January 9-13, 2007

This years 2007 Chili bowl was exciting on and off the track for the Brandon and the crew. Brandon got some early hot laps on Tuesday shaking down the familiar no 3 Stealth/Esslinger. With no apparent problems. Brandon was optimistic about his chances on his Thursday night event. Drawing a decent pill no. Brandon would start on the outside of row no. 2 in the seventh heat race. With Tracey Hines, Justin Alligier, and Billy Pauch in the heat this was not going to be a easy task. Brandon quickly pressured the leaders and after a few laps had a commanding lead. After one restart Brandon would hold off the field for the heat race win.

Next up was the qualifier race, in which Brandon would just need to at minimum finish where he started to enjoy a decent starting spot in the feature. This would be where the weekend would take a turn for the worse. The first lap of the qualifier a car drove over the right rear of Waelti and cut the right rear tire. The crew rushed to the car and changed the tire but turned out to be seconds to late. Now Waelti was slated to run the B-main, but starting deep in the field would prove to be tough. Brandon using multiple lines tried to race his way into the A-main but came up short by a few spots.

Due to great competition and drying track conditions it was difficult to make any passes around the small quarter mile track. After all the qualifying nights were done Brandon would manage to race in the first D-main on Sat. night. Just getting to the track on Fri. and Sat. proved to be tough because of a huge ice storm blasted Oklahoma and the midwest. With no snow removal equipment the roads were treacherous to say the least.

As the D-main started the Tulsa track had already seen 5 hours of racing action, and was showing very similar track conditions as outside of the expo center(very slick). Starting deep in the D, the race played out to be a follow the leader with only one desirable race line. Taking only three out of the D, Brandon would not transfer and another Chili bowl would be in the books.

With along week in Oklahoma done Waelti and crew were anxious to get home. A trip taking usually 11-12 hours to drive, Waelti and crew struggled to get home in 22 hours and 2 days of driving. The road conditions were snowy and ice covered which meant a lot of white knuckle driving. Now everybody home safe and sound Brandon and crew will regroup for the 2007 race season.

January 1, 2007

With the 2006 Badger awards banquet complete, Waelti and crew picked up some awards which included a fourth place in the drivers and owners points, and Best appearing car (with help from NS Designs and Sign_1-1). So now that the season is officially complete it was now time to focus on 2007 season which means a regular trip to the Chili Bowl Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma from Jan 9th-13th, will provide so of the best wheel to wheel racing you will see along with the stars of all motor sports.

So with that in mind Brandon and crew went to work on the familiar #3 getting it prepared for the January event. Completely going through the car was required which entailed new paint and sending the engine to California to Esslinger to be gone through. With the car now complete Waelti is excited to hit the track but with almost 275 entries it will be a tough challenge.

Brandon and crew would like to thank again all the sponsors, friends, fans and family with all the great support. Look for updates on brandonwaelti.com the week after the Chili Bowl Nationals for a complete update and new pictures of the race car.

August 27 , 2006
Sun Prairie , WI

As rain washed out the season finale Pepsi Nationals this Labor Day, Waelti would conclude the BMARA season points in fourth position. Finishing ahead of him in points were the 2006 champion Brad Kuhn, Scott Hatton, and Danny Stratton. Brandon would like to thank all of the 2006 sponsors, fans and the whole Waelti-Schulenberg racing crew for all the support during the season....couldn't do it without all of you! Look for Brandon and crew to race at the Raceway @ Powercom Park on Sat. Sept. 9, 2006. and possibly race the Sept. 15 race at Jacksonville Speedway and Sept. 15 at Canton Speedway in the Poweri racing series.

