5/27/2018
Badger Midget Auto Racing Association
"Hatton Tops Sycamore Field"
Sycamore, IL, May 26--- Scott Hatton won the 25-lap Zimbrick Chevrolet of Sun Prairie Badger Midget Racing Series feature Saturday Night at Sycamore Speedway. The event was co-sanctioned with the POWRi Lucas Oil Regional Midget Series.
Zach Boden paced the opening lap, before Chase McDermand moved in to the lead one lap later. Hatton moved into third place. The field was slowed for a multi-car tangle on the fifth lap. On the restart McDermand led Boden and Hatton, within two laps Hatton claimed the runner-up position.
McDermand and Hatton pulled away from the field running the high groove around the track “inches from the wall”. Hatton used the high groove in one and two and the low groove in turns three and four to close within a car length of McDermand. One lap before the midway point the pair was also negotiating heavy lapped traffic.
McDermand made contact with the turn one wall on lap 14, and flipped directly in front of Hatton. McDermand was uninjuried, but was finished for the event. On the restart Hatton led former series champion David Budres. Hatton’s lead was erased for a stalled car, seven laps from the finish.
On the restart both Hatton and Budres ran the high groove. Budres brushed the turn one wall and was forced to retire from the event. He was running in second place with four laps to go. Hatton driving his Stealth/Honda No. 1 finished 2.21 seconds ahead of series points leader Tyler Baran, Ryan Probst, Kurt Mayhew, and Ohio’s Alex Watson.
“It was a fast track on the top, but a tricky cushion. I closed in on the 40 car using the bottom groove in turns three and four. I saw him (McDermand) enter turn one a little high and get into the wall. I slowed down and just missed him. It was gonna be a great battle” commented Hatton.
Jeff Zelinski claimed the Advance Race Suspensions Hard Charger Award, improving from his 20th starting positions to finish in 10th place . Kyle Koch won the Howard Law Cash Draw, a bonus for a randomly selected feature finishing position.
A weekend doubleheader awaits both series. They return to Sycamore Speedway on Saturday Night June 2, and then the season opening night of racing at Angell Park Speedway on Sunday June 3. Baran holds a twenty-point lead over Hatton in Badger points.
SUMMARY
25-lap Feature: 1. Scott Hatton; 2. Tyler Baran; 3. Ryan Probst; 4. Kurt Mahew; 5. Alex Watson; 6. Zach Boden; 7. Aaron Schuck; 8. Sean Murphy; 9. Jacob Allen; 10. Jeff Zelinski; 11. Marty Saso; 12. John Smith; 13. Say Sassano; 14. Jake Goeglein; 15. David Budres; 16. Harrison Kleven; 17. Eric Reibenstein; 18. Denny Smith; 19. Chase McDermand; 20. Kyle Koch; 21. Mike Stroik; 22. Kevin Olson; 23. Gage Walker.
10-lap Engler Machine Heat Race Winner: Olson.
10-lap DMI Heat Race Winner: Walker.
10-lap Quest Industrial Heat Race Winner: Hatton.
Cars Present: 24 Feature Lap Leaders: Boden 1, McDermond 2-14, Hatton 15-25.
Article Credit: Bryan Gapinski