2013-14 Round 2
Badger Grand Prix - Road Course at Badger Raceway, Muskego, WI
Round 2 of 16
September 19, 2013
Lack Attack at the Fall Brawl
Watch the MBC Slotcar Network coverage.
Muskego, WI (September 19, 2013)--Mike Lack drove his JMM Racing entry to victory in the inaugural Ricardo’s Pizza Fall Brawl at Badger Raceway, Thursday night, the second round of the IndySlotCar season. The event was the first of two that are slated for the popular Badger Raceway in 2013-14. For Lack, the win makes it two in a row to open the championship season.
Lack easily held off Cha-Ching Motorsports chauffer Dan Margetta, scoring the trip to victory lane by 10 circuits in the 20-minute timed final. The abrasive veteran, Margetta, looked to have the fastest car in the events early stages, only to get rattled late, costing him any shot at the win.
“The team’s plan all along was to just maintain a steady pace and endure against this track and let the other drivers implode,” said Lack from victory lane. “This place is fast and the race can take many interesting turns.”
Five-time, and defending IndySlotCar Series champion Mark Walczak led early but then crashed out in the closing stages of the final and was credited with a third place run.
Dean Strom gave the Badger Raceway hometown fans nothing to get excited about, after landing his Karen Carpenter Racing entry on the floor just 65 laps into the final grind.
While Lack’s punishing performance had the fans heading for the turnstiles early, they were treated to some spirited heat race action.
Mike Fitzlaff forgot his glasses on the team plane and his driving performance proved the aging veteran needs the spectacles. He bounced off every competitor, the pace car, the safety truck, every wall and barricade in route to a sixth place showing.
Dan Margetta and Dungeons and Dragons racer Mike Kristof started what many pitsiders think could be a season-long feud when they tangled in the second heat. The normally refined Kristof attempted, unsuccessfully, to take Margetta out three times, finishing seventh. Crews had to be separated on pit road after the heat race while Kristof was comforted by his teammate, Matt Hayek, and a bottle of white zinfandel.
Action in the first heat was heavy as former teammates Walczak and Strom battled side-by-side for nearly the entire distance. Walczak took the win and the automatic transfer spot with a pass of Strom in the final seconds. Meanwhile Matt Hayek crashed his D & D car out 94 laps into the heat finishing eighth for the second race in a row and Ev Kamikawa's #12 Penske HO Verizon car had a short night finding the floor 28 laps in and finishing last.
IndySlotCar Series teams have a quick turnaround as the traveling circus heads north of the border for the West Bend Grand Prix on September 28th at the Lack Track.
FAST FACTS
WHAT: Ricardo’s Pizza presents the Badger Raceway Fall Brawl
WHERE: Road Course at Badger Raceway, Muskego, WI
WHEN: Thursday, September 19, 2013 7pm
TELEVISION SCHEDULE: MBC Slotcar Network, YouTube
WEB: indyslotcar.com, FACEBOOK and TWITTER
2012 CHAMPION: New Event
2012 POLESITTER: New Event
TRACK LAYOUT: Natural Terrain Road Course
RACE LENGTH: 20 minutes
TRACK RECORDS: Qualifying – 2010 – Mark Walczak – 3.977 (open class)
Race – 2009 – Mark Walczak – 248 laps (open class)
Fast Lap – 2006 – Mark Walczak – 3.961 (open class)
Margin Of Victory – 2010 – Mark Walczak - 12 laps (open class)
RACE ROUND: 2 of 16 in the 2013-2014 IndySlotCar Series
INSTANT REPLAY:
This is a new event, part of the IndySlotCar Series program of rotating second dates at certain tracks. This event will feature the identically series-prepared “club cars”, all previous events at this track have been team-prepped “open class” cars. The second round last year was contested at Rapids International, where Mark Walczak won his first race of the season and tied Phil Cianciola for the all-time lead in wins at 36.
