Hatton scores Number One at Beaver Dam

Beaver Dam, Wis., Aug. 28--- Scott Hatton captured the Mid-State Equipment Badger Midget Racing Series 20-lap feature Saturday Night at Beaver Dam Raceway. The victory was the first of the season for the four-time Badger Champion.

Hatton suffered engine problems leading his heat race in his primary car. Hatton used his back-up car and started in the last position (15th) in the feature. Travis Berryhill jumped into the lead at the start. Hatton moved into the top five on Lap 6. Two laps later Hatton improved to fourth place.

Mike Hess passed Courtney Erfurth for second place on Lap 9. One lap later at the midway point Berryhill held a half straightaway lead over Hess. With five laps remaining Berryhill's lead grew to nearly six seconds, when the caution appeared for a spun car. On the restart Hess stayed on Berryhill's rear bumper. Hess took the lead crossing the start/finish line to complete Lap 17. Entering Turn 1 the pair made slight contact, causing both to slow momentarily.Hatton running a higher groove passed both to take the lead exiting Turn 2.

Another caution with two laps remaining bunched up the field. Berryhill drew event with Hatton, when the white flag was displayed. But his last lap effort fell two-car lengths short at the finish. Hatton driving the Huston Solution owned Stealth/Mopar No. 15 finished ahead of Berryhill, Hess, Erfurth and Rich Camfield. The Badger season concludes next Saturday Sep. 4 at Beaver Dam Raceway.

Hess locks up Badger title with BDM win

By Bryan Gapinski
Beaver Dam, Wis., Aug. 21--- Mike Hess captured his second straight victory, Saturday Night winning the Mid-State Equipment Badger Midget Racing Series 20-lap feature at Beaver Dam Raceway. The victory clinched the second career Badger Driver's Championship for the Riverton, Ill. native. Hess' car owner Jerry Hardy also locked up his second Car Owner Championship with the two races remaining.

David Budres paced the initial lap around the 1/3-mile clay oval, before Hess took the lead. A caution for debris on Lap 5 bunched up the field. On the restart Budres flipped several times entering Turn 3, escaping injury. On the second restart Hess pulled away from the field while an intense battle waged for second place between four cars.

Scott Hatton moved into second place three laps later. Hess continued to hold his advantage when the caution appeared for a stalled car, with six laps remaining. Hatton then drew even with Hess for the lead at the start/finish line on Lap 16. Two laps later Hatton took the lead but before the lap could be completed Hess regained the top position exiting Turn 4 to take the white flag. Hess finished two car lengths ahead of Hatton, followed by Daniel Robinson, Rich Camfield and Eric Johnson.

Hess also set a 8-lap track record winning his heat race, breaking Hatton's mark set earlier this year. The next Series event will be Aug. 28 event at Beaver Dam Raceway.

Hess scores Win Number Two at Beaver Dam

By Bryan Gapinski
Beaver Dam, Wis., July 31--- Current Series points leader Mike Hess won Saturday Night's Mid-State Equipment Badger Midget Racing Series 20-lap feature at Beaver Dam Raceway. The victory was his second series feature victory of the season.

Hess moved into the lead on the second lap, passing Brandon Waelti for the top position. Hess, Matt Smith, Waelti and Bob Schreffler pulled away from the field, when the race was slowed by a caution on Lap 8 for a spun car. Hess and Smith again increased their advantage over the field, and Hess held a half-straightaway lead with five laps remaining, when the events second caution appeared for a stalled car.

Hess easily pulled away from Smith on the restart, while close position racing occurred behind the leaders. Hess driving the Jerry Hardy owned Buzzard/Hawk-Chevrolet No. 4 finished 1.14 seconds ahead of Smith, Schreffler, Travis Berryhill and B.G. Woods who scored a career series best feature finish.

Hess now holds a 228-point lead over Berryhill heading into the Aug. 21 event at Beaver Dam Raceway. The Badger portion of the scheduled Aug. 14 racing events at Wilmot (Wis.) Speedway has been the cancelled.

SUMMARY
20-lap Feature: 1. Mike Hess; 2. Matt Smith; 3. Bob Schreffler; 4. Travis Berryhill; 5. B.G. Woods; 6. Courtney Erfurth; 7. Daniel Robinson; 8.Aaron Fiscus; 9. Brandon Waelti; 10. Brian Terry; 11. Eric Johnson; 12. Cody Wisensel.
8-lap Heat Race Winners: Smith, Erfurth..
Cars Present: 12 Feature Lap Leaders: Waelti 1, Hess 2-20.

Current Badger Midget Series Point Standings: 1.Mike Hess 905; 2. Travis Berryhill 677; 3.Scott Hatton 663; 4. Davey Ray 590; 5.Brandon Waelti 571; 6. Bob Schreffler 561; 7. Courtney Erfurth 550; 8. Eric Johnson 402; 9. Daniel Robinson 381 10. Brad Loyet 338.

Smith First Repeat Winner in Badger

By Bryan Gapinski
Beaver Dam, Wis., July 17--- Australian Matt Smith became the first repeat winner of the season capturing The Mid-State Equipment Badger Midget Racing Series 20-lap feature Saturday Night at Beaver Dam Raceway. Smith's victory also ended a record streak of thirteen consecutive different feature winners in the last thirteen races dating back to August 2009.

