By Bryan Gapinski
Sun Prairie, Wis., July 31—Brandon Waelti increased his series points lead by winning the 20-lap The “80th Anniversary Season Championship Race” for The Mid-State Equipment/Zimbrick Chevrolet of Sun Prairie Badger Midget Racing Series, Sunday Night at Angell Park Speedway.
Robbie Ray jumped into the lead at the start closely followed by Gage Walker and Waelti. Ray and Walker waged a torrid battle for the lead, with Waelti trailing by a few car lengths.
On the eighth lap the leaders began lapping the tail of the field, when a three-car accident occurred with Neil Weigen and Brad Greenup flipping. The trio narrowly avoided the incident.
Ray suffered mechanical problems when restarting the event and was forced to retire. Walker running his first night at the track led Waelti by four car-lengths with five laps remaining. Walker suffered engine failure with three laps remaining, giving the lead to Waelti.
On the restart Waelti pulled away from Jeff Zelinski and finished 1.55 seconds ahead of Zelinski driving the Harlan Kittleson owned Stealth/Ford Duratech No. 15. Aaron Schuck, Lamont Critchett, and Buddy Luebke completed the top five.
“We took advantage of problems by the leaders to win this one, there have been many times I’ve been in their situation leading and not ended up here in victory lane” commented Waelti on his third series feature victory of the season.
Zach Boden won the 15-lap Lucas Oil POWRi North Outlaw Micro/ Badger 600 Micro Series presented by My Race Pass co-sanctioned feature. The victory was Boden’s fourth career feature victory at the track. Andy Rein, Badger point leader Tory Strauss, Norm Ehrke, and Chad Bogar completed the top five.
Next for Badger Midgets and POWRi North/Badger Micros will be the “Challenge in the Northwoods” at the Seymour Raceway Park on Sunday Night August 7.
Badger Midget Auto Racing Association
Angell Park Speedway
Sun Prairie, WI
Sunday July 31, 2016
A Feature (20 Laps): 1. 15-Brandon Waelti[5]; 2. 15Z-Jeff Zelinski[6]; 3. 53-Aaron Schuck[4]; 4. 27-Lamont Critchett[1]; 5. 43-Buddy Luebke[7]; 6. 29-Derek Childs[15]; 7. 77-Scott Zane[9]; 8. 9R-Mike Stroik[10]; 9. 2A-Andrew Hennig[14]; 10. 34-Ken Hanson[12]; 11. 9-Randy Reed[19]; 12. 04-Don Bigelow[16]; 13. 6-Laura Smith[18]; 14. 57-Gage Walker[3]; 15. 21K-Kurt Mayhew[8]; 16. 0-Johnny Murdock[22]; 17. 3-Robbie Ray[2]; 18. 12D-Bryce Dunn[11]; 19. 0B-Neil Weigen[13]; 20. 13-Tyler Roth[21]; 21. 4G-Brad Greenup[20]; 22. 37-Russell Hanson[17]
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 57-Gage Walker[2]; 2. 3-Robbie Ray[4]; 3. 15Z-Jeff Zelinski[5]; 4. 9R-Mike Stroik[1]; 5. 0B-Neil Weigen[3]; 6. 29-Derek Childs[6]; 7. 37-Russell Hanson[8]; 8. 71-Kyle Koch[7]
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 53-Aaron Schuck[3]; 2. 43-Buddy Luebke[2]; 3. 13-Tyler Roth[7]; 4. 0-Johnny Murdock[1]; 5. 12D-Bryce Dunn[5]; 6. 04-Don Bigelow[6]; 7. 6-Laura Smith[4]
Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 15-Brandon Waelti[5]; 2. 27-Lamont Critchett[3]; 3. 77-Scott Zane[1]; 4. 21K-Kurt Mayhew[6]; 5. 2A-Andrew Hennig[2]; 6. 34-Ken Hanson[7]; 7. 9-Randy Reed[4]; 8. 4G-Brad Greenup[8]