laps saw the trio run through lapped traffic, several times Coons pulled to Stratton's bumper but couldn't pull off a pass for the lead. Stratton finished one car length ahead of Coons, with Hatton an additional car length behind in third place. Brandon Waelti, and Chad DeSelle completed the top five.
Davey Ray entered the event as the series point leader but suffered engine problems in the trophy dash sidelining him for the evening. Stratton now holds a 14-point lead over Waelti heading into the July 16 event at The Raceway at PowerCom Park (Beaver Dam,Wis.), before heading back to Angell Park on July 17.Both events will be co-sanctioned with the Gateway Midget Series.