Chariot Race Winnings: Fatherhood Team Takes Prize

The contest for the Red Bull Chariot Race prize concluded on Oct. 17 with a victory for a group of local fathers, who outpaced a field of 23 other teams. The event, which drew over 3,000 spectators to Langdon Street, pitted a diverse lineup of participants against one another in a competition that tested both athletic ability and creative design. The winning entry, titled 'Fast and Fatherly,' was comprised of four men who connected through a church group.

Unlike many of the competitors in the bracket, this group did not consist of college students. The team's composition included three new fathers and one man who described himself as a 'hopefully-soon-to-be dad.' Their entry, designed to resemble a baby crib and decorated with children's toys, secured the top spot in the competition.

The financial incentives for the victory are substantial. The team will receive $1,500 and 60 cases of Red Bull. The participants indicated that they plan to direct the cash winnings toward a vacation for their families. Sam Peterson, who competed while wearing a baby carrier with a baby doll inside, noted, 'This was so much harder than I thought it was going to be.' Teammate Micah Palmer, who dressed as a baby, expressed a desire for their children to learn 'that you can humiliate yourself and still have a good time.'

The competition structure required teams to navigate a course beginning outside Memorial Union. At the Lake Street turnaround point, participants were required to solve a Red Bull Puzzle and switch positions before racing back. Judging criteria included chariot construction, creativity, and a pre-race skit, with each team receiving $200 for building costs. Aaron Colton, a professional motorcycle stunt performer serving as a judge, stated that creativity accounted for more than half of the scoring and referred to the puzzle as 'the great equalizer.'

The financial outcomes extended beyond the primary winner. The team 'The Eagle Has Landed' finished in second place, while 'Grouchiator Maximus' placed third. Both of these runners-up will receive unique Red Bull-sponsored events as part of their prize package. The event in Madison marked the fifth stop on a nine-stop chariot race tour that primarily visits college towns.

The event was hosted by UW-Madison volleyball alumna Jada Cerniglia and Milwaukee comedian Tommy Violet. The crowd on Langdon Street included prospective students visiting campus and Madison residents, including a UW-Madison alumna who previously lived on the street. Spectator Tohnie remarked, 'I love coming back to my home-away-from-home.'

While some teams, including 'Fast and Fatherly,' have secured their winnings, others were surprised simply to be participating. 'Team Super Badgers,' an all-freshman group, found out they had been selected for the event only after a friend submitted the application for them.