BADGER MIDGET SERIES PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Bryan Gapinski

"Pickens blisters Angell Park field"
"Bogar bags Micro Win"

By Bryan Gapinski
Sun Prairie, Wis., May 26---New Zealand's Michael Pickens won the 30-lap "Danni Jo Thiel Memorial", Saturday Night at Angell Park Speedway. The event was co-sanctioned by the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series and Stark Automotive Group/Mid-State Equipment Badger Midget Series. The victory was the fifth career for Pickens at the track and first since June 15, 2008.

Austin Brown jumped into the lead at the start pacing the opening lap, before Pickens moved into the lead. Pickens opened up a three second advantage by Lap 5, one lap later a caution appeared for a stalled car. Pickens again moved away from Brown and teammate Brad Mosen on the restart.

Parker Price-Miller hit the wall flipping several times down length of the front stretch and was struck by the car driven by Chet Gehrke, causing the Oklahoma driver also to flip. Both drivers escaped injury in the accident. Pickens again went unchallenged on the restart and held a straightaway lead over the field at the midway point. Pickens spent the final nine laps of the event lapping slower cars, yet still increasing his advantage.

Pickens driving the Bill Buckley owned Breaka/Ford-Esslinger No. 1nz finished 6.192 seconds ahead of Brad Kuhn, Brown, Mosen, and Mike Hess. "The car was perfect on the cushion, it's great to be back here at Angell Park, I couldn't think of a better way to start our US campaign" commented Pickens who will be racing in the United States for the next three weeks.

Defending Series Champion Chad Bogar led the entire distance winning the 15-lap Badger 600 Micro Series feature, ahead of Matt Paderta, Jake Neuman, Jason Dull and Will Gerrits. Action resumes on Sunday May 26 with the "11th annual Sue Thiel Memorial", paying $4,000 to win.

SUMMARY
Midgets
30-lap Feature: 1. Michael Pickens; 2. Brad Kuhn; 3. Austin Brown; 4. Brad Mosen; 5. Mike Hess; 6. Daniel Robinson; 7. Tyler Thomas; 8. Zach Daum; 9. Brandon Waelti; 10. Andrew Felker; 11. Billy Balog; 12. Jake Blackhurst; 13. Alex Bright; 14. Cody Weisensel; 15. Garrett Aitken; 16. Terry Baab; 17. Kurt Mayhew; 18. Todd Lehr; 19. Colten Cottle; 20. Parker Price-Miller; 21. Chet Gehrke; 22. Jake Neuman.

10-lap Heat Race Winners: Thomas, Pickens, Felker.
Fast Time: Daum, 14.352 seconds.
Cars Present: 25 Feature Lap Leaders: Brown 1, Pickens 2-30.

Badger Micros
15-lap Feature: 1. Chad Bogar; 2. Matt Paderta; 3. Jake Neuman; 4. Jason Dull; 5. Will Gerrits; 6. Norm Ehrke; 7. Preston Benisch; 8. Brian Hagland; 9. D.J. Stefan.
8-lap Heat Race Winners: Dull, B. Paderta.