It was Wipperfurth Memorial-Fireworks Night at Beaver Dam Raceway on Saturday, the first night of a doubleheader for the Advanced Fastening Supply Badger Midget Series. The race honored the memory of Jim Wipperfurth, a Sun Prairie resident who touched the lives of many area racers.
Action started with group qualifying where Brandon Waelti, in the first group, was fastest until the third and final session. Here, Todd Kluever knocked him off the top spot and earned FIVEone Motorsports Fast Time honors.
Auto Meter Heat 1 saw Eric Blumer pace the first lap. On the second circuit Brandon Waeti found just enough room under Blumer to get by in turn-three. The Club LaMark sponsored duo finished the race in that order. Fighting for the last transfer spot, rookie Brok Cliffcorn held off Parker Jones, relegating last year’s Rookie of the Year to the Semi.
In the next race, Jordan Nelson got the jump on Charles Rufi who was in the Zach Boden #51. As they started lap-two, Nick Kilian lost grip going into turn-one. Sliding high, he tagged rears with Kyle Stark sending Kilian flipping. He popped out of the car and appeared to be uninjured. His car was done for the night. As racing resumed, Beaver Dam’s Matt Rechek took the lead with three laps to go and went on to the win in the Craig Dori-owned #38. Nelson, who’s battled gremlins all year, earned a well deserved runner up finish in Simpson Race Products Heat 2. Stark in his familiar Harlan Kittleson, 1855 Saloon and Grill, Red Duce, took the last transfer after the early contact.
Rookie Luke Wackerlin showed fans the definition of “checking out,” as he trounced the field from his second starting spot in Behling Racing Equipment Heat 3. There was plenty of racing going on behind him, though, as second-generation Badger driver Cale Coons spent an amount of the race beating on the back bumper of veteran Dave Collins. It was obvious Coons, in the Curb-Agajanian sponsored, Joe Dooling owned, #63 was faster than the Badger veteran, but Collins was hugging the bottom and much preferred groove. Coons tried the topside which was about three feet off the wall. That was too far around and he filed in behind Collins again. Finally, Coons found it was as easy as popping up just one lane and his powerful machine cruised around Collins with two to go.
For Coons, this still wasn’t good enough for a transfer spot, until coming to the checkers, Kluever, holding the last ticket to the A-Main, tagged a tire in the final corner, jolting him to the infield where he promptly took out an orange cone that then stuck under his car, as he took to the infield. This gave Coons the last transfer into the Lyco Manufacturing Inc. Feature.
Kluever’s crew went to work replacing the front axle assembly and had the #55 Nora’s Tavern car ready for the High Performance Lubricants B-Main, where he shared the front row with Jones. The pair quickly separated from the field, with Jones taking the lead by half a straight-away. Both easily transferred on.
Blumer had the pole for the feature with Aaron Fiscus in the Douglas Motorsports #7 on his outside. At the drop of the green, Fiscus got the jump on the second-year driver. The effort was for naught as before the whole field could get out of turn-two, three cars were involved in a mess with Collins getting upside down. He was alright but his night was done. Jim Fuerst, on his first night out for 2024, one of the other cars involved, was pushed to the pits and did not return. Clifcorn suffered the same fate.
With a complete restart it was obvious Blumer learned something from the first launch, as he took the advantage right away over the veteran. Blumer then paced the next six circuits of the 25-lap event when another red flag came out. This time it was for Jace Sparks who found himself on his side. The “Tommy Tip Over,” was such that he actually stayed in the car and tried to get pushed to the pits. As was specifically noted by AFS Badger Midget Auto Racing Association President, Quinn McCabe in the driver’s meeting, even a seemingly minor flip does require the driver to visit the ambulance and that pilot is out for the night. And so, it was with Sparks.
Blumer, enjoying the single file start, remained on the point, protecting the bottom when racing started again. Behind him there was a lot of shuffling and Stark started to make hay on that top line that seemed so far away in the third heat. With ten laps in, Waelti came into the picture taking second from Rechek. He started to beat Blumer’s rear bumper to no avail. Waelti was faster than Blumer as the engine on the #68 was stumbling slightly coming off of each corner. Finally, Blumer lost his groove for just a second and Waelti easily slid under for the lead going into the third turn on lap 12.
At about this point, fans started to notice Coons, who was running the rim with Stark. Stark appeared to give up this line and file in low. Coons continued on and caught Blumer with about eight to go, but it was going to take a caution or catastrophe for Waelti to get beat as he now enjoyed a straightaway advantage on the field. Aaron Muhle, a hometown driver, worked his way into third on his first race back after an opening night crash in Kankakee. Coons wasn’t gaining much on Waelti and the caution never came, giving the Sun Prairie, WI veteran the victory. Behind Muhle was Blumer, who nipped a high charging Kluever at the line, Parker Jones was next and BMARA point leader, Cody Weisensel in 7th.
NOTES
Coons, who had announced he would be at Angell Park Speedway for the next night’s race, gave word late in the Beaver Dam race day that he’d be headed that way, but arrive late. This would put him in the back of his heat and he’d have to race his way through the field, as he missed qualifying. Coons did just that scoring his runner up spot from the 14th starting position.
According to a social media post, the Kilian team appeared to be working into the night in hopes of being ready for the Angell Park go, in their hometown.
The Madison Extinguisher Service Last Chance Qualifier was not contested, but the BMARA is certainly appreciative of former Badger Micro driver Tory Strauss and his continued support of the series, through his company.
Likewise, there was no need for Jim Bucher’s VMS Rod Ends Heat 4, but we salute him for his willingness to come on board with Badger.
Wackerlin earned Spankins Motorsports Rookie of the Race honors.
Clifcorn took home the Last Place Bonus in Loving Memory of Addison Dahlke.
Coons was the Bob Tattersal Hard Charger, gaining 12 spots.
Sparks won the Schoenfeld Headers Invert Draw.
The Hammers Auto Service shop Midwest Engine Service Hard Luck Award was not available at press time, but we thank the Hammer family for their sponsorship.
The BMARA is back in action tonight, Sunday, June 30 with the Wisconsin wingLESS Sprints for the annual Fireworks Celebration. Gates open at 4 p.m. and fans are encouraged to arrive early.
Article by Bill Blumer Jr.
Photo by Mech Photography
- William Blumer on Jun 30, 2024
- Article Date: 6/30/2024