Attention Fantasy Midget players. This weeks picks must be in by noon on Saturday and will be used for both races this weekend.

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Saturday August 23rd, 2008

USAC Show!

Presented by McGovern's Hotel.

Hot Laps at 6:00pm

Time Trials at 6:30pm

Racing  at 7:00pm.

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Sunday August 17th, 2008

Corn Fest 50

Presented by Miller Lite

Davey Ray  WINS!

It was an interesting mix of cars at Angell Park Speedway for the Miller Lite Cornfest 50 on Sunday. There were some testing the waters in leu of the big races coming the next two weekends; one who pulled a car out of mothballs and a few that have not made as many races as they had hoped this year.

The action started early for the huge crowd corn eating crowd, as in hot laps Robbie Ray and Jon LeJeune tangled in turn two. Ray got the worst of it as he hit the wall hard with the front of his car. The LeJeune machine looked alright, but he found a valve problem on his car and both were scratched before qulifying.

The four car, four lap dash saw Scott Hatton take the first checkers of the night.

Heat One, had a lot of wheel to wheel action as the field chased Tim Noble at the start. Both Davey Ray and Ricky Ehrgott split two vehicles, each making it three wide in their quest toward Victory Lane. By the mid-point his work paid off as Ray took the lead in the John Jones car. But, one lap later, Tracy Hines beat Ray to the line and lead Ray the rest of the way. Noble and Ehrgott swapped the third spot several times at the end, with Noble coming out on top. Hines told the crowd during his post race interview that this was only the second time out with this car. Further he hoped to talk the owner of his USAC car, Tony Stewart, into letting the midget team stay in Wisconsin for the Pepsi Nationals.

The second heat launched with Bryon Walters in the lead from the pole. By lap four Brad Kuhn was trying him, after starting fifth. Walters was very smooth on the cushion, with Scott Hatton now in the picture on the bottom. Hatton got by Kuhn and was trying Walters low, but it seemed the high groove was the place to be. Finally, at the waiving of the white, Hatton slid under Walters and went on to the win. The battle for second came down to the line as they were three wide with Bubba Altig, Walters and Kuhn low to high. It was a race where the transponders proved their worth as they scored Kuhn over Walters and Altig.

Jerry Coons Jr. opened the last heat by doing a pirouette in turn two, as his car got high, but never over, basically spinning on its tail. As a precaution, the red came out, but the Arizona driver was all right. The restart saw Chad DeSelle take a big lead early, but by lap two Coons was in second and two laps later he passed DeSelle for the lead. Coons won by a straightaway.

In Semi-Feature action, Ehrgott, a Florida driver with little dirt experience, took off from the pole. He got sideways in turn two and tried his best to save it. Jim Fuerst had nowhere to go and collected Ehrgott. Fuerst got the worst of it as he flipped. Early reports indicated he was okay. When racing resumed, Altig took the lead but his engine sounded sick. Waelti got by him and won ahead of the hard charging Joe Wipperfurth, both Sun Prairie drivers.

For the 50 lap feature, Noble and Wipperfurth lead the field to the green. As they charged into the first curve, Wipperfurth banged the cushion hard and propelled himself into the early lead. He and Ray then took off, leaving the rest of the field several lengths behind. Ray got by Wipperfurth on lap four at the line, only to have Wipperfurth return the favor in turn two, only to have Ray pulling ahead again, as they went down the back chute.

The running order after a lap six yellow had Aaron Fiscus, Hines, Mike Hess and Kuhn behind the leaders. It only took four laps and Coons was a factor, though, as he took the lead over Ray, with Hines in tow. Within three more laps, Coons had them by a straight. Hines got by Ray and was closing the gap on Coons when they encountered lapped traffic on lap 20. Coons got through, Hines got caught, and the Coons lead was again extended.

