Coons scores another late-race pass for Angell Park Win

By Bryan Gapinski Sun Prairie, Wis., May 24, 2009---Jerry Coons Jr. captured the 50-lap Badger Midget Series feature, Sunday Night at Angell Park Speedway. Last week Coons led only the final two laps of the event for the victory. For Coons it was his 20th career feature victory at the track moving him into ninth place on the all-time track feature win list.
A multi-car tangle on the first lap caused David Budres to flip, forcing Mike Hess, Tracy Hines, and Davey Ray to restart the event from the tail of the field. Bryon Walters paced the opening lap, before Brandon Waelti moved into the lead. Coons moved into third place on lap 5 behind Waelti and Scott Hatton. The top three separated themselves by a half-lap over the remainder of the field, when the caution appeared for a stalled car on lap 15.
Three more cautions appeared over the next ten laps for minor incidents. On the lap 25 restart Waelti led Coons, Brad Loyet and Hatton. The next 14-laps saw some of the most intense racing on a "heavy cushion" at the track in several years. Waelti shadowed by Coons maintained his lead the entire distance, until fast qualifier Davey Ray stopped on the track on lap 39.
On the restart Coons stayed glued to Waelti's bumper but could not complete a pass for the lead. On lap 47 entering Turn 1 three lapped cars were in front of Waelti and Coons. Coons took advantage of the slower traffic and squeezed by Waelti for the lead exiting turn 2. Coons driving the Ralph Wilke Spike/Toyota No. 5 finished three-car lengths ahead of Waelti, followed by Loyet, Hatton and Brad Kuhn. Hatton holds a five point lead over Loyet heading into the May 31 event at Angell Park Speedway.