By Bryan Gapinski
Wilmot, Wis., May 15—Jerry Coons Jr. scored a wire-to-wire victory capturing the 30-lap Mid-State Equipment Badger Midget Racing Series feature Saturday Night at Wilmot Speedway. It marked the first time competing at the track for the Arizona driver, who also set fast time during qualifying.
Coons jumped into the lead from the pole followed by Brad Loyet. Third place running Robbie Ray came to a stop in Turn 2 on lap 6, and collected the next three cars in the running order: Zach Daum, Scott Hatton, and Brandon Waelti.All four cars were sidelined for the remainder of the event.
On the restart Coons increased his lead each lap, and held a five second-plus lead , when the caution appeared for a stalled car on lap 16. Loyet briefly challenged Coons for the lead on the restart. The events final caution appeared on lap 19 for another stopped car. Coons driving the Wilke-PAK owned Spike/Toyota#11 went unchallenged the final eleven laps finishing a straightaway ahead of Loyet, Mike Hess, Travis Berryhill and David Gough. Davey Ray set a new 8-lap track record winning the second heat race of the evening.
Berryhill currently holds a seven point lead over Loyet heading into the next series event at Beaver Dam (Wis.) Raceway on May 22. Badger returns to Wilmot on Aug. 14 for the “Fifth annual Salute to Harry Turner”.
SUMMARY
30-lap Feature:1. Jerry Coons Jr.; 2. Brad Loyet; 3. Mike Hess; 4. Travis Berryhill; 5. David Gough; 6. Bob Schreffler; 7. Daniel Robinson; 8. B.G. Wood; 9. Eric Johnson; 10.Courtney Erfurth; 11. Eric Nitz; 12. David Budres; 13. Robbie Ray; 14. Zach Daum; 15. Scott Hatton; 16.Brandon Waelti; 17. Davey Ray; 18. Levi Roberts.
8-lap Heat Race Winners: Gough, Ray, Daum .
Fast Time:Coons, 15.028 seconds.
Car Present: 19 Feature Lap Leaders: Coons 1-30 .
Current Badger Midget Series points: 1. Travis Berryhill 159;2. Brad Loyet 152; 3. Zach Daum 147; 4. Scott Hatton 146; 5. Mike Hess 145; 6. Jerry Coons Jr. 114; 7. David Gough 114; 8. Bob Schreffler 113; 9. Brad Kuhn 112; 10. Davey Ray 103.