Smith took the lead on the opening lap, from the outside front row starting position. On the second lap second and third place running Mike Hess and Daniel Robison made contact causing an accident which involved the next three position cars, with Davey Ray flipping, escaping injury.

On the restart Smith quickly opened up an advantage over the field. Hess who restarted in ninth position quickly moved through the field and into second place on lap 6. With both drivers running the cushion Hess began cutting into Smith's straightaway advantage. Hess closed to within two car lengths with five laps remaining. One lap later Smith became trapped behind several lapped cars, allowing Hess to challenge for the lead.

Hess took advantage of lapped cars to lead exiting Turn 4 on Lap 17. Less than one lap later Smith regained the lead. Smith, driving the Steve Smith owned Triple XXX/Hawk-Chevrolet No.1, held off Hess on the final lap to score a one-car length victory. Brandon Waelti, Daniel Robinson and David Budres completed the top five. Hess now holds a 143-point lead over Scott Hatton heading into the July 31 event at Beaver Dam Raceway.

The Badger portion of the scheduled Sept. 3 Stan Fox Memorial at Dodge County Fairgrounds has been the cancelled. The event will be run with the IRA Sprint Car Series and Mid American Stock Car Series competing.

SUMMARY
30-lap Feature: 1.Matt Smith; 2. Mike Hess; 3. Brandon Waelti; 4. Daniel Robinson; 5. David Budres; 6. Eric Johnson; 7. B.G. Woods; 8. Travis Berryhill; 9. Brian Terry; 10. Jason Therkelsen; 11. Courtney Erfurth; 12. Scott Hatton; 13. Davey Ray; 14. David Gough; 15.Cody Wisensel.
8-lap Heat Race Winners: Ray, Hess.
Cars Present: 15 Feature Lap Leaders: Smith 1-17, Hess 18, Smith 19-20.
*Ray flipped on Lap 1 of feature, uninjured.

Current Badger Midget Series Point Standings: 1.Mike Hess 806; 2.Scott Hatton 663; 3. Travis Berryhill 605; 4. Davey Ray 590; 5.Brandon Waelti 571; 6. Courtney Erfurth 488; 7. Bob Schreffler 477; 8. Eric Johnson 359; 9. Brad Loyet 338; 10.Daniel Robinson 323.

Hess increases point lead with Beaver Dam win

By Bryan Gapinski
Beaver Dam, Wis., July 3--- Series points leader Mike Hess won The Mid-State Equipment Badger Midget Racing Series 30-lap feature Saturday Night at Beaver Dam Raceway. Hess is the ninth different driver to win a feature event this season in nine races.

Travis Berryhill paced the intinal two laps, before Hess took the lead. Once in the lead Hess began increasing his lead each lap .Matt Smith moved into second place on Lap 10, and trailed Hess by a straightaway at the midway point. Three laps later Berryhill running in fourth position hit the Turn 2 wall and flipped three times, escaping injury.

On the restart Smith stayed with Hess for a few laps, before Hess pulled away to a comfortable margain. Hess driving the Jerry Hardy owned Buzzard/Hawk Chevrolet No. 4 finished 2.7 seconds ahead of Smith, Scott Hatton,Courtney Erfurth and Bob Shreffler. Hess now holds a 90-point lead over Hatton heading ino the July 17 event at Beaver Dam Raceway.

SUMMARY
30-lap Feature: 1. Mike Hess; 2. Matt Smith; 3. Scott Hatton; 4. Courney Erfurth; 5. Bob Shreffler; 6. Eric Johnson; 7. Tim Noble; 8.Brian Terry; 9. Travis Berryhill.
10-lap Qualifying Race Winner: Erfurth.
Fast Time: Hatton, 14.966 seconds.
Feature Lap Leaders: Berryhill 1-2, Hess 3-30.
*Berryhill flipped on Lap 18 of feature, uninjuried.
Current Badger Midget Series Point Standings: 1.Mike Hess 708; 2.Scott Hatton 618; 3. Travis Berryhill 552; 4. Davey Ray 542; 5.Brandon Waelti 489; 6. Bob Schreffler 477; 7. Courtney Erfurth 450; 8. Brad Loyet 338; 9. Eric Johnson 306; 10.Daniel Robinson 246.

Aussie Matt Smith tops Badger Dodge County

By Bryan Gapinski
Beaver Dam, Wis., July 2---Matt Smith captured the 9th annual Mid State Equipment Sue Thiel Memorial Friday Night at Dodge County Fairgrounds. Smith becomes only the third Australian driver to win a Badger Midget Auto Racing Association sanctioned feature in the organizations 74-year history.

Smith made a daring three-wide high side pass for the lead entering Turn 3 on the opening lap. Once in front Smith continued the running the cushion while Series points leader Mike Hess ran the bottom of the track. The pair pulled away from the field, with Smith holding his advantage. Hess moved to cushion, with five laps remaining, and closed to Smith's rear bumper. One lap later Hess took the lead only to surrender the top position back to Smith on the next lap.

