Rain, Rain, Go Away!
May 23, 2004
Dousman, WI
Story by Mike Weaver

Once again, Badger Kart Club racers had to put up with a dousing by Mother Nature. Saturday practice saw heavy rains in the morning, but sunshine in the afternoon. Badger Raceway is nestled right along the Scuppernong Creek and the week-long pounding of rains had the pits virtually under water. Most of the larger haulers were forced to park along the roads. With a good heavy rain on Sunday, the pits were once again flooded by race time and racers were pitted much farther away than usual in an effort to gain high ground.

Despite the rains, the club was able to get the track dry by 11:30am.  Officials scurried to get in as many heat races as they could as thunderstorms were predicted for that afternoon.  Much to everyone’s surprise, the club was able to get in one and a half rounds of heat races.  Once a class runs two heat races, that class becomes official for the day and no rain day can be called for that class.  Badger was able to get four classes past that point before the rains came ending the day for them and the rest of the field.

HPV Sr. Lite saw points-leader Scott Kalish win again by clinching the most points in both heat races. In heat 1, Kalish cut through traffic patiently and wound up with the win.  Behind him Matt Cota mounted a valiant charge and actually led briefly before Kalish would take the point.  Kalish wound up winning the day by having the best finishes of the two heat races.  Nicole Baier finished second with Matt Cota taking 3rd.

In Sr. Sportsman Lite, Brian Weber had a good day by clinching the win with two great heat race finishes.  Points-leader Nic Johnsrud was held up badly in Heat 1 and didn’t get the finish he needed in order to best Weber for the daily points. The win by Weber should put him in the points lead for this class.

Other action for the rain-shortened day included David Koeferl winning in Briggs Animal Sr. with Austin Schmitt  and Todd Erickson making the podium for the first time this season.  In Briggs Animal Jr., Chris Faestel pulled an upset taking the win over Derek Crane, with Gavin Hallman taking 3rd.

Badger Raceway will be closed for Memorial Day and will re-open for practice June 2nd with the next BKC Bridgestone Tire Championship race scheduled for June 6th.  Additionally, the karts will take to the big track of Road America the weekend of June 9-13 for the Dunlop Tire Road America Supernationals.  With over 1,000 entries expected, this is the larger karting enduro race in North America.  For more information about Badger Kart Club or any of it’s races, call 414-328-8903 or visit www.badgerkartclub.com 


RESULTS
Sr. Sportsman Lite
1. Brian Weber
2. Nic Johnsrud
3. Mike French

Briggs Animal Jr.
1. Chris Steiner
2. Derek Crane
3. Gavin Hallman

HPV Sr. Lite
1. Scott Kalish
2. Nicole Baier
3. Matt Cota

Briggs Animal Sr.
1. David Koeferl
2. Austin Schmitt
3. Todd Erickson