5/6/2025
Badger Midget Auto Racing Association
Badger and MARA Midgets Set for Kankakee and Sycamore
Early indications suggest big car counts for the upcoming border bash between the Wisconsin-based Advanced Fastening Supply Badger Midget Auto Racing Association and the Illinois-centered Midget Auto Racing Association. From teams that have made every event between the two clubs in 2025, like Parker Jones, to drivers we have not seen in a while like 2023 BMARA champ Adam Taylor, fans will be treated to an entertaining weekend of midget racing in northern Illinois.
The action starts on Friday, May 9, at Kankakee County Speedway with a co-sanctioned affair. Billed as a “Semi-banked,” quarter-mile tack, Kankakee races bigger than the dimensions might indicate. Last year Cale Coons stormed from his starting spot in the sixth row to catch Daniel Robinson in the waning laps to become the youngest feature winner in BMARA or MARA history. Fans can expect more of the same sort of racing as the two clubs clash on Friday. This will be the only chance for Kankakee locals to see these historic clubs in 2025.
While the Saturday, May 10, go at Sycamore Speedway is only a Badger show, several MARA regulars have indicated they will do the double. This coming weekend will open the season for the famed Illinois track and mark the first for five races Badger will stage there. They will share the card with the popular IRA Sprint Cars.
Spring is always an exciting time for teams. Sometimes things go with fits and starts, but everyone with a race car is hankering to get going. After three starts and solid counts between the two clubs, the numbers could rise this weekend.
Taylor, fresh off a second place run with the wingLESS Sprint Cars, had this to say, "I will be in the 5x Jone Spray Racing midget this weekend. I am excited to get back into the midget this year after a really rough year last year. Looking to get back to our winning way of 2023."
The 2024 Rookie of the Year for both clubs Luke Wackerlin, is excited to get back on the MARA/BMARA trails after being MIA thus far. It’ll be his first real effort at Kankakee as he had mechanical issues last year and Sycamore he considers his home track which always makes for a special race.
Another driver who’s been absent in 2025 is the winner of the first Sycamore race in 2024, RJ Corson. Corson Racing, starting with Grandpa, Bob Corson, followed by Dad, Rich Corson, and RJ today, celebrates 63 years in racing this season. RJ hopes for a repeat of last year’s weekend when he scored a podium at Kankakee and then his first win at Sycamore in the Mongo Crane sponsored car.
Alex “The Missile” Midkiff who has one MARA win under his belt in 2025 plans on running both nights. “The Blue Mounds Bullet” Jones, a winner with each body in 2025, will do the double also.
Fast qualifier at MARA’s Lincoln race, Charlie Kunz will be bringing his one-race old car and expects Mark McMahill to be in another Kunz car. As recently announced, Badger regular Robby Wirth will be in a third Kunz car for at least Kankakee.
Fans are reminded to play the Badger Midget MyRacePass Fantasy Racing game both nights. Fans who play will be eligible for prizes including tickets to Wisconsin Automotive Museum and the BMARA.
With a favorable forecast and two tracks within two hours of each other, this promises to be an exciting weekend of midget racing. Plan to make a weekend of it!
Follow the media pages for both tracks for official information.
Photo Credit: Brown Photo
Article By: Bill Blumer Jr.
Submitted By: William Blumer