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Q&A with Badger Car Owner Paul Krueger

As the Badger Midget Series heads into its 85th year of motorsports, the organization would like to introduce the stars, cars, and owners who will be competing this season. We hope you enjoy learning about your favorite competitors and seeing them on track in 2021.

Our next Pit Stop Bio is with former Badger Midget Car Owner Champion Paul Krueger. Paul started racing midgets back in the early ‘60s as a driver, but his dad stepped in and kindly suggested he become a car owner. And what a car owner he became in the ‘60s, with the likes of Billy Wood, Ron Erfurth, and Keith Thomas driving for him, they were always in contention for the win. Paul’s car #71 is a Triple-X chassis powered by a Rick Kippley Mazda. Paul was inducted into the National Midget Hall of Fame in 2010. Below are some answers from a recent interview conducted with Paul.

Name one accomplishment that you’re proud of in your racing career?
4-Time BADGER Champ (2 with Billy Wood)

If you won the super-duper mega lotto, what would you do first?
Share with my 2 daughters and my 2 Grandkids

If you walk into a bar at happy hour, what do you order?
Beer

All-time favorite racecar driver?
Steve Kinser

If you had a super Midget team like KKM or CMR, name 5 drivers, past or present, you would hire?
Keith Thomas, Billy Wood, Ron Erfurth

What kind of streetcar/truck do you drive?
GMC Denali

If you could win just one, which would it be? Daytona 500, Indy 500, 24 Hours of Le Mans, Monaco Grand Prix?
Indy 500

If you could receive an unlimited product from a sponsor, besides Hoosier Tire, who/what would that sponsor be?
Rick Kippley Race Engines

If you owned a 5-star restaurant what would you be your specialty?
Fish

Favorite food?
Fish

What toppings do you put on your pizza?
Pepperoni

If you could have won just one marquis Midget race in the past, which would it have been. Hut 100 at Terre Haute, Belleville Nationals, Turkey Night at Ascot, Night before the 500 at IRP?
Hut 100

All-time favorite midget driver?
Billy Wood

Do you have a dog (breed), cat, or both? Name(s)?
Beagle mix/Rescue

Any hobbies you have outside of racing?
Ice Boat Racing Skeeter Class

Do you have a mentor, or hero that you would like to name?
Buddy Melges (America’s Cup Winner and 7-Time Skeeter Ice Boat World
Champ, among many other victories)

The first form of racing you participated in?
Ice Boats

Favorite cereal when you were a kid?
Cheerios

Best guess on how old Kevin Olson is?
62

Putting the Midget aside, if you were paid a million dollars a year (with no sponsor obligations) to just own/run a racecar (all expenses paid), which one would you choose. Micro Sprint, Non-Wing Sprint car, Wing Sprint car, Silver Crown car, Dirt Late Model, Sports cars, Nitro drag car, Indy Car, or NASCAR?
Wing Sprint Car

Do you have a nickname, if so, how did you get it?
Butch. My Grandfather’s name was Paul, so my Dad got tired of confusing the two, so he started calling me Butch

How did you come up with your car number (71)?
My Grandson (Kyle) chose it

Other than your fine sponsors, Who helps you at the track, and/or get to the racetrack?
Randy Koch

Be on the lookout for more BADGER Bios from our Drivers and Owners! And be sure to join us at the races in 2021 for some of the finest Midget Racing in the entire country!

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