Angell Park Speedway PhotoUsed with permission from Angell Park Speedway

Bill Berg didn’t have a chance. With his dad Dick, as a corner worker for the Badger midgets and three local midget racing heros as older brothers, there was little doubt Berg would wheel a midget at some point. Growing up in Sun Prairie he did what local kids do on Sunday. He attended the races at Angell Park. When he was old enough, he crewed for his brothers Ron, Al and Dan Fredenberg. "It’s all their fault," he claims of his brothers’ expectations that he would someday take the wheel.

In 1989 Tom and Tammy Bong gave him his first shot at midget racing and he didn’t disappoint. That year he finished 13th in Badger points and was their Rookie of the Year. From then through the mid-1990's he was a regular at the speedway.

Berg notes he had several runner-up efforts in feature events here. He was in the top 15 in Badger points nearly every season he competed. And he notes, "I think I raced at a really good time. I can say I raced against Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Rich Vogler, Jason Leffler and JJ Yeley," all with now lengthy NASCAR resumes. But he takes nothing away from the likes of Randy Koch, Dan Boorse, Scott Hatton or Kevin Olson who he would have banged wheels against on a weekly basis.

After running for the Bongs, Berg started a team with Mark Pond and Penny Simmons known as BPS Racing. He also drove the V4 for the McNulty team before finishing his career with the Fillners. After the midget he raced in the Madison International Speedway’s truck series for a couple of years and then he retired from racing.

Today Berg still lives in the area. His daughters Bailee and McKenna keep him busy as does his job in warehouse equipment sales and installation. Asked if he participates in racing at all these days, he explains with a chuckle, "I exceeded my fun in racing and I just spectate now." As a spectator, he’s easy enough to spot as Sundays find him, elbow bent, standing by the pavilion in turn one.