Should be able to keep this short:  Only 12 cars and I was not fast enough to race with most them.

Hot Laps:  Very quickly, it became apparent that there was a lot more speed involved in this deal…with the long straights and all.  It was also apparent though, that my equipment was not where it needed to be, as I felt a serious vibration going down those long streches.  It felt like the front end/motor/driveline was going to come apart on me, and I just could not keep my foot in it going into the corner.  The Tach only read 7900 too.

Qualifying:  We changed the RF wheel with one that did not have a lot of time on it (thinking there was less chance it was bent).  I also checked and added grease to the front spindle bushings hoping to cure the vibration.  It may have been better, but was still not good.  I did nothing and ranked 11th.

Heat:  We changed the gear and messed around with some of the normal chassis adjustments as the track dried out.  I started on the pole, but let the whole field around before I got anything going.  Eventually would do my normal close-up in the corners, but was getting pulled somewhat coming off and down the straights.  It was kind of enjoyable going around the big track and keeping the other cars close…although I don’t like running in the back.  Still felt some vibrations (not GOOD ones), even more on the rear end this time, but I was confident in my equipment (having paid good money to check the rear axle and front spindles over the last couple of weeks)…although I apparently was not good enough to keep the gas all the way down (although I’m never sure anymore if the track and conditions allow for that).  Again, we only saw 7500 RPM so

 

By Bryan Gapinski:  Scott Hatton increased his Badger Midget Series points lead, capturing the 8th annual Mid State Equipment Sue Thiel Memorial Friday Night at Dodge County Fairgrounds. Hatton's victory snapped Brad Loyet's series record tying five-feature win streak. Eric Johnson flipped on the opening lap of the feature, escaping injury. Chad DeSelle took the lead on the complete restart closely followed by Mike Hess and Hatton. The field was bunched up for a debris caution on lap 5. On the restart Hatton ran on the rear bumper of DeSelle and made a great pass using multi-grooves to take the lead exiting Turn 2 on lap 9. 
Loyet set fast time and won his heat race, but started from the tail of the field in his back-up car, and was running third behind Hatton and Hess on lap 13, when he slowed on the track retiring from the event. On the restart lap Hess made two attempts to pass Hatton for the lead, each coming up short. Hatton then cruised unchallenged for the remainder of the race. Hatton driving the Huston Solution owned Stealth/Mopar No. 15 finished 4.15 seconds ahead of Hess .

25-lap Feature:1. Scott Hatton; 2. Mike Hess; 3. Matt Smith; 4. Chad DeSelle; 5. Tim Nobel; 6. Aaron Fiscus; 7. Bob Schreffler; 8. Jason Dull; 9. Courtney Erfurth; 10. Brad Loyet; 11. Eric Johnson.
Cars Present: 13

Current Badger Midget Series Points: 1. Scott Hatton 976; 2. Brad Loyet 907; 3. Mike Hess 822; 4. Chad DeSelle 743; 5. Aaron Fiscus 563; 6. Bubba Altig 551; 7. Matt Smith 496; 8. Brad Kuhn 457; 9. Brandon Waelti 441; 10. David Budres 419.  (We are a ways out, but we did gain on EVERYONE 8-13 - JD)