“The ‘Cornfest', what’s that?” Eric Blumer Racing Jackman, Brady Kruchten asked innocently enough. Now, he’s a bright kid, looking forward to his freshman year at DII Waunakee (Wisconsin) High School. He’s asked questions before without blowback, but this was different. Among a crew otherwise comprised of Sun Prairie natives, currently at the town’s Angell Park Speedway, the question was particularly disturbing.
“You don’t know what Cornfest is?” ask the usually reserved Ryan “Speedy” Liegel, wide-eye, in an astonished 12 year-old’s tone.
“Are you serious? It’s like WaunaFest, (Waunakee’s quaint, summer festival) only 100 times bigger!” noted Car Cleanliness Officer, Cody Weisensel. Further explaining, much like Cliff Clavin of “Cheers” fame, “It draws an estimated 100,000 people annually to Sun Prairie and pumps untold dollars into the local economy.”
Even Iowa native Ken Hansen, who was pitted next to the EBR team said he knew what the famed Sun Prairie festival was.
And with that, Kruchten was briefly banished from the EBR pit area. Crew Chief, Justin Hoium quickly huddled the remaining team like Joe Gibbs before the Daytona 500 or a Super Bowl. “This is a teachable moment right here, boys. We’ve been blessed all of our lives with the annual Sun Prairie Sweet Corn Festival. The carnival, the games, the stage and the class reunions that are held at the beer tent and obviously the racing. Brady hasn’t had it as nice as us. How would you like it if you grew up in a DII town? Let’s get him back here and show him what the Cornfest spirit is all about!”
“Fine,” said driver Eric Blumer, “but we can’t just ignore this, we need him to run the jack, but he has to be punished somehow.”
“I know, we’ll put him on ‘Double Secret Probation,’” noted team elder Bill Blumer Jr., no stranger to being on the outs with EBR. “All those in favor?”
It was a unanimous, “I.”
And with that Liegel raced after his teammate and brought him back into the fold. The penalty was explained to Kruchten.
Choking back tears Brady said, “I know I should know more about Sun Prairie history. I wish I could live here all the time. I promise I won’t let you guys down. Going forward I’m going to learn all I can about Susie the Ground Hog, sidewalks and all the other stuff that makes Sun Prairie the greatest community in the state.”
Come see Kruchten and the rest of the EBR team as they compete in the Wisconsin Legends Racing Dirt Series portion of the annual Cornfest race on Sunday, August 18 at Sun Prairie's historic Angell Park Speedway. Please check the speedway's website for details. Get there early, the stands will be packed ear to ear.
Editor’s note: The preceding is a partially true story. The first line is sadly, very true. Some of the other quotes may not be 100% accurate or even real at all. No feelings were hurt in the sharing of this story.
Re the photo: One of the many nights the crew has been hard at work at the Maynard Dr facility of EBR. Brady is to the far right in the photo, Justin in the middle and Cody on the left.