Sycamore Speedway Badger Midgets & Stocks;Recap/Photos by Stan Kalwasinski

June 3, 2019 Gary Gasper

Sycamore Speedway
Maple Park, Illinois

Chase Jones Badger Midget Winner at Sycamore

Kerley scores second super late model win

By Stan Kalwasinski

Maple Park, Ill., June 1—The mighty midgets of the Badger Midget Auto Racing Association invaded the Sycamore Speedway Saturday night with Indiana racer Chase Jones coming home the winner of the 25-lap feature race for the Zimbrick Chevrolet of Sun Prairie-sponsored open-wheel series.

The twenty-one-year-old Jones, who hails from Greenwood, Ind., drove the Bill Ecker/Amy Reisdorf-owned RAB Racing No. 57 midget to his first career Badger midget win. Jones enjoyed a perfect night at the third-of-a-mile dirt speedway, setting a new track record during time trials, winning his heat race and then capping of the evening with a feature victory. Jones’ lap during qualifying of 15.056 seconds topped the field of 31 entries.

Battling with Chase McDermand for the top spot during the 25 lapper, Jones took the lead for good on lap 14 and sailed to the checkered flag ahead of Jack Routson and McDermand. Veteran Kevin Olson took fourth followed by Ryan Probst and veteran Indiana racer Kurt Mayhew.

"I got the lead early and it's pretty tough to tell what line is the fastest,” said Jones. “Once Chase (McDermand) got by me there, I really saw how far he could run up the track and it showed how much faster he was. I made a couple of adjustments inside the cockpit to the shocks and the car came alive. Once I started hitting my marks, I knew I could get away. The car was good all night - quick time, a heat race win and a feature win. You can't ask for much more than that."

Jeff Kerley of Elgin was the winner of the 25-lap super late model stock car feature race. Scoring his second win of the new season, the 32-year-old Kerley defeated Greg Cantrell Jr., Dale Markham, Matt Fabrizius and Glen Toppel. Jim Klingel led most of the way with Reno Markham putting the pressure on in the late stages. With nine laps to go, Klingel and Markham tangled down the backstretch with the crash collecting last year’s division champion Jeremy Spoonmore. Kerley inherited the lead and held off a challenging Cantrell for the win.

Dave Dulceak of Elburn won the 20-lap street stock main event. Dulceak scored the victory ahead of Joel Hernandez, Eric Legner, Austin Stombres and Danny Allen. Rodney “Smokey” Boyd, from Elgin, was the winner of the pure stocks division feature race.

Chase Jones poses in victory lane after winning the Badger midget feature race at Illinois’ Sycamore Speedway Saturday night.

Chase Jones climbs atop the rollcage of his winning midget to celebrate his first career Badger midget feature win.

Chase Jones (57) on his way to winning the Badger midget 25 lapper at Sycamore Saturday night.

Sean Murphy (5) and Scott Hatton (1) go wheel-to-wheel during one of four Badger midget heat races. Hatton, the five-time Badger midget champion, was unable to start the night’s feature race.

Chase Jones (57) and Chase McDermand (40) battle for the top spot.

John Smith and Denny Smith (66) got tangled up during a midget heat race with John Smith flipping over. Neither driver was injured.

Jeff Kerley scored his second super late model stock car feature win at Sycamore Saturday night.

Dave Dulceak won he street stock feature.

Dave Dulceak and his No. 83 on their way to the checkered flag.

Rodney “Smokey” Boyd claimed top honors in the pure stocks division feature.

Dale Markham (3) finished third in the feature.

Reno Markham (20) and Jeff Kerley (13) race side-by-side during the early laps of the super late model feature.

The closing laps of the super late model 25 lapper finds Jeff Kerley (13) and Greg Cantrell Jr. (01) doing battle.

Mitch Moag (72) and Matt Johnsen (14) race in close quarters during the street stock feature.

Jim Klingel (02) led a lot of laps during the super late model main until tangling with Reno Markham.

With racing experience dating back to Waukegan Speedway on asphalt and Santa Fe Speedway on dirt, Jeff Schulze Sr. (7) filled in for his son, Jeff, Saturday.

Eric Legner (27) and Peter Hayes (30) battle for position during the street stock main event.