Bobby East hit the wall on lap 29, kept going, but stalled a half a track later bringing out another yellow. Meanwhile the Hines machine expired and he headed to the pits. With a running order of Coons, Ray, Hatton and Kuhn they charge off again. Within four laps, the leader, Coons expired, giving the point to Ray again.

The race then took to the low groove, with no one daring to try the top as Ray lead Hatton, Kuhn and Waelti. On the forty-third circuit, Waelti took over third and it looked like he’d gain some ground in the points chase. But three laps later, in a rarity for Angell Park, he blew the right rear tire on his racer, bursting the bubble of the hometown crowd.

As they forge toward 50, Ray continued to lead with Hatton hot on his tail. But with three to go Hatton stalled in front of Kuhn. Kuhn had to slow a bit and Mike Hess blew by for second. Kuhn regained his composer and got him back. But Hess didn’t give up and in the end as Ray cruised, Kuhn could not fight off the point leader and Hess took second at the line.

In Victory Lane, Ray told Dennis Thompson of his inheritance, "I didn’t know I was leading until I looked at the scoreboard." As for his strategy at the end Ray noted, "I just tried to keep it tight on the bottom and smooth."

It was the first feature win for owner John Jones and he seemed to receive as many congratulations after the race as his driver did.

"There are people who thought I couldn’t do it in that car," said Ray later. "It’s not the strongest engine, but I’m happy," Ray concluded.

Next week it’s a double header at Angell Park as Badger and USAC will co-sanction races on both Saturday and Sunday in the form of the Hall of Fame Classic. Sponsoring the races will be McGovern’s, the Sun Prairie Tourism Commission and Miller Genuine Draft. A great filed of cars is expected for both nights.

NEWS AND NOTES:

For only his fifth or so dirt race, Ricky Ehrgott looked comfortable on the cushion. Normally a pavement racer, he was disappointed that his engine expired keeping him out of the Cornfest 50 lap feature. He plans on returning for the Hall of Fame weekend. Further, he’s being coached by Badger favorite Danny Stratton who not only knows the track, but also the car, as it’s a former Hans Lein car, that Stratton campaigned.

The rumor mill is rampant with stories of people quitting, getting fired or moving on. Indications are some of these stories should become clearer during Hall of Fame Weekend.

John Jones was very pleased with his team’s win with Ray behind the wheel, but make no mistake, "It’s still Nick’s (Lundgreen) car. I built it for him," Jones noted after the race.

While Waelti’s was the only tire to blow, most right rears in the feature field had blistering, per a Badger official, upon a casual post-race inspection.

It’s been a few years since Tracy Hines had been to Sun Prairie. After his heat win he told Dennis Thompson and the crowd, "It’s great to be back. I can’t believe how the town’s grown. It’s not a little town anymore." He went on to note all the new housing and business that have cropped up since he was here last.

His night still ended short, but Coons noted that Robbie Ray loaned him a rocker arm, since Ray would not need it, as his car was too damaged from the hot lap crash. This allowed Coons to make a run at Cornfest glory.

The Greenfield Gallery will be bringing the photos from the Armin Krueger collection. Krueger was a prolific early photographer at Angell Park and many other venues. The photos will be for sale.

There will be a number of vintage midgets on display during the Hall of Fame weekend.

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Sunday August 10th, 2008

Summer Sizzle 30

Presented by Quaker Steak and Lube & Sign 1-1

Scott Hatton Wins!

The "Summer Sizzle," was a good choice of titles for the racing at Angell Park on Sunday as the race sponsor Quaker Steak and Lube held a chicken wing eating contest on the front stretch at intermission. Contestants had to eat the Atomic flavor made famous at the racing themed restaurant. They were warned not to touch any part of their body afterward. The resulting sting would be similar to being pepper sprayed apparently. The youngest of contestants, who looked to be of teen years, won. At least one of his competitors was asking the firefighters for a fire extinguisher afterward. SIGN-1-1 was also on board as a sponsor tonight.

