Belleville, IL. - California's Darren Hagen driving the RFMS Spike/Esslinger midget won the 75-lap POWRi Speedway Motors/Mid-State Equipment Badger Midget Racing Series co-sanctioned feature, Saturday Night at Belle-Clair Raceway.  The event capped off the two-night Budweiser FanFest celebrating the 75th anniversary of midget auto racing in the greater St. Louis area.

 

Hagen took the lead at the start from the pole position followed by Brad Loyet. A multi-car accident on the opening lap, slowed action. On the restart Loyet's engine began misfiring, with Hagen leading the event. With Hagen running the cushion and Loyet using the lower groove the pair were the class of the field closely followed by Mike Hess.

 

Hagen who finished 19th in Friday's feature was passed by Loyet on Lap 66, but regained the lead with four laps remaining.  Hagen driving the RFMS Racing owned Spike/Ford-Esslinger No. 3 finished one-car length ahead of Loyet at the finish, followed by Hess, Steve Knepper, and Andrew Felker. The victory was worth $4,000 for Hagen.

 

Paul Nienhiser from Chapin IL. driving the number 9 Sawyer Chassis Yamaha powered R6 sponsored by Barber Construction Marshall Chevrolet and T&K Tree Service captured his first ever POWRi Speedway Motors 600cc Outlaw Micro feature WIN on the final night of the Budweiser FanFest.  Paul would start on the pole position next to Jeremy Camp and would jump into the lead entering turn one and never relinquish it.  A fierce battle for second place waged on through the 20 lap event between Jeremy Camp and Buba Altig.

 

Complete race results can be found under "More Info" located within the Midget / Micro schedule.