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Story by Brian Walker - Walker Racing Promotions
Sun Prairie, WI | July 6, 2014 – A 30 car field including some of the best Midget drivers in the world piled into the pit area of Angell Park Speedway last night. As the 33rd annual Pepsi Nationals commenced at the Sun Prairie, Wisconsin 1/3rd mile, these 30 drivers were all aiming for a shot at history and the elusive momentum heading into tonight’s championship event.
Drivers from ten different states ranging from the locals in Wisconsin to the travelers from California, along with New Zealand native Michael Pickens all flocked to the prestigious and treacherous dirt track. With USAC, POWRi, and BMARA all coming together to co-sanction this special event, points would be a huge factor all night long.
The night kicked off with a bang when Tanner Thorson rocketed his Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #67 Bullet-Toyota to the ProSource Fast Time award with a 14.559 around the fast Wisconsin 1/3rd mile. The Minden, Nevada native’s quick lap would slide just two tenths off of the USAC record set by Caleb Armstrong on June 23rd last year with 14.324.
Michael Pickens grabbed a very close second with a 14.568 in his RFMS Racing #3F Mopar powered DRC Chassis. Picken’s RMFS teammate of Chris Windom set third quick with a 14.637, KKM driver and Rutherford, California native Rico Abreu pounded out a 14.641 to earn fourth, and Tracy Hines closed out the top five with a 14.660. Christopher Bell, Bryan Clauson, Tyler Courtney, Zach Daum, and Parker Price-Miller rounded out the remaining top ten.
Brady Bacon would power his Wilke Pak-Racers #11 to the first heat race win with Tracy Hines, Zach Daum, and Tanner Thorson falling in behind the Broken Arrow, Oklahoma native. Heat two would be claimed by another Oklahoma driver with Norma native and KKM standout, Christopher Bell storming to the victory. Spencer Bayston, Michael Pickens, and Garrett Aitken fell in behind the Midget sensation.
Reigning Chili Bowl Nationals and Indiana Sprint Week champion, Bryan Clauson earned the third heat win as Kevin Thomas Jr., Chris Windom, and Brandon Waelti fell in behind the Rusty Kunz #63 Esslinger powered Spike Chassis of Clauson. Heat four would see Collinsville, Oklahoma native and recent POWRi victory, Tyler Thomas claim the win as Rico Abreu, Jake Blackhurst, and Jerry Coons Jr. followed the #91T.
Earning the pole position for the 30-lap Pepsi Nationals prelim would see Bell rocket his #71 machine into the early lead ahead of Tracy Hines. While Bell was storming away at a torrent pace, Hines had his hands full while struggling to fight off the charging KKM duo of Abreu and Thorson.
A restart after a flipped Terry Babb brought out the red flag would see both Abreu and Thorson roar past Hines and fall in line behind Bell, who was leading the impressive trio. Abreu in his #97 Toyota powered Bullet quickly reeled in his fellow teammate lap after lap and as the duo entered lap traffic, was hounding the Norman native.
A red flag for a flipping Zach Daum would bring the exciting race held by Bell and Abreu to a close as the final restart with 13 laps was set. The remaining laps would go by as a breeze for Bell as the Norman, Oklahoma driver roared to his 15th overall win of the season, third USAC triumph, eighth POWRi win, and fourth BMARA domination.
“Tonight was pretty typical for here, with a pretty gnarly ledge all the way around. You run as hard as you can without tripping over the cushion. It’s a tricky place. It’s dead flat but you rip around here wide open. This place taught me a lesson my first time here when I turned over. It definitely feels good to be on this end now,” Bell said.
Bell’s Keith Kunz Motorsports teammates of Rico Abreu and Tanner Thorson followed behind and racked up an incredible KKM podium sweep. Chris Windom grabbed a strong fourth place finish as Tracy Hines rounded out the top five.