The Badger Midget Series and the Illini Racing Series both took to the Angell Park clay on Sunday. Sean Murphy was fastest qualifier for the IRS with a time of 18.4, Mike Hess was the leader with Badger at 14.7. Badger then held a four car trophy dash which was won by Chad DeSelle.

There was a ton of Badger experience in the first IRS heat were six of the nine starters were current or former drivers with the club. Aaron Fiscus took the early lead from the pole. Jason Dull bolted into second by lap two, after starting fifth. On the next lap Dull slid under Fiscus for the lead. Coming out of turn four on lap five Dull got just short of totally sideways, but collected his car. Fiscus tried to take advantage and got even with Dull. But an unrelated yellow flag soon came out with Dull still ahead. Dull lead them on the restart and went on to the win followed by Fiscus, Allen Gillis and Joe Knipple, all current or former Badger drivers.

Scott Dunning took the early lead for the second IRS heat, but at the mid-point of the race Scott Koerner took over. Dunning seemed to fade, perhaps with mechanical problems and Koerner went on to the win over Mike Adams and Loran Critchett.

Joe Wipperfurth took to the point for the first Badger heat, with Brandon Waelti trying to chase him down. Meanwhile, DeSelle and Scott Hatton were splitting Steve Irwin in a battle for fourth. The three wide, wheel to wheel duel saw DeSelle come out ahead of Hatton. But Hatton soon got by DeSelle. Both were now too far behind to be a factor as Wipperfurth and Waelti forged ahead. On lap eight Wipperfurth’s rear jolted right then left as he came out of turn four. He saved it, but lost his momentum and Waelti pulled even as they crossed the line. Waelti then powered past Wipperfurth for the final third of a mile and Waelti won.

The last Badger heat saw Jon LeJeune take the lead from the pole. By lap three the powerful Chevy of Adam Clarke muscled by LeJeune. The Chevy started to sound sour by lap five and on the next circuit Mike Hess got past the Australian. Hess went on to the win followed by Robbie Ray, Bubba Altig and Clarke. Asked about the work that goes into his point leading car, Hess gave all the credit to John Callahan indicating his crew chief does all the weekday work on the car. Hess also likes the set ups Callahan chooses saying, "About all we do is change tires."

DeSelle looked strong and sturdy tonight as he took the RAB, Printing Place car to Victory Lane in the Semi. The car has had its unfair share of gremlins this year.

It looked like it could be a yawner in the IRS feature as Kurt Mayhew, winner of the last two IRS features at Angell Park, started on the pole. He took the lead at the green, but from the third row, Dull was already in second on lap two. They both ran smoothly along the cushion as they left the rest of the field behind. On lap seven of the 25 lap race, they encountered lapped traffic. They split the lappers once or twice with Dull finding the advantage on lap 11, only to have Mayhew get him back three laps later. There was clear sailing for a bit as Mayhew had a comfortable lead over Dull. But six circuits later lapped traffic played a role again as Mayhew had to slam on his brakes to avoid running over a lapped car also working his line on the top. Dull dove under as they came out of four and was the leader at lap 18, but then Dull got sideways in the first turn and collected a lapped car. That car lapped car stalled out, but Dull kept going. The resulting yellow put Mayhew ahead of Dull. Soon after the resumption of racing, Dull pulled off for the night and Mayhew went on to the win.

It’s been a tight point race between Hess, Waelti and Hatton all year and each one is a threat to win every week. But there were other former winners in the field also looking to add another Angell Park trophy to their collection. Things got interesting early, as before the first lap could be completed, Hess took a tumble coming out of turn four. He seemed a bit dazed as he climbed out of the car, but his mandatory visit with the EMS crew as a short one. He was done before a lap was officially finished.

On the restart DeSelle and Waelti tangled in turn two. They almost looked locked together as they came out of the corner, but separated by the time they hit the middle of the backstretch. DeSelle charged on, but Waelti slowed and brought it into the pits. In two laps of racing, the top two in points were done for the night.