Smith driving the Steve Smith owned Triple X/Hawk Chevrolet No. 1 finished two car lengths ahead of Hess, followed by Davey Ray, Scott Hatton and fast qualifier Travis Berryhill. Brandon Waelti who entered the event second in Series points escaped injury in a spectacular flip, during the second heat race. Waelti's car nearly cleared the Turn 3 catch fence. Berryhill was involved in a separate flip in the same race.

SUMMARY
15-lap Feature: 1. Matt Smith; 2. Mike Hess; 3. Davey Ray; 4. Scott Hatton; 5. Travis Berryhill; 6. Bob Schreffler; 7. Courtney Erfurth.
6-lap Heat Race Winners: Smith, Ray.
Fast Time: Berryhill, 21.244 seconds.
Cars Present: 11 Feature Lap Leaders: Smith 1-11, Hess 12, Smith 13-15.
* Berryhill and Waelti flipped in separate accident in heat race two.

Current Badger Midget Series Points: 1.Mike Hess 603; 2. Davey Ray 542; 3. Scott Hatton 524; 4. Travis Berryhill 490; 5.Brandon Waelti 489; 6. Bob Schreffler 417; 7. Courtney Erfurth 367; 8. Brad Loyet 338; 9. Eric Johnson 255; 10.Daniel Robinson 246.

Hagen Rebounds to Win Night Two at Belle Clair

By Bryan Gapinski
Belleville,Ill., June 26---California's Darren Hagen won the 75-lap POWRi Speedway Motors/Mid-State Equipment Badger Midget Racing Series co-sanctioned feature, Saturday Night at Belle-Clair Raceway. The event capped off the two-night Budweiser FanFest celebrating the 75th anniversary of midget auto racing in the greater St.Louis area.

Hagen took the lead at the start from the pole position followed by Brad Loyet. A multi-car accident on the opening lap, slowed action. On the restart Loyet's engine began misfiring, with Hagen leading the event. With Hagen running the cushion and Loyet using the lower groove the pair were the class of the field closely followed by Mike Hess.

Hagen who finished 19th in Friday's feature was passed by Loyet on Lap 66, but regained the lead with four laps remaining. Hagen driving the RFMS Racing owned Spike/Ford-Esslinger No. 3 finished one-car length ahead of Loyet at the finish, followed by Hess, Steve Knepper, and Andrew Felker. The victory was worth $4,000 for Hagen.

Loyet increased his POWRi point lead, while Hess has taken over the Badger point lead and currently holds a 28-point advantage over Brandon Waelti. Badger's next event will be July 2 at Dodge County Fairgrounds (Beaver Dam,Wis.), while POWRi resumes racing on July 5 at Macon (Ill.) Speedway.

SUMMARY
75-lap feature: 1. Darren Hagen; 2. Brad Loyet; 3. Mike Hess; 4. Steve Knepper; 5. Andrew Felker; 6. Shane Cockrum; 7. Brandon Waelti; 8. Dereck King; 9. Nick Knepper; 10. Daniel Adler; 11. Courtney Erfurth; 12. Derek Kingston; 13. Scott Hatton; 14. Travis Berryhill; 15. Tyler Robbins; 16. Derek Rossio; 17. Daniel Robinson; 18. Shane Cottle; 19. Derrick Myers; 20. Johnny Murdock; 21. Austin Brown; 22.Tim Siner.

12-lap Semi Feature Winner: Cockrum, Myers.
10-lap Heat Race Winners: Hess, Waelti, Hagen, Loyet, Siner.
Cars Present: 37 Feature Lap Leaders: Hagen 1-66, Loyet 67-70, Hagen 71-75.

Loyet scores night one at Little Belleville

By Bryan Gapinski
Belleville,Ill., June 25---Brad Loyet won the 30-lap POWRi Speedway Motors/Mid-State Equipment Badger Midget Racing Series co-sanctioned feature, Friday Night at Belle-Clair Raceway. The event was the first of the two-night Budweiser FanFest celebrating the 75th anniversary of midget auto racing in the greater St.Louis area.

Polesitter Austin Brown jumped into the lead at the start, and quickly paced the first seven circuits around the fast 1/4-mile dirt oval. Brown surrendered to lead to Loyet on lap 8, and eventually faded to a ninth place finish suffering from brake problems.

Loyet continued to set the pace on the cushion, with most of the field running the lower groove. Brandon Waelti ran in second position until four laps remaining when veteran Steve Knepper passed Waelti. Loyet driving the Loyet Motorsports owned Spike/Ford-Esslinger No. 05 finished ahead of Knepper, Daniel Adler, Waelti and Andrew Felker who earlier in the evening claimed victory in the accompanying POWRi Micro Sprint feature.

With his second series feature victory of the season Loyet increased his POWRi Series points lead over Brown. Davey Ray currently holds a 14-point lead over Waelti heading into Saturday Night's events which will be highlighted by a 75-lap feature.

SUMMARY
30-lap feature: 1. Brad Loyet; 2. Steve Knepper; 3. Daniel Adler; 4. Brandon Waelti; 5. Andrew Felker; 6. Zach Daum; 7. Nick Knepper; 8. Mike Hess; 9. Austin Brown; 10. Dereck King; 11. Derrick Myers; 12. Dave Camfield Jr.; 13. Derek Kingston; 14. Matt Fox; 15. Derek Rossio; 16. Davey Ray; 17. Tim Siner; 18.Shane Cockrum19. Darren Hagen; 20. Scott Hatton; 21. Galvin Galbraith; 22. Travis Berryhill.

