Results 8/21/11

1. Bryan Clauson
2. Jerry Coons Jr
3. Brad Kuhn
4. Kyle Larson
5. Darren Hagen

Point Standings

1. Brad Kuhn
2. Bubba Altig
3. Mike Hess
4. Scott Hatton
5. Jerry Coons Jr

Thank you to everyone who has once again purchased the Midget Racing Calendar! There are approx. 80 calendars left from being a complete sellout in 2012. The price has been reduced for a final push to that sellout. $9.00 per calendar with US postage included. Also, since Donnie Ray Crawford is featured in this calendar, a sizable portion of the final sales will be donated to the Donnie Ray Crawford Racing Scholarship Fund. Please see the attached postcard for complete ordering information. Thanks again for your continued support!

16-race slate for 2012

Seven at Angell Park; Jacksonville season opener on April 27th

By Bryan Gapinski
Sun Prairie, Wis., Jan. 20---Officials of the Badger Midget Auto Racing Association (BMARA) released a sixteen race schedule for the 2012 racing season, today. It will mark the 76th year of sanctioning midget auto racing, for the country's oldest midget auto racing organization. The Stark Automotive Group/Mid-State Equipment Badger Midget Series will contest events at six tracks in Wisconsi and Illinois.
Sun Prairie's Angell Park Speedway continues as the cornerstone of the series, with seven races slated at the famed 1/3-mile facility, all seven events have a raindate. Among the highlights include: a USAC National/Badger co-sanctioned event on July 8, "The Cornfest Midget Classic" sanctioned by USAC, Bager and POWRi on Aug. 19 and the 31st annual Firemans Nationals presented by Pepsi on Sep. 1. Other Badger Angell Park events will be on May 27, June 10, July 15, and Aug. 12.
The Wilmot (Wis.) Speedway will host "The 6th annual Salute to Harry Turner" on July 15, a co-sanctioned event with POWRi and return for a second date on Aug. 11. Badger will co-sanction seven events in Illinois with POWRi, including the season opener at Jacksonville (Ill.) Speedway on April 27. Three events at Macon (Ill.) Speedway will be on April 28, June 23, and Aug. 17. After a successful debut last year the series returns to Peoria (Ill.) Speedway on May 19. Lincoln (Ill.) Speedway will have two events on June 22 and Aug. 18.
Badger will again endorse the POWRi sanctioned Speedway Motors Midget Money week. The opening event will be July 27 at Solomon Valley Raceway (Beloit, Kan,) for the 3rd annual Chad McDaniel Memorial. Followed by July 28 Cornhusker Midget Nationals at Junction Motor Speedway (McCool Junction, Neb.), and the next evening at US 36 Raceway (Cameron, Mo.).
The Badger 600 Micro Series will run all seven events at Angell Park Speedway, along with both Wilmot Speedway races. Additional stand-alone races for the Micro's will be announced shortly.

2012 Schedule
Fri. April 27 Jacksonville Speedway (Jacksonville, Ill.)*
Sat. April 28 Macon Speedway (Macon, Ill.)*
Sat. May 19 Peoria Speedway (Peoria, Ill.)*
Sun. May 27 Angell Park Speedway
Sun. June 10 Angell Park Speedway
Fri. June 22 Lincoln Speedway (Lincon, Ill.)*
Sat. June 23 Macon Speedway
Sun. July 8 Angell Park Speedway**
Sat. July 14 Wilmot Raceway (Wilmot, Wis.)*
Sun. July 15 Angell Park Speedway*
Fri. July 27 Solomon Valley Speedway (Beloit, Kan.)--non points race
Sat. July 28 Junction Motor Speedway (McCool Junction, Neb.)--non points race
Sun. July 29 US 36 Speedway (Cameron, Mo.)--non points race
Sat. Aug. 11 Wilmot Raceway
Sun. Aug. 12 Angell Park Speedway
Fri.. Aug. 17 Macon Speedway*
Sat. Aug. 18 Lincoln Speedway*
Sun. Aug. 19 Angell Park Speedway***
Sat. Sep. 1 Angell Park Speedway
*=co-sanction with POWRi
**=co-sanction with USAC National
***=co-sanction with USAC Nat'l, & POWRi

Schedule in .pdf format

BMARA and CW Promotions have signed a contract to race 7 events at Angell Park Speedway for the 2012 season. The agreement includes 5 rain dates.
More races will be added to the Badger schedule in the coming days.

May 27- Rain Date July 1
Jun 10- Rain Date July 22
Jul 8- Co-sanction with USAC
Jul 15- Rain Date Aug 5
Aug 12- Rain Date Aug 26
Aug 19- Co-sanction USAC
Sep 1- "Nationals"- Rain Date Sept 2

The regular meeting for BADGER will be held on Tuesday December 13, 2011 at 8:00 PM at 1855 Saloon & Grill, Cottage Grove, WI.

NOTE- There will not be a regular meeting for BADGER in January (enjoy the Chili Bowl)

The results of the election of the 2012 Officers and three positions on the Board of Directors:

President-Harlin Kitteson
Vice- President-Clare Rhone
Sec/Treas-Paul Krueger
Sgt. at Arms-Ron Fredenberg
Brd. Of Directors-
Dwight Huston
Brandon Waelti
Quinn McCabe
Kevin Weisensel
Jim Schulenberg
Rick Imhoff
Alternate-Jeff Arns

The track officials for 2012 will be selected at the January Board Meeting, so be sure to get your application in.

The 2012 dues are $115.00 for drivers, $90.00 for car owners and active voting members (all includes excess insurance), $50.00 for voting members, and $25.00 for non-voting members. If the dues are not paid before the first event, the dues will be $120.00, $95.00, $55.00, $30.00. If you are a member of another working club, the dues will be $90.00 for drivers and $65.00 for car owners (both includes excess insurance).
Membership Form

Kuhn , RW Motorsports & Bogar headline Badger Midget banquet

By Bryan Gapinski
Wisconsin Dells, Wis., Oct. 29 - Driver champion Brad Kuhn and car owner RW Motorsports headlined the list of honorees at the annual Badger Midget Auto Racing Association awards banquet Saturday Night at the Kalahari Convention Center & Water Park. The event brought the curtain down on the 75th Diamond anniversary season for the series.
Kuhn's season was highlighted by four feature victories, and nine straight top-three feature finishes driving a Beast Chassis powered by a Fontana, and sponsored by Rotondo Weirich. The championship for Kuhn marks his third Badger Championship title, each with a different car owner.
Kuhn and RW also took home the lion share of cash point fund. Other award winners included: Cody Wisensel (Most Improved Driver), Kuhn (Hoosier Hard Charger), Bubba Altig (Terry Vaughn Award), RW Motorsports Team (Mechanic of the Year),
Bryan Clauson (Frank Conner Award), Jim Schulenberg (Pat Stender Award), Bryon Walters (Kevin Doty Award), Rachel Scott (Media Award), Bob Parks & CW Promotions (Appreciation Award), Mid-State Equipment, Stark Automotive (Sponsor Appreciation), Chuck Johnson (Best Appearing Car), and Imhoff-Davis Racing (Best Dressed Crew). Spike (chassis), and Fontana (engine) received the Badger Midget Manufacturers Championship awards.
On the strength of two feature wins, Chad Bogar finished thirty-four points ahead of Preston Benisch to win the inaugural Badger 600 Micro Series Championship, with George Knudsen, finishing third. The 2012 season schedule will be released in late-December/early-January.

awards banquet

From Rachel Scott

October 29, 2011 the Badger Midget Auto Racing Association (BMARA) hosted it's 75th awards banquet. This also included the Micro series.

Brandon Waelti, Sun Prairie racer finished 8th in points said "We had a lousy year but not because we didn't try. We still had fun!"

Dwight Huston is car owner of Scott Hatton who finished 4th in points, "I had lots of confidence in our team. The Badger reunion was a total success as well as tonight's ceremony thanks to Amy and the fan club. Congratulations to Brad on his Championship."

Brad Kuhn is 2011 Badger Champion. "Championships don't come easy. They take lots of time and lots of travel. You have to find something that makes you want to keep coming back. The fans did that for me. We're cutting back and will continue to support Badger in other ways."

