CONCORD, NC - The return to Briggs and Stratton Raceway Park in Dousman, Wisconsin, the first for many since 2008, and the overall first for many completely, also meant a return to a time honored tradition. Stop #3 for the Bridgestone Manufacturers Cup Series, albeit greeted by a steady day long rain on Saturday, was well rewarded with brilliant sunshine and great competition on Sunday with drivers in the top 5 not only receiving their just rewards, but the famed Cheese Cows, a symbolic award that sometimes has rivaled that of a Grand National Eagle!!!!
CONCORD, NC - The return to Briggs and Stratton Raceway Park in Dousman, Wisconsin, the first for many since 2008, and the overall first for many completely, also meant a return to a time honored tradition. Stop #3 for the Bridgestone Manufacturers Cup Series, albeit greeted by a steady day long rain on Saturday, was well rewarded with brilliant sunshine and great competition on Sunday with drivers in the top 5 not only receiving their just rewards, but the famed Cheese Cows, a symbolic award that sometimes has rivaled that of a Grand National Eagle!!!!
After racing all day on wet weather tires Saturday through qualifying and 3 sets of heat races, competitors quickly had to revert back to the dry setup on Sunday, fortunately something they were accustomed to on Friday, giving the newcomers plenty of track time in both weather conditions.
Leading the way in the win column over the weekend were Jason Welage and Andrick Zeen, the only 2 drivers to double their victory lane fortunes in the Spring Nationals. Welage came out of the blocks quick on Sunday, winning a ferocious battle with local product Kyle Thome and national competitor Connor Ferris in the IAME USA Swift Cup Class. Thome led the field down to the start after taking the Streeter Super Stands Fast Time honors on Saturday, and appeared to have things well in hand as Welage, Ferris, Pauly Massimino, and Tyler Ferris battled throughout the top 5. As the race wore on, Welage began to close the gap and apply pressure, eventually taking the win on Sunday. Thome held on to second, with Connor Ferris, Tyler Ferris, and Massimino completing the top 5.
After missing race #2 at Go Pro Motorplex in Mooresville, North Carolina, Andrick Zeen roared back with a vengeance in Dousman, taking the Tillotson Pro X 30 Senior event. Zeens victory did not come easy as Derek Dignan, fresh off solid runs at Go Pro, hounded Zeen the entire way. In the end, Zeen held on for his first win of the season, thus collecting a cool $1,000 for his efforts. Dignan shadowed Zeen across the stripe for a $500 payday with Mick Gabrial winning a set of Bridgestone Tires for his third place effort. Alexander Kardashian, the Streeter Super Stands Fast Time winner was 4th with Emily Hurlburt completing the top 5. During his podium interview, a very heavy hearted Zeen dedicated his win to his very close friend Philip Savapoulous, who was tragically killed recently.
The battle in the Woltjer Racing Engines Yamaha Junior class was a weekend long battle between the Top Kart of John Paul Southern Jr and the Merlin ride of Brandon Lemke. After battling hard in the rain all day Saturday, the intensity continued on Sunday with Southern, the Streeter Super Stands Pole winner, edging out Lemke, a great battle between the # 3 and 4 drivers in the series standings. Giovanni Bromante was also a huge factor in this event, taking the lead briefly, but having to settle for 3rd at the stripe. Sam Mayer and Maks Kowalski completed the top 5 with series points leader Zach Holden having to settle for a 9th place result.
One of the most exciting races of the weekend may have indeed come in the Comet Kart Sales Yamaha Sportsman race as local driver Aiden Harrington edged out Kyle Thome for his first career national event win. Thome, stout all weekend long, led the field down to the stripe after taking the Streeter Super Stands Fast Time award, and again edged away in the early going. Meanwhile, Harrington was involved a race long battle for second with Kyle Janssen. Just as it appeared Thome would be able to sneak away, Harrington shot by Janssen and set his sights on the leader, thus taking the lead, and edging out Thome at the line for a most popular win. Thome again had to settle for second, with Janssen, Jason Welage, and Tristan Farber completing the top 5. Points leader Pauly Massimino came home 9th in the event, thus tightening his battle with Welage up just a little more.