August 20 , 2006
Sun Prairie , WI

WAELTI HEADED INTO THE CORN FEST 50 WITH SOME STRONG MOMENTUM FROM THE LAST FEW WEEKS IN SEARCH OF ANOTHER STRONG PERFORMANCE. WAELTI AGAIN WENT OUT EARLY FOR QUALIFYING AND MANAGED A STRONG SEVENTH QUICK TIME AMONG THE STRONG BADGER STANDOUTS. JUST MISSING THE DASH BRANDON WOULD START DEEP IN THE FOURTH HEAT RACE. HEAT FOUR TURNED OUT TO BE QUITE EXCITING WITH WAELTI BARELY MISSING TWO ACCIDENTS ON THE FIRST LAP,BUT BRANDON FINISHED THIRD IN THE STACKED HEAT. STARTING ON THE OUTSIDE OF ROW TWO IN THE FEATURE BRANDON HAD ONE OF HIS BEST OPPORTUNITIES TO WIN A RACE THIS SEASON. AARON FISCUS GOT OUT TO THE EARLY LEAD BUT BRANDON REELED HIM IN AND GOT THE LEAD EARLY IN THE RACE. FIGHTING OF COMPETITORS FOR A FEW RE-STARTS BRANDON HELD A GOOD LEAD BUT COULDN'T'T HOLD OFF THE CHALLENGES OF ADAM CLARKE. WITH MANY HARD FOUGHT BATTLES FROM FISCUS, DESELLE, HATTON, AND STRATTON JUST TO NAME A FEW BRANDON ENDED HIS NIGHT IN THE THIRD SPOT. IF LAPPED TRAFFIC WOULDN'T'T HAVE SLOWED WAELTI IN THE LATE STAGES BRANDON WAS CONFIDENT HE COULD HAVE GOTTEN SECOND. OVERALL IT WAS GOOD NIGHT FOR WAELTI AND CREW.

BRANDON STILL SITS FOURTH IN THE BMARA STANDINGS GOING INTO THE AUG. 27TH SHOW AT SUN PRAIRIE. WATCH FOR BRANDON TO RACE IN THE SAT. NIGHT USAC RACE AT SUN PRAIRIE.

August 13 , 2006
Sun Prairie , WI

After running second in the feature at Wilmont last sat. and having a rearend failure end his night early Brandon had high expectations for this Sun. at Sun Prairie. With an early qualifying no. drew normally that would be good but a slimy track would handicap his qualifying efforts but still managed a strong 8th quick in time. Starting deep in the third heat race Brandon had to weave his way through the field with some slower cars making bold and unexpected moves. Brandon took his time and finished second in the eight car heat race. Starting on the inside of the second row Brandon had a great starting spot for the A-Main but with many strong cars behind him he would have his work cut out. Getting a decent start Brandon would run in the top 3-4 for most of the race. The race was a one groove track right around the top which meant it was a "slide job fest" for passing. With numerous attempts and many lapped cars in the way Brandon positioned himself third with a handful of laps remaining when Mike Hess threw a ugly slide job on Brandon and got the position. With a fourth place finish Brandon heads into the Corn Fest 50 at Sun Prairie fourth in the bmara standings.

As the race season is quickly approching the end Waelti and crew have made small gains in making the new car faster. In the past few weeks qualifyingg efforts have slightly improved but the feature finishes have gotten steadily more consistent. With a top 5 run two weeks ago and a strong 13th to 3rd last Sunday, Brandon is opptomistic about the remaining races in the B.M.A.R.A. race season. This weekend Brandon and crew are ready for a double header weekend with Saturday night at Wilmont and Sunday at Sun Prairie. With any luck Brandon can have a successful weekend in the Waelti/Schulenburg #3. Brandon sits 4th in the B.M.A.R.A. points going into the August 5-6 race weekend.

In the last few weeks Brandon has gotten his feet wet in the Pathfinder house car running 3 ASA Late Model events at Madison International Speedway.

The three outings have placed Brandon at some "wrong place at the wrong time" moments. Each week Brandon has gained valuable track time and by the July 28th night at MIS, Brandon qualified 13th. On the 28th while running in the top 5 of the feature Brandon was caught in a "racing incident" sending him to the back to later be involved in a "major pile up" which ended his night. Brandon appreciates the patience of Joe Wood and Jason Schuler in his learning curve of how to drive the different cars. Look for Brandon to run the #50 Pathfinder car at MIS later in August.

July 2, 2006
Sun Prairie , WI

With two rainouts in the last two weeks, Waelti and crew were anxious to get back on the track. Pulling a late draw, Brandon again struggled in qualifying by timing in at a disappointing 13 quick on the night. Brandon would start outside row two in the fourth heat race. Brandon didn't take long getting to the lead and would have to clinch the heat race win ahead of Kuhn and Fiscus. By qualifying poor Waelti and crew had to start 13th in the 22 car field. Waelti again used the low like to charge past numerous cars to gete himself in the top 10. With lapped cars beginning to be a problem, Brandon adjusted his line to the outside. By the end of the feature, Brandon and crew scored a respectable fourth place finish for the night.

Brandon is still in a torrid points battle with Fiscus, Stratton, Hatton, and Kuhn. Brandon is second in the points going into the July 11 race at Sun Prairie. This week Brandon also makes him first start in the ASA Late Model Series since late 2005.