12-lap Semi feature Winner: Adler.
10-lap Heat Race Winners: Brown, Hagen, Waelti, Myers.
Cars Present: 34 Feature Lap Leaders: Brown 1-7, Loyet 8-30.

Current Badger Midget Series Points: 1. Davey Ray 429; 2. Brandon Waelti 415; 3. Mike Hess 414; 4. Scott Hatton 401; 5. Travis Berryhill 375; 6. Bob Schreffler 330; 7.Courtney Erfurth 267; 8. Brad Loyet 244; 9. Eric Johnson 241; 10. David Gough 231.

Point leader Ray tops Badger Beaver Dam Field

By Bryan Gapinski
Beaver Dam, Wis., June 12--- Davey Ray increased his series points lead by winning The Mid-State Equipment Badger Midget Racing Series 20-lap feature Saturday Night at Beaver Dam Raceway. The event was the 50th sanctioned midget race at the facility for Badger.

Ray who started from the pole position jumped into the lead at the start, closely followed by Scott Hatton and fast qualifier Travis Berryhill. Two caution flags during the first nine laps, kept the field bunched up. Hatton ran the exact line as Ray and stayed on Ray's bumper as the pair pulled away from the field. The leaders entered lapped traffic, with five laps remaining. Fourth place running David Gough coasted to a stop, one lap later bringing out the caution.

Ray was again perfect on the restart and held a car length advantage over Hatton as the pair took the white flag. Ray entered Turn 2, when the caution was displayed for Jason Dull's spun car. Track rules state that after the leader begins the final lap, and a caution appears the race is ruled complete.

Ray driving the Jim Fiscus owned Spike/Ford-Esslinger No. 6 finished ahead of Hatton, Mike Hess, Berryhill and Brandon Waelti. Earlier in the evening Hatton broke Brad Kuhn's four-year old eight-lap track record winning his heat race. Ray currently holds a 22-point lead over Hatton heading into the next series event June 25-26 at Belle Claire Raceway (Belleville,Ill.).

SUMMARY
20-lap Feature: 1. Davey Ray; 2. Scott Hatton; 3. Mike Hess; 4. Travis Berryhill; 5. Brandon Waelti; 6. Brian Terry; 7. Eric Johnson; 8.Courtney Erfurth; 9. David Budres; 10. Bob Schreffler; 11.Jason Dull; 12. David Gough; 13. Jason Therkelson.

8-lap Heat Race Winners: Hatton, Ray.
Fast Time: Berryhill, 14.583 seconds.
Cars Present: 14 Feature Lap Leaders: Ray 1-20.

Current Badger Midget Series Point Standings: 1. Davey Ray 392; 2. Scott Hatton 370; 3. Mike Hess 361; 4. Travis Berryhill 346; 5. Brandon Waelti 336; 6.Bob Schreffler 317; 7.Courtney Erfurth 249; 8. David Gough 231; 9. Eric Johnson 221; 10. David Budres 206.

APS, BMARA Look Ahead to the Future

Angell Park Speedway, BMARA release joint statement

To all Midget racers and Fans of Angell Park Speedway (APS) and Badger Midget Auto Racing Association (BMARA).

The Sun Prairie Volunteer Fire Department (SPVFD) and BMARA recently agreed to meet to reopen the lines of communication. The SPVFD and BMARA met on Wednesday, June 2nd to discuss their differences regarding midget racing as a whole. The outcome of this meeting determined that both organizations have schedules that are set for the 2010 season but agreed to put aside differences for the betterment of midget racing in Wisconsin. The lines of communication have been reopened and all hopes are that midget racing will grow again in Wisconsin and the fans will continue to support this great sport. We ask the racers and fans to continue to support both series and their favorite drivers.

Sincerely,
SPVFD and BMARA

Robinson Tough on Badger Field at Beaver Dam

By Bryan Gapinski
Beaver Dam, Wis., May 29--- Daniel Robinson surprised the field, winning The Mid-State Equipment Badger Midget Racing Series 20-lap feature Saturday Night at Beaver Dam Raceway.

Bob Shreffler took the lead at the start of the event, while Mike Hess passed five cars in the first two laps moving into second place. One lap later Scott Hatton moved into third place, after starting in 14th position. Shreffler continnued to increase his lead each lap. At the midway point Shreffler held a straightaway lead over Hess and Hatton.

Cautions appeared for stalled cars the next two laps. On the restart Hess passed Shreffler for the lead, leading one circuit, before Shreffler regained the lead. Robinson running an extremely high line around the track, with most of the field using the lower groove continued his charge through the field. Robinson and Hatton made slight contact, with Robinson moving into third place, with five laps remaining. One lap later Robinson slid into the path of second place running Hess, as they entered Turn 2, causing Hess to flip. Hess was uninjured.