A familiar face returned to victory lane in the Zero Error Racing Yamaha Senior Pipe class as TJ Koyen returned to Badger in a big way, taking the Streeter Super Stands pole award, then leading Dakota Pesek to the checkers in the event. Koyen, a longtime top competitor in 2 cycle competition, and no stranger to success at Badger, scored his first Mfg Cup win of the season, with Pesek, points leader Derek Hughes, Kyle Gluth, and Danny Corcoran completing the top 5.
With 2 podiums already under his belt for the day, Jason Welage returned to victory lane one more time, this time claiming $500 in the DRT Racing Pro TaG Sportsman class. While win #1 was a tight battle, Welage made sure to distance himself from the field, getting around Streeter Super Stands pole winner Luca Mars early, then edging away for the $500 victory. Mars held on to second, earning $250 while Madison Campeau made a great charge back inside the top 5 for a well- deserved third place run, thus earning a set of Bridgestone Tires. Gage Rodgers came home 4th with Kaden Wharff rounding out the top 5. Points leader Pauly Massimino came home 7th in the event.
In the New Jersey Sprint Series Yamaha Rookie Class, Connor Churchill rolled to his first win of the season, taking top honors over Aiden Hinds and points leader Donald Whorton II in yet another race that produced a multitude of lead changes. Following the top 3 across the stripe were Zach Collins and Lucas Smalec. Nick Snell, the runner-up in the series points, was the Streeter Super Stands Fast Time award winner on Saturday.
After finishing second to Southern in the Yamaha Junior final, Brandon Lemke was bound and determined to take at least 1 victory away from the Spring Nationals, thus winning the Streeter Super Stands Pole Award, then running away and hiding for the top spot in the KartSport North America Pro IAME Junior Final. Once again, Giovanni Bromante was in the top 3 as well, taking a second place run, with Alex Bertagnoli, points leader Zach Holden, and Southern completing the top 5. For his efforts, Lemke took home a $500 payday while Bromante claimed $250 for his runner-up honors. Bertagnoli was the recipient of a set of Bridgestone Tires.
Competition in the CRP Racing Products Kid Kart Class was again stout all weekend long. While the focus through the first 2 events at Daytona and Go Pro had been squarely on points leader Adam Brickley and Caleb Gafrarar, race #3 would find even more parity as Benjamin Maier, the #7 driver in the series standings swiped the top spot for his 1st national event win of the season, also becoming the third different winner in as many events on the series. Gafrarar ran a steady race for second with Sofia D’Arrigo scoring a top five for the girls with a third place run. After spinning early in the event, Sam Corry roared back for an impressive 4th place run as Austin Olds completed the top 5. Points leader Adam Brickley, the Streeter Super Stands Pole Award winner, spun in the event, and spent the better part of the race playing catch-up. Unfortunately for the points leader, he could not make it back into the top 10. Sporting just a 5 point lead coming into the event over Gafrarar, the battle in July at New Castle Motorsports Park will be a good one between these two young drivers, as well as the rest of the field.
The final event of the weekend was the battle in the HYTORC of Texas Pro Leopard Senior class, where Andrick Zeen not only cashed in for his second national win of the weekend, he earned yet another $1,000 for his efforts. After winning the Streeter Super Stands Pole Award, Zeen again found himself in familiar territory, fending off the efforts of Derek Dignan in the days final event. Dignan brought home another second place finish, thus earning another $500, while Josh Hotz’s third place finish netted him a set of Bridgestone Tires. Scott Kopp and Kindra Hurlburt completed the top 5.
With stop #3 in the books, the next event for the Bridgestone Manufacturers Cup Series will be July 17-19 at New Castle Motorsports Park in New Castle, Indiana for the McLaughlin Motorsports Nationals. Entry Blank info is now available online at the WKA website.
On behalf of the Badger Kart Club and the World Karting Association, our sincerest thanks to all of our competitors, families, and sponsors for their hard efforts in working through yet another partially rainy weekend. The wait for great Sunday weather was truly worth it. Congratulations to all winners and top five recipients.
Photo Credit - Dave Olson / speedgraphicscompany.com