SUN PRAIRIE, Wis. — New Zealand's Michael Pickens topped the 30-lap Badger Midget Series feature Sunday night at Angell Park Speedway. The victory extended Pickens’s streak to five-consecutive seasons with at least one series feature.
Australian Matt Smith, running his first event this season in the U.S., paced the initial seven laps, before being passed for the lead by teammate Mike Hess. Jerry Coons, Jr. got under Hess and Pickens for the lead on lap 14, but began experiencing engine trouble, allowing Pickens by. Coons was forced to retire during a lap-22 caution.
From there, Pickens led the final eight laps, finishing 1.63 seconds ahead of Hess. Brandon Waelti, Bobby East and Davey Ray rounded out the top five.
The finish:
Michael Pickens, Mike Hess, Brandon Waelti, Bobby East, Davey Ray, Matt Smith, Nick Lundgreen, Aaron Fiscus, Joe Wipperfurth, Buddy Luebke, Robbie Ray, David Gough, Chad DeSelle, Jason Dull, Jerry Coons, Jr., Justin Allgaier, Tim Noble, Kurt Mayhew, Scott Hatton, Robe Keelan, Kris Hoegsted.