Sun Prairie, WI (June 8th, 2023) - Last season, Charles Rufi took the honors of Rookie of the Year for being the highest finishing rookie in the standings. Now in 2023, The Advanced Fastening Supply Badger Midgets have 6 different drivers vying for the honor. These drivers may have tape on their rear end but they are not ones to be messed with. Let’s meet the 6 gladiators who battle it out on track to be the best.
Name: Miles Doherty
Car Number/Design: #53M Horizon Carpentry Car
Years Racing: 9 Years
Racing Accomplishments/Achievements: Daytona kart week champion, 3x Ckna podium points finisher, Badger kart club points finisher, 61 kartway track champion, 3x Charlotte kart week podium finisher
Season Bio: Miles has run 6 events with the AFS Badger Midgets this season with a highest finish of 11th at Wilmot Raceway. The 16 year old has shown lightning fast pace in a kart and is starting to gain speed in the midget. At only 16, Miles will be one to watch for years to come as he makes his way up the racing ranks.
Name: Nick Kilian
Car Number/Design: #17 Varsity Bar & Grill Car
Years Racing: 6 Years
Racing Accomplishments/Achievements: 6 Years in drag racing, first year in a midget
Season Bio: Nick has run 3 events with the AFS Badger Midgets with a best finish of 12th in the B-Main at The Plymouth Dirt Track. The season seems to keep punching Nick in the gut with motor issues. Nick has kept his head up though and has hopes to make his first A-Main real soon.
Name: Robby Wirth
Car Number/Design: #1W DJK Environmental Car
Years Racing: His Whole Life
Racing Accomplishments/Achievements: 1996 Dousman Karts Rookie of the Year/Champion, 2006 MSA 360 Sprint Car Rookie of the Year, 7th in national points at US 24 Speedway
Season Bio: Robby has run 4 events with the AFS Badger Midgets this season with a highest finish of 18 at Wilmot Raceway. The oldest rookie of them all at the young age of 35, Robby has been around the block with racing, and with momentum building, some better results are right around the corner.
Name: Tommy Colburn
Car Number/Design: #10A
Years Racing: 5 Years
Racing Accomplishments/Achievements: 5 years in a MSA 360 Sprint Car, 3 sport athlete in high school
Season Bio: Tommy has run all 7 events so far this season with a best finish of 8th at Sycamore Speedway. The “Cool Cat” has shown good speed in the first few races of the season including a B-Main win. A few years with the MSA 360s has prepared Tommy for a midget and is looking forward to the rest of the season.
Name: Parker Jones
Car Number/Design: #41 Stealth Chassis Car
Years Racing: 5 Years
Racing Accomplishments/Achievements: 2022 Beaver Dam Legends Champion, 2022 Wisconsin Legends Racing Dirt Series Champion, 2022 US Legends National Champion
Season Bio: Parker has run all 7 of the events this season with the best finish of any rookie this year, 5th at Angell Park. One of the 2 drivers to come from legend, Parker is currently the highest ranked rookie of the season. He has shown immense pace and has been a contender for a race win in the past few races. Parker is one to keep an eye on this season.
Name: Eric Blumer
Car Number/Design: 68 Stealth Chassis Car
Years Racing: 16
Racing Accomplishments/Achievements: Road America Kart Champion, Beaver Dam Kart Champion, Wisconsin Dirt Legends Champion, Legends Portion Winner of the Wipperfurth Memorial
Season Bio: Blumer has run all 7 of the events with a season best of 12th at Wilmot Raceway. The other legend driver in the field, the Sun Prairie native has had some ups and downs this season as he starts his first season. Blumer is starting to show some speed as he gets comfortable in the car and improving finishes make Blumer a driver to watch in 2023.
Up next on the cards for these rookies and the rest of the AFS Badger Midgets is a northern doubleheader next weekend with Friday, June 16th at Gravity Park in Chilton, WI, and Saturday at The Plymouth Dirt Track.
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 1-6: Roy Ophime Photography
- Zack Krueger on Jun 13, 2023
- Article Date: 6/13/2023 by Zack Krueger