The front row had been comprised of the two Jim Fiscus cars with Aaron Fiscus and Tim Noble each behind a wheel. The two battled hard in the early going, with Noble finding himself in front on lap seven. It was at this point that Hatton had worked his way to second. Three laps later Hatton started to pass Noble on the back straight and worked the Janesville native through turn three before completing the maneuver in the next corner. On lap 17 Noble found his way back around Hatton, thanks in part perhaps to lapped traffic. One lap later Hatton got him back though.

Noble now had to deal with Altig who is currently fourth in points. On lap 23 Altig bumped the berm hard in two and rocketed under Noble for the runner up spot. Noble then tried to fend off Clarke, but the Chevy’s earlier problems were resolved and Noble was relegated to fourth as Hatton finished up unchallenged.

Hess still leads the way in Badger points. Hatton’s win took him past Waelti for the second spot and Altig is a seemingly distant fourth.

Sunday, August 17 is Corn Fest Weekend at Angell Park. On track it will be the Governor’s Cup 50. Fans are encouraged to get here early and enjoy the carnival, craft show, petting zoo and more. This is the major fund raiser for the Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce and the many local charities that staff concession and game booths. Please help support our community. Check out www.sunprairiechamber.com for details.

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Sunday August 3rd, 2008

Racers Memorial 30

Presented by Pizza Hut and Pepsi

Mike Hess Wins!

Betty Berg Passes Away

On August 2nd, Angell Park Speedway lost its matriarch with the passing of Betty Berg. Surely her family has to be thought of as "The First Family of Sun Prairie Racing." Or as son Bill Berg noted, "It’s hard to think of someone who’s given more to racing around here." Indeed, as she lost both her brother, Elver Lund and husband Al Fredenberg to midget racing, it would have been within her rights to despise the sport. Instead, as Father Dale Grubba noted during Sunday night’s invocation, after the passing of Al she came right back to Angell Park as that’s where her extended family, the racing people, were.

Her devotion to the sport later brought her together with Dick Berg, a Badger official. Then her sons started to race. Bill was the youngest, following Al, Dan and Ron Fredenberg into the ring. Of his mom’s feeling for the boys racing he noted, "She never said a bad thing about us racing. She never talked about it much, but she said, ‘I’ll never stop you guys from running.’" He noted that the more he or his brothers raced, the less she would go to the track. But she knew what was going on. Berg noted that even at home, "She knew what race was going and she could count the laps (as she listened from her Jones St. address on Sunday nights). She knew if there was a yellow or a red. She’d wait for the ambulance sirens or a phone call."

Her racing sons could all be seen moving through the stands at the speedway on Sunday, none ever getting too far before being approached by someone offering condolences. "The community out there (at Angell Park) is second to none. I talked to more people last night than I have all year," said Berg. "We (the kids) were all there in the stands." He couldn’t recall the last time that happened. He also noted in a touch of irony that this weekend would have been the traditional Fredenberg Memorial weekend.

The Angell Park Speedway family extends its condolences to the family and friends of the First Lady of Sun Prairie racing.

The Badger midgets and Illini sportsman midgets each raced a program on Sunday at Angell Park, with several drivers attempting to run both shows. This makes things interesting, as there is not always a lot of time to regroup when one race gets over and the driver has to switch things up to be legal for the other class.

Six cars ducked under the 15 second mark in qualifying for Badger, with Adam Clarke being the fastest at 14.644. The IRS qualified for the first time at the track and Kurt Mayhew set their track record with a time of 17.124. To compare, all but two of the Badger cars were 15.5 or faster. Mayhew’s time in his Badger car was 15.226.

The first heat for Badger saw Mike Hess and Tim Noble trade slidejobs several times on lap four, but Hess came out on top in the end. Hess, the Badger point leader told the crowd that he is not concentrating on the points but, "You win races and the points will take care of themselves."