Congratulations to , Brad Kuhn, 2011 Champion Driver and RW Motorsports, 2011 Champion Car Owner.

The first regular meeting in the fall of 2011 for BADGER will be held on Tuesday October 11, 2011 at 8:00 PM at 1855 Saloon & Grill, 218 S. Main, Cottage Grove, Wisconsin. From I-94 exit Hwy N south to down town Cottage Grove to your left past the railroad tracks on Highway N.

The B. M.A.R.A. Banquet will be held on Saturday October 29, 2011 at the Kalahari Convention Center & Water Park, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. Dinner tickets will be $35.00 per person. Cocktails will be at 6:00 PM, Dinner at 7:00 PM, Awards Presentation at 8:00 PM, followed by DJ & Karaoke.

The Dinner will be Buffet with tables that will seat about 10 persons per table. If you will be attending dinner it is important that you make your reservations early and that you be exact in the number of persons in your party. All dinner reservations must be made and paid for in advance by October 23, 2011. Because this is a Banquet dinner, we will need a final count, therefore, no tickets will be sold after this date, please make your reservations with Paul Krueger.

When you make reservations be sure to let us know what group you want to sit with or be near. The tables will be arranged by Car Number.

Nominations will be taken at this Meeting for the 2012 Officers and for three positions on the Board of Directors.

The nominations will be reopened at the following monthly meeting and the election will take place on November 8, 2011

Badger Awards Banquet

The Badger Awards Banquet will be held at the Kalahari Resort, Wisconsin Dells, October 29th. Special room rates with water park passes are available for those wishing to spend the night.
The sign up form can be found HERE

No Make-up date for Pepsi Nationals

Kuhn, RWB & Bogar claim Badger Championships

By Bryan Gapinski
Sun Prairie, Wis., Sept. 3---After exploring several possible dates for rescheduling the 30th annual Pepsi Midget Nationals at Angell Park Speedway, track officials and sanctioning organizations announced today there was no suitable date remaining this year. The USAC National /Badger Midget Series co-sanctioned event was rained out last Saturday, it marks the second time rain has claimed the event, since it began running in 1982.
The cancellation brings to a close the 75th Diamond Anniversary season for Badger. Brad Kuhn has claimed his third career Badger Midget Driving Championship, finishing 112 points ahead of Bubba Altig. Kuhn's other Badger titles came in 2006, and '07. RWB Motorsports topped the car owner points.
On the strength of two feature wins, Chad Bogar finished thirty-four points ahead of Preston Benisch to win the Badger 600 Micro Series Championship, with George Knudsen, finishing third.

Final 2011 Badger Midget Series Points: 1-Brad Kuhn 891; 2-Bubba Altig 777; 3-Mike Hess 638; 4-Scott Hatton 552; 5-Jerry Coons Jr. 511; 6-Davey Ray 474; 7-Daniel Robinson 433; 8-Robbie Ray 414; 9-Brandon Waelti 412; 10-David Budres 377.

Final 2011 Badger 600 Micro Series Points: 1-Chad Bogar 570; 2-Preston Benisch 536; 3-George Knudsen 363; 4-Robby Resch 331; 5-Mike Hess 208; 6-Brandan Fickas 161; 7-Dick Heath 124; 8-Jake Reif 117; 9-Billy Balog 104; 10-Cody Ledger 101.

Clauson flawless at Angell Park

Kuhn puts Badger title on lock-down

By Bryan Gapinski

Sun Prairie, Wis., Aug. 21---Bryan Clauson captured the 30-lap Miller Lite Cornfest Midget Classic, Sunday Night at Angell Park Speedway. The event was co-sanctioned by the USAC Mopar National Midget Series and the Stark Automotive Group/Mid-State Equipment Badger Midget Series.
Bubba Altig, and David Budres flipped on the opening lap of the feature, causing a complete restart. Caleb Armstrong jumped into the lead at the start followed by Clauson. Clauson took the lead exiting Turn 2 on the second lap. By the completion of Lap 5, the top four Clauson, Kyle Larson, fast qualifier Jerry Coons Jr. and Armstrong pulled to a slight advantage over the rest of the field. Clauson began lapping the tail of the field on Lap 10 and held a 1.2 second advantage. At the midway Clauson's lead was cut in half to just over a half second.
Clauson continued his march through lapped traffic, and held a two second lead over Coons, when the caution was displayed for a stalled car, with nine laps remaining. On the restart fourth place running Armstrong spun, and on the ensuing restart Mario Clouser flipped escaping injury.
Clauson opened up an advantage over Coons each lap after the restart. On the final lap Clauson jumped the cushion, allowing Coons to close to within two-car lengths at the finish. Clauson driving the Corey Tucker-BCI-Curb-Agajanian owned Spike/Ford-Esslinger No. 19 finished ahead of Coons, Kuhn, Kyle Larson and USAC points leader Darren Hagen. "The bobble on the final lap didn't cost us since we had a big lead, its a great tuneup for the upcoming Pepsi Nationals" commented Clauson afterwards.
Kuhn has put a virtual lock on his third Badger Drivers Champion, and now leads Altig by 114-points, with 116-points possible, heading into the season finale 30th annual Pepsi Midget Nationals on Saturday Night Sept. 3. Badger and the USAC National Midget Series will co-sanction the event.
For the third straight event, twelve year-old Robbie Resch was the class of the Badger 600 Micro Series field capturing the feature, heat race and trophy dash. Resch finished ahead of series points leader Chad Bogar, and Bobby Ollerman in the feature.

SUMMARY
30-lap Feature: 1. Bryan Clauson, 2. Jerry Coons Jr., 3. Brad Kuhn, 4. Kyle Larson, 5. Darren Hagen, 6. Tracy Hines, 7. Tanner Swanson, 8. Caleb Armstrong, 9. Davey Ray, 10. Mario Clouser, 11. Levi Jones, 12. Dalton Armstrong, 13. Kurt Mayhew, 14. Mike Hess, 15. Scott Hatton, 16. Brandon Waelti, 17. Chris Gurley, 18. Zach Daum, 19. Robbie Ray, 20. Bobby East, 21. Bubba Altig, 22. David Budres.

12-lap Semi Feature Winner: Hines.
10-lap Heat Race Winners: Larson, Kuhn, Hagen, Clauson.
Fast Time: Coons, 15.391 seconds
Cars Present: 28 Feature Lap Leaders: C. Armstrong 1-2, Clauson 3-30.
**Altig and Budres flipped on lap 1 of the feature. Clouser flipped on lap 23 of the feature. All drivers uninjuried.

Current USAC National midget Series Points: : 1-Hagen-826; 2-Clauson-816; 3-Larson-802; 4-Hines-706; 5-East-660; 6-C.Armstrong-582; 7-Daum-542; 8-Kuhn-499; 9-T.Swanson-491; 10-Coons-439.

Micro Feature Winner Robby Resch

Complete Results

More from Rachel Scott

QT: Jerry Coons Jr. 15.391

Heat 1 Winner: Kyle Larson "I won some beer for my crew! It was good that they did some track prep before hand."
2nd: Jerry Coons Jr.
3rd: David Budres


Heat 2 Winner: AND 2011 Badger Champion!!! Brad Kuhn "The fact of knowing that I won the Badger Title hasn't sunk in yet. Every year that I've won the Badger Title I've won before the season's last race so you can go to Pepsi Nationals and not worry about anything accept winning. So you don't have to sit there in third place thinking to yourself, 'so if I pass this guy and crash I'm going to lose the Championship' while trying to concentrate on winning the race all at the same time. We won the USAC Title in 2009 and National Driver Owner Points that same year."
2nd: Jerry Coons Jr.
3rd: David Budres


Heat 2 Winner: AND 2011 Badger Champion!!! Brad Kuhn "The fact of knowing that I won the Badger Title hasn't sunk in yet. Every year that I've won the Badger Title I've won before the season's last race so you can go to Pepsi Nationals and not worry about anything accept winning. So you don't have to sit there in third place thinking to yourself, 'so if I pass this guy and crash I'm going to lose the Championship' while trying to concentrate on winning the race all at the same time. We won the USAC Title in 2009 and National Driver Owner Points that same year."
2nd: Zach Dahm
3rd: Kurt Mayhew