Action at the Angell Park Speedway will resume tomorrow night as the 33rd annual Pepsi Nationals will continue at the famed Sun Prairie, Wisconsin 1/3rd mile. Can Bell retain his preliminary victory, will another KKM driver step into the spotlight, will Daum recover from a nasty flip and defend his 2013 title, or can someone else overcome the powering KKM trio to claim victory. All the questions will be answered tomorrow night as one of Midget racing’s most prestigious events concludes.
Qualifying (2 laps): 1. Tanner Thorson (14.559); 2. Michael Pickens (14.568); 3. Chris Windom (14.637); 4. Rico Abreu (14.641); 5. Tracy Hines (14.660); 6. Christopher Bell (14.738); 7. Bryan Clauson (14.811); 8. Tyler Courtney (14.816); 9. Zach Daum (14.884); 10. Parker Price-Miller (14.950); 11. Austin Brown (14.962); 12. Andrew Felker (14.975); 13. Kevin Olson (14.980); 14. Bill Balog (15.055); 15. Kevin Thomas Jr. (15.064); 16. Jake Blackhurst (15.087); 17. Brady Bacon (15.152); 18. Garrett Aitken (15.161); 19. Seth Motsinger (15.163); 20. Tyler Thomas (15.181); 21. Robbie Ray (15.203); 22. Spencer Bayston (15.270); 23. Brandon Waelti (15.276); 24. Isaac Chapple (15.318); 25. David Budres (15.320); 26. Terry Babb (15.328); 27. Scott Hatton (15.368); 28. Jerry Coons Jr. (15.423); 29. Katlynn Leer (15.450); 30. Darren Hagen (NT).
Heat One (10 laps): 1. Brady Bacon (2), 2. Tracy Hines (5), 3. Zach Daum (4), 4. Tanner Thorson (6), 5. Robbie Ray (1), 6. Kevin Olson (3), 7. David Budres (7), 7. Katlynn Leer (8).
Heat Two (10 laps): 1. Christopher Bell (5), 2. Spencer Bayston (1), 3. Michael Pickens (6), 4. Garrett Aitken (2), 5. Bill Balog (3), 6. Terry Babb (7), 7. Parker Price-Miller (4), 8. Darren Hagen (8).
Heat Three (10 laps): 1. Bryan Clauson (5), 2. Kevin Thomas Jr. (3), 3. Chris Windom (6), 4. Brandon Waelti (1), 5. Austin Brown (4), 6. Seth Motsinger (2), 7. Scott Hatton (7).
Heat Four (10 laps): 1. Tyler Thomas (2), 2. Rico Abreu (6), 3. Jake Blackhurst (3), 4. Jerry Coons Jr. (7), 5. Andrew Felker (4), 6. Tyler Courtney (5), 7. Issac Chapple (1).
B-Main (12 laps): 1. Tyler Courtney (1), 2. Austin Brown (3), 3. Bill Balog (6), 4. Andrew Felker (4), 5. Parker Price Miler (2), 6. Terry Babb (11), 7. Kevin Olson (5), 8. Seth Motsinger (7), 9. Robbie Ray (8), 10. Issac Chapple (9), 11. David Budres (10), 12. Scott Hatton (12), 13. Katlynn Leer (13), 14. Darren Hagen (14).
A-Main (30 laps): 1. Christopher Bell (1), 2. Rico Abreu (3), 3. Tanner Thorson (6), 4. Chris Windom (4), 5. Tracy Hines (2), 6. Michael Pickens (5), 7. Bryan Clauson (7), 8. Kevin Thomas Jr. (14), 9. Tyler Courtney (8), 10. Parker Price-Miller (10), 11. Spencer Bayston (19), 12. Andrew Felker (12), 13. Jerry Coons Jr. (22), 14. Jake Blackhurst (15), 15. Austin Brown (11), 16. Bill Balog (13), 17. Garrett Aitken (17), 18. Seth Motsinger (23), 19. Kevin Olson (24), 20. Tyler Thomas (18), 21. Zach Daum (9), 22. Terry Babb (21), 23. Brady Bacon (16), 24. Brandon Waelti (20).
Lap Leader(s): Christopher Bell 1-30.
Hard Charger(s): Jerry Coons Jr. +9
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