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Pickens Scores Second 2006 Badger Victory
By Bryan Gapinski
Wilmot, Wis., Aug. 5 -New Zealand's Michael Pickens captured his second Badger
Midget Series feature victory of the season topping the field Saturday Night
at Wilmot Speedway. The event was plagued by numerous caution laps and
attrition, which caused the race distance to be shortened by the race
organizer due to time constraints.
Scott Hatton jumped from the second row to lead the opening lap, with Pickens
taking the top position on the second circuit. Series point leader Brad Kuhn
moved into second place, one lap later. The events first caution appeared on
the fourth lap for a spun car. Two more cautions and one red flag would slow
the event during the next three laps.
During a seventh lap caution Kuhn running second pulled into the infield with
mechanical problems. On the restart Pickens held off the challenges of Danny
Stratton for the lead.The pair slightly pulled ahead of the field which
featured multi-groove racing around the 1/3-mile clay oval. Stratton spun
challenging Pickens for the lead on the 11th lap, and was unable to restart
the event.
Pickens executed a perfect restart each time as the race leader, however three
more cautions in the next four laps caused the event to be declared complete.
Pickens driving the Steve Smith owned Spike-Hawk finished ahead of Scott
Hatton, Aaron Fiscus, Mike Hess and Rob Keelan as only twelve cars finished
the event. Earlier in the evening Kuhn broke the 6-lap track record winning
the trophy dash.
SUMMARY
15-lap Feature*: 1.Michael Pickens, 2. Scott Hatton; 3. Aaron Fiscus, 4. Mike
Hess, 5. Rob Keelan, 6. Jimi Quin, 7. Dean Erfurth, 8. Joe Wippefurth, 9. Chad
DeSelle, 10. Brian Ramstack, 11. Buddy Luedke, 12. Kris Hoegsted, 13.
Brandon Waelti, 14. Matt Smith, 15. Jon LeJuene, 16. Jason Therkelsen,17.
Danny Stratton, 18. Brad Kuhn, 19. Bob Schreffler, 20. Doug Schenck, 21. Jason
Dull, 22. Nick Lundgreen.
10-lap Heat Race Winners: Erfurth, DeSelle, Stratton.
6-lap Trophy Dash Winner: Kuhn (NTR).
Fast Time: Quin, 15.203 seconds.
*shortened to 15-laps due to curfew regulations.
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