On the restart Shreffler, running the lower groove, led Robinson who continued running against the wall. Robinson drew even with Shreffler on lap 17, and took the lead. At the white flag Robinson held a car length advantage and increased his lead the final lap. Robinson driving the RAB Racing owned Stealth/Mopar No. 57 finished 0.68 seconds ahead of Shreffler, Dave Ray, Hatton and Brandon Waelti. Ray currently holds an eleven point lead over Waelti heading into the next series event June 12 at the track.

SUMMARY
20-lap Feature: 1. Daniel Robinson; 2. Bob Shreffler; 3. Davey Ray; 4.Scott Hatton; 5. Brandon Waelti; 6. Courtney Erfurth; 7. David Gough; 8. David Budres; 9. Rich Camfield; 10. Joe Probst; 11. Brian Terry, 12. Eric Johnson; 13. Jason Therkelson; 14. Mike Hess; 15. Travis Berryhill.

8-lap Heat Race Winners: Gough, Berryhill.
Fast Time: Camfield, 16.210 seconds.
Cars Present: 15 Feature Lap Leaders: Shreffler 1-11, Hess 12, Shreffler 13-17 Robinson 18-20.
*Hess flipped Lap 16 of feature, uninjured.

Current Badger Midget Series Point Standings: 1. Davey Ray 281; 2. Brandon Waelti 270; 3. Bob Shreffler 269; 4. Scott Hatton 268; 5. Mike Hess 264; 6. Travis Berryhill 262; 7. Daniel Robinson 191; 8.Courtney Erfurth 191; 9. David Gough 181; 10.Rich Camfield 169.

Tripleheader for Thiel Memorial

IRA Sprints, Badger Midgets & Mid America Stock Cars highlight July 2 event

Beaver Dam, Wis., May 19---Wisconsin's three major touring divisions, will headline the "Ninth annual Sue Thiel Memorial". The event is scheduled for Friday Night July 2 at the Dodge County Fairgrounds. The IRA Bumper to Bumper Outlaw Sprint Car Series and the Mid-State Equipment Badger Midget Racing Series, will be joined The Mid America Stock Car Series. For Mid-America it will mark the their first ever dirt-track event in the organizations 17-year history!

Thunder Bay Enterprises and Mid-State Equipment have renewed their event sponsorship for a fifth straight year. The midget event will again be sanctioned by Badger, with a variation in normal series rules allowing cars to run Hoosier SP Series tires based on their engine displacement or an American Racer SD Series Tires will on the right rear wheel. For futher information contact event organizer Dan Thiel at: (920) 319-0177.

The "Fourth annual Stan Fox Memorial" on Friday Night September 3 will also feature a Badger midget/IRA doubleheader with a possible third division to be announced at a later date. Scott Hatton (midget) and Terry McCarl (sprint car) captured the 2009 Thiel events run before a near-capacity crowd. Hatton made it two straight on the lightning fast half-mile capturing the Fox Memorial Midget Race, with Mike Reinke topping the IRA Sprint Car feature.

Camfield covers Badger Beaver Dam field

By Bryan Gapinski
Beaver Dam, Wis., May 22---Veteran driver Rich Camfield scored a surprise victory, winning Mid-State Equipment Badger Midget Racing Series 20-lap feature Saturday Night at Beaver Dam Raceway.

Action was halted on the second lap when Johnny Murdock flipped, escaping injury. On the restart Brandon Waelti passed Bob Schreffler for the lead, pacing the field for three circuits around the 1/3-mile clay oval. Davey Ray then assumed the lead, while Camfield moved around two cars in the next lap to replace Ray as the races fourth different leader on Lap 6. Camfield quickly increased his lead to over two seconds at the midway point. Camfield's advantage was erased while working through lapped traffic during the next few laps.

Waelti pulled to within two-car lengths with five laps remaining. Camfield during the final five laps again increased his advantage. Camfield driving the Rich King owned Stealth/Carey-Chevrolet No. 5 finished 1.56 seconds ahead of Waelti, followed by Austin Brown, fast qualifier Davey Ray and Mike Hess. "It's great to finally get a feature win in Badger, I got the call to drive this car on Thursday" commented the 2001 MARA Midget Series Champion. Hess leads Travis Berryhill by one point heading into the May 29 event at Beaver Dam Raceway.

SUMMARY
20-lap Feature: 1. Rich Camfield; 2. Brandon Waelti; 3. Austin Brown; 4. Davey Ray; 5. Mike Hess; 6. Travis Berryhill; 7. Bob Schreffler; 8. Nick Knepper; 9. Courtney Erfurth; 10. Scott Hatton; 11. Robbie Ray; 12. Kenny Brown; 13. Eric Johnson; 14. Jason Dull; 15. Jason Therkelsen; 16. Johnny Murdock.

8-lap Heat Race Winners: Waelti, D. Ray.
Fast Time: D. Ray, 15.822 seconds.
Cars Present: 16, Feature Lap Leaders: Scheffler 1, Waelti 2-4, Ray 5, Camfield 6-20.
*Murdock flipped lap 1 of feature, uninjured.