ROAD COURSE AT BADGER RACEWAY/BAYSIDE INTERNATIONAL HISTORY (11 events, 2004 - Present)
Date Race Winner Event Name
1/4/2004* Larry Rotter Great Big Pictures presents the Bayside Grand Prix**
12/2/2004* Jim Iverson Duane Sweeney Memorial 500** (2 races in the
1/27/2005 Dan Margetta Bayside Grand Prix** 04-05 season)
12/1/2005* Jim Iverson Duane Sweeney Memorial Grand Prix**
11/30/2006* Jim Iverson Duane Sweeney Memorial Grand Prix**
11/29/2007* Mark Walczak Duane Sweeney Memorial Grand Prix**
12/4/2008* Ev Kamikawa Sweeney Stomp
12/3/2009* Mark Walczak Duane Sweeney Memorial Grand Prix
12/2/2010* Mark Walczak Duane Sweeney Memorial Grand Prix
12/1/2011* Mike Lack Duane Sweeney Memorial Grand Prix
11/29/2012* Mark Walczak Duane Sweeney Memorial Grand Prix
*- Open Class rules events
** - Track was built as Bayside International and moved to become The Road Course at Badger Raceway before December 2008.
Most Wins – Mark Walczak-4; Jim Iverson-3
Top Stories
--Track owner Dean Strom has secured the largest sponsorship deal in recent IndySlotCar history
--Mike Lack has returned to a full time schedule and took the win at the opening round at the Mini Mile to open a challenge to Mark Walczak for the championship.
--This “club car” race at Badger Raceway is a first since the Bayside Grand Prix in 2005, no one knows how this new chassis will handle the long straights and tight hairpins.
Who’s Hot
--Mike Lack wins the opener and is a past winner on this track.
--D&D Racing qualified 1-2 at the Trokan Cup 500 and Kristof finished 3rd
--Mark Walczak’s quest for an unprecedented 6th championship was boosted by a 2nd at the Mini Mile
Stats Watch
--Mike Kristof’s appearance in the Trokan Cup 500 final was his first at the Mini Mile since his win in Sep. 2003.
--Mike Lack moved into a tie with Mike Fitzlaff and Chad Sorce for 10th in all time wins (9)
--Mike Kristof also tied Chad Sorce, for Heat wins with 15 at the Mini Mile, Kristof also passed John Baas for all time Finals appearances to 18th with 18.
--Chris Spehert passed Jim Iverson for 8th most laps all-time (26,790)
--Mike Lack moved ahead of Amy Butler in all time laps to 15th overall (15,854)
--John Weidemann eclipsed Tony Perkins for most laps all time, moving to 19th with 13,729
--Mike Lack is now tied with Andy Spehert for 21st in all time starts with 74
Road Course At Badger Race Major Sponsorship Announcement!
Muskego, WI --It was announced today that Ricardo’s Pizza and their downtown Greendale location will be the title sponsor for the September 19th Indy Slot Car Series event at Badger Raceway. The race will mark the first of two series events scheduled at the popular venue in the 2013-14 IndySlotCar Series season.
Joining series officials at the announcement was Badger Raceway owner, Dean Strom; Ricardo’s Pizza principal, Rich Loch and the restaurants celebrity spokesperson, Sergio. Following is a transcript from the press conference:
Dean Strom: On behalf of the IndySlotCar Series and Badger Raceway we would like to welcome a new corporate partner, Ricardo’s Pizza. Ricardo’s has been a fixture in the Greendale community since 1970 and the track and series are very excited to welcome them to the premier open wheel slotcar league in the United States. The event, to be contested on September 19, 2013, will carry the title of: Ricardo’s Pizza presents the Badger Raceway Fall Brawl. Badger Raceway always lends itself to great competition. With this race being contested under the “club car” rules, we expect a close race that will have our fans on the edge of their seats. And for the competitors, it’ll give them a great opportunity to prepare for the return visit to Badger Raceway later in the season.
Rich Loch: I have been a fan of the IndySlotCar Series for years. These drivers just amaze me with their talent and abilities. When the track approached us about a partnership, I thought it was a perfect fit. Ricardo’s Pizza uses the freshest and finest ingredients in every pizza that leaves our kitchens. Similarly, the league has the finest drivers and teams and hosts the finest slotcar league in the nation.
Sergio: ‘De Sergio look so much forward to dis great event. He understand that ‘de Ricardo’s Pizza is ‘de best and dat der is always ‘da lovely ladies at ‘da Badger Raceway.
Ifa da mucho assembled media here to see de Sergio gotta any de questions?
Reporter: Biff Williamson, San Jose Mercury News…and my question is for Mr. Loch. What was the reasoning for naming Sergio as your celebrity spokesperson?
Loch: As one of the premier Italian pizza restaurants in the nation, we felt that it was important to have a real Italian and a true champion represent us in our first IndySlotCar Series sponsorship venture. After all, he is Italian, right?
Strom: Ahem, well...Thank you, Rich. This concludes our press conference. Thank you for coming. Be sure to pick up your event Media Kits on your way out the door.
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