MAPLE PARK, Ill. — The season finale for the 84th year of the Badger Midget Series came to a close at the Sycamore Speedway Saturday night with Chase McDermand capturing the 25-lap main event.
McDermand topped off the night by capturing 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 22 points before the night’s racing began. Tyler Baran ended up fourth, followed by Jeff Zelinski and Will Armitage. Twenty-two 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. Eight-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, which assembled at the third-mile dirt oval.
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, R.J. Corson, Denny Smith, Aaron Schuck.