Houston Car Visits Vehicle Day At Elementary School

Dwight Huston's #15 car, raced by 2009 Badger Midget champ Scott Hatton at the 8th bi-annual Vehicle Day at Arboretum Elementary School in Waunakee, WI on May 20th. Vic Morrow hosted the Huston car as one of 17 different types of vehicles for the 544 students. Photo

Welcome To The New Look At BMARA.com

We've got a new look at BMARA.com! The Badger Midget Racing Association has been working hard to make many changes and the website has been one of them. We are transitioning to a new format and throughout the season we will be making numerous changes. We hope the new website can better showcase new technologies to keep our fans and sponsors updated. Thanks for your support!

Coons dominates Wilmot Badger Midget Race

By Bryan Gapinski
Wilmot, Wis., May 15---Jerry Coons Jr. scored a wire-to-wire victory capturing the 30-lap Mid-State Equipment Badger Midget Racing Series feature Saturday Night at Wilmot Speedway. It marked the first time competing at the track for the Arizona driver, who also set fast time during qualifying.

Coons jumped into the lead from the pole followed by Brad Loyet. Third place running Robbie Ray came to a stop in Turn 2 on lap 6, and collected the next three cars in the running order: Zach Daum, Scott Hatton, and Brandon Waelti. All four cars were sidelined for the remainder of the event.

On the restart Coons increased his lead each lap, and held a five second-plus lead, when the caution appeared for a stalled car on lap 16. Loyet briefly challenged Coons for the lead on the restart. The events final caution appeared on lap 19 for another stopped car. Coons driving the Wilke-PAK owned Spike/Toyota#11 went unchallenged the final eleven laps finishing a straightaway ahead of Loyet, Mike Hess, Travis Berryhill and David Gough. Davey Ray set a new 8-lap track record winning the second heat race of the evening.

Berryhill currently holds a seven point lead over Loyet heading into the next series event at Beaver Dam (Wis.) Raceway on May 22. Badger returns to Wilmot on Aug. 14 for the "Fifth Annual Salute to Harry Turner".

SUMMARY
30-lap Feature:1. Jerry Coons Jr.; 2. Brad Loyet; 3. Mike Hess; 4. Travis Berryhill; 5. David Gough; 6. Bob Schreffler; 7. Daniel Robinson; 8. B.G. Wood; 9. Eric Johnson; 10.Courtney Erfurth; 11. Eric Nitz; 12. David Budres; 13. Robbie Ray; 14. Zach Daum; 15. Scott Hatton; 16.Brandon Waelti; 17. Davey Ray; 18. Levi Roberts.

8-lap Heat Race Winners: Gough, Ray, Daum.
Fast Time:Coons, 15.028 seconds.
Cars Present: 19 Feature Lap Leaders: Coons 1-30.
Current Badger Midget Series points: 1. Travis Berryhill 159;2. Brad Loyet 152; 3. Zach Daum 147; 4. Scott Hatton 146; 5. Mike Hess 145; 6. Jerry Coons Jr. 114; 7. David Gough 114; 8. Bob Schreffler 113; 9. Brad Kuhn 112; 10. Davey Ray 103.

Bob Olson

Good friend and long time Badger Midget fan, Bob Olson passed away on May 11th at 80 years old. Bob served as President of the Badger Midget Racing Association during the 1968 season. The Funeral Service will be at 11 AM on Friday May 14 at the Cress Funeral Home at 3345 E. Washington Ave (Madison, Wis.) with visitation from 10 AM until the time of the service. Burial will be at the Roselawn Memorial Park on East Broadway in Madison.

excitement returns to Wilmot Speedway on Saturday

By Bryan Gapinski Wilmot, Wis., May 10---The Mid-State Equipment Badger Midget Racing Series continues on Saturday Night May 15 at Wilmot Raceway, site of one of the series most competitive feature races of the 2009 season!

Badger's last appearance at the 1/3-mile clay oval was on June 13, 2009, when five feature lead changes occurred and a finish that saw the top three separated by less than twocar lengths at- the finish. Brad Loyet won the exciting race followed by 2009 Series Champion Scott Hatton and Mike Hess.

Hess, the 2008 Series Champion has established himself as the "event favorite", the Sherman, Ill. driver has feature finishes of 1-4-4-3-3 in the last five Wilmot events he's competed. Hatton currently trails Brad Kuhn by eleven points in the series points heading into the event, and has been fast qualifier twice at Wilmot. Drivers will be aiming at Loyet's one-lap track record in qualifying of 14.755 seconds set last year.

Pits will open at 2:00 p.m. with grandstands opening at 4:00 p.m., practice will begin one hour later, with racing starting at 6:00 p.m. sharp. Joining Badger on the slate will be the track's sprint car and mini-sprint divisions.

Kuhn nails Badger Midget opener

By Bryan Gapinski, Beaver Dam, Wis., May 1---Two-time Series Champion Brad Kuhn captured the season opening Mid-State Equipment Badger Midget Racing series 30-lap feature Saturday Night at Beaver Dam Raceway. The event kicked off the 74th year of sanctioning midget auto racing for the organization, oldest in the country.

Brandon Waelti paced the opening lap while Scott Hatton passed four cars in the first two laps to take the lead on the second lap closely followed by Kuhn. Kuhn then took over the lead two laps passing Hatton. The pair pulled away from the field and had a sizeable advantage, when the events only caution appeared on Lap 10 for a stalled car.