Heat 3 Winner: Darren Hagen "It's pretty cool, you know any time that you can bring a car to Victory Lane they fire'em up in here. And everyone in this town supports this race track like no other. It's cool to be able to come here to Angell Park and be able to win any race just because of the time and money and all the effort these folks put into this place."
2nd: Scott Hatton
3rd: Mike Hess


Heat 4 Winner: Bryan Clausen
2nd: Caleb Armstrong
3rd: Brandon Waelti


B-Main Winner: Tracy Hines "We were excited to get extra laps and got an ok finish at the end of the night."
2nd: Tanner Swanson
3rd: Davey Ray

30-Lap Feature Winner: Bryan Clausen "It feels great! I love coming up to Sun Prairie at Angell Park. It has such rich history here in Midget Racing. It's always nice to come up here to see the Hall of Fame and then of course this weekend was Corn Fest. To win here for the fifth time over the last three years is really special."
2nd: Jerry Coons Jr.
3rd: Brad Kuhn

Altig scores win #2

Robinson Tops Dave's Dash


By Bryan Gapinski

Sun Prairie, Wis., Aug. 14---Bubba Altig captured the 30-lap Stark Automotive Group/Mid-State Equipment Badger Midget Series feature, Sunday Night at Angell Park Speedway. The victory was the second of the season for the Mechanicsburg, Ill. driver, and allowed him to close to within 38-points of Series points leader Brad Kuhn, with two events remaining.
Altig, jumped into the lead at the start, two cautions during the first three laps slowed the pace, including a six-car accident on Lap 3, which saw Eric Johnson flip. Kuhn moved into third place on Lap 5, and second position one lap later. Fast qualifier Jerry Coons Jr. continued his march through the field moving into third place on Lap 7, and two laps later passing Kuhn for second place. Altig opened up a three-second when began lapping the tail of the field on Lap 9.
Coons closed the advantage to under two seconds at the midway point, and four laps later closed to Altig's rear bumper. Both drivers had to change their "grooves" several times to deal with lapped cars. The caution was displayed for a stalled car, with nine laps remaining, as the leaders had lapped up to seventh place.
Altig took advantage of lapped cars between himself and Coons and Kuhn on the restart. Coons made several attempts to pass Altig for the lead, but couldn't make the pass work, including dealing with lapped cars during the final two laps. Altig driving the D & I Motorsports owned Spike/Fontana No. 19 finished 0.82 second ahead of Coons,Kuhn, Davey Ray and Kody Swanson. "The crew had the car perfect, I knew Jerry & Brad were right there I had to be perfect after the restart" commented Altig.
Earlier in the evening Daniel Robinson won the 8th annual Dave Schulenberg Memorial Dash, collecting $500 from the $2,011 purse. Cody Wisensel flipped during the second heat race and was transferred to University Hospital (Madison, Wis.) for undisclosed injuries.
For the second straight event, twelve year-old Robbie Resch was the class of the ten-car Badger 600 Micro Series field capturing the 15-lap feature over: Cody Ledger, Mike Hicks, Cole Possi and George Knudsen. Badger and the USAC National Midget Series will co-sanction next Sunday's Aug. 21 Miller Lite Cornfest Midget Classic at the track.

NOTES
---A moment of silence was observed at the start of the evening for Badger official Brad Krause, and Don Boorse who both passed away since the most recent Badger event on July 24.
---Kuhn dedicated his heat race victory to Earl Gaerte and Boorse.
---Robinson became the seventh different winner of the Dave Schulenberg Memorial Dash, only Coons who finished fifth in the event has won it more than once, winning in 2007-08.
---Three drivers Chris Springer, Cody Ledger, and Ray Seach were making their first ever appearance at the track. Springer the 2003 Legends Car National Dirt Track Champion fared the best finishing tenth in the Mark Ray No. 3x. Ledger was the only driver doing double duty, finishing second in the 600 Micro feature.
---Swanson' fifth place feature finish was his best ever finish at the track. Swanson was the fast qualifer at the track for the June 21, 2009 event at the track.
---Courtney Erfurth drove the second Daum Motorsports No. 5 during the evening, leading the first half of her heat race, and retired from the feature after four laps with mechanical problems.

SUMMARY
30-lap Feature: 1. Bubba Altig; 2. Jerry Coons Jr. 3. Brad Kuhn; 4. Davey Ray; 5. Kody Swanson; 6. Robbie Ray; 7. Daniel Robinson; 8. Scott Hatton; 9. Bob Schreffler; 10. Chris Springer; 11. Jason Therkelsen; 12. Zach Daum; 13. David Budres; 14. Cody Ledger; 15. Jim Fuerst; 16. Ray Seach; 17. Bryon Walters; 18. Courtney Erfurth; 19. Eric Johnson; 20. Mike Hess; 21. Kurt Mayhew; 22. Brandon Waelti.

10-lap Heat Race Winners: Altig, R. Ray, Kuhn.
6-lap Dave Schulenberg Memorial Dash: 1. Robinson; 2. Kuhn; 3. D. Ray; 4. Budres; 5. Coons; 6. Cody Wisensel.
Fast Time: Coons, 14.520 seconds
Cars Present: 23 Feature Lap Leaders: Altig 1-30.
*Wisensel flipped in second heat race, transported to University Hospital for undisclosed injuries. Johnson flipped on Lap 3 of feature, uninjured.

Current Badger Midget Series points: 1. Brad Kuhn 792; 2. Bubba Altig 754; 3. Mike Hess 597; 4. Scott Hatton 510; 5. Davey Ray 427; 6. Jerry Coons Jr. 419; 7. Daniel Robinson 412; 8. Robbie Ray 389; 9. Brandon Waelti 377; 10. David Budres 346.

Complete Results

Dave's Dash Winner, Daniel Robinson	Micro Feature Winner, Robby Resch

More from Rachel Scott

Quick Time: Jerry Coons Jr. 14.392

6th Annual Dave Schulenburg Dash
Winner: Daniel Robinson "This win feels wonderful! I've been to Victory Lane once before for a heat involving just 4 cars. To race with 5 more of these great men is fantastic and it was incredible standing before the fans!"
2nd: Brad Kuhn
3rd: Davey Ray

Heat 1 Winner: Gary "Bubba" Altig
2nd: Davey Ray
3rd: Cody Swanson

During Heat 2 something broke on Cody Weisensel's #20 car causing him to flip and crash into the wall of turn 3.

Heat 2 Winner: Robbie Ray "The focus during the red flag on Cody's flip caused extra caution because something was coming lose on the car. We were so concentrated on getting our car fixed that we didn't have time to do anything else. We were thankful of the break with the red because otherwise we wouldn't have finished the race safely."
2nd: Daniel Robinson
3rd: Courtney Erfurth

Heat 3 Winner: Brad Kuhn
2nd: Zach Dahm
3rd: Jerry Coons Jr.

Feature Winner: Gary "Bubba" Altig "I knew where the line was going to be for this feature. Once Zach Dahm went to the bottom and was cleared I knew exactly where I wanted to be the whole race. I saw Jerry's nose a few times and almost gave it away but I just had to be smooth and run my own race and it all worked out. That's the reason why I come here: to put on a show. There's nothing better than putting on a show for the fans!"
2nd: Jerry Coons Jr.
3rd: Brad Kuhn

Schulenburg Dash Sunday at APS

By Bryan Gapinski

Sun Prairie, Wis., Aug. 12---Badger Midget Series participants will be competing for extra money during the Aug. 14 Sunday racing program at Angell Park Speedway with the running of the Eighth Annual "Dave Schulenberg Memorial Dash".
The top six qualifying cars (inverted) that are Badger Car Owner and Driver members will compete in the six-lap dash. Previous winners of the event include: Brandon Waelti (2003), Mike Hess (2004), Scott Hatton (2005), Adam Clarke (2006), Jerry Coons Jr, (2007-08) and Brad Loyet (2009).
A complete regular program of racing for the Stark Automotive Group/Mid-State Equipment Badger Midget Series, along with the Badger 600 Micro Series is slated. Grandstands open at 4:30 pm, practice at 6:00, with the first race at 7:00 pm. .The event will cap off a doubleheader weekend for the series which begins Saturday Night Aug. 13 at Wilmot (Wis.) Raceway.

