7/8/2015
Andrew Felker
Andrew Felker Sweeps POWRi “Freedom Fest” at Macon, Takes Sixth in Angell Park Return!
Sun Prairie, WI | July 7, 2015 – With a dominant victory from Boyd Raceway hot on his heels, Andrew Felker entered a stacked Fourth of July weekend tripleheader with a load of confidence, and boy did it show. Snapping a near two-year winless streak in the POWRi National Midget division, the Carl Junction, Missouri native not only won once, but swept the “Freedom Fest” at Macon on Friday and Saturday night, and followed that with another strong run of 14th to sixth in the “Pepsi Nationals” at Angell Park.
“It was great to get our first national win of the season on Friday night and then back it up on Saturday,” said Felker. “We learned some stuff the previous weekend in Texas and carried that momentum and confidence in the car into this weekend and I think it showed every night. Also had a better car than it looked on Sunday after having to start deep due to a bad qualifying run where we missed the gearing. Started 14th and was up to fourth before Clauson forced us above the cushion on the last lap costing us a couple spots.”
Kicking the weekend off on Friday night with the “Freedom Fest” preliminary at Macon Speedway, Felker moved from fourth to second in heat race action. Rolling out in the fourth spot once more for the main event, Felker quickly jumped into third and then second spot. Pouncing on a lap ten restart, the 22-year old executed a perfect slidejob and claimed the lead with his Stanton SR11 Mopar powered BOSS Chassis No. 11A. Leading the remainder of the race, Felker would methodically work through heavy lap traffic as he sliced and diced through the slower cars. A fuel pump issue in the late going nearly saw disastrous results, but the 2012 POWRi Midget champion persevered and willed his MelMark Pipe & Supply sponsored machine across the line to claim his first national win since 2013.
Returning to the “Mighty” Macon Speedway on Saturday’s Fourth of July running, Felker again mastered an excellent heat race as he charged from fifth to second. Hitting the track for the 30-lap feature in fifth, Felker maneuvered his Sixty-Six Truck & Foreign Salvage entry into the second spot on lap ten and set his sights on the top spot. Taking advantage of lap traffic, he powered under the race leader on lap 14 and took command of the field. From there on out it was once more all about navigating the back-markers at the tight 1/5th mile, a job he has aced as of late. Felker would end up leading the remaining 16 laps and continue his hot streak as he took his third straight victory and completed the sweep of POWRi’s “Freedom Fest.”
Making the long haul to Sun Prairie, Wisconsin on Sunday night for the USAC, POWRi, and BADGER co-sanctioned “Pepsi Nationals” at Angell Park Speedway, Felker was aiming for his fourth victory in a row. Missing the gear in qualifying would result in a tough run of 14th, however, Felker responded with a solid second place run in his heat race. Starting the main event buried in the field, the CSI Shocks, Engler Machine & Tool, Auto Xpress No. 11A had a long drive to the front in store. Picking off position after position, Felker quickly worked his way to the front and even found himself in the top five during the closing laps. Running fourth on the final lap set to complete an impressive drive, Felker was forced above the cushion and knocked back to a sixth place finish.
This weekend will see Felker return to POWRi National Midget competition as the series heads to Fairbury American Legion Speedway in Fairbury, Illinois on Saturday. Sunday night will see the return to the always-exciting Belle-Clair Speedway in Belleville, Illinois.
Felker would like to thank Sixty-Six Truck & Foreign Salvage, Auto Xpress, MelMark Pipe & Supply, Stanton Racing Engines, CSI Shocks, Engler Machine & Tool, Momo’s Racing Engines, BOSS Chassis, Schluckebier Farms, Pro Powder Coating, All-Pro Auto Interiors, Aggressive Graphics, KBR Performance, Weld Wheels, Heath II, Wilwood, Bell Helmets, Rod End Supply, Midwest Sheet Metal, and Butler Built for their continued support
Article Credit: Walker Racing Promotions