Kuhn then pulled away from Hatton on the restart increasing his advantage slightly every lap around the 1/3-mile oval. Kuhn spent the final eight laps in lapped traffic. Kuhn driving the RWB Motorsports owned Beast/Fontana#17 finished 3.23 seconds ahead of Hatton, fast qualifier Zach Daum, Travis Berryhill and Davey Ray who started in last position. The victory was the fourth career feature win at the track for the Avon, Ind. driver. Series action continues on May 15 at Wilmot (Wis.) Speedway.

Part One: Beaver Dam Raceway The reopening, forty-six races of memories begins

By Bryan Gapinski
Beaver Dam,Wis., April 12---The Badger Midget Auto Racing Association (BMARA) opens their 74th year of sanctioning midget auto racing, the country's oldest midget auto racing organization on Saturday Night May 1 at Beaver Dam Raceway.
Beaver Dam Raceway will serve as the cornerstone of the series, with ten Saturday Night races. The season will conclude at the 1/3-mile high banked clay oval on Sept. 4. (This is the first of a three-part series recapping Badger their race events at track.The remaining two parts will appear exclusively on the Badger website on Monday April 19 and 26).

When Dan Fredenberg took the checkered flag winning the 25-lap Badger Midget feature at Beaver Dam Raceway on July 3, 1982, few realized it would be another decade before Badger would return to that parcel of land.
Former Wisconsin resident Gary Schlafer turned Sprint Car driver and car dealer from Anderson, Indiana, acquired the property and began designing a new track to replace the existing 1/4-mile dirt oval. After two years of hardwork Schlafer re-opened the facility for the 1993 racing season.

1993: Saturday Night May 29 marks the re-opening of the track for Badger. After heavy rains the preceding days, Marty Davis tops Greg Lueckert and Dan Boorse to win the opening event which featured little passing. One of the tracks most dramatic features is run on July 31. Dean Billings driving the Gapinski/Lothe#96 starts last in the sixteen-car B Main and scores the victory. Billings then starts in 20th position (last) and works his way through the feature field. On the final lap Billings passes Mike Hansel for second place on the backstretch. Leader Scott Hatton loses his wheel entering Turn 4 and slows giving Billings the victory. Tony Stewart driving the Kunz#1k tops the 50-lap on Sept.4 over Billings and Randy Koch. Hatton also scores two feature wins during the season.

1994: Kevin Doty claimed four of the seven features at the track on his way to winning the 1994 Badger title. Doty's most interesting night at the track failed to produce a winning effort. On Saturday afternoon August 20 Doty made his USAC Silver Crown debut competing at the Illinois State Fairgrounds (Springfield,Ill.). Doty finished 21st completing 34 laps before a broken oil line ended his day. Doty then flew to Beaver Dam, with Kurt Mayhew practicing and qualifying the Bud Doty#50. Doty transferred his car from the B-Main to the feature before retiring midway in the feature. Dan Boorse, Dean Erfurth and Kevin Olson won the other three features.

1995: A record ten nights of Badger racing took place at the track. Randy Koch driving the Kittleson#2 won four features and placed second three times. Second-year driver Aaron Fiscus scored his first career midget feature victory on June 24 finishing ahead of Koch, and Steve Knepper. Other feature winners during the season included: Kevin Olson, Kevin Doty and Scott Hatton.

1996: Badger's only appearance of the season saw Randy Koch continue his hot streak winning his third Badger feature in seven days at three different tracks on Aug.3 finishing ahead of Scott Hatton and Dean Billings.

1997: Badger's season opener on May 17 saw a classic duel between fast qualifier Dan Boorse and Arizona's Jeremy Sherman.Sherman took the lead at the start in the Wilke-PAK#11 while Boorse passed eight cars in the first two laps to close in on Sherman. The pair waged a classic wheel to wheel battle until Lap 20 when Boorse took the top position on a restart. Sherman hit the wall on the final lap running second and flipped. Kevin Doty won the remaining two events.

1998: For the first time-ever Badger and the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars run on the same event. Badger and the track's 360 sprint cars run their preliminary races on Tuesday Night, and then return to run their features during the regular WoO event on Wednesday June . Ted Johnson, founder of WoO grew up in Madison and watched midget racing in the area as a youth. Johnson is in the tower during the midget feature and remembers his youthful experiences with race officials. Randy Koch scores his sixth career midget feature win besting Quinn McCabe and Boyd Calvert.

Part Two: Beaver Dam Raceway, New Decade, New Ownership

By Bryan Gapinski
Beaver Dam, Wis., April 19---This is the second of a three-part series recapping the Badger Midget Series and their race events at Beaver Dam Raceway. The remaining story will appear exclusively on the Badger website on Monday April 26.

1999: After the 1998 season, owner Gary Schlafer suspends all racing at the track, and places the facility on the market for sale. In October 1999 a deal is completed for the purchase by Lee Merkel and Glenn Hepfner the group known as Wisconsin Motorsports & Entertainment LLC announce plans for the 2000 season. Merkel and Hepfner expand the group three years later with Bill Muche and Scott Boyd joining as partners.