Don Boorse: Midget Driver & Owner dies at eighty

Five champions as Driver & Owner

By Bryan Gapinski

Milwaukee, Wis., Aug. 11---Don Boorse, champion driver and car owner whose career in midget auto racing spanned over fifty-years of involvement died, today at the age of 80 years old, after a short illness.

A former paratrooper in a US Airborne Unit, Don made his midget debut at Angell Park Speedway (Sun Prairie, Wis.) on July 15, 1951 finishing third in the semi feature. Don won three features at Angell Park Speedway in 1955 finishing second in Badger Midget Series points, and third place the following year. In addition to winning events at Angell Park, Don also won Badger events as a driver at Shawano, Wausau, and Beaver Dam to name a few.

In 1958 he won the Midwest Car Owner & Drivers Association Championship. The series ran races throughout the Midwest on paved and dirt tracks, and was considered one of the top series at the time. Don also ran many races under the alias "Jack Starr" to avoid penalties imposed on drivers during that era for running races outside certain sanctioning organizations.
Don captured the USAC National Midget Feature at Macon (Ill.) Raceway on July 30, 1959. In the early 60's Don stopped racing, to focus more time on his growing family and business interests: Boorse Service Station and ELCO Truck Rental.

Don returned to driving in 1977, finishing seventh in Badger points. During this time he won also features with NWMRA and CORA. In 1979 he finished runner-up in Badger Driver points to Stan Fox and also finished fifth in the Belleville Midget Nationals. Don suffered a broken neck in an accident in 1982 at Raceway Park (Beaver Dam, Wis.). After recovering he ran a few selected events before focusing on being a car owner.
Kevin Doty won the Pepsi Nationals and finished second in Badger points driving for Don during the 1988 season. The following season using five drivers Don finished second in Badger car owner points. Unable to find a driver for the June 4, 1989 event at Angell Park and running second in owner points Don elected to drive his own car. Engine problems at the conclusion of hot laps ended his chances, marking his final time behind the wheel.

Teaming with son Dan, the pair captured the Badger Midget Championship in 1993, marking the first of Don's four Badger Car Owner Championships; others came in 1998, 1999, and 2001. Don also finished second seven times in Badger Owner points. Don's greatest moments as a car owner came at the Tulsa (Okla.) Expo Raceway with Dan driving the familiar red & silver #88. The pair won the 1999 and 2003 Chili Bowl Nationals, along with capturing the preliminary night feature each year. After finishing second in Badger points in 2003, Don and Dan ran partial race schedules the next two years before retiring from the sport.
Don is survied by his wife Roberta, four children, and nine grand children. Visitation will be on Tuesday Aug. 16 from 11:00 am –12:30 pm, followed by a 1:00 pm service at Schmidt & Bartelt Funeral Home, 10280 N. Port Washington Rd., Mequon, Wis.

Photo tribute page

Doubleheader weekend awaits Badger Midgets

Saturday @ Wilmot, Sunday @ AngellPark

By Bryan Gapinsk

Sun Prairie, Wis., Aug. 11---A weekend doubleheader on Aug. 13-14 awaits The Stark Automotive Group/Mid-State Equipment Badger Midget Series.
The series returns to the Wilmot (Wis.) Raceway on Saturday Aug. 13, after an exciting victory by series points leader Brad Kuhn four weeks ago. The open wheel spectacular will also feature The Badger 600 Micro Series, Wilmot Raceway Winged Sprint Cars, Illini Midgets, and mini sprints. Grandstands open at 5:00 pm, with practice at 6;00 pm, racing to follow.
Sunday Aug. 14, the series along with the Badger 600 Micros return to Angell Park Speedway, for a 30-lap midget feature. The final two events of the season will also be at Angell Park on Sunday Aug. 21, with the running of the annual Cornfest Midget Classic, and on Saturday Sept. 3 for the Pepsi Firemans Nationals. Both event will be co-sanctioned with the USAC Mopar National Midget Series.
Kuhn seeking his third career Badger Midget Champion holds a 48-point lead over Bubba Altig, and 117-point cushion over defending champion Mike Hess.

Current Badger Midget Series points: 1. Brad Kuhn 695; 2. Bubba Altig 647; 3. Mike Hess 578; 4. Scott Hatton 466; 5. Brandon Waelti 350; 6. Daniel Robinson 347; 7. Davey Ray 341; 8. Robbie Ray 325; 9. Jerry Coons Jr. 318; 10. David Budres 308.

Two straight for Coons in Badger at APS

Ferns & Resch make history at track

By Bryan Gapinski

Sun Prairie, Wis., July 24---Jerry Coons Jr. scored his second straight victory Sunday Night in the 30-lap Stark Automotive Group/Mid-State Equipment Badger Midget Series feature at Angell Park Speedway. The win was Coons' 25th career feature victory at the track moving him into eighth place all-time on the tracks feature win list.
Polesitter Cody Weisensel took the lead at the start over Matt Smith and Brad Kuhn at the start. The caution appeared for a stalled car on Lap 5 erasing Weisensel's lead. On the restart Weisensel jumped to a size able margin over the trio and Coons who moved into fourth place. Weisensel led Smith by one second on Lap 10. Two laps later Travis Berryhill escaped injury in a flip, bringing out the red flag.
On the restart Weisensel withstood the challenge from Smith for the lead until Lap 16. Kuhn took over second position one lap later. Smith continued to pace the field, with Coons passing Kuhn for second place, with ten laps remaining. Coons closed to Smith's rear bumper on Lap 25. One lap later Coons took the lead entering Turn One.
Coons spent the final two laps in heavy lapped traffic allowing Smith and Kuhn to close to within a one-car length. Coons driving the Ralph Wilke owned Spike/Toyota No. 5 finished two-car lengths ahead of Smith, Kuhn, Brandon Waelti, and Taylor Ferns. Ferns' finish marks the best ever feature finish by a female driver at the track.
Twelve-year old Robby Resch also made history winning the Badger 600 Micro Series feature over: Jake Reif, Chad Bogar, George Knudsen and Preston Benisch. Resch becomes the youngest feature winner in track history. Kuhn now holds a 48-point lead over Bubba Altig heading into the Aug. 13-14 doubleheader weekend at Wilmot (Wis.) Raceway and Angell Park.

NOTES
---Coons' 25th feature win moved him eight place on the track's all-time feature win list. Owne Snyder is seventh with 31 wins. Dan Boorse leads all drivers with 66 feature wins at the track dating back to 1946. Coons has 17 wins for Wilke at the track with four each coming while driving for Mike McNulty and Karl Warnke.
---For Smith the second palce finish, caps off his 2011 US campaign. Smith was hoping to become the third Aussie feature winner at the track.
---For Weisensel it marked his first career feature laps led.
---Well-know open wheel writer Rob McCune became the fourth different driver in Jerry Hardy's No. 1 in the Micro division this season. Over heating problems prevented McCune from starting the feature.
---The event marked the return of Hans Lein as a car owner. Davey Ray drove the familar black No. 2, but suffered mechanical problems in the heat race.
---Resch became the track's youngest feature winner ever. Previously Dustin Morgan (17 years, 4 months, 25 days) who won the Badger Midget feature on June 4, 2006 at track held the record.
---Kuhn increased his series points lead and now has feature finishes of 1-3-1-1-1-2-3, after skipping the first three races of the season.

SUMMARY
30-lap Feature: 1. Jerry Coons Jr.; 2. Matt Smith; 3. Brad Kuhn; 4. Brandon Waetli; 5. Taylor Ferns; 6. Cody Weisensel; 7. Bubba Altig; 8. Scott Hatton; 9. Eric Johnson; 10. Bob Schreffler; 11. Kurt Mayhew; 12. Travis Berryhill; 13. Daniel Robinson; 14. Jim Fuerst.
10-lap Heat Race winners: Coons, Waelti.
Cars Present: 17 Feature Lap Leaders: Weisensel 1-15, Smith 16-26, Coons 27-30.
Current Badger Midget Series points: 1. Brad Kuhn 695; 2. Bubba Altig 647; 3. Mike Hess 578; 4. Scott Hatton 466; 5. Brandon Waelti 350

Robbie Resch Wins the Micro Feature

Complete results

More from Rachel Scott

Due to very wet track conditions after a brief rain just after the drivers meeting, there was no qualifying after hot laps.

