BEAVER DAM, Wis. — Point leader Jack Routson scored a thrilling last-lap victory winning Saturday Night’s Horizon Building Development 25-lap Zimbrick Chevrolet of Sun Prairie Badger Midget Racing Series feature at Beaver Dam Raceway. The event was the 60th Badger Midget Race at the facility.
Ryan Probst led the opening lap before Routson took the top position on lap two. Jordan Mattson passed Routson exiting turn two on lap four to claim the top position. Mattson driving the RAB No. 57 held a three-car length lead when he began lapping the tail, of the field on the ninth lap.
Mattson increased his lead to 1.3 seconds at the midway point over Routson. A four-car battle for third took place as the lead duo pulled away from the field. Mattson held a two second lead over Routson, with five laps remaining.
The events only caution appeared for a slowing car, with three laps remaining erasing Mattson’s lead.
On the restart, Mattson went to the upper groove, while Routson used the lower groove of the track. Routson almost pulled even with Routson, when the pair took the white flag. Mattson appeared headed for the victory entering the final two turns, when Routson diamonded the corner perfect, and pair exiting turn four in a dead heat. Routson edged Mattson by a half-car length at the start/finish line.
Transponder scoring showed the margin of victory at 0.112 seconds, one of the closest midget races in track history.
Routson drove the Tim Routson owned Spike/Chevrolet No. 14. Probst trailed the lead duo by two car lengths to finish third, followed by Zach Boden and Chase McDermand.
“After the caution I tried the bottom groove knowing it was the only way to pass the 57 car, the last lap I pinched the corner and it worked perfectly,” said Routson after this third series victory of the season. Routson leads McDermand by 66 points entering Sunday July 28’s “Norm Nelson Classic” at Angell Park Speedway.The finish:
Feature (25 laps): 1. Jack Routson; 2. Jordan Mattson; 3. Ryan Probst; 4. Zach Boden; 5. Chase McDermand; 6. Jeff Zelinski; 7. Scott Hatton; 8. Mike Stroik; 9. Tristan Koenings; 10. Denny Smith; 11. Kyle Koch; 12. Shay Sassano; 13. Harrison Kleven; 14. Pat Henson; 15. Kevin Olson; 16. Brian Peterson; 17. Jim Fuerst; 18. Aaron Muhle; 19. Matt Rechek; 20. Michael Klein.Â