8/4/2025
Badger Midget Auto Racing Association
Kluever Torches the Field in AFS Badger Midget Series Visit to Eagle River Speedway
Todd Kluever became the first new Advanced Fastening Supply Badger Midget Auto Racing Association feature winner in nearly three months as he trounced the competition at Eagle River Speedway on Saturday, August 2. In doing so he ended the all-time consecutive win streak in Badger for Parker Jones at nine wins. It was the first visit by midget cars to the track in forty years.
Fifteen cars made the tow to the Northwood region of Wisconsin. For Sun Prairie-based teams it was about a three and a half hour tow. For Delmar, Iowa’s Miles Doherty it was pushing six hours.
Of those that offered an opinion, most seemed to think Eagle River resembled 141 Speedway and felt it was a big quarter-mile. The night started in pursuit of Rod End Supply Quick Time. Watertown’s Derek Doerr took the top spot over Matt Rechek who was in a different seat for the night. Rechek was in the Kittleson #2. Unfortunately it would be the best part of Rechek’s night.
Auto Meter Heat-One saw Dave Collins Jr. on the pole with Nick Klein to his outside. Two cars didn’t make the bell Rechek, who was in search of a U joint in the pits and Aaron Fiscus who pulled off before the green. At the start Klein went high in turn-two while Collins was just off the bottom. Collins got the advantage as they went into three with Cody Weisensel now hugging the bottom.
When things shook out on lap-one, the bottom appeared to be the place to go as Weisensel led at the line. Tommy Colburn started a rhythm of running high in the first corners and low in the last. This allowed him to get by Collins for second. Weisensel had a straightaway on Colburn by this point and Weisensel went unchallenged for the win.
Harrison Kleven and Miles Doherty led them down to start Dave Jones Plumbing, HVAC, Fire Protection and Electrical Heat-Two. Kleven got the jump at the line, but Doherty was even with him by the time they were preparing to exit turn-two. It was in that corner that Kleven spun. He got nicked by Eric Blumer and Kluever as they went by bringing out the yellow. All cars were able to restart.
Kluever inherited the pole next to Doherty. On the first two laps the pair swapped the lead several times while Jones was making hay on the outside and working his way into third. The trio went on to give a show to the fans, actually applying a third groove for a while. In the end Jones and Kluever had to fight it out for second giving Doherty the ability to drive away on the last lap for the win.
Behling Racing Equipment Heat-Three; Hoosier Racing Tire Heat-Four; Madison Extinguisher Service Last Chance Qualifier and the High Performance Lubricants B-Main were not run. Likewise, there were no rookies in the field to earn a Spankins Motorsports Rookie of the Race.
LYCO MANUFACTURING A-MAIN
If there was ever a chance someone was going to end the winning streak of Jones it was at this one-off track. While it was dry with a gritty sandpaper-like surface, it was smooth and looked to be at least a two groove track. The top was fast but a long way around. There was grip on the bottom where tractor tires had reportedly just been added that week. Jones would start on the inside of row-four when he’d probably rather have been on the outside. Kluever started on the outside of row-one next to Collins who was one of the few Badger drivers who had ever raced at Eagle River before.
Collins held the lead briefly at the start but Kluever powered past him on the top by the time lap-one was complete. On the second circuit it was Collins and Weisensel on the bottom while Tommy Colburn was the next car, in fourth at this point, who was running the top.
While Kluever was checking out, Weisensel went to the cushion to get around Collins while Colburn went to the middle in an effort to split the two. It appeared the middle third line was probably gone and Colburn followed Weisensel around Collins for second and third respectively. About ten laps in Kluever had at least a half of a lap on the field. Jones was busy battling Doerr for sixth.
Ironically, Luke Wackerlin deviated from his usual high groove to drive into third under Colburn. A few laps later Wackerlin caught Weisensel and the pair went side by side for six laps with Weisensel on the cushion when he usually favors the bottom. Eventually the low groove won out.
Nothing but a yellow was going to allow anyone to catch Kluever though. The caution never came and Kluever sailed to an easy win followed by Wackerlin and Weisensel.
