A New Track Speed Record is Worth $1000
It’s hard to believe that it’s down to just two more race nights at Madison for the 2018 season, but we’ve saved the best for these two events.
Kick start your Labor Day weekend this Friday night when K&N presents double features for four racing divisions plus the Madtown Meltdown. The Whelen All American NASCAR Late Models, Dave’s White Rock Sportsman, Pellitteri Waste Systems Bandits and the Hobby Stocks will all be in action as each run double features.
Two $1000 prizes are up for grabs for any driver in a fendered or open wheel racing vehicle who can establish a new track record on Wisconsin’s Fastest Half-Mile. Last year Andrew Morrissey wheeled his Outlaw Late Model around the speedway in 16.639 seconds for a speed of 108.180 mph. David Byrne established the open wheel record in 2016 in his winged sprint car with a mark of 14.624 seconds or 123.085 mph. There are no rules so anything goes! You do not have to be a weekly competitor at Madison to enter either the fendered or open wheel time trials.
Zack Riddle (Late Models), Robert Hansberry Jr. (Sportsman), and Nick Schmidt (Bandits) are the current point leaders in their respective divisions. A clean sweep on Friday earns a driver 215 points so no lead is safe in the pursuit of a Madison track championship especially with two more feature races scheduled for September 7th.
Riddle, the 2015 champion, currently tops the Late Model standings with 902 points. He’s followed by Jeremy Miller (822), Will Rece (813), Bobby Wilberg (796), and Shaun Scheel (776). Riddle also has a 36-32 lead over Miller in the Dash standings. So far this season only Wilberg and Miller have repeated as feature winners in the nine races. Riddle, Scheel, John Baumeister Jr., Brian Beale, and Jon Reynolds Jr. have notched the other feature wins.
Hansberry Jr., the four-time Madison champion who has picked up twenty-three career wins here, is going for his third straight title. He leads the points with 891 followed by Ray Hellenbrand (824), Trevor Robinson (762), Mike Taylor (750), and Bryan Hellenbrand (740). Each of the four top five drivers in pursuit of Hansberry Jr. are seeking their first track championship. Hansberry Jr. has a four point lead over Ray Hellenbrand (37-33) in the Dash standings.
Nick Schmidt is seeking his first title at Madison and shows the way for the Bandits with 980 points. He’s followed by Steve Dickson (862), McKayla Adams (849), Lyle Phillips (767), and Bill Kohn (762). Schmidt now has nine career feature wins at Madison while Dickson is the winningest active Bandit driver at Madison with twelve career wins. Schmidt leads Adams (41-36) in the Dash standings.
The Hobby Stocks will be on the Ring of Fire for the second time this season. Brandon Angilieri was the best of the sixteen “big” cars back on May 25th.
Pit gates open at 3:30 with Turn One Chapel at 4:15, practice at 5:00, grandstands open at 6:00, qualifying at 6:15, and racing at 7:30.
Adult tickets are $14.00 / Seniors and Whelen Heroes are $12.00 / Students 12-17 are $8.00 / Children 6-11 are $5.00 / 5 and under are free. A Family Ticket that includes two adults and up to four students / children is just $30.00.
Upcoming Events
September 7th: Fireworks and Whelen Engineering NASCAR Championship Night brings the season to a close with double features for the NASCAR Late Models, Dave’s White Rock Sportsman, and Pellitteri Waste Systems Bandits plus the Upper Midwest Vintage Series will be here. Topping off the night of racing action will be a fireworks program. Come out and celebrate our new champions and enjoy the season finale.
September 13th: It’s the final edition of the One on One Street Drags and Shine ‘n’ Show Contest at Madison. If you haven’t been out for this event this is your last opportunity this season. It’s not unusual to see nearly 200 entries in more than a dozen different divisions here to take on the fastest 300’ in the region.