Pickens Tops Close PowerCom Park Midget Feature

Beaver Dam, Wis., July 16, 2005-New Zealand's Michael Pickens won a thrilling 25-lap Badger/Gateway Midget Series Feature, Saturday Night at the Raceway at PowerCom Park. The event saw four lead changes in the final seven laps. 
Series point leader Danny Stratton jumped into the lead at the start, while Pickens passed five cars on the opening lap moving into second place. The event was slowed for a spun car on the fourth lap. On the restart Pickens passed Stratton for the lead. Pickens brushed the wall twice in the next two laps maintaining his lead. 
On the eighth lap Jimmy Quinn flipped trying to avoid the slowing car of Davey Ray. Quinn escaped injury. On the restart Pickens led Scott Hatton, and Stratton. With Pickens leading tight racing took place behind him. At the mid-way point Chad DeSelle moved into second after starting 12th. Multi-groove racing took place throughout the field. 
Stratton regained the lead on the 18th lap, one lap later a three car tangle bunched the field. De Selle running the bottom groove led the 19th lap, with Stratton leading the next lap using the high side of the track. Pickens used a high groove pass for the lead on the 21st lap. 
Pickens driving the Steve Smith owned Hawk/Smith#1NZ entry pulled away from the field during final four laps finishing 1.42 seconds ahead of Stratton, DeSelle, Hatton, and Steve Buckwalter. Earlier in the night Stratton set a new 8-lap track record winning the trophy dash.