CONCORD, NC - When the 2015 National Schedule was released for the Bridgestone/Mazda Manufacturers Cup Series months ago, possibly one of the most eye-catching venues was stop #3 on the tour, returning the 2-cycle program to the nations heartland in May to Briggs and Stratton Raceway Park in Dousman, Wisconsin, not only home of the Badger Kart Club, but a return to memories of the famed cheese cows competitors would receive as a result of their efforts for the weekend, many times just as popular as the eagle or cup one would hoist on the podium.
CONCORD, NC - When the 2015 National Schedule was released for the Bridgestone/Mazda Manufacturers Cup Series months ago, possibly one of the most eye-catching venues was stop #3 on the tour, returning the 2-cycle program to the nations heartland in May to Briggs and Stratton Raceway Park in Dousman, Wisconsin, not only home of the Badger Kart Club, but a return to memories of the famed cheese cows competitors would receive as a result of their efforts for the weekend, many times just as popular as the eagle or cup one would hoist on the podium.
As the series points to the weekend of May 29-31 for their third national event of the year, memories of years past at Badger come to mind for many, the last of those thoughts being 2008, the most recent visit the series held in Dousman.
But through the efforts of World Karting Trustees George Sieracki and Steve Jacobson, as well as the entire Board of Trustees and Officers, the return to Wisconsin stands out in many ways, signifying the turning point to the second half of the season with events at New Castle Motorsports Park and Pittsburgh International Race Complex left to determine the 2015 national champions.
And while memories of the past linger, the future is here, namely in the form of the future of the Manufacturers Cup program, the CRP Racing Kid Karts Class. Following spirited runs at both Daytona and Go Pro Motorplex in North Carolina, just 5 points separate series points leader Adam Brickley and Caleb Gafrarar. The 1-2 combination have evenly split their success, with Brickley taking Daytona ahead of Gafrarar, while the pair swapped positions in Race #2 at Go Pro. Joining the duo will be Daniel Dyszelski and Sofia D’Arrigo, 2 more staunch competitors, also in the top 5 in the national standings, plus a host of others.
The Comet Kart Sales Yamaha Sportsman class will also be loaded for bear with at the very least, the top 10 in series points looking to make the trek to Badger. Led by Go Pro Motorplex winner, and points leader Pauly Massimino, the class will be stacked with Daytona winner Gage Rodgers and #2 points man Jason Welage ready to contend for weekend supremacy. Also expected are Madison Campeau, Tyler Ferris, Robert Noaker III, Aiden Lindley, Ryan Detlor, and Joshua Warren, all top ten points racers, plus many more. Massimino currently leads Welage by 75 points.
Massimino also leads the DRT Racing Pro TaG Sportsman class and IAME Swift Cup classes in points competition, another 2 classes which were stacked for entries in race #2 at Go Pro Motorplex.
Donald Whorton II leads the New Jersey Sprint Series Yamaha Rookie Sportsman class by a healthy margin over Nick Snell, with Lucas Smalec, Riley Erickson, and Owen Mahle also expected to be on hand.
Always a threat out of the box is Zach Holden, the current points leader in the Woltjer Racing Engines Yamaha Junior class. Holding a 30 point edge over David Malukas in the battle for the championship, this pair will be heavily challenged by John Paul Southern Jr, Daytona winner Brandon Lemke, and David Kalb Jr. to name a few.
Holden also leads the points in the KartSport North America Pro IAME Junior class, with challenges again from Malukas, Lemke, Alex Bertagnoli, Jack Miller, and Southern.
While Dakota Pesek has taken the finals at both Daytona and Go Pro in the Zero Error Racing Yamaha Senior Pipe class, the Pre Final result at Daytona has served as his achilles, which has opened the door for Derek Hughes to lead the standings by 75 tallies as the pair head to Wisconsin. Also still in the hunt are Nick Landi, Christopher Sinden, and Nathan Burk.
Landi has been the kingpin this year in the HYTORC of Texas Pro Leopard Senior category, mainly by virtue of his consistency. Daytona winner Dustin Stross, Olivia Horn, and Go Pro winner Jacob Donald are expected to tighten that points battle up in a few weeks.
Stross has also been the top dog in the Tillotson Pro X30 Senior class, leading Alexander Kardashian, Matteo Vigano, Horn, and Bradley Zilisch.
Joining these classes will be the Honda Performance Development Stock Moto, Grand Products Comer Rookie, and Franklinkart.com Komet Sportsman classes.
Competitors in Pro TaG Sportsman and Pro IAME Junior will once again race for a $500 to win payday, with $250 going to second, and third place receiving a set of Bridgestone Tires.
Drivers in the Pro Leopard Senior and Pro X30 Senior classes will again run for $1,000 to win, with $500 to the runnerup and a set of Bridgestone Tires going to 3rd place.
Deadline for Tier 2 of the Spring Nationals will be May 21.
Activities for the “Return to Badger” will get underway with a full day of practice Friday, beginning at 9am. On track action for the weekend gets underway both Saturday and Sunday at 8am with practice, qualifying, and 3 rounds of heat races set for Saturday, while Sunday will feature practice, prefinals, and finals.
To view the Briggs and Stratton Raceway Park Entry Blank, click here.