Saturday, July 31, 2010

Orleans Raceway Winners Circle July 30th

Orleans Raceway Heat & Feature WINNERS 7/30/2010

Heat winners

4 cyl. Mini stock RWD
1st #37 Ed Kruger
2nd #53 Bob Kleibush
3rd #56 Rod McCausey
4th #610 Blaine Hendrick
5th #38 Dean Klase
6th ##10 Tony Campbell
7th #69 Carl Cooper

4 cyl. Super Street FWD
1st #?Austin Bean
2nd # 48 Lee Zahm
3rd #799 Nick Corder
4th #88(2) Brandon Bush
5th #73 Austin Wiley
6th #52m David Marsh
7th #93M Nathaniel Marsh

Pro Stock
1st # 17 Gary Snyder
2nd #88 Todd Bush
3rd#11 Dave Parker
4th #44 Blake Hollenbeck
5th #3Rod Heikkla

Hobby Stock
Heat #1
1st #5s Frank White
2nd #68 Ron Harper
3rd #54 Randy Acker
4th #32 Bob Town
5th #3m Mark Mathis
6th #3 Gerald Marsh

Heat #2
1st #7m Shorty Marsh
2nd #21 George Wease
3rd #2 Justin Ogden
4th #5 Joe Fields
5th #96 Dustin Stang
6th #63 Terry Ogden

Feature Winners

4 cyl. Mini stock RWD
1st #37 Ed Kruger
2nd #56 Rod McCausey
3rd #53 Bob Kleibusch
4th #610 Blaine Hendrick
5th #38 Dean Klase
6th #69 Carl Cooper
7th #10 Tony Campbell

4 cyl. Super Street FWD
1st # 48 Lee Zahm
2nd #?Austin Bean
3rd #73 Austin Wiley
4th #93M Nathaniel Marsh
5th #799 Nick Corder
6th #88(2) Brandon Bush
7th #52m David Marsh

Pro Stock
1st #88 Todd Bush
2nd #17 Gary Snyder
3rd#3Rod Heikkla
4th #44 Blake Hollenbeck
5th #11 Dave Parker

Hobby Stock
1st #7m Shorty Marsh
2nd #21 George Wease
3rd #54 Randy Acker
4th #68 Ron Harper
5th #32 Bob Town
6th #5 Joe Fields
7th#5s Frank White
8th #2 Justin Ogden
9th #3m Mark Mathis
10th #96 Dustin Stang
11th #63 Terry Ogden
12th #3 Gerald Marsh NS

Winston Speedway Winners Circle: July 30th

Late Models: #21 Tom Sprague Jr
Modifieds: #88 Greg Smith
Sportsman: #96 Mike Lynn
Bombers: #72 Bill May
Mini Stocks: #21 Bradon Tramper
Warriors: #13 Dan Reimersma
Young Guns: #34 Sean Sobers

Complete Results

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Changes at Berlin Raceway

General manager Kevin Striegle's departure among changes at Berlin Raceway

Steve Ungrey
The Grand Rapids Press


The largest short-track raceway in West Michigan will have a new race director in time for its 60th anniversary.

Berlin Raceway on Tuesday announced general manager Kevin Striegle has left the track, effective immediately.

The departure was Striegle's choice. He is moving to the Carolinas with the hope of latching on to a racing group.

"Kevin has a couple cousins in that area, and they've been able to get jobs in motorsports," Berlin owner and promoter Mike Blackmer said. "This hurts. It's going to leave a huge void because he's very knowledgeable. He did so much for us."

Striegle's responsibilities included lineups on race days, designing banners around the track and design work on the raceway's website.

Nick Caudle, who previously was involved in promotions and sales, temporarily will handle some of the business operations.

Blackmer also announced he is stepping aside from race day operations to focus more on behind-the-scenes aspects.

Blackmer, who owns Boyne Machine, still will be visible on Saturdays, but he won't be in charge of the races.

"I have a lot on my plate and I wanted to step back and take a look at what needed to be fixed," Blackmer said. "I had to make some changes. Racers will see some major changes in the next couple weeks behind the scenes.

"The biggest thing for me was bringing the stress during the week from Boyne and was I being fair to the competitors."

Jason Hoogerhyde, a 16-year employee at Boyne and a former racer, has been named Berlin's new director of race day operations and vice president of general operations.

"I started working last year behind the scenes, dealing with the racing end and tech crew," said Hoogerhyde, who raced in Pro Stock for four seasons.