Doerr and Jones put on an entertaining battle for fourth, exchanging slide jobs in the closing laps. Doerr, second in Badger points, held off the leader Jones at the line for fourth.
The unique Eagle River Raceway Victory Lane, with flames shooting into the sky, welcomed Kluever. In his postrace interview with Eric Huenenfeld it was noted that the race took only six minutes and fifteen seconds. Kluever thanked his crew and Brandon Waelti for their work and advice. He gave credit to Jones for his streak.
Kluever went on to say, “It’s been so long since I’ve been to Victory Lane I couldn’t even find the place. It was nice to win one again, you never know when they are going to come again.” It was his first Badger win of the year and fourth in his career. He included, “Score one for the old guys.”
CONTINGENCIES AND NOTES
Hoosier Racing Tire Heat-Four; Madison Extinguisher Service Last Chance Qualifier and the High Performance Lubricants B-Main were not run. Likewise, there were no rookies in the field to earn a Spankins Motorsports Rookie of the Race.
Blumer finished sixth, passing five cars to earn the Spankins Motorsports Bob Tattersall Hard Charger Award.
Rechek took the Rod End Supply Hard Luck Award and the Last Place Bonus in Memory of Addison Dahlke.
The locals and Badger faithful both came out to fill the stands and teams are already talking about coming back next season.
UP NEXT
The AFS Badger Midget Series is back home, Sunday, August 10, where they’ll share the card with the Dirt Kings Late Models and IMCA Modifieds.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS
Lyco Manufacturing A - Feature (25 Laps): 1. 55-Todd Kluever[2]; 2. 73W-Luke Wackerlin[5]; 3. 20-Cody Weisensel[3]; 4. 20D-Derek Doerr[8]; 5. 41-Parker Jones[7]; 6. 68-Eric Blumer[11]; 7. 8D-Miles Doherty[9]; 8. 40JR-Dave Collins Jr[1]; 9. 31-Tommy Colburn[6]; 10. 17N-Nick Kilian[4]; 11. 7F-Aaron Fiscus[12]; 12. 29-Harrison Kleven[13]; 13. 17K-Nicholas Klein[10]; 14. 29K-Mike Stroik[14]; 15. 2-Matt Rechek[15]
Auto Meter Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 20-Cody Weisensel[4]; 2. 31-Tommy Colburn[6]; 3. 40JR-Dave Collins Jr[3]; 4. 17N-Nick Kilian[5]; 5. 17K-Nicholas Klein[2]; 6. 7F-Aaron Fiscus[1]; 7. (DNS) 2-Matt Rechek
Dave Jones Plumbing HVAC Electrical Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 8D-Miles Doherty[2]; 2. 41-Parker Jones[6]; 3. 55-Todd Kluever[3]; 4. 73W-Luke Wackerlin[5]; 5. 20D-Derek Doerr[7]; 6. 68-Eric Blumer[4]; 7. 29-Harrison Kleven[1]; 8. (DNS) 29K-Mike Stroik
Rod End Supply Fast Time Qualifying (100 Laps): 1. 20D-Derek Doerr, 00:14.060[3]; 2. 2-Matt Rechek, 00:14.139[4]; 3. 41-Parker Jones, 00:14.273[6]; 4. 31-Tommy Colburn, 00:14.373[8]; 5. 73W-Luke Wackerlin, 00:14.383[11]; 6. 17N-Nick Kilian, 00:14.411[5]; 7. 68-Eric Blumer, 00:14.443[2]; 8. 20-Cody Weisensel, 00:14.478[12]; 9. 55-Todd Kluever, 00:14.497[15]; 10. 40JR-Dave Collins Jr, 00:14.651[9]; 11. 8D-Miles Doherty, 00:14.697[10]; 12. 17K-Nicholas Klein, 00:15.090[14]; 13. 29-Harrison Kleven, 00:15.537[7]; 14. 7F-Aaron Fiscus, 00:15.545[1]; 15. (DNS) 29K-Mike Stroik; 16. (DNS) 20R-Randy Doerr; 17. (DNS) 41J-John Jones
Thanks to Josh Castle of Castle Creations Media for the Victory Lane Photo.
Article by Bill Blumer Jr.
Submitted By: William Blumer
