Photo by Jeff Wilcenski - Bubba Altig give new meaning to "Hot Seat," as he wheels his glowing car to the pits and a quick exit during action in the Hall of Fame Classic.Angell Park Speedway hosted the Hall of Fame Classic on Sunday. The first day of this two-day show was rained out, but nearly every car returned for the second day. With 33 cars taking a shot at qualifying, this was the biggest midget field of midgets for a single class at Angell Park this year.

In qualifying, only the fast times of Brad Kuhn and runner up Darren Hagen cracked the 14- second mark.

Heat wins went to Bryan Clauson and Hagen, who each started from the seventh position and Kellen Conover and Shane Hmeil who started near the front. Bobby East won the semi.

The feature seemed a little like a high school test tube science project, with two groups mixing and then quickly separating. By about lap-six, on a track that seemed dry, as evidenced by the dust flying, the Badger crew was testing the bottom, while the USAC regulars kept to the top.

Indiana’s Bryan Clauson led early and often from his starting spot next to Jerry Coons Jr. on the front row. But there was plenty of three-wide action behind him. Slidejobs and returned favors were the norm in what as easily some of the best racing, in an already exciting season at the speedway.

In the end, Clauson was running the rim, while Hagen and Mike Hess, who started fourteenth took to the huggy pole. It looked like Clauson had the win, but on the white flag lap a spin brought out the yellow and set up a unique white to checker finish. As they took off for the final lap, Hagen got the advantage underneath Clauson in turn-one and held a slight advantage down the back chute. With the top groove Clauson was on, nearly to the wall, it seemed physics would favor Hagen as he hung low, coming through the last two turns. But, as they exited, they came to the line neck and neck. "Wow," and "Who won?" were the two phrases immediately uttered in the stands, as Clauson and Hagen crossed the line. In the end, it was Clauson who came out on top.

This Saturday, Sept. 5, Badger and USAC square off, for the $10,000 to win, $300 to start, Pepsi Nationals.

The gates open at 3 p.m. for this annual event. Fans can expect most of the participants from this week to return, with perhaps a surprise or two, for this famed race.