June 11 , 2006
Sun Prairie , WI

Brandon and crew had hight expectations coming intothe June 11 race and hoped to imporve on teh disappointing weekend of June 3rd and 4th. Waelti started the night by drawing a late qualifying no. and would have to settle with a 10th quick result. Staring deep in the 4th heat, Brandon vaulted to the lead early, but was challenged late in the race by Jerry Coons Jr. and Scott Hatton. Making some minor changes for the feature, Brandon and crew had a great starting spot of 2nd. On the start, Brandon and Danny Straton went to the top of the track which proved to be bad as Aaron Fiscus jumped into the lead. Throughout the feature, Brandon ran in the top 4. Brandon had heated battles with Coons Jr, Fiscus and Brad Kuhn. By the checkered flag, Brandon was able to come home witha 3rd place finish.

Brandon sits 2nd in BMARA points going into the double-header this weekend at Wilmot and Sun Prairie.

May 28, 2006
Sun Prairie , WI

With one week in the books with the new car, Waelti and crew hope to use the knowledge from last week to help to propel them to a top five finsih again.
Drawing a late qualifing number again, timing in was once again a struggle with the new car but still improved to slate a 12th quick time among the field. Starting fifth in the second heat Brandon managed to work his way up to second postion with strong contenders of Ray and DeSelle behind him.
With a solid heat race in the books Brandon and crew made some adjustments for the feature. Brandon would start 12th in the 22 car field and would gain positions quickly. By lap 3 Brandon worked his way to 5th place. With many cautions and two red flags Brandon had numerous on track battles with Hess, Kuhn, DeSelle and Erfurth to name a few. When the checkard flag flew Brandon ended up with a solid 3rd place finish.
The finish was great for the Waelti race team and again learned alot about the new car. With the good finish Brandon is now sitting 2nd in BMARA points heading into this weekends Beaver Dam race Sat. nite.

May 21, 2006
Sun Prairie , WI

With the Waelti Racing team receiving there new engine on Thursday night, it was a thrash to get the new 2006 Stealth/Esslinger ready for Sunday night's opener at Sun Prairie. With the determination of the whole crew it made its debut Sunday night. With so many new variables, Waelti and crew knew there would more than likely be some learning curves with the new car. It would show in qualifing as Brandon qualified a disapointing 18th quick. With some whole-sale changes the crew managed to get the car a lot better for the heat with a strong second place finish, but knew that they would have to start deep in the feature line up.

Starting 18th in the feature Brandon had his work cut out for him but with 50 laps to do it he knew he had a chance to possibly get in the top 10. As the feature started Brandon weaved his way through the field, the car handling alot better than expected. With a few cautions and one red flag Brandon passed Davey Ray on the last lap to finish an inpressive second place. It was a great nite for the Waelti Racing and the debut of the new car. Brandon and crew still have a lot to learn about the new car but have a better understanding on what it may need. Bandon sits 4th in the BMARA standings going into the Memorial Day weekend event at Sun Prairie May 28.

May 6, 2006
Beaver Dam, WI

After a disappointing result at the Badger opener in Lincoln Illinois, Waelti was looking for a good finish @ Powercom Park, where he has had one career feature win. Qualifing was a "Grand Prix" style format where your hot laps were your qualifing laps. When everything panned out Waelti ened up eighth quick on the ultra slick track. Starting at the tail end of the second heat race Brandon made a last lap pass to secure a starting spot in the A main field. Starting in the third row Waelti had his work cut out for him. Due to the slick race track conditions, passing was limited. Brandon had a good battle with fellow badger standouts DeSelle and Hatton in the closing laps to earn a sixth place finish. Brandon heads into Sun Prairie's opener May 21 tied for 6th in points.

With the 2005 race season in the books Waelti looks forward to the 2006 race season. New in 2006 is going to be a brand new 06' Stealth/Esslinger which Brandon hopes to debut at the season opener in Sun Prairie along with the proven Stealth/Mopar as a very reliable back up car. With a tough field of Badger competitors Waelti and crew think that this combination is going to do well for there hopes of a Badger title. Also new to the team this year is a new sponsor Carl F. Statz and sons out of Wanaukee. Midget racing is nothing new to them as they have sponsored cars in the past. Brandon and crew welcome them to the team!

Brandon also has been tabbed to run the Pathfinder chassis ASA late model house car at Madison International Speedway in Oregon. Brandon will share racing duties with Late model standout Brian Hoppe and Nascar star Matt Kenseth. Brandon would like to thank Joe Wood and Jason Schuler for the oppurtunity for some stock car experience. With a full slate of racing in 2006 Brandon will have a busy summer. Check out www.brandonwaelti.com for race results, pictures and schedule of events during the race season!