Crib Chariot Outpaces 23 Rivals to Claim $1,500 Prize
Four local fathers beat college students and community groups in a muddy, creative race on Langdon Street.
By Amina Kaminski ·
Sam Peterson crossed the finish line on Oct. 17 still wearing a baby carrier strapped to his chest. He was not holding a real infant, but a doll. He and three other men from his church group, known as Fast and Fatherly, won the Red Bull Chariot Race in Madison. Their vehicle, a hand-built cart modeled after a baby crib and decorated with toys, beat out 23 competing teams.
The four men collected a $1,500 cash prize and 60 cases of Red Bull. Three are new fathers, while the fourth described himself as a "hopefully-soon-to-be dad." They said they intend to spend the money on a family vacation. Peterson told The Daily Cardinal that the competition was far more difficult than he anticipated. Teammate Micah Palmer, who raced while dressed in a baby outfit, said he wanted his children to learn that one can humiliate oneself and still enjoy the experience.
The race began with 24 teams paired into 12 head-to-head heats starting outside Memorial Union. Competitors pushed their carts to a turnaround point on Lake Street, where they solved a Red Bull puzzle and switched positions before racing back. The event was judged on construction, creativity, and a pre-race skit. Red Bull provided each team with $200 to cover building costs.
The team that finished second, "The Eagle Has Landed," performed a patriotic routine featuring a choreographed lift. Joe Jaroski, a senior and member of the Wisconsin cheer team, dressed as Uncle Sam and spent hours perfecting the move with teammate Erin Kelly. Matt Kleist noted the experience provided a memorable capstone to their senior year. "Grouchiator Maximus" took third place, finishing ahead of "Minion Mayos," whose supporters dressed as Minions to cheer from the sidelines.
Aaron Colton, a professional motorcycle stunt performer and Red Bull athlete, served as one of three judges. He stated that creativity accounted for more than half of the scoring, noting that some teams built their carts that same morning while others spent weeks on theirs. He called the puzzle "the great equalizer." The other judges were Kayla Ruedebusch, a foil athlete and content creator, and Jay Wanserski, who owns Wando's and Jay's Bar. Ruedebusch said the creative elements distinguished the event from other races.
Madison was the fifth stop on Red Bull's nine-city tour. Jada Cerniglia, a UW-Madison volleyball alumna, and Tommy Violet, a Milwaukee comedian, hosted the event for the first time. Colton had previously judged the race in two other locations. The crowd of more than 3,000 included prospective students, residents, and alumni. Tohnie, a UW-Madison alum who previously lived on Langdon Street, said she loved returning to her "home-away-from-home."
