Michigan Connection; Bogusz & Baur Split MSR Midwest Lights Twins At Kalamazoo
Photos by KR Poole Photography
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (July 4, 2025) – Charlie Baur and Andrew Bogusz each took home trophies from Kalamazoo Speedway on a Fourth of July Friday night, splitting the spoils of twin features for the Must See Racing Maxima Midwest Lights.
In the first feature, Baur put the demons of his two missed opportunities at Owosso Speedway two weeks earlier behind him, taking control on the initial start from the outside pole and managing his American Racer tires to perfection.
The 19-year-old from Fenton, Mich., led the 20-lapper from start to finish in a caution-free opening act for his long-awaited first career Midwest Lights victory in his 25th series start.
After twin features at Owosso saw Baur passed on a late restart and then suffering a blown tire in the nightcap, it was evident by his emotion in victory lane that redemption was sweet indeed.
“We needed this so badly, for me, for our team, for our sponsors … this is everything we’ve been working toward,” Baur said in victory lane. “We put on a show at Owosso and didn’t come away with anything to show for it, so tonight was about finishing the deal. We’ve been hustling around traveling for so long now and come so close, so to finally win one of these things is huge.
“It’s been a different game for us recently; we’ve never had to manage the tires as much as we have this season, so it’s a skill I’ve definitely had to work on,” he added. “I always like to run on the edge, so saving has been a bit difficult for me … but I’m just grateful to finally have this moment, and hopefully it can be the first of many.
“We finally got the monkey off our back!”
Henes chased Baur for nearly the entirety of the first main, until a tire issue in the closing stages saw him lose second place to three-time Kalamazoo track champion Lucas Krick on the final lap.
Krick came home a career-best second, with Henes filling out the podium ahead of Bogusz and Keegan Weese.
A five-car invert for the second main event – shortened to 15 laps due to multiple tire issues from the first race – put Baur back in the third row and his longtime friend and rival Andrew Bogusz in the same outside front-row starting spot that Baur won from previously.
Bogusz put together a mirror performance, jumping to the lead on the opening circuit and never looking back for his second Midwest Lights win of the season and the seventh of his career.
It marked a strong bounce back for the Shelby Township, Mich., teenager after what he called “a weekend to forget” last time out at Owosso.
“It feels absolutely great to be back in victory lane,” said Bogusz afterward. “I love coming to this place; it’s where I got my first Lights win and with the multi-groove racing … there’s just always a show for the fans here.
“I knew J.J. was coming at the end. I could hear him behind me,” Bogusz added. “I just had to play a bit of defense and keep clicking [laps] off.”
Henes was closing on Bogusz in an attempt to steal the second act away, but simply ran out of time.
“I just needed a couple more laps,” Henes lamented. “The sun went away and we got a lot faster.”
Weese completed the podium for the second feature, followed by Baur, who could only muster fourth after his win earlier in the evening. Krick was the final driver in the top five at the checkered flag.
Henes was the fast qualifier after a lap of 12.229 seconds in group time trials to open the program.
The Must See Racing Maxima Midwest Lights season continues Saturday night, July 19 at Midvale Speedway, the tour’s debut at the Ohio speedplant.
For more information on Must See Racing, visit www.mustseeracing.com.
RESULTS: Must See Racing Maxima Midwest Lights; Kalamazoo (Mich.) Speedway; July 4, 2025
Maxima Racing Oils Qualifying (best of two laps): 1. J.J. Henes, 36JR, Henes-12.229; 2. Andrew Bogusz, 17, Bogusz-12.406; 3. Charlie Baur, 23, Baur-12.485; 4. Lucas Krick, 9, USA Earthworks-12.659; 5. Keegan Weese, 37, Henes-12.755; 6. Brandon Lemmerman, 64, Henes-12.967; 7. Matt Double, 14X, USA Earthworks-13.929.
A-Feature #1 (20 laps): 1. 23-Charlie Baur [2], 2. 9-Lucas Krick [1], 3. 36JR-J.J. Henes [3], 4. 17-Andrew Bogusz [7], 5. 37-Keegan Weese [4], 6. 64-Brandon Lemmerman [5], 7. 14X-Matt Double [6].
Lap Leader(s): Charlie Baur 1-20.
Hard Charger: 17-Andrew Bogusz (+3)
A-Feature #2 (20 laps): 1. 17-Andrew Bogusz [2], 2. 36JR-J.J. Henes [3], 3. 37-Keegan Weese [1], 4. 23-Charlie Baur [5], 5. 9-Lucas Krick [4], 6. 64-Brandon Lemmerman [6], 7. 14X-Matt Double [7].
Lap Leader(s): Andrew Bogusz 1-15.
Hard Charger: 17-Andrew Bogusz (+1)
