[Fred Zirzow]

"Bacon sizzles Firemans Nationals field"

By Bryan Gapinski
Sun Prairie, Wis., Aug. 30---Brady Bacon scored an impressive victory winning the 27th annual Firemans' Nationals presented by Pepsi, Badger Midget Series event Saturday Night at Angell Park Speedway. The victory was the first in nearly two seasons driving for the Kasey Kahne Racing Team, and was worth $15,000.
Bacon jumped into the lead at the start, from the pole position, followed by Dave Darland and Jerry Coons Jr. Coons moved into second place on the lap 4, Darland retired from the event a few laps later. The caution appeared on lap 9 for a spun car, Coons passed Bacon on the restart, and opened up a comfortable margin, by the completion of lap 20.
The turning point of the event occurred four laps later, when Coons slowed on the track, causing a caution. During the yellow, the event went to red flag status, for a medical emergency in the pit area for a crew member. Coons, who suffered a broken fuel pump, remained in the pit area on the restart, giving the lead back to Bacon.
On the restart Bacon pulled away from his teammate Brad Sweet, increasing his advantage each lap on a tricky race surface. The pair appeared headed for a 1-2 team sweep, when with two laps remaining Sweet jumped the cushion and hit the frontstretch wall, executing a series of flips. Sweet was uninjured.
Bacon took advantage of four lapped cars between himself and second place Tracy Hines on the restart, and cruised unchallenged for the final two circuits to become the youngest winner in the events history. Hines a two-time winner of the event placed second ahead of Darren Hagen, Brad Kuhn and Scott Hatton.
Earlier in the night Coons captured the 6th annual Dave Schulenberg Memorial Dash, which carried a $3,400 purse. Mike Hess who wrapped up the Badger Driver's Championship, the previous night topped the field in qualifying. The effort also clinched the Badger Car Owner Championship for Jerry Hardy, in his third season as a car owner. Hardy and Hess will be honored at The annual Awards Banquet on Nov. 15 at the Kalahari Convention Center & Water Park, (Wisconsin Dells, Wis.).

SUMMARY
50-lap Feature: 1. Brady Bacon; 2. Tracy Hines; 3. Darren Hagen; 4. Brad Kuhn; 5. Scott Hatton; 6. Levi Jones; 7. Davey Ray; 8. Cole Whitt; 9. Mike Hess; 10. Dustin Morgan; 11. Brandon Waelti; 12. Chad DeSelle; 13. Aaron Fiscus; 14. Dakota Armstrong; 15. Brad Sweet; 16. Kody Swanson; 18. Jerry Coons Jr.; 19. Matt Westfall; 20. Jake Slotten; 21. Bobby East; 22. Dave Darland.

15-lap Semi Feature Winner: Chad Boat .
10-lap Heat Winners: Jones, Bacon, Kuhn, Hines.
6-lap Schulenberg Memorial Dash Winner: Coons.
Fast Time:Hess, 14.854 seconds.
Cars Present: 35 Feature Lap Leaders: Bacon 1-9, Coons 10-23, Bacon 24-50.
**Boat flipped in Heat 2. Wipperfurth flipped in Semi. Sweet flipped on lap 48 of feature.

Congrats to Bacon Bits for a well deserved, and a long time coming, victory last night!! :applaud: