US Formula First Regional Championship Series
Rounds 7 & 8 at The Milwaukee Mile - August 22 and 23



Middelegge Sweeps at Milwaukee
As the fifth season of the US FST series is winding down, the points are close and the racing is closer. This past weekend the FST series was at the historic Milwaukee Mile for rounds 7 & 8 of the 10 race series. There was no test day available on Friday, so Saturday morning was the first time on the track for everyone. The weather was absolutely beautiful all weekend with a clear sky and mild temps. Because the roval had not seen a race car in two years, a fine silt was imbedded in the infield pavement and made the first sessions interesting. The Saturday qualifying session was great with clean driving as most of the dust had blown off the infield pavement by the time group 5 took to the track. The FST times were quick as we out qualified all but one F5 in our group. Here is the qualifying results:

  1. William Bonow ... 1:18.847
  2. Robert Clark ... 1:19.055
  3. Carl Middelegge ... 1:19.186
  4. Jim Nash ... 1:19.734
  5. Aaron Deer ... 1:21.155
  6. Jared Timmerman ... 1:24.547
  7. Dave Blevins ... 1:24.821

As the green flag dropped on Round 7, Bonow, Middelegge and Clark took off chasing the point. The 3 cars battled back and forth until Clark was passed and then held up by an F5 loosing the lead draft. Bonow and Middelegge ran close for the balance of the race drafting back and forth for the lead. At the line, Middelegge took the checkered and grabbed the track record in the process. Here is the finishing order for Round 7:

  1. Carl Middelegge ... 1:16.979
  2. William Bonow ... 1:17.302
  3. Robert Clark ... 1:18.521
  4. Jared Timmerman ... 1:19.647
  5. Dave Blevins ... 1:23.197
  6. Jim Nash ... 1:18.420
  7. Aaron Deer ... 1:20.296

The track was improving as car continued to race and Sunday qualifying times got lower and tighter. Other cars in the group had stepped up as well, so Sunday was going to be interesting. Here are the Sunday qualifying results:

  1. Carl Middelegge ... 1:17.331
  2. William Bonow ... 1:17.550
  3. Jim Nash ... 1:17.845
  4. Robert Clark ... 1:18.133
  5. Jared Timmerman ... 1:19.503
  6. Aaron Deer ... 1:19.653
  7. Dave Blevins ... 1:23.097

As the race started, there were claims of 5 cars wide entering turn one. The chase was on between the 4 cars of Middelegge, Bonow, Nash and Clark. Clark ran into mechanical troubles at lap 5 and dropped out. Middelegge, Bonow and Nash each took turns at the point with Nash turning fast lap of the race. Unfortunately for Nash, he was caught out by an F5 and got separated from Bonow and Middelegge at about lap 12. At the line, Middelegge edged out Bonow by a nose for the victory. Here are the Results

  1. Carl Middelegge ... 1:17.797
  2. William Bonow ... 1:17.789
  3. Jim Nash ... 1:17.723
  4. Aaron Deer ... 1:18.730
    (Not too bad for a guy who went through his SCCA driver school at the Milwaukee Mile in 1958!)
  5. Jared Timmerman ... 1:19.144
  6. Dave Blevins ... 1:22.214
  7. Robert Clark ... 1:18.425 (DNF)

These victories will move Middelegge into a slight point lead over Bonow for the series points. With only one weekend left at Mid-Ohio, it could go right down to the last race to determine our '09 champion.



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