Sun Prairie, WI, July 5--- Midget auto racing's third oldest continuous running event highlights the Sunday Night July 8 racing program at Angell Park Speedway.
"The 37th annual Pepsi Midget Nationals" will be co-sanctioned by the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget League, and the Zimbrick Chevrolet of Sun Prairie Badger Midget Racing Series. A large field of midget race cars will compete in the event. Also a complete program of racing for the Auto Meter Wisconsin Wingless Sprint Car Series and Wisconsin Dirt Racing Legends is also scheduled. At the end of the racing events will be the famous Angell Park Budweiser fireworks show.
Last year’s Nationals runner-up Ryan Robinson enters the event atop the POWRi points, having finished all fourteen features in the top ten so far this season. Robinson leads fellow Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian teammates Tucker Klaasmeyer (-130 points) and defending series champion Logan Seavey. Two-time Nationals Champion Scott Hatton leads the Badger standings by thirty-two points over five time Nationals Champion Kevin Olson.
The event will start 30 minutes earlier than the normal start time at Angell Park. Cars will be on the track for “engine heat” at 5:00 p.m., with practice beginning at 5:30 p.m., and racing to follow. This will also be the new timetable for the remaining 2018 events at the track.
Pepsi Nationals Notes:
---Car Owner Keith Kunz who has entered six cars for the event, has won five Pepsi Midget Nationals (1993-Page Jones, 2000-Jay Drake, 2014-Christopher Bell, 2015-Rico Abreu, 2016-Carson Macedo). Wilke Racing has won the event a record ten times, with seven different drivers.
---If defending champion Zach Daum wins the event he would become just the fourth driver to win the event three times joining: Kevin Doty (1988-90, 1994-95), Kevin Olson (1983, 1986-87, 1997-98) and Tracy Hines (2001-02, 2010).
--- Only once has a driver led the opening lap and won the event, Davey Ray in 2003.
--- Toyota has won eight straight Pepsi Midget Nationals events dating back to 2009.
---The event is the third oldest continuous running midget race trailing the Turkey Night Grand Prix (1934), and the 4 Crown Nationals (1981).
Previous Pepsi Midget Nationals Champions: 2017: Zach Daum, 2016: Carson Macedo, 2015: Rico Abreu, 2014: Christopher Bell, 2013: Zach Daum, 2012: Caleb Armstrong, 2011: Rained Out, 2010: Tracy Hines, 2009: Josh Wise, 2008: Brady Bacon, 2007: Jerry Coons Jr., 2006: Rained Out, 2005: Scott Hatton, 2004: Scott Hatton, 2003: Davey Ray, 2002: Tracy Hines, 2001: Tracy Hines, 2000: Jay Drake, 1999: Dan Boorse, 1998: Kevin Olson, 1997: Kevin Olson, 1996: Randy Koch, 1995: Kevin Doty, 1994: Kevin Doty, 1993: Page Jones, 1992: Marty Davis, 1991: Stevie Reeves, 1990: Kevin Doty, 1989: Kevin Doty, 1988: Kevin Doty, 1987: Kevin Olson, 1986: Kevin Olson, 1985: Rich Volger, 1984: Dan Boorse, 1983: Kevin Olson, 1982: Bill Engelhart.
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- administrator on Jul 05, 2018
- Article Date: 7/5/2018 by Bryan Gapinski