8/19/2019
Badger Midget Auto Racing Association
"Zelinski scores second CornFest Victory"
Sun Prairie, Wis., Aug. 18-Jeff Zelinski won the 43rd annual "Miller Lite Cornfest Racing Classic" 25-lap Zimbrick Chevrolet of Sun Prairie Badger Midget Racing Series feature Sunday Night at Angell Park Speedway. The victory was his second in the event, following up his 2016 triumph.
Series points leader Jack Routson flipped on the opening lap, escaping injury, Kurt Mayhew took the lead from the front row on the complete restart. Ryan Probst took the lead from Mayhew entering Turn 2 on the fourth lap. Two laps later Zelinski took over the runner-up position.
Jordan Mattson suffered a flat tire bringing out the caution bunching up the field on Lap 8. Probst led Zelinski, fast qualifier Zach Boden, and Scott Hatton on the restart.
Probst held a two-second lead at the midway point over Zelinski and began lapping slower cars. Probst's pace was slowed by the traffic, allowing Zelinski to close to his rear bumper. Zelinski took the lead on Lap 18, with Hatton passing Probst the next lap for the second position.
Shay Sassano flipped, with four laps remaining bring the event to a stop. On the restart, Hatton made several attempts to pass Zelinski, but none were successful.
Zelinski driving the David Alexander owned Boss/Chevrolet No. 15 finished 1.25 seconds ahead of Hatton. Probst, Boden and Chase McDermand who started in 17th position rounded the top five.
"It's fabulous to be back here in victory lane after winning this event three years ago, I took advantage of Ryan's (Probst) issues with a lapped car to get the lead, I just needed to be perfect on the restart with four to go" commented Zelinski.
The series takes a week off, as Routson leads McDermand by 101-points. The next doubleheader weekend begins Saturday, Aug. 31 with the "Franklin B. Alexander Memorial" at Sycamore (Ill.) Speedway, which pays $5,000 to win the feature event.
The series returns to Angell Park, the following evening to run the track's season finale on Sept. 1 "The Conrad Real Estate Kevin Doty Classic". Advance Fastening Supply has posted a $1,500 bonus to any driver who wins both features. If a sweep fails to occur drivers competing at both events will split up the bonus equally.
SUMMARY
25-lap Feature: 1. Jeff Zelinski; 2. Scott Hatton; 3. Ryan Probst; 4. Zach Boden; 5. Chase McDermand; 6. Kevin Olson; 7. Kurt Mayhew; 8. Kevin Douglas; 9. Matt Recheck; 10. Mike Stroik; 11. Tristan Koenings; 12. Jim Fuerst; 13. Mike Ungar; 14. Denny Smith; 15. Pat Henson; 16. Ryan Zielski; 17. Jeremy Douglas; 18. Shay Sassano; 19. Joe Ebben; 20. Jake Goeglein; 21. Jordan Mattson; 22. Kyle Koch; 23. Jack Routson.
8-lap AutoMeter Heat Race Winner: McDermand.
8-lap Engler Machine Heat Race Winner: Hatton.
8-lap Madison Extinguisher Heat Race Winner: Zelinski.
Schoenfeld Headers Fast Time: Boden, 14.896 seconds.
Cars Present: 25 Feature Lap Leaders: Mayhew 1-4, Probst 5-17,
Zelinski 18-25.
Badger Midget Series Points: 1. Jack Routson 1273; 2. Chase McDermand 1172; 3. Zach Boden 1125; 4. Scott Hatton 1062; 5. Ryan Probst 1041; 6. Kevin Olson 991; 7. Jeff Zelinski 815; 8. Mike Stroik 734; 9. Matt Rechek 710; 10. Jordan Mattson 642.
RACE NOTES
---Jeff Zelinski becomes just the fifth driver to win the Cornfest race more than once joining: Dan Boorse and Scott Hatton (4 each), Bryan Clauson and Davey Ray (2 each).
---Jack Routson ended his streak of finishing all fifteen features this season with a top ten feature finish.
---Ryan Zielski made his midget debut in the Zane Motorsports No. 77. Zielski won the July 7 Wisconsin WingLESS Sprint Series feature at Angell Park.
---Kevin Olson won the Howard Law Cash Draw, a bonus for a randomly selected feature finishing position.
---Chase McDermand claimed the Advance Race Suspensions Hard Charger Award improving twelve positions.
Article Credit: Bryan Gapinski