Bill Blummer Photo - Sun Prairie's Leroy Waelti flipped during Badger Midget action at Angell Park on Sunday. His car is a historic one and it was his first time out with it, this year. A former Fiscus car, it was driven in its prime by Hall of Famer BiFans had the pleasure of monitoring two streaks this week at Angell Park Speedway, as Brad Loyet and Kurt Mayhew each had a string of feature wins to defend. Loyet had won the last four Badger Midget Auto Racing Association mains at the Speedway, while Mayhew, also a Badger regular, had poached the last five events from the Illini Racing Series there. The race was sponsored by Mid-State Equipment, the Sun Prairie Tourism Commission and Pepsi of Madison who provided many kids in attendance with big Pepsi water bottles.
Jason Dull took the early lead in Badger’s first heat, from his starting spot on the front row. He could only hold on for a lap before Brandon Waelti grabbed the point. From there Waelti sailed while Dull had his hands full as Jerry Coons Jr. and Mike Hess worked him over, one going high, one low as they trio entered the third turn. The skill of all three prevailed, as they came though the battle unscathed. Coons then set his sights on Waelti and throughout the race gave the Sun Prairie native a few looks, but Waelti, running a car from the Fiscus stable, took the win. He told the crowd afterward, he appreciated the help from Jim Fiscus, but driving some else’s car was a little, "Like sitting on the neighbor’s couch."
Bill Blummer PhotoThe second heat saw Scott Hatton lead early and often as he took the checkers. Behind him was an interesting battle as Aaron Fiscus was busy fighting off Brad Kuhn who was in a new car. The two went at it for seven laps when Fiscus bobbled on the cushion and Kuhn slid by him. Kuhn later advised that the new car was a combination of parts laying around his shop and the shop of owner John Jones.
In the last heat, Loyet and Chad DeSelle battled hard for the first two laps, as DeSelle had the lead and Loyet wanted it. After one failed slidejob in turn-one, Loyet tried a second time and succeeded, sort of. Unable to pull up once he committed, Loyet slid into DeSelle on that latter effort. DeSelle did a great job maintaining control of the car, but lost a ton of momentum. Loyet got by and went on to the win, while DeSelle was able to maintain the runner up spot. Loyet was a bit sheepish about his win during the Victory Lane interview with Dennis Thompson and he did apologize for the contact.
After initially losing his front-row starting advantage, Rich Drangmeister put on a show as he split two cars in turn-two at the drop of the green for the first IRS heat. But, it only took a lap for the ever-strong Allen Gillis to get by Drangmeister for the lead. From here Freddie Teer was the car to watch as he battled from ninth place to work his way up to fourth by the fifth lap. By then the front runners had taken off, but Teer showed he might be one to unseat Mayhew in the feature, along with Gillis, who won the heat.
Bill Blummer PhotoLamont Critchett had everything under control in the next IRS heat, but with four to go, something in the car broke and he went into the turn-four wall. He exited the car and seemed unhurt and ready to hunt for parts as he walked toward the haulers. From here his brother, Loren Critchett Jr. worked his way to the win. Tyler Deschaine, flying the rookie flag on a car without down tubes, was impressive as he was heard to be on the gas at every opportunity in a car that likely had many miles on it.
Tracy Hines won the Badger qualifying race, while Mayhew took the semi.
The IRS main was off to a good start as they went two and three wide throughout the field. Here, Mayhew started on the outside of the third row with Teer next to him and Gillis behind him. But from the front row, for the first five laps, Scott Dunning lead the way. Meanwhile, Mayhew was working traffic, first trying the cushion, then running the rail. It was the low side that gave him the bite to eventually pass Dunning. Gillis, lurking in fourth, was also trying to find his groove.
At the half-way point Gillis gained second, but was a half a straight behind Mayhew. On lap 12 they were bunched due to a caution, giving Gillis the break he needed and a chance at the $300 bounty placed on Mayhew. When they restarted, Mayhew gave Gillis openings, but Gillis could not capitalize as he tried any grooved not currently occupied by Mayhew. Mayhew then survived another yellow and kept his record intact ahead of Gillis, Eric Nitz, Dave Ohlendorf and Dull.
Waelti started on the outside-pole for the Badger main and quickly took to the lead. He looked strong, but a restart on the fifth lap saw Hatton slide under him to take the point, only to have Waelti battle right back and regain the advantage. On lap-seven Waelti jumped the cushion a bit in the second turn, but kept going and stayed ahead of Hatton. But it turned into a drag race down the back chute and having lost the momentum earlier, Waelti gave way to Hatton via a slider in three and four.
From here it looked like smooth sailing for Hatton, as he surged toward a half-straightaway advantage over Coons, with that same measure back to Mike Hess who had Kuhn on dogging him.
A caution with two to go bunched the field and put Coons on Hatton’s tail with two lappers back to Kuhn and Hess. Hatton got a good start, but Coons had enough in him for one effort as they came to the white flag. Hatton, in the Huston Solution car was too tough to solve and the record books will show it was Hatton who broke Loyet’s streak. Behind Coons for third it was Kuhn, then Hess, Waelti and Hines.
Merillat Cabinets bring fans the Mid-Season 25 this week at Angell Park. It will also mark the annual Badger reunion.
This article was posted to the website on July 8th, 2009 • Click to view all related content in the following categories
