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Q&A with Badger Car Owner Don Kleven

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 Badger car owner Don Kleven. Don is a great Badger success story. Growing up in Sun Prairie in the early ‘60s, he would go with his Grandfather every Sunday night to Angell Park Speedway. As Don was getting older, elementary through middle school he would ride his bike to the track. Don would roam the pits before the races, staring in awe at the beautiful cars and meeting his all-time favorites. He remained a loyal attendee through his adult life and hoped one day to own a car which he now does.

The catalyst for Don to leap into car ownership was brought on by BMARA’s new engine package. At that point, he finally thought he could afford to go midget racing. He purchased a car from Harlin Kittleson, hired his longtime friend Kevin Olson, and as they say…. The rest is history!

Don’s racer #9K is a Spike chassis powered by a Kippley Performance Mazda. Don’s sponsor partners include First Supply, Dad’s Wholesale, Olson Auto Exchange, Mid-State Power & Equipment, Frog Pond, Denny Lamers Motorsports. Below are some answers from a recent interview conducted with Don.

Name one accomplishment that you’re proud of in your racing career?
Winning feature at Angell Park July 21, 2019

If you won the super-duper mega lotto, what would you do first?
Buy a Silver Crown team

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

Name 3-5 music artists, albums, or CDs you would have if stuck on a deserted island?
Bee Gees, Beach Boys, Doors, Rolling Stones

All-time favorite racecar driver?
Kyle Larson

If you had a super Midget team like KKM or CMR, name 5 drivers, past or present, you would hire?
Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, Sleepy Tripp, A.J. Foyt, Tony Stewart

What kind of streetcar/truck do you drive?
F-150

Name a celebrity that should NOT be famous?
Any Kardashian

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?
Unlimited engine work and supply

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

Favorite food?
Beef
What toppings do you put on your pizza?
Sausage, and Mushroom

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?
Kyle Larson/Christopher Bell

Do you have a dog (breed), cat, or both? Name(s):
Cockapoo/Ellie

Any hobbies you have outside of racing?
ATVs and Motorcycles

If you could time travel, where would you go first?
1960’s

Do you have a mentor, or hero that you would like to name?
Harlin Kittleson

The first form of racing you participated in?
Midgets

Favorite cereal when you were a kid?
Wheaties

Favorite movie?
Tombstone

Favorite travel destination?
South Texas

Putting the Midget aside, if you were paid a million dollars a year (with no sponsor obligations) to just drive a racecar, 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?
Silver Crown car

Do you have a nickname, if so, how did you get it?
Whistle, given to me by Tim Skaar

How did you come up with your car number (9)?
Steve Lewis racing “9” cars, and I always just like the #

Other than your fine sponsors, Who helps you at the track, and/or get to the racetrack?
His wife Deb, Paul Tyler, Mike Hickok, Lance Bettenhausen (Tony Jr’s Nephew), Harlin Kittelson

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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