Sycamore Speedway 9-26; Stan Kalwasinski recap/photos

Gary Gasper September 27, 2020September 28, 2020

Cantrell wins Sycamore late model finale and title

McDermand – Winner and Champion in Badger Midgets

By Stan Kalwasinski

Maple Park, Ill., September 26—Greg Cantrell Jr. won the 50-lap season championship race for super late models and, in the process, capped off the year by winning his second consecutive division title at Sycamore Speedway Saturday night.

Cantrell, the 33-year-old racer from DeKalb, wheeled his No. 01 to the win, his fourth of the season at the third-mile dirt oval. Cantrell scored the win ahead of Glen Toppel, Danny Deutsch, former track champion Jeremy Spoonmore and Tony Provenzano.

The race was run in two, 25-lap segments with six caution flags slowing the action. 12 cars started the feature.

“It feels great (to win another championship),” said Cantrell. “The yellows (flags) were making me a little nervous. The car felt really great though. We finally got this car fast the last two years.”

Joel Hernandez of St. Charles, Ill., won the 25-lap main event for street stocks. Hernandez claimed the division championship with his victory. Brad Swanson of Marengo, Ill., scored the win in the pure stock headliner with 70-year-old Mike Nelms of Lombard, Ill., who finished fourth, winning the class championship.

The season finale for the 84th year of the Badger Midget Series was also on tap at Sycamore Saturday night with Chase McDermand capturing the 25-lap main event.

McDermand topped off the night by winning his fifth feature win of the season and wrapping up his second consecutive Badger midget championship. The 20-year Springfield, Ill., speedster wheeled his RMS Racing, Honda-powered, No. 40 open-wheel race car to the win over Zach Boden, who battled McDermand for the win in the closing laps.

McDermand used the high, outside groove with Boden using the bottom line in a battle for the top spot that was not determined until the checkered flag waved. Chasing the leading duo at the finish was Nick Baran, who trailed McDermand for the championship by only 22 points before the night’s racing began. Tyler Baran ended up fourth, followed by Jeff Zelinski and Will Armitage. 22 cars started the main event with 14 running at the finish.

“Zach Boden is always good on the bottom,” said McDermand. “I kept trying to hit my marks and be perfect. I knew coming off the corners (on the high side), I had a better run. The setup was killer. Anywhere I could go, It would take me. Two championships in a row is pretty awesome. We’ve been very fortunate.”

Sean Murphy won the 12-lap “B” feature. 8-lap heat races went to Pat Hensen, McDermand, Lamont Critchett and Tyler Baran. Jordan Mattson was the night’s fastest qualifier with a lap of 15.104 seconds, pacing a field of 31 entries.

The Finish:

Chase McDermand, Zach Boden, Nick Baran, Tyler Baran, Jeff Zelinski, Will Armitage, Kevin Olson, Sean Murphy, Lamont Critchett, Mike Stroik, Ryan Zielski, Kyle Koch, Ken Hanson, Harrison Kleven, Jordan Mattson, Tristan Koenings, Derek Doerr, Kyle Brinkman, Kurt Mayhew, RJ Corson, Denny Smith, Aaron Schuck

Greg Cantrell Jr. poses in victory lane after winning the 50-lap feature race for super late models at Illinois’ Sycamore Speedway Saturday night.

Greg Cantrell, Jr. and his No. 01 on their way to victory.

Greg Cantrell Jr. carries the American Flag during the evening’s opening ceremonies.

Chase McDermand poses in victory lane after winning the 25-lap Badger Midget Series main event.

Chase McDermand and his No. 40 on their way to victory.

Joel Hernandez won the street stocks feature and the division championship.

Joel Hernandez and his No. 57 put on a winning-performance Saturday night.

Bud Swanson in victory lane after winning the pure stocks feature.

Bud Swanson and his No. 96 on their way to victory.

Three-wide super late model action finds Victor Benedetto (#B14), Tony Provenzano (#0) and Glen Toppel (#82) looking for some racing room.

Glen Toppel (#82) and Danny Deutsch (#23) battle for position during the super late model main.

Fastest qualifier Jordan Mattson and his No. 38 were in the battle for the lead before coming to a halt in turn four in the closing laps.

Will Armitage (#40A), Kevin Olson (#9) and Derek Doerr (#20) battle during the midget feature.

Kevin Olson (#9) is a veteran of many midget racing battles.

Zach Boden (#51) works the bottom groove in an attempt to take the lead from Chase McDermand (#40) during the 25-lap Badger Midget Series headliner.

Nick Baran (#11) started the night 22 points behind Chase McDermand in the battle for the Badger championship. He finished third in the 25 lapper.

Three-wide street stocks feature action.

Stacy Doris (#43), John Dietrich III (#50) and Bud Swanson (#96) in close quarters during the pure stocks headliner.

Ron Hintzche and his No. 7 Dodge Challenger street stock

70-year-old Mike Nelms is the champion in the pure stocks division.

Three-wide street stocks action sees Joel Hernandez (#57), Tim Loomis (#93) and Eric Newhouse (#21) looking to better their position.

Jeff Schulze Sr. (#7) is retiring from super late model competition. Schulze, whose Dad, Dick, raced at Sycamore years ago, began his racing career at the old Waukegan Speedway in the late 1970s.

Eric Newhouse (#21) and Danny Allen (#33) battle during the street stocks feature.