Fast and Fatherly Claims $1,500 in Madison Chariot Race

A crew of four Madison men collected a $1,500 cash prize and 60 cases of Red Bull after winning the company's chariot race on Oct. 17. The team, named Fast and Fatherly, defeated 23 other entries in a competition held on Langdon Street. More than 3,000 spectators watched the event, which featured head-to-head racing between 12 pairs of teams.

The winning group differed from the majority of the field because none of its members were university students. Three of the men are new fathers, while the fourth described himself as a soon-to-be dad. They constructed their vehicle to resemble a baby crib and decorated it with their children's toys. Sam Peterson, a team member, stated the race was harder than anticipated. He competed while wearing a baby carrier holding a doll. Teammate Micah Palmer dressed as a baby and said he hopes their children learn that self-humiliation can still be enjoyable. The three fathers plan to use the winnings for a family vacation.

The second-place team, The Eagle Has Landed, performed a patriotic skit that included a choreographed lift. Joe Jaroski, a senior and member of the Wisconsin cheer team, dressed as Uncle Sam. He and fellow senior Erin Kelly spent hours preparing the lift. Matt Kleist, another teammate, described the race as a memorable senior year experience. The Grouchiator Maximus took third place, finishing ahead of Minion Mayos. The Minion team had approximately 30 supporters dressed in costume cheering from the sidelines. The two runner-up teams also received unique events sponsored by Red Bull.

Judging for the race included creativity, construction, and a pre-race skit. Aaron Colton, a Red Bull athlete and professional motorcycle stunt performer, served as one of three judges. He noted that creativity accounted for more than half of the total score. Colton observed that some teams built their carts that same morning while others worked for weeks. He called the Red Bull Puzzle, which racers had to solve at the Lake Street turnaround, the great equalizer. The other judges were Kayla Ruedebusch, a Madison-based creator and foil athlete, and Jay Wanserski, owner of Wando's and Jay's Bar. Ruedebusch said the show elements distinguished this race from others.

The event marked the fifth stop on Red Bull's nine-stop tour, which primarily targets college towns. Jada Cerniglia, a UW-Madison volleyball alumna, and Tommy Violet, a Milwaukee comedian, hosted the show. Both were making their debut at a Red Bull event. Colton had previously judged two other locations. Some participants were new to the competition. Team Super Badgers, an all-freshman entry, was surprised when they received notification of their acceptance. Teammate Brennan Schumann said a friend submitted their application without telling them.

The crowd included friends, family, prospective students, and local residents. Tohnie, a university alum who previously lived on Langdon Street, attended the event. She described the street as her home away from home.