2000: The track is renamed The Raceway at PowerCom Park reflecting the track's new sponsorship with the telecommunications company before the season begins. Three of the four Badger events are rained out. The only event run at the track is a non-point event on September 9. Kevin Doty driving the WIlke-PAK#11 scores a clean sweep and sets three tracks records during the evening. Lee Merkel is presented an umbrella at the annual Badger banquet autographed by several drivers for the track's efforts during the first season.

2001: Rain again plays havoc at the track forcing the cancellation of two events. Scott Hatton tops Davey Ray and Rick Mueller to win on July 7. One month later Brandon Waelti takes advantage of a late race caution scoring an exciting victory over Kevin Olson and Nick Lundgreen.

2002: Both events at the track are won by eventual Series Championship Team, Wisco Racing (Greg & Les Nelson and Tim Sullivan owned#95), with different drivers. Aaron Fike tops the May 5 event. Fike leads the series points heading into the Aug. 10 at the track, but skips the race to compete in the IRL Indy Pro Series event at Kentucky Speedway. Aussie Adam Clarke is picked as Fike's replacement for the event. Clarke becomes the first foreign driver to win a Badger event in twenty-nine years, leading the entire race.

2003: Davey Ray scores his fifth series victory of the season picking up the Aug. 23 event easily topping Don Droud Jr. and Brian Gerster. Ray clinches his first badger Championship the next day.

2004: The scheduled Badger event on Aug. 28 is rained out.

2005: Michael Pickens driving the Steve Smith#1 scores an exciting victory during the only Badger appearance at the track. The event saw four lead changes in the final seven laps. Pickens finishes ahead of Danny Stratton,Chad DeSelle, Scott Hatton and Steve Buckwalter.

2006: Brad Kuhn scores two victories at the track on his way to claiming the Badger championship. The most exciting event of the season is on June 3 when Aaron Fiscus scores a late race victory. Danny Stratton tops the Sep. 9 event and finishes 23 points ahead of Scott Hatton, with Fiscus placing third in the four-race mini series. PowerCom is purchased by telecommunications Giant Charter Communications during the off-season, with the track being renamed Charter Raceway Park for the 2007 season.

2007: Qualifications for the June 2 event are fabulous as ten drivers break the track record, Jerry Coons Jr.driving the Wilke-PAK#11 becomes the first driver to turn a sub 14-second qualifying lap at the track with a13.984 second lap. Brad Kuhn holds off Coons and Darren Hagen for the victory. The July 14 event is a thriller as Mike Hess makes a charge on Scott Hatton going down the backstretch on the 28th lap and made the pass to take the lead at the start/finish line as the pair received the white flag. Hatton then tried to drive under Hess exiting turn four but fell a half-car length short of victory.

2008: Mike Hess, Scott Hatton, and Brandon Waelti score the three feature victories at the track during the season.

2009: Mike Hess opens defense of his Badger title with a victory on May 2 over Brad Kuhn. The September 20 Billy Wood Championship Race sees heavy rain showers begin on lap three of the 40-lap feature, forcing cancellation of the event.
Earlier in the night three existing track records were broken. Brad Loyet lowered the 6-lap and 10-lap standards. Loyet captured the seventh annual Dave Schulenberg Memorial Dash, collecting $800 out of a $3,400 payoff for the six-lap event. Loyet then broke the 10-lap track record, winning the third heat race. Scott Hatton, set a new track record winning the 4-lap qualifying dash.

Part Three: By the Numbers Badger at Beaver Dam Raceway

By Bryan Gapinski

Beaver Dam, Wis., April 26---The third of a three part series recapping the Mid-State Equipment Badger Midget Series at Beaver Dam Raceway

BADGER MIDGET SERIES AT BEAVER DAM RACEWAY 1993-

---46 events
---44 features run

Feature Winning Drivers: Kevin Doty (8); Randy Koch (6); Scott Hatton (5); Kevin Olson, Brad Kuhn, and Mike Hess (3 each); Marty Davis, Dan Boorse, Aaron Fiscus, and Brandon Waelti (2 each); one each: Dean Billings, Tony Stewart, Dean Erfurth, Aaron Fike, Adam Clarke, Davey Ray, Michael Pickens, and Danny Stratton.

Feature Wining Car Owners: Harlan Kittleson (6); Bud Doty (5); Rhonda Hatton, Wilke--PAK, and Jerry Hardy (3 each); Tina Davis, Keith & Rusty Kunz, Denny Lamers, Don Boorse, Wisco Racing, Kuhn Motorsports, and Huston Solution (2 each); one each: Gapinski/Lothe, Dean Erfurth, Butch Dalhke, LeRoy Waelti, RAJO-Wilke-PAK, Steve Smith, Jim Fiscus, Hans Lein, Michael Quin, and Waelti/Schulenberg.

Top Five Feature Finishes: Scott Hatton (18); Dan Boorse, Randy Koch (15 each ).

Fast Times: Dan Boorse 5.

Most Events in one season: Ten in 1995.

Track Records: 1-lap Jerry Coons Jr.; 4-laps Scott Hatton; 6-laps Brad Loyet; 8-laps Danny Stratton; 10-laps Brad Loyet; 15-laps Chad DeSelle.