McDermand opens Badger Midget title defense with Wilmot victory” Victory highlighted by two charges from back of pack
By Bryan GapinskiWilmot WI., June 27—Chase McDermand opened defense of this Badger Midget Series Champion in dramatic fashion winning the the 11th annual “Salute to Harry Turner”, Saturday Night at Wilmot Speedway. The event kicked off the 84th year of sanctioning midget auto racing for the organization, oldest in the country.
McDermand started 18th in the twenty-two-car field. After a false start McDermand stopped in the work area to change a right rear tire rejoining the field at the tail. Nick Baran jumped into the lead pacing the initial two-laps, before Adam Taylor took the lead. McDermand was in nine position on the third lap. McDermand advanced to sixth place three laps later, when the fifth place running car spun directly in front of him, causing him to stop. Jack Routson executed a series of wild flips landing outside the track in Turn One.
McDermand restarted in 16th position and began passing cars again as Taylor increased his lead. McDermand was in fifth position on Lap 11, three laps later McDermand was third and took over the runner-up position one lap later. Taylor’s straightaway lead was erased for a multi-car spin with four laps. McDermand passed Taylor for the lead entering Turn 3 on the restart.
McDermand driving the RMS/Response Management Service/Spike-Honda No. 40 finished ahead of Taylor, Nick Baran, Kevin Douglas, and Kurt Mayhew. Technically McDermand passed twenty-eight cars during the feature event.
“It was crazy opening night I just stayed focused to the job at hand and just ran every lap hard trying to pass as many cars as I could, we got a great break with the late race caution that allowed us to close up on Adam (Taylor)” said McDermand afterwards.
Taylor holds a six-point lead over McDermand heading in to “Recheck Excavating Midget Challenge” July 4 at Beaver Dam Raceway. Joining Badger will be The AutoMeter Wisconsin WingLESS Sprint Series, and the INEX Legends Series.SUMMARY
20-lap Feature: 1. Chase McDermand; 2. Adam Taylor; 3. Nick Baran; 4. Kevin Douglas; 5. Kurt Mayhew; 6. Jeremy Douglas; 7. Kyle Koch; 8. John Smith; 9. Jake Goeglein; 10. Kyle Brinkman; 11. Derek Doerr; 12, R.J. Corson; 13. Jim Fuerst; 14. Harrison Kleven; 15. Jake Routson; 16. Tyler Baran; 17. Mike Ungar; 18. Matt ReCheck; 19. Miles Quant; 20. Shay Sasassano; 21. Ryan Zelski; 22. Denny Smith.
8-lap Simpson Race Products Heat Race Winner: Jeff Zelinski.
8-lap Engler Machine Heat Race Winner: Routson.
8-lap Madison Fire Extinguisher Heat Race Winner: Taylor
Cars Present: 23 Feature Lap Leaders: N. Baran 1-2, Taylor 3-16, McDermand 17-20.
Badger Midget Series Points: 1. Adam Taylor 96; 2. Chase McDermand 90; 3. Nick Baran 84; 4. Kevin Douglas 74; 5. Kurt Mayhew 73; 6. Kyle Koch 55; 7. Jeremy Douglas 53; 8 Jake Goeglein 47; 9. Jack Rouston; 10. Kyle Brinkman 45.
RACE NOTES
—Chase McDermand’s becomes the different ninth driver to win the Harry Turner event. Brad Kuhn is the only repeat winner with three victories..
—Derek Doerr made his midget auto racing debut at the event.
—The fourteen feature laps led by Adam Taylor were his first career Badger feature laps led.
—John Smith won the Howard Law Cash Draw, a bonus for a randomly selected feature finishing position.
—Chase McDermand claimed the Advance Race Suspensions Hard Charger Award improving seventeen positions.