Sun Prairie, WI (July 20th, 2023) - With just 10 events left on the calendar for the Advanced Fastening Supply Badger Midgets, it’s time to look back at the season so far. We’ll give a season run down, points update, and what to expect for the final 10 events.
The season started in May at Kankakee County Speedway, co-sanctioned with the MARA Midgets, where Adam Taylor made it known, this year was his year, picking up the win in the season opener. The AFS Badger Midgets made their return to America’s Dairyland for the second race of the season at the Sheboygan County Fairgrounds and the Plymouth Dirt Track. The race, which saw Jace Sparks pick up his first ever feature win, set up a 4 race stretch in Wisconsin. The Series then returned to its home at Angell Park Speedway for the Dalhke Memorial Season Opener. An emotional victory lane saw Brandon Waelti pick up the win after starting deep in the field. A trip south to Wilmot Raceway saw the first repeat winner of the season, as Adam Taylor returned after a violent flip at Plymouth to win his second feature of the season. Brandon Waelti went back to back at Angell Park, edging out the field and picking up his second feature of the season. The AFS Badger Midgets then returned to Illinois for the Open Wheel Extravaganza at Sycamore Speedway with the MARA Midgets once again, where Todd Kluever picked up his first win of the season after an intense battle with Taylor and Sparks. Adam Taylor picked up his third win of the season at Angell Park during the Norm Nelson Classic, stealing the win from Waelti. Taylor and Waelit would share the spoils during a northern doubleheader weekend, with Taylor picking up his fourth win of the season at Chilton’s Gravity Park and Waelti winning at the Plymouth Dirt Track. Kyle Stark would become winner number 5 with the series as he earned his first ever win at Angell Park Speedway, after a tumultuous start to the season. Rookie sensation Parker Jones would stamp his name into the record books after a win at Thunder Hill Speedway, in the AFS Badger Midgets’ first trip to the track in their history. Finally, Stark would pick up another feature win at Angell Park to get us to where we are now.
With 6 different winners, the points shake out as follows. Todd Kluever leads the way with 913 points, 58 more than second place runner Adam Taylor. Taylor sits with 855 after missing one race. Third goes to Kyle Stark with 897. Fourth is Daltyn England, at 739, and fifth goes to Parker Jones at 703. Sixth sees Matt Rechek with 635, 19 points more than seventh Cody Weisensel, on 616. Brandon Waelti sits eighth with 585, ninth goes to Jace Sparks, with 556, and Mike Stroik rounds out the top 10 with 545.
5 drivers have clocked quick time this year, with Todd Kluever leading the way with 5, Kyle Stark second with 3, and a 3 way tie for third with Derek Doerr, Adam Taylor, and Parker Jones all having 1 quick time this season.
The battle for Rookie of the Year sees Parker Jones top the board with 703 points. Second goes to Tommy Colburn, with 350 points. Miles Doherty sits third with 347 points. Fourth is Eric Blumer, who has 327 points. Fifth goes to Robby Wirth with 191 points, and Nick Kilian rounds out the class in sixth, with 151 points.
The hardest charger of the year goes to Daltyn England, who has passed 37 cars so far this season. Second is Matt Rechek with 36 cars passed. Third goes to Lamont Critchett with 35, fourth goes to Adam Taylor with 34, and Mike Stroik rounds out the top 5 with 32 cars passed.
The AFS Badger Midgets enter into a 6 race, back and forth schedule, swapping between Sycamore Speedway and Angell Park Speedway starting this coming Saturday, July 22nd, at Sycamore Speedway with the MARA Midgets. July wraps up at Angell Park Speedway on the 30th. A week after that on the 5th of August, Sycamore Speedway awaits with the MARA Midgets, and a week and a day after that Angell Park Speedway on the 13th. 6 days later a doubleheader weekend sees Sycamore Speedway say hello to the series once again on the 19th with the MARA Midgets and Angell Park Speedway on the 20th for Corn Fest. The AFS Badger Midgets will make their second and final trip to Wilmot Raceway on the 26th of August. September wraps up the schedule with a mini speedweek for the AFS Badger Midgets and MARA Midgets as Saturday, September 2nd the series will make its final Illinois trip to Sycamore Speedway, then up to Angell Park Speedway on the 3rd and 4th for the Fireman’s Nationals.
To learn more about the Advanced Fastening Supply Badger Midget Auto Racing Association visit BMARA.com or the BMARA Racing Facebook Page today.
Photo Credit: Roy Ophime Photography