Heat 1 winner:Jerry Coons Jr. "With the rain the track was very narrow and we're just lucky we even got to race. We're just very thankful for all the people who worked on the track and for all the fans who sat and waited."
2nd:Brad Kuhn
3rd:Matt Smith

Heat 2 winner:Brandon Waelti "The track was really slick and narrow and it was just a matter of pointing the car in the right direction and hoping it'd stick. I don't know if I hit the right spot with each lap but it all worked out."
2nd:Daniel Robinson
3rd:Cody Weisensel

Feature winner:Jerry Coons Jr. "We started in 8th place and I was able to jump to 4th place within the first lap and after that my thought was that we were going to end up in 3rd or 4th place but that didn't happen. Things change in 30 laps and the conditions of the track came to me a little better and it looked like the other guys were fading a little bit. We made few adjustments to the car during the red light that came out just four laps before the finish and I was able to get right underneith Matt when he slipped."
2nd:Matt Smith
3rd:Brad Kuhn

Robbie Resch is a 12 year old Micro Sprint driver was is the youngest in his division to win a Micro Feature race at Angell Park!
"It feels amazing! I've never raced at this track and it's good to go into the history books. It's a really fun track! The track was perfect tonight because it was real tacky. I would love someday to get into a Badger Midget car because my goal is to race with Badger."

Kuhn & Coons ready for Angell Park Speedway on Sunday July 24

By Bryan Gapinski
Sun Prairie, Wis., July 21---Current Series points leader Brad Kuhn and last week's winner Jerry Coons Jr. headline the Sunday July 24 Stark Automotive Group/Mid-State Equipment Badger Midget Series event at Angell Park Speedway. The event was added to the schedule in late-June after several rained out events at the track.
The Badger 600 Micro Series, and the Wisconsin Dirt Legends Series will also compete in the evening's program.Grandstands open at 4:30 pm, with practice at 6:00 pm, and race begins at 7:00 pm. Kuhn on the strength of four wins, a second, and third place finish in the last six events now holds a 14-point lead over Bubba Altig, with Mike Hess trailing by 35 points.
Current Badger Midget Series points: 1. Brad Kuhn 608; 2. Bubba Altig 594; 3. Mike Hess 573; 4. Scott Hatton 422; 5. Davey Ray 341; 6. Robbie Ray 325; 7. David Budres 308; 8. Daniel Robinson 301; 9. Bryon Walters 298; 10. Brandon Waelti 271.

Photo Galleries Updated

Photo galleries through 7/17/11 have been updated. (Note: If you have visited the gallery lately you may have to delete your cache file) Thanks to Jeff Arns, Roger Hamilton and Jeff Wilcenski for the use of their images.

Coons captures 75th Anniversary Race at Angell Park

Kuhn takes Badger point lead; Win #92 for Wilke at APS

NOTES:

---Forty-six retired drivers, numerous past car owners crew members, and officials attended the reception in the track's pavillion before the racing began. The group included past Badger Driver Champions: Keith Thomas, Owen Snyder, Jim McClean, and John Hartwig. Two-time Car Owner Champion Walter Whitehorse ('61, '63) was also in attendance.
---Frank Burany was at the event. Burany competed in the first ever Badger race on June 4, 1936 at the Wisconsin State Fair Park Speedway.
---Seven drivers competed at AngellPark Speedway for the first time in their career. daniel Adler finished the best among the group placing eleventh in the feature.
---Thirteen different drivers have won for the Wilke team at Angell Park Speedway, totaling 92 feature victories.
---Tom Venturini from the ARCA team Venturini Motorsports was in attendance watching his first ever dirt midget race.

SUMMARY
30-lap Feature: 1. Jerry Coons Jr. 2. Brad Kuhn; 3. Darren Hagen; 4. Davey Ray; 5. Brad Loyet; 6. Bubba Altig; 7. Mike Hess; 8. Scott Hatton; 9. David Budres; 10. Andrew Felker; 11. Daniel Adler; 12. Bryon Walters; 13. Chet Gehrke; 14. Brett Anderson; 15. Gavin Galbraith; 16. Jim Fuerst; 17. Brandon Waelti; 18. Nick Knepper; 19. Robbie Ray; 20. Austin Brown; 21. Kyle Neal; 22. Dalton Armstrong.

15-lap Semi Feature Winner: Kuhn.
10-lap Heat Race Winners: Fuerst, Coons, Gehrke, Loyet.
Fast Time: Hagen, 14.957 seconds.
Cars Present: 28 Feature Lap Leaders: Ray 1-17, Coons 18-30.

Current Badger Midget series points: 1. Brad Kuhn 608; 2. Bubba Altig 594; 3. Mike Hess 573; 4. Scott Hatton 422; 5. Davey Ray 341; 6. Robbie Ray 325; 7. David Budres 308; 8. Davey Ray 301; 9. Bryon Walters 298; 10. Brandon Waelti 271.

Complete results and current point standings

More from Rachel Scott

BMARA hosted it's 75th year of racing in the upper pavilion at Angell Park Speedway this past Sunday! Roughly 200 people gathered to celebrate. Among them were thirty-four Badger drivers, both past and present, and twenty-five Badger car owners. I was able to catch a few moments with two well-known names who have devoted much of their lives to the thrilling sport. Keith Thomas and Bill Englehardt.

"First time I was here at Angell Park in a race car was in 1950. I see some pictures occasionally that most people don't recognise and I know most of the people in them. I raced for twenty-five years here at the Prairie. I can remember when it cost $1 for admission. The place hasn't changed much. But the lights, I can remember the little flairs that burn on each corner of the track incase the lights went out. If I remember correctly, there was one night when they all did go out at once. I was Badger Champion in 1961, '62 and '65." -Keith Thomas

"The reunion is great! It's really good to see all these guys, many of whom were racing here last when I was a spectator. I first came to Angell Park in 1950. I was eight years old. I started racing here in 1967. Angell Park is one of the best race tracks in America. Especially for Midgets. The history here at Angell Park is a fantastic story and to be able to tell you part of it is just very fulfilling. I get a kick of talking with all these fine people and looking at old photos and that's what makes Badger auto racing so great. Early 1930's racing was great because these were fully hand-built cars for the most part. My rookie season in 1967 and finished sixth in points and the following year earned the Badger title." -Bill Englehardt

Quick Time: Darren Haggen - 14.957

Heat 1 Winner: Jim Fuerst "This is my first win in ten years. I've always wanted to know what it would be like to stand up on Victory Lane and it was good. I've never had that many people cheer for me before!"
2nd: Kyle Neal
3rd: Gavin Galbraith

Heat 2 Winner: Mike Hess "The yellow that came out during the race worked in my favor because I got the chance to pack down the cushion and they (other racers) packed it down with me so it made it smoother. After we did that it helped me get into the corners even better and probably faster for a couple laps."
2nd: Daniel Adler
3rd: Eric Johnson

Heat 3 Winner: Chet Gehrke "I started up front and tried to get away as quick as I could. I kept messing up and waiting for somebody to show me their nose and pass me or something but I guess they were back a bit."
2nd: Jerry Coons Jr.
3rd: Gary "Bubba" Altig

Heat 4 Winner: Brad Loyet "It felt so great! We just didn't have to pass anybody so that made it pretty easy. We were up front and didn't have to worry about anyone else."
2nd: Darren Haggen
3rd: Davey Ray

B-Main Winner: Brad Kuhn "We were plenty fast. I found a couple lines that I ran well on the track and I probably looked like an idiot from the stands because I never ran the same line twice. But once I found the couple things I wanted then I just ran the bottom because I really didn't want to show it off."
2nd: Chet Gehrke
3rd: Brandon Waelti

A-Main Feature Winner: Jerry Coons Jr. "Once I caught Ray I was able to get by him. I had to pass him twice because they put me back behind him after the yellow flag since according to them (the officials) the lap hadn't been completed. But then it's harder to pass Ray because he's knows the line I'm running so I had to fool him and go down low and then jump high. Ray was fast and he did well. We managed to get around him."
2nd: Brad Kuhn
3rd: Darren Haggen

Kuhn captures Badger/POWRi at Wilmot Raceway

Third straight Badger win for Indiana driver

By Bryan Gapinski

Sun Prairie, Wis., July 16---Brad Kuhn captured the 5th annual "Salute to Harry Turner" 30-lap feature Saturday Night at Wilmot Raceway. The event was co-sanctioned by the Stark Automotive Group/Mid-State Equipment Badger Midget Series and POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series. The victory for Kuhn was his third straight in Badger and second in POWRi.