Aaron Fiscus lead early in heat two, but Bubba Altig’s Mecum car was too strong as Altig got by the Sun Prairie racer and won by a straightaway.

Davey Ray took the lead in the John Jones machine in the last heat by passing early leader David Budres, as Budres got into the marbles in turn four. Adam Clark was charging hard from his last place starting spot and by lap four he drew next to Ray. They stayed wheel to wheel for the next two laps before Clarke found an advantage and took the win.

Some were high, some ran low and Kurt Mayhew went wherever he needed to at the start of the first IRS heat. As Mayhew cruised past everyone from his third row start, they went three wide behind him in a battle for third on lap three. Joe Knippel, the current IRS point leader, came out ahead in that fight. He caught a break three laps later when a yellow bunched the field. But Mayhew was too strong and he lead a parade around the cushion to take the win.

Scott Koerner walked away from the field in the last IRS heat as his most likely adversary, Eddie Sauer was close early, but got caught up in a racing incident and was relegated to start in the rear after a yellow. Koerner, who is also a stock car regular, won easliy.

It was a reunion of sorts in the Badger Semi, as Brandon Waelti was competing against his old engine, now employed by Jim Fuerst and his former chassis being steered by Jon LeJeune. From the pole Waelti won over David Gough and Budres.

The 20 lap feature for the IRS started with Jason Dull on the outside pole and Mayhew right behind him. Mayhew won the last time the IRS ran at Angell Park and Dull is always strong with the group. Both are also Badger regulars. Dull took the lead early, but Mayhew was right behind him. On lap one Mayhew took a peek under Dull, but Dull cut the route off in turn one. Mayhew then passed Dull on the next lap only to have Dull get him back. The two worked closely together for several laps when Mayhew finally got by Dull at the line on lap ten. Dull stayed on the gas and banged the cushion hard in turn one, trying to regain the lead, but to no avail. Before that lap was complete, Dull was noticeably slower and Mayhew distanced himself.

Mayhew was able to glide along the cushion while encountering respectful lapped cars and went unchallenged to make it a clean sweep. Knippel was second and Alen Gillis was third. Both have run with Badger in the past. Dull came across in fourth, barely under power.

The Badger drivers were advised that the IRS feature would serve as their ten minute warning. The problem with this is there is no break for the IRS crossovers. Mayhew did an abbreviated Victory Lane interview, but had the luxury of two cars, so he had to just strap into a different machine. Dull could sit in his car, already strapped in, but his crew had to change injector pills and tires to make the car Badger-ready. Both made the bell, with some courtesy from Badger.

Gough and Ray put on a show at the drop of the green for the Badger feature, as the stayed wheel to wheel for two laps. Ray then got the advantage and he enjoyed the lead for a third of the race. Waelti, who started fifth, patiently picked off cars before reaching Ray and taking him low at the line.

At the half way mark, a yellow came out and on the restart it was Waelti, Hess, Ray and Altig making up the front of the field. Waelti got a four length jump at the green and extended his lead to about seven midgets long by lap 22. The leaders encountered lapped traffic with about four laps to go, helping Hess reel in Waelti. On the white flag, at the line, Hess powered past Waelti, but the pass wouldn’t stick as Hess jumped the turn one cushion allowing Waelti by. It looked like Waelti might get his first Angell Park win of the year, but Hess didn’t give up as they rounded three. Waelti took a lower line through four, as Hess took his highest route of the night. They got straight, gassed it to the line and in the end Hess inched Waelti for the win. It was the second victory in a row at Angell Park for Hess.

Next week both clubs will again be in action at Angell Park for the Summer Sizzle 30 by Sign-1-1 and Quaker Steak and Lube.

The Badger Kart Club will also have a display of the various karts that compete at their Dousman road circuit. Owners, crew members and drivers will be on hand to answer questions.

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