Jason Dull and Aaron Fiscus in recent Badger action from Angell Park Speedway. Photo courtesy of www.openwheelpictures.comIn Badger qualifying, Bryan Walters scored his first fast time at Sun Prairie with a round of 15.073. Meanwhile in qualifying, Joel Wyttenbach, appearing for the first time in 2009 and Mark Brown in his first-ever visit to the historic track, both flipped their mounts, causing heavy damage.

Brad Kuhn lead flag to flag in the first heat as Missouri’s Brad Loyet chased Aussie Matt Smith for second. The two ran the cushion until Loyet tested the bottom on the last lap. Here he stuck and surged past Smith for a second place finish. In the post-race interview with emcee Dennis Thompson, Kuhn thanked Hall of Famer, Ron Hoettles of SESCO, for getting his engine back in shape.

The cushion was tricky on this night. It was about in the middle of the track around the curves, but almost to the wall on the front straight. Mike Hess lead flag to flag in the second heat, and added some excitement with a rare wheel stand, as he came to the white flag.

Bob Shreffler jumped out to an early lead from the pole in the last Badger heat. As they crossed the line to complete the first lap, Scott Hatton was even with him and then Hatton took the lead. The Huston car then sailed away, but track conditions made things interesting, as cars were pointing their tail tanks to the fans at the end of the front straight, much earlier than on most nights. In his Victory Lane speech, Hatton offered some great insight to his great career saying, "There’s nothing better than midget racing." He added further perspective by telling the crowd he’s, "doing this for fun."

The IRS, often described as a "sportsman," midget group, restricts more powerful engines, runs street-legal tires and otherwise tries to even the racing field for older cars. This allows for an interesting mix of racers.

Scott Koerner paced the first four laps of the IRS heat-one. But, just past turn three he looped his mount, with the whole field coming at him. They zigged and zagged their war around him and everyone miraculously came through unscathed. All eyes were on Kurt Mayhew, the Badger regular. He won three features with the IRS last year, but from his last place start he was not moving through the pack as well as expected, as he was mired in fourth place. As the laps wound down he started to pick the others off. But Allen Gillis was tough on the cushion. Meanwhile third place running, Lamont Critchett was entertaining the crowd as he seemed to run every lap with this left front tire in the air. In the end, Mayhew gave the low line a shot, but it did no good, as Gillis sailed ahead of him for the win, followed by Critchett.

In the second heat, Scott Dunning and Mike Adams Jr. went wheel to wheel at for the first lap before Dunning took the point. Eric Nitz caught Dunning and tailed him on the lower side. It seemed apparent that the top would be a good spot for the stronger Nitz machine and on the last lap, Nitz figured it out for himself, as he took to the top in turn one and powered by Dunning in the last turn for the win.

Loran Critchett Jr. survived a couple of restarts to take the last IRS heat. What was refreshing about this race was his enthusiasm. He pumped his fist for the entire cool-down lap. When he got to Victory Lane for his interview he exclaimed, "I’m standing in Victory Lane at Angell Park Speedway!" Within midget racing, very few tracks can elicit such a response for a heat win.

Bob Schreffler looked good running the rim for the qualifying race and Bubba Altig took the Badger semi.

Doug Orseske had the lead briefly in the IRS Main. But by the second round Mayhew took over. Running on top he was good, but Gillis looked to have something for him, going low in one and two. Gillis perhaps played his hand too early. After the third restart of the race, where Gillis had one lead nullified already, Mayhew started to run on the rail in turns one and two, effectively stealing the good line Gillis had. From there Mayhew went on to the win. Mayhew then bolted to his pit area to get switched over to run the Badger Main. Unfortunately, his crew, with some obvious help from neighbors, could not get it done quick enough. Later in his interview, ever the laid-back Midwesterner, Mayhew didn’t complain about being excluded from the main event. But seemed pleased with his IRS win and the case of Coors Light that came with it. He did confirm that once he saw the wheel of Gillis under him, he figured he better take the line away and that strategy paid off.

The Badger feature saw Schreffler take off from the pole. But by the third circuit, Hatton, who started seventh, took the lead in the last turn. Schreffler fought back at the line, but Hatton’s Pepsi machine was too much for him.

The red flag came out on the fifth lap for a tangle involving three cars. Among these were Brad Kuhn, Schreffler and Smith. The red was for Smith who tipped over, but appeared to be uninjured.

Hatton bolted from the field on the restart, leaving Zach Daum, Chad DeSelle and Hess in his dust. DeSelle quickly dispatched Daum, but Hatton was very strong.

An interesting battle occurred through much of the race for spots six through ten, with David Budress, Altig, Brandon Waelti Kuhn and Walters all trying to make the best of their nights. Budress and Altig went wheel to wheel several times with the other four poised to take advantage of any miscue. Budress hit the cushion hard in one, with about ten to go, jolting the driver in his cockpit. He hung on, but eventually gave up some spots.

Meanwhile Hatton was cruising to his first Angell Park win of the year. In the end he was tailed by DeSelle, Hess, Kuhn, Aaron Fiscus, Waelti and Altig.

Rookie Courtney Erfurth and Eric Johnson (a rookie on dirt), each ran clean and steady races, finishing (in itself half the battle) in the twelfth and thirteenth spots respectively.

Next week, Sunday, June 7, the Badger Midgets will be in action again, with The Best of Sun Prairie Night.