Pole sitter Davey Ray jumped into the lead at the start, while Brad Loyet passed five cars in the opening lap moving to third place. Loyet advanced another position on the next lap.Kuhn passed Chet Gehrke for third place on Lap 5, with Ray holding a commanding lead. The caution appeared for a stalled cars on Laps seven and ten bunching up the field.

On the restart Loyet used the bottom line to take the lead from Ray exiting Turn 2. Loyet running the bottom groove held a three-car length at the midway point. Kuhn moved into second place two laps later. Kuhn using the high groove around the 1/3-mile clay oval passed Loyet for the lead, with six laps remaining. A spirited four-car battle occurred behind the lead duo for the remainder of the event.

Kuhn driving the RW Motorsports owned Beast/Fontana No. 17 finished 0.563 seconds ahead of Loyet, Scott Hatton, Mario Clouser and Badger points leader Bubba Altig. The victory for Kuhn was his second in the Turner event also winning the 2006 event. "You had to figure out the changing track conditions quickly tonight, we the bite we needed on the top" commented Kuhn who has closed to within fifteen points of Altig for the Badger points lead.

Mike Hess completed a clean sweep winning the Badger 600 Micro feature and heat race. The next event for both series will be the July 17 "75th Anniversary Night of Badger Midget Auto Racing" at Angell Park Speedway (Sun Prairie, Wis.).

NOTES
---The event was the first ever at the track for POWRi, however the groups predecessor MARA and Gateway held four events at Wilmot. Kevin Doty won the MARA Skoal Dash event in July 1984, while MARA sanctioned two events in 2001 won by Jeff Flesher and Steve Knepper. Gateway co-sanctioned the 2005 Salute to Harry Turner won by Mike Hess.
---Four antique midgets were at the track including the Frederickson Roadster#50, which was featured in the 75th Anniversary Race Poster.
---Kuhn set a new 10-lap track record winning the first heat race erasing Scott Hatton's six-year old mark.
---Jason Therkelson who competed in most of the Badger events last year raced in the Modifed portion of the evening's events.
---Kevin Olson finished tenth in the feature, and has three feature victories at the track winning twice in Badger and once in a Dairyland sanctioned event at the track driving for Keith Kunz in 1986.
---Brad Loyet who finished second at Wilmot won the ASCS Warrior Series Sprint Car feature Friday Night at US 36 Raceway (Cameron, Mo.).
---Wilmot is the site of Badger's Director of Competition Chad DeSelle's final feature victory as a driver, wining the 2007 Salute to Harry Turner.
SUMMARY

30-lap Feature: 1. Brad Kuhn; 2. Brad Loyet; 3. Scott Hatton; 4. Mario Clouser; 5. Bubba Altig; 6. Davey Ray; 7. Brett Anderson; 8. Mike Hess; 9. Nick Knepper; 10. Kevin Olson; 11. Robbie Ray; 12. Andrew Felker; 13. Chet Gehrke; 14. Austin Brown; 15. Bryon Walters; 16. Gavin Galbrath; 17. Matt Jackson; 18. Daniel Adler; 19. Daniel Robinson; 20. Taylor Ferns; 21. David Budres; 22. Caleb Armstrong.

Complete results

Mike Hess Wins the Micro Feature

Badger & POWRi set for Wisconsin doubleheader this weekend

Saturday @ Wilmot, Sunday @ Angell Park

By Bryan Gapinski
Wilmot, Wis., July 13---The long awaited Wisconsin co-sanctioned racing weekend doubleheader for the Stark Automotive Group/Mid-State Equipment Badger Midget Series & Lucas Oil POWRi Midget series is now only three-days away.

Action kicks off on Saturday July 16 at the Wilmot Raceway with the Fifth annual "Salute to Harry Turner". Previous event winners: Mike Hess (2005), Brad Kuhn (2006), and Brad Loyet (2009) are among the enteries for the weekend. Pits open at 3:00 p.m., grandstands at 5:00 p.m., practice begins at 6:00 p.m., with racing to follow.

The following evening action moves to Angell Park Speedway (Sun Prairie, Wis.), for the 75th Anniversary season race for the Badger at the famed 1/3-mile oval. It will also mark the first time POWRi has sanctioned a points paying event at the facility. The event will also award points towards the Mopar USAC D1 Series. Additional purse money has been contributed to the event by Mid-State Equipment and the Uttica Mafia.
Fans are encourged to come to the track early Sunday as numerous social events involving past participants from Badger will begin in the Pavillion at 1:00 p.m. running until 5:00 p.m. Pits open at 3:00 p.m., grandstands at 4:00 p.m., practice begins at 6:00 p.m., with racing to begin at 7:00 p.m. The Badger 600 micro Series will particpate at both Wilmot and Angell Park.

Bubba Altig holds a narrow four-point lead in the Badger points over defending Series champion Hess, while Kuhn trails by fifty-points. Nick Knepper leads the POWRi points over two-time Series Champion Loyet, Andrew Felker, Chet Gehrke, and Tim Siner.

Kuhn now three for four in Badger Midgets

Second straight win at Angell Park

By Bryan Gapinski

Sun Prairie, Wis., July 10---Brad Kuhn captured Sunday Night's 30-lap Stark Automotive Group/Mid-State Equipment Badger Midget Series feature event at Angell Park Speedway. The victory for Kuhn was his third, in the last four Badger events.

Brandon Waelti led the intinial two laps, before Mike Hess took the top position. Kuhn moved into second place on Lap 4 and two laps later passed Hess for the lead. Scott Hatton who started tenth, passed two cars on Lap 8 moving into second position.

Hatton closed on Kuhn each lap. One lap after the midway point, Hatton made an outside pass on Kuhn exiting Turn 4 , Hatton hit the wall and rode the wall passing Kuhn at the start/finish line to lead the lap. Hatton's car came off the wall and continued in second place for a few laps, before retiring on Lap 23. the events only caution apperared on Lap 17 for a stalled car.

Kuhn continued to run a flawless race, while an intense three car battle for the runner-up position was waged by Hess, Bubba Altig and Davey Ray for the remainder of the event.

Kuhn driving the RW Motorsports owned Beast/Fontana No. 17 finished 3.23 seconds ahead of Hess, Bubba Altig, Davey Ray, and Waelti. "We made alot of changes to this car during the week in the shop and they all worked great for us tonight, there alot of big races in the upcoming weeks this is the time to peak during the season" commented Kuhn in victory lane.

Billy Balog completed a clean sweep winning the 10-lap Badger 600 Micro feature finishing ahead of Preston Benisch, George Knudsen and Dick Heath. Altig now holds a four-point lead over Hess, with Kuhn in third place trailing by 50-points heading into the upcoming doubleheader weekend. Badger along with the Lucas Oil POWRi Midget series will co-sanction the Fifth annual "Salute to Harry Turner" on Saturday July 16 at Wilmot (Wis.), and the following night "The 75th Anniversary Night of Badger Midget Racing" at Angell Park.

