Hess Snaps ‘Prairie Drought’
By Bryan Gapinski
Sun Prairie, Wis., July 29--Mike Hess scored a late race victory capturing the 30-lap Badger Midget Series feature Sunday Night at Angell Park Speedway. The victory was the 23rd career midget feature for the Riverton, Ill. driver but first ever at the famed 1/3-mile clay oval.
Nick Lundgreen paced the opening lap before Hess took over the top position. A five car accident on the seventh lap brought out the events first caution. On the restart Davey Ray quickly moved into second place and began challenging Hess for the lead, passing Hess as the pair exited Turn 4 on the ninth lap. On the 12th lap the field was again bunched up due to a caution for stalled car.
On the restart Ray quickly moved away from the field and at the midway point held a 1.5 second lead over Hess. Three laps later Ray began lapping slower cars and increased his lead to a full straightaway when his engine began to mis-fire with five laps remaining. Ray began slowing but still maintained a sizeable margin, when his car came to a stop with three laps remaining.
On the restart Hess led fast qualifier Gary Altig, Nick Lundgreen, series point leader Brad Kuhn and Brandon Waelti. Altig made one attempt at Hess on the 28th lap but drifted high and spent the remainder of the event trying to maintain second place. Hess driving the Jerry Hardy owned Buzzard/Hawk Chevrolet#44 finished 2.43 seconds ahead of Altig, Lundgreen, Kuhn and Waelti.
Kuhn holds a 235 point lead over Ray heading into the Aug. 4 series event at Wilmot (Wis.) Speedway, before returning to Angell Park Speedway on Aug. 5.
SUMMARY
30-lap Feature: 1. Mike Hess; 2. Gary Altig; 3. Nick Lundgreen; 4. Brad Kuhn; 5. Brandon Waelti; 6. Doug Shcenck; 7. Matt Smith; 8. Joe Wipperfurth; 9. Aaron Fiscus; 10. Robbie Ray; 11. Tim Noble; 12. Jason Dull; 13. Bob Shreffler; 14. Dan Mecum; 15. Joel Wyttenbach; 16. Davey Ray; 17. Michael Pickens; 18. Brent Beauchamp; 19. Kurt Mayhew; 20. Brian Ramstack; 21. Rob Keelan; 22. Buddy Luebke.
15-lap Semi Feature Winner: R. Ray.
10-lap Heat Race Winners: Waelti, D. Ray, Kuhn, Schenck.
Fast Time: Altig, 14.990 seconds.
Cars Present: 28
Feature Lap Leaders: Lundgreen 1, Hess 2-9, Ray 10-27, Hess 28-30
*Keelan flipped on lap 1 of first heat race. Jim Fuerst flipped on lap 5 of third heat race. Chad DeSelle flipped on lap 1 of fourth heat race. Kris Hoegsted flipped on lap 8 of semi feature. All drivers uninjured.
Current Badger Midget Series Point Standings: 1. Brad Kuhn 1238; 2. Davey Ray 1003; 3. Scott Hatton 954; 4. Brandon Waelti 929; 5. Mike Hess 920; 6. Danny Stratton 855; 7. Doug Schenck 784; 8. Jerry Coons Jr. 758; 9. Aaron Fiscus 673; 10. Nick Lundgreen 612.
By Bryan Gapinski
Sun Prairie, Wis., July 29--Mike Hess scored a late race victory capturing the 30-lap Badger Midget Series feature Sunday Night at Angell Park Speedway. The victory was the 23rd career midget feature for the Riverton, Ill. driver but first ever at the famed 1/3-mile clay oval.
Nick Lundgreen paced the opening lap before Hess took over the top position. A five car accident on the seventh lap brought out the events first caution. On the restart Davey Ray quickly moved into second place and began challenging Hess for the lead, passing Hess as the pair exited Turn 4 on the ninth lap. On the 12th lap the field was again bunched up due to a caution for stalled car.
On the restart Ray quickly moved away from the field and at the midway point held a 1.5 second lead over Hess. Three laps later Ray began lapping slower cars and increased his lead to a full straightaway when his engine began to mis-fire with five laps remaining. Ray began slowing but still maintained a sizeable margin, when his car came to a stop with three laps remaining.
On the restart Hess led fast qualifier Gary Altig, Nick Lundgreen, series point leader Brad Kuhn and Brandon Waelti. Altig made one attempt at Hess on the 28th lap but drifted high and spent the remainder of the event trying to maintain second place. Hess driving the Jerry Hardy owned Buzzard/Hawk Chevrolet#44 finished 2.43 seconds ahead of Altig, Lundgreen, Kuhn and Waelti.
Kuhn holds a 235 point lead over Ray heading into the Aug. 4 series event at Wilmot (Wis.) Speedway, before returning to Angell Park Speedway on Aug. 5.
SUMMARY
30-lap Feature: 1. Mike Hess; 2. Gary Altig; 3. Nick Lundgreen; 4. Brad Kuhn; 5. Brandon Waelti; 6. Doug Shcenck; 7. Matt Smith; 8. Joe Wipperfurth; 9. Aaron Fiscus; 10. Robbie Ray; 11. Tim Noble; 12. Jason Dull; 13. Bob Shreffler; 14. Dan Mecum; 15. Joel Wyttenbach; 16. Davey Ray; 17. Michael Pickens; 18. Brent Beauchamp; 19. Kurt Mayhew; 20. Brian Ramstack; 21. Rob Keelan; 22. Buddy Luebke.
15-lap Semi Feature Winner: R. Ray.
10-lap Heat Race Winners: Waelti, D. Ray, Kuhn, Schenck.
Fast Time: Altig, 14.990 seconds.
Cars Present: 28
Feature Lap Leaders: Lundgreen 1, Hess 2-9, Ray 10-27, Hess 28-30
*Keelan flipped on lap 1 of first heat race. Jim Fuerst flipped on lap 5 of third heat race. Chad DeSelle flipped on lap 1 of fourth heat race. Kris Hoegsted flipped on lap 8 of semi feature. All drivers uninjured.
Current Badger Midget Series Point Standings: 1. Brad Kuhn 1238; 2. Davey Ray 1003; 3. Scott Hatton 954; 4. Brandon Waelti 929; 5. Mike Hess 920; 6. Danny Stratton 855; 7. Doug Schenck 784; 8. Jerry Coons Jr. 758; 9. Aaron Fiscus 673; 10. Nick Lundgreen 612.