Schroeder and Funk win new "Animal" classes at BKC By Mike Weaver DOUSMAN, WI - For the first time in quite a number of years, the members of the Badger Kart Club were welcomed to the new year by great weather the weekend of April 14, 2002. Record highs settled in the area for the entire weekend, making the first race of the year an enjoyable experience. Although this was a non-points race to start the season out, the great weather brought in quite a few karters, making this day seem like any other race day at Badger Raceway. With the new year, karters saw the first races with the new Briggs and Stratton Animal engine. This new 4-cycle motor was introduced to karting just last year and is targeted to replace the current 5hp "flat heads" that are the main stay of the Brigg's kart-racing world. Tom Schroeder wound up winning the Animal Sr. feature over Rachel Neitzel and Jeff Funk easily navigated his Animal Jr. kart to the win in the Junior class. Both winners would go on to grab the checkers in other feature races that day. Last year's Yamaha Heavy Champion Mike Fuchs was involved in a small skirmish in a heat race and was forced to start the feature from the middle of the pack. Fuchs let things settle down after the start and worked his way up through the field, eventually passing 2nd place Matt Sriver for the win. 2-Cycle Jr. Sportsman saw a couple of nasty crashes (no injuries!) during the heat races. But it was all Travis Kosik in the feature as he managed to win over Ryan Schwister by 10 kart lengths. Josh Nevels and T.J. Nevels both drove great races to come in 3rd and 4th respectively. Tom Schroeder made it a clean-sweep day as he piloted his kart to the checkers in the Briggs Lite feature race. Dennis Smith led the most laps but was just unable to hold off the hard-charging Schroeder. Derrick Quella made several attempts for 2nd place but had to settle for third for the day. Nate Gish dominated all day in Sr. Sportsman Heavy and Matt Mercier did the same in the exact same kart, but in Sr. Sportsman Lite. Colin Predith demolished the field in 125cc Shifter and Ronny Graham took home first place in Junior Can. RACE RESULTS (April 15, 2002): Briggs Animal: 1.) Jeff Funk Jr., 2.) Mike Gahagan, 3.) Max Reising Briggs Animal Sr.: 1.) Tom Schroeder, 2.) Rachel Neitzel, 3.) James Wilhelm Briggs Heavy: 1.) Derrick Quella, 2.) Mike Landeck Jr., 3.) Rachel Neitzel Briggs Lite: 1.) Tom Schroeder, 2.) Dennis Smith, 3. Derrick Quella Briggs Jr. Sportsman: 1.) Grant Hoffmeister, 2.) Cody Weber, 3.) Colin Jackson Briggs Jr. Stock: 1.) Shelley Krzewinski, 2.) Marc Dunbar 2-Cycle Jr. Sportsman: 1.) Travis Kosik, 2.) Ryan Schwister, 3.) Josh Nevels Sr. Sportsman Lite: 1.) Matt Mercier, 2.) Mark Heinert, 3.) Erin Cechal Sr. Sportsman Heavy: 1.) Nate Gish, 2.) Bob Jeziorski, 3.) King Aymond HPV Jr.: 1.) Doug Della, 2.) Nick Gillette HPV Sr.: 1.) Brian Julien, 2.) Dennis Borchardt, 3.) Nicole Baier Yamaha Lite: 1.) Charlene Jung, 2.) Mark Jung, 3.) Glenn Meyer Yamaha Heavy: 1.) Mike Fuchs, 2.) Matt Sriver, 3.) Terry Thomas 125cc Shifter: 1. Colin Predith, 2.) Brady Ingelse, 3.) Chris Alby Jr. Can: 1.) Ronny Graham, 2.) Joe Brenner, 3.) Derek Crane Jr. SSX Can: 1.) Jeff Funk Jr., 2.) Chris Nelson, 3.) Jesse Schwabe Expert: 1.) Regan Vehring, 2.) William Huck Jr.