NOTES
---With Taylor Ferns finishing seventh and Courtney Erfurth finishing tenth in the feature. The race marked the first feature in Badger history that was started by two female drivers.
---Aussie Matt Jackson will compete in two more races July 16 at Wilmot and July 17 at Angell Park before heading back home.
---The event for Ferns, Jackson and Dalton Armstrong were the first ever races at Angell Park.
---The top three feature finishers saw three different chassis' on the podium (Beast-Buzzard-Spike).
---For Current IRA Sprint Car series points leader Billy Balog the race was the "first outdoor" midget race for the former Alaskan resident. Balog's only previous midget experience came at the Chili Bowl.
---Kuhn's time at 15-laps was under his 30-lap record set two weeks ago. A caution one-lap later wiped out a possible second straight record.
---Fans and particpants are urged to come to AngellPark early next week for the day-long celebration honoring Badger's 75 years of sanctioning midget auto racing. activites will begin at 1 pm in the Pavillion.
SUMMARY

30-lap Feature: 1. Brad Kuhn; 2. Mike Hess; 3. Bubba Altig; 4. Davey Ray; 5. Brandon Waelti; 6. Robbie Ray; 7. Taylor Ferns; 8. Billy Balog; 9. David Budres; 10. Courtney Erfurth; 11. Dalton Aarmstrong; 12. Bryon Walters; 13. Matt Jackson; 14. Kurt Mayhew; 15. Eric Johnson; 16. Scott Hatton; 17. Daniel Robinson; 18. Jim Fuerst; 19. Derrick Gough; 20. Bob Schreffler; 21. Cody Weisensel.
10-lap Heat Race Winners: R. Ray, D. Ray, Hess.
Fast Time: Kuhn, 14.996 seconds.

Cars Present: 21 Feature Lap Leaders: Waelti 1-2, Hess 3-6, Kuhn 7-15, Hatton 16, Kuhn 17-30.
*Mayhew flipped during qualifying, uninjuried.

Badger Midget SeriesPoints: 1. Bubba Altig 466; 2. Mike Hess 462; 3. Brad Kuhn 416; 4. Scott Hatton 275; 5. Daniel Robinson 267; 6. Robbie Ray 233; 7. David Budres 228; 8. Bryon Walters 225; 9. Brandon Waelti 224; 10. Davey Ray 205 .

Complete Results

Billy Balog Wins the Micro Feature

More from Rachel Scott

Sunday, July 10, 2011 goes in the books as the first date in history for Angell Park to have not one but two female race drivers. The first you are well aware of as the 3-generation Badger driver Courtney Erfurth. The other is a 15-year-old USAC D-1 driver Taylor Ferns. She's had lots of racing experience in the last two years but this was her first visit to APS.

"People are telling me to stay low so I don't hit the cushion and bump into the wall. My goal during hot laps was to not crash my car. It was really sweet of Courtney to come up and make small-talk with me as well as fill me in on a couple pointers." -Taylor Ferns

"I've followed up some research about her on the internet. She's won some races and done really well. I filled her in on a few things about the track since it's her first time here and I don't know if she's had previouse experience on a dirt trck. Then I told her (Taylor) we had to team up and kick the boys' butts. My dad, "Well, don't you want to beat her?" and I said, "No! I want to team up with her and fend off the boys!" -Courtney Erfurth

Kurt Mayhew flipped down the back stretch during his second qualifying lap. "I got down in a rut in the dirt and the right rear tired flew up and I tried to correct it which may have been a mistake but that's what happenes sometimes. I just thought I'd better hang on and close my eyes."


Quick Time: Brad Kuhn 14.996

Heat 1 Winner: Robbie Ray "I had a great run and I'm suprised that nobody got me. I ran really well in hot laps so I tried to run that same line on the track."
2nd: Brandon Waelti
3rd: Taylor Ferns

Heat 2 Winner: Davey Ray "I wanna thank everyone for coming out tonight. Angell Park is still the best race track in the country! I know the Badger reunion is coming up next week and it'll be really nice to see former and fellow drivers. Even ones that were around with my dad on the track. Our family has quite a long history here and that's why I've got the number 2 on my car for my maternal grandfather who was a 4-time Badger Champion."
2nd: Cody Weisensel
3rd: Bubba Altig

Heat 3 Winner: Mike Hess "I stood up on a sore ankle from a racing accident last weekend and I'm not sure what I did right but I just kept walking on it and it feels much better. It was fun racing with Dalton for the top three places. He gave me some space and I did the same for him."
2nd: Brad Kuhn
3rd: Dalton Armstrong

Feature Winner: Brad Kuhn "Well, sixteen wins at Angell Park is pretty cool. I didn't know I had that many! It is what it is I just keep racking them up. It's kind of like last race with breaking the track record. You don't really think about it until afterwords. During the caution half-way through I was just told what I needed to do and went with it and we were fine. We ran the bottom of the track pretty good."
2nd: Mike Hess
3rd: Bubba Altig

Kuhn tops Belle-Claire Night Two

Belleville, Ill., July 2---Brad Kuhn captured the 30-lap POWRi Lucas Oil Nat'l Midget/ Stark Automotive Group/Mid-State Equipment Badger Midget Series co-sanctioned feature at Belle-Clair Speedway on Saturday Night. Kuhn finished third in the opening night feature, which was part of the two-day FanFest presented by Budweiser.
Kuhn and Chet Gehrke made up the front row, with Gehrke getting the jump at the start. Kuhn passed Gerhke on lap 5 for the lead exiting Turn 2 using the high groove around the 1/5-mile high-banked clay oval . Kuhn's lead was erased for a caution one-lap before the midway point. On the restart Kuhn pulled away from the field, while Gehrke was passed for the runner-up position by Tony Roney on Lap17.
Kuhn driving the RW Motorsports owned Beast/Fontana No. 17 collected $3,000 for the victory, finishing five-car lengths ahead of Roney, Austin Brown, Andrew Felker who won the accompanying 600 cc Micro Sprint feature, and Friday's winner Nick Knepper. Bubba Altig holds a 12-point lead over Mike Hess heading into the next Badger event Sunday July 10 at Angell Park Speedway (Sun Prairie, Wis.).

SUMMARY
30-lap Feature: 1. Brad Kuhn, 2. Tony Roney, 3. Austin Brown, 4. Andrew Felker, 5. Nick Knepper, 6. Chett Gehrke, 7. Mike Hess, 8. Dave Camfield, 9. Thomas Meseraull, 10. Ryan Criswell, 11. Alex Bright, 12. Daniel Adler, 13. , 14. Tim Siner, 15. Bryon Walters, 16. Bubba Altig, 17. Danny Frye, 18. Hud Cone, 19. Cody Weisensel, 20. Darren Kingston, 21. Tyler Robbins, 22. Brett Anderson.

15-lap Semi Feature Winners: Weisensel, Robbins.
10-lap Heat Race Winners: Bright, Kuhn, Hess, Brown, Roney.
Cars Present: 45 Feature Lap Leaders: Gehrke 1-5, Kuhn 6-30.

Win for Knepper at Belle-Clair

Popular hometown victory for second generation driver

Belleville, Ill., July 1---Hometown driver Nick Knepper made a last-lap pass, winning Friday Night's 30-lap POWRi Lucas Oil Nat'l Midget/ Stark Automotive Group/Mid-State Equipment Badger Midget Series co-sanctioned feature at Belle-Clair Speedway.
Badger points leader Bubba Altig paced the initial three laps from the pole, before being passed by Knepper. Felker who started seventh passed Knepper for the lead on the tenth circuit. Felker held the top position until the final lap.
Running the outside line, Knepper passed Felker, running the inside, exiting Turn 2 and won by four-car lengths. "I didn't give up on the cushion," Knepper said. "The last time through One and Two was my best corner of the whole race. We just shot off.. I ran it as hard as I possibly could."
Knepper driving the Walter Knepper owned Spike/Ford-Esslinger No. 55 finished ahead of Felker, Brad Kuhn who started tenth, Mike Hess and Altig. The victory increased Knepper's POWRi Series points lead heading into the second night of the FanFest presented by Budweiser at Belle-Clair Speedway on Saturday.
SUMMARY
30-lap Feature: 1. Nick Knepper, 2. Andrew Felker, 3. Brad Kuhn, 4. Mike Hess, 5. Bubba Altig, 6. Daniel Adler, 7. Rich Camfield, 8. Derrick Myers, 9. Dave Camfield Jr., 10. Kyle Neal, 11. Brett Anderson, 12. Thomas Meseraull, 13. Tyler Robbins, 14. Daniel Robinson, 15. Jake Blackhurst, 16. Hud Cone, 17. Scott Hatton, 18. David Budres, 19. Ryan Criswell, 20. Chett Gehrke, 21. Tony Roney, 22. Brad Loyet, 23. Richard Kreisel.
15-lap Semi Feature Winners: Roney, D. Camfield.
10-lap Heat Race Winners: Altig, Gehrke, Kreisel, Loyet, Neal, Kuhn.
Cars Present: 53 Feature Lap Leaders: Altig 1-3, Knepper 4-10, Felker 11-29, Knepper 30.

