Sprint Cup driver A.J. Allmendinger claims Modified win at Berlin Raceway
Steve Ungrey
The Grand Rapids Press
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MARNE -- Jeff Striegle hoped to sneak up behind A.J. Allmendinger with a victory shower of Mountain Dew.
The Byron Center resident quickly found out Allmendingeris just as fast off the track as he is on it.
Allmendinger turned around while standing in Victory Lane and quickly overpowered Striegle, giving the car owner his own soda bath.
“I was going to pour it over his head, but he had the pleasure instead. I’ll take a Mountain Dew shower if it means bringing a driver like A.J. in to race," Striegle said. "I’m just glad he had the opportunity to race here at Berlin.”
Striegle, track announcer Norm Jelsma and local car builder Mike Bursley teamed up to place a car in this year’s Berlin Modified Series, which is new to the speedway.
“Two years ago, Jeff brought some Make-A-Wish kids to the track and the kids came through the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital,” Jelsma said. “We decided if we could make a difference and be a diversion for the kids, then that’s what we wanted to do. Putting Mike at the helm of building this car was the best decision we ever made.”
Allmendinger, who finished 24th in last year’s NASCAR Sprint Cup standings, won the Modified 50-lap race by .448 seconds over Brian Bergakker and 1.75 seconds over Mike Brooks.
Not a bad finish for someone who was making his first appearance at the track.
Allmendinger’s previous experience with Berlin came via a video game, an ARCA track simulator that Allmendinger has played several times.
“It’s awesome,” Allmendingersaid when addressing the crowd after his win. “I’m excited to do so well and I’m grateful for the life that I live, and I’m just happy to be here.”
Jelsma and Striegle were happy to have Allmendinger in the car, especially since it resulted in a first-place finish and more recognition for the children’s program.
“He’s a class guy and I’m just glad we were able to have him here the extra day to come back and race,” said Striegle, who covers NASCAR for the Motor Racing Network.
“We felt very strongly about working with DeVos and it’s been a great program. He was able to work out a deal with Kyle Busch to fly back on his plane. We thought someone else would have to go in the car, but we were happy to have A.J. be a part of this.”
Jelsma has been involved with Berlin for more than 25 years, and this may rank among the most satisfying races he has called to date.
“A.J. is a talented driver. He got out of the trailer and put that car out there almost as fast as Mike has done it,” Jelsma said.
“Mike and Fred Campbell gave us a lot of help with A.J. He isn’t a short-track guy and he ended up doing so well. It’s certainly a lot of fun. We probably put more pressure on A.J. We told him Mike puts this car in Victory Lane, and you’d better do it, too."
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