Brian Tillema wins Berlin Raceway-best sixth Pro Stocks feature race of the season

Brian Tillema wins Berlin Raceway-best sixth Pro Stocks feature race of the season

Steve Ungrey
The Grand Rapids Press


MARNE -- The Pro Stocks division largely has been dominated by two drivers this season at Berlin Raceway.

If Weston Jewett hasn’t been winning races, Brian Tillema often has taken the checkered flag.

It took Tillema a while to make his way up front, but the Byron Center driver held off Dave Hull and Brandon Hermiller to pick up his sixth victory of the season Saturday night.

Tillema beat Hull by .21 seconds and Hermiller by .32 for the win. Tillema, who has won three consecutive Pro Stocks titles, now has six victories to Jewett’s five, and a slight edge in the points standings. Jewett finished the race in fourth place.

“You know, people might get sick of us winning a lot, but man, was that race exciting,” Tillema said. “I have to thank Dave Hull for giving me a great race.”

Hull came down the make-ready chute and gave Tillema a thumbs-up sign, even though Hull missed out on his first feature win of the season. Hull, who hails from Cedar Springs, never has won a championship at Berlin, with his high finish of fifth coming last year.

Tillema led Jewett by two points in the standings entering Saturday. Tillema and Jewett have won 11 of the 12 Pro Stocks races, with Ken Smith Jr. capturing the other.

“The caution flags coming out helped a lot, but it put me outside of Dave, and I’m nowhere near as good when I’m outside,” said Tillema, who has won 19 feature races at Berlin in four years to go with three consecutive Pro Stocks titles (2007-09).

“This is the first time I’ve battled with Dave like this. I’ve had a similar race this year with Weston and I lost out on that one, so it’s nice to get this back.”

With the Pro Stocks and Super Stocks points standings close entering Saturday -- Dave Lake and Travis Nylaan were tied for the Super Stock point standings before Saturday -- the final weeks are shaping up to be interesting.

Tillema said he doesn’t pay attention to points, but is aware now he has the upper hand.

“It really isn’t a breather. I don’t really race for points,” Tillema said. “Whether we’re behind by 50 points or ahead by 50 points, I’m racing the same no matter what.”

Tillema passed Jewett for second place on lap 14 of the 30-lap feature. He overtook Hull on the 21st lap on the front stretch. Hull and Tillema jockeyed for position until Tillema passed Hull with six laps to go and stayed in the lead.

THE BUZZ
The “B” feature: It was a welcome back to victory lane for Brian Bergakker. Overcoming two caution flags in the final laps, Brian Bergakker overtook Mike Bursley and Travis Eddy to post his third victory of the season during the 35-lap Modified event, one of three features offered Saturday night by Berlin. Bergakker’s win extended his lead in the point standings over Billy Shotko and Eddy. Bergakker led by 16 points entering Saturday.

Couldn’t quite get started: It was not a good night for Pro Stocks driver Kevin DeGood, who spun out on the south turn before the Pro Stocks race even completed its first lap. When the green flag came out again, he got in a tangle with Dave Cutler, resulting in another spinout. DeGood, who was 22nd in the points standings entering Saturday, dropped out of the race.

Up next: It is 4 Cylinder night at the track Saturday, featured on a program that also includes Late Model, Super Stocks and Pro Stocks features.