Kuhn out duels Coons for Angell Park victory

Forty-year old track record falls

By Bryan Gapinski
Sun Prairie, Wis., June 26---Brad Kuhn scored a thrilling victory capturing the 30-lap Stark Automotive Group/Mid-State Equipment Badger Midget Series event Sunday Night at Angell Park Speedway. Kuhn completed the event in 8 minutes and four seconds, besting the 40-year old track record set by Larry Rice on August 30, 1970, by over one minute.

Brandon Waelti set the pace at the start, closely followed by Kuhn and fast qualifier Jerry Coons Jr. Kuhn passed Waelti for the lead on Lap 5, with Coons following into second place. The pair quickly moved ahead of the field and began lapping slower cars on Lap 10. Kuhn continued his pace with Coons trailing by about one-two car lengths as the pair weaved through lapped traffic.

With ten laps remaining Kuhn held a car-length lead over Coons.The advantage remained the same with five laps remaining. On Lap 27 Kuhn passed two slower cars entering Turns 1-2, drifting high opening up the bottom lane for Coons to take the lead down the backstretch. Coons held a two-car length lead over Kuhn when his tire went flat entering Turn 3 one lap later giving Kuhn the lead.

Kuhn driving the RW Motorsports owned Beast/Fontana No. 17 finished 5.73 seconds ahead of Coons who finished the final circuit with a flat Right Rear Tire. Series points leader Bubba Altig, Scott Hatton and Matt Smith completed the top five. "Its great to win at Sun Prairie, it was great dicing with Jerry for so many laps" commented Kuhn.

Mike Hess scored a clean sweep winning the 10-lap Badger 600 Micro feature finishing ahead of Brandon Fickas, Preston Benisch,Chad Bogar and George Knudsen. Hess also captured the heat race for the division.

An additional Badger event at Angell Park Speedway has been added to the schedule for Sunday July 24. The event will feature the Badger Midgets, Micros and Wisconsin Dirt Legends Car Series. Altig holds a 46-point lead over Hess heading into the July 1-2 event at Belle Claire Raceway (Belleville, Ill.).

NOTES
----The feature victory for Kuhn kept his consective win streak "alive" in Badger, having won at least one event each year since 2005.
----Rice's 30-lap mark came in the first ever Badger/USAC co-sanctioned event at the track on August 30, 1970. It would be one of three APS feature victories for Rice.
----The feature lineup saw five different engine manufacturers in the first five positions: (Ford-Esslinger, Hawk, Mopar, Fontana and Toyota. It was the second straight feature at the track for a Fontana engine.
----Kuhn's pace at 25-laps was also unoffically under the 25-lap record set by Scott Hatton in 2001.
----Hess was on crutches during the evening, recovering from an ankle injury suffered in a crash during the IRA Sprint Car Series event Friday night at Kankakee (Ill.) Speedway.

SUMMARY
30-lap Feature: 1. Brad Kuhn; 2. Jerry Coons Jr.; 3. Bubba Altig; 4. Scott Hatton; 5. Matt Smith; 6. Mike Hess; 7. Robbie Ray; 8. Daniel Robinson; 9. Cody Weisensel; 10. Kurt Mayhew; 11. Eric Johnson; 12. Courtney Erfurth; 13. Brandon Waelti; 14. David Budres; 15. Bryon Walters. 8:04.85 (NTR) (Old record Larry Rice 8/30/70 at: 9:11.56).

10-lap Heat Race Winners: Smith, Coons.

Fast Time: Coons, 15.238 seconds.
Cars Present: 15 Feature Lap Leaders: Waelti 1-5, Kuhn 6-27, Coons 28, Kuhn 29-30

Badger Points: 1. Bubba Altig 271; 2. Mike Hess 225; 3. Matt Smith 200; 4. Scott Hatton 183; 5. Robbie Ray 170; 6. Brandon Waelti 150; 7. Daniel Robinson 150; 8. Cody Weisensel 138; 9. David Budres 128; 10. Bryon Walters 113.

Hess Scores the Micro Win:

More from Rachel Scott

At the age of 15, a Waunakee High School student at the time, Chad DeSelle was discovered by Dean Erfurth at a go cart track and was approched to pursue a hobby in Badger Midget racing. DeSelle's speedy adventures lasted 15 years until one night at Angell Park in 2009 when his car flipped over the 20 foot catch fence and he was hospitalized because of back injuries. After much healing and theropy, and with Bob Parks resignation, DeSelle, now a Sun Prairie resident, has a title he never imagined having but is more than thrilled to accept: Director of Compitition. "As a driver you take it for granted what goes on behind the scenes and what it takes to keep everything going smoothly. Best way I can describe it is 'controled chaos'. Things are easier on my end knowing I have the respect and support from my fellow racers. There's a list of things I need to discuss more and we got some things cleared up. We're going to be to the book as much as possible but its hard because there's a lot of situations where you have to make a judgement call so you try to make a few rules to avoid some of those judgement calls. With that being said you don't want to make a million rules either. I think overall tonight went really well and we'll continue in a couple weeks."

*Quick Time: Jerry Coons Jr. 15.238
"I think it helped going out early because the track conditions have gotten dryer since."

*Heat #1 Winner: Matt Smith
"Everyone else got caught up in traffic so I took off and that's how it goes."
2: Mike Hess
3: Brad Kuhn


*Heat #2 Winner: Jerry Coons Jr.
"We had a good car start to finish."
2: Bubba Altig
3: Brandon Waelti


*Feature Winner: Brad Kuhn (Broke the 30-lap record held by Larry Rice in 1970)
"I was racing thinking 'Jerry's on my tail so I got to get going.' All my years racing I've never broken any records at this track so to learn this new fact is really cool."
2: Jerry Coons Jr.
3: Bubba Altig

DeSelle New Director of Competition; RPM rule change

Angell Park next event June 19

By Bryan Gapinski
Sun Prairie, Wis., June 16---The Badger Midget Auto Racing Association Board Members have adopted a rule change to race procedure and two additional regarding race officials. These decisions took place during a special meeting Thursday Night. The changes will go into effect at the next series event Sunday Night June 19 at Angell Park Speedway.

Former driver Chad DeSelle will assume the position of Director of Competition. This comes after Bob Parks resignation following the season opener. Parks held the postion for nearly two decades, and served in other official postions since 1979. DeSelle competed in the series from 1995-2009, finishing in the top ten in points eleven times. DeSelle's six series feature victories include a victory in the 2003 Knoxville Midget Nationals, three at Angell Park Speedway and victories at Hales Corners Speedway and Wilmot Speedway.

The RPM limit has been raised for by 200 RPM for 166 C.I. Push Rod engines to 8700 RPM, and an additional 300 RPM for 161 C.I. Overhead Engines to 9800 RPM. There will also be the placement of Official Corner Workers in the Turns for all race events at Angell Park Speedway.

RPM Rules:

166 CU IN Push Rod 8700
174 CU IN Fontana 8800
161 CU IN Overhead 9800
Sealed RHINO 7800
Sealed EST Esslinger 9400

Pickens dominates Peoria
New Zealand driver scores win#2 in States

12-lap Semi Feature Winners: Robbins, Waelti.
10-lap Heat Race Winners: Meseruall, Brown, Coons, King, Anderson..
Cars Present: 41 Feature Lap Leaders: Anderson 1-6, Pickens 7-30.
*Travis Berryhill flipped during second semi feature landing outside of track, escaping injury.

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