Series Sun Prairie HoF Classic recap, Fireman's Nationals preview

28TH "FIREMAN'S NATIONALS" SATURDAY AT "THE PRAIRIE"; CLAUSON SCORES SENSATIONAL "HALL OF FAME CLASSIC" WIN

USAC Mopar National and Badger Midget drivers will compete for $10,000-to-win in Saturday night's 28th "Fireman's Nationals" presented by Pepsi at Angell Park in Sun Prairie, Wis. If the action is any more dramatic than Sunday night's race at the third-mile dirt track, fans will witness an unforgettable race!

Bryan Clauson of Noblesville, Ind. returns to the track as the winner of Sunday night's 9th Annual "Hall of Fame Classic" presented by Miller Genuine Draft, but his last-lap heroics will certainly be remembered as legendary.

Clauson passed Jerry Coons Jr. on lap three, then led the rest of the way for the win, but the last lap was worth the price of admission! Following Tracy Hines' spin, the field restarted with one lap remaining and Darren Hagen got the jump on Clauson entering turn one. Hagen pulled away going down the backstretch and was appeared headed for victory, but Clauson rim-rode the cushion in turns three and four and absolutely rocketed off turn four to post a photo-finish win in his All Star Performance/Bryan Clauson Racing Spike/Esslinger Ford.

Hagen was second at the line, ahead of USAC National point leader Brad Kuhn, Mike Hess and Brad Sweet. Kuhn was the fastest qualifier and takes a 34-point lead over Hagen into Saturday's race.

Bill Engelhart was the winner of the inaugural "Fireman's Nationals" in 1982 and the ensuing years have produced 15 different winners. Kevin Olson and the late Kevin Doty won five times each, while Tracy Hines, Scott Hatton and Dan Boorse each own two wins. Hines and Hatton are among expected entries Saturday as are 2007 race winner Jerry Coons Jr. and 2003 winner Davey Ray.

Page Jones, who was among this year's inducted members into the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame, also won the Fireman's Nationals, in 1993.

-credit: usac