4/30/2024
Badger Midget Auto Racing Association
Meet AFS Badger Midget Series Driver Daniel Robinson
Daniel Robinson is a credit to any field he makes and adds a little spice while he's there. An adept storyteller, with a ton to share, he's a throwback to a time when racing had more character and characters.
In 2023 he scored two wins and four top fives in the Advanced Fastening Supply Badger Midget Series, as he teamed up with the RAB #57 of Bill Ecker. For 2024 we expect Daniel to be a part-timer again.
Take some time to get to know Daniel Robinson:
Car Number: Whatever the car owner has on it.
Owner: Bill Ecker
Team Name: RAB
Sponsors: I'd be scared to say as I might miss one of Bill's
Crew: Bill Ecker and Steve Wineke, Miles and Burnsy.
BMARA: Were you a fan of racing before you got behind the wheel and if so, who were your heroes and what tracks did you attend?
Daniel: I started racing weekly at 8. My dad had a salvage yard as a kid so we had a lot of my dad's friends that came for parts. I remember going to Haubstadt (Tri-State Speedway) to watch them run their modifieds. I always liked Tony stewart I watched him at the Duquoin mile in a Crown car. After the races he talked to me for what seemed like an hour. It may have been 10 minutes, but he was really nice to a young kid. Which is something I've always tried to remember and consider when I'm at the track.
BMARA: Give us a synopsis of your racing career:
Daniel: I started racing karts in Bellerive, Il in 94 through 98 and had some of the best times racing with my dad. We then moved to micros where we traveled. My dad made it known that was as far as he could afford to take it me.
I snuck in a lot of cars, driving for other people any chance I got, but it seemed like I had stalled out. But in 2005 I won the first POWRi Micro championship and that got the ball rolling towards racing nicer cars.
In 2006 I won the MARA Micro championship. Included in that, was a two race midget ride with Stephanie and her dad Jerry Meents. They are solely to blame for my life decisions from there on out.
I love midget racing and I've been lucky enough from 2008 to current time to drive for a lot of different teams. It would be impossible to thank all of the teams so I'm just going to say thank you to each and everyone that has let me drive from 1 race to 100! In my career I've raced, karts, micros, late models, Silver Crown, Mod Lites, mini sprints, sprint cars and midgets. With midgets definitely being my favorite.
BMARA: How much time do you spend on the car each week during the season?
Daniel: I have my own race shop where I maintain cars weekly currently I have 7 (micro) cars, so I work on cars everyday...... just not the ones I'm driving!
BMARA: What is your day job and how does racing fit in?
Daniel: I picked this profession so when Bill calls and wants to race Friday I can go!
BMARA: What's something interesting the fans might not know about you?
Daniel: I'm blessed to have three healthy kids. My oldest, Aiden (14) is a great athlete who plays almost every sport. My daughter Madelyn (13) is a great singer and is a very talented with drawing and artsy things. Then my youngest Wrigley (6) is growing up fast and figuring out what he likes but right now it's Legos! Lol.
Lastly something I definitely don't do a good enough job showing, I am a Christian and I thank God everyday for the friends I've met throughout my career as I get older I value that a lot.
Article Credit: Daniel Robinson with Bill Blumer Jr.
Photo Credit: Bill Blumer Jr.
Submitted By: William Blumer