"I've never dealt with keeping the show moving along and being in the pit area, but the drivers all know me and I know almost everyone out there. Mike will still be watching the races and seeing what's going on."

Double Header Weekend at I-96 Speedway



Friday July 30th - Night of Massive Destruction
Featuring West Michigan Off Road Derby
This will also include a Gauntlet Race,
Trash Can Bowling and School Bus Racing

Admission is $10 for Adults, $5 for kids 6-12, 5 and under are FREE!
Pit Gate opens at 4pm, Grandstands at 5pm, Racing at 7:00pm

Saturday July 31st -
UMP Late Models, UMP Modifieds,
Street Stocks and 4 cylinders,
and Faster Pastor Races, kids will also
have a chance to ride on race cars!

Admission is $12 for Adults, $8 for Seniors, $5 for kids 6-12
Pit Gate opens at 4pm, Grandstands at 5pm, Hotlaps at 6pm, Racing at 7:30pm

Winston Speedway: Vinnie Homan Memorial



This Friday will be the Vinnie Homan Memorial for Street Stocks. $400 to win. A portion of ticket sales will go to charity. This race will be a good tune up for the 100 lap, Super Street Nationals August 6th. Any questions call 231-206-1566.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Sentimental Win For Scott Hantz: VanDoorn's Luck goes Bad

Three time CRA Champion Scott Hantz won the Anderson 300 tonight. Earlier in the week his car owner Dick Poe passed away from cancer. Brian Johnson did everything but spin Hantz in the final laps but had to settle for second.

Coopersville's Johnny VanDoorn was running fourth on the white flag lap only to be spun by Terry Fisher Jr after he was hit by Chase Elliot. Vandoorn ended his evening in the wall. VanDoorn finished in 9th place.

Other Michigan drivers Jay Newiek finished 13th and Brian Campell finished 22nd

VanDoorn and Campbell at Anderson Speedway

Look for Johnny VanDoorn and Brian Campbell to do battle tonight at 7:00 with the likes of Kyle Busch, Ken Schrader as well as many other CRA stars. Listen live by clicking here:

Winning in dramatic fashion is Brian Bergakker's style at Berlin Raceway

Winning in dramatic fashion is Brian Bergakker's style at Berlin Raceway

Steve Ungrey
The Grand Rapids Press

MARNE -- The last thing any driver wants to do is wreck his or her vehicle, which can result in thousands of dollars in damage.

Wrecking a car gave Brian Bergakker two big and unexpected Modified victories.

For the past two weeks, Bergakker and Billy Shotko have put on a show for the fans at Berlin Raceway. Each time, Bergakker has ended up on top of the feature race that week, with Shotko finishing second.

“It’s the second week in a row I’ve done this," Bergakker said. “I destroyed my car in the USA Modifieds race which was here a couple weeks ago, and it’s been good so far. I’ve won both weeks I’ve been in this car.”

Bergakker jumped the right rear tire of another driver during the USA Modified race July 3, sending him hard into the wall.

“The chassis was pretty well junked, and most of the suspension was junked," he said. "The engine, rear end and drive train were pretty good, but the rest of it was toast."

Bergakker, of Lowell, was the Modified points champion last summer at Kalamazoo Speedway. A car owner at Kalamazoo, Mark Fliearman, gave him a new vehicle.

“I used to drive for those guys and won the track title down there for them. They just offered me Mark’s car to race for the rest of the year,” Bergakker said.

“We just put in a new setup and took it from there.”

Bergakker is vying for the first championship in Berlin’s new Modified division, which was added before the 2010 racing season. He had a 41-point edge over Travis Eddy and a 52-point edge over Shotko going into Saturday, which was a race that counted for double the normal points. Point standings for the upcoming week will be released before Tuesday.

“I just like racing with Billy,” Bergakker said. “He’s a hard driver around here and a good guy. He has a lot of laps here and I don’t. It’s been a lot of fun leading the point standings.”

The Modifieds race at Berlin six more times, but only the first five will count toward the season point standings. The next race for the Modifieds will be Saturday as part of Berlin’s 60th anniversary night.

BERLIN RACEWAY

•Late Models: Tim DeVos
•Super Stocks: Andrew Nylaan
•Pro Stocks: Brian Tillema
•4-Cylinders A: Ryan Hamm
•4-Cylinders B: Mike Speet

CRYSTAL MOTOR SPEEDWAY

•Late Models: Rusty Seaver
•Pro Stocks: Chaney Newland
•Modifieds: A.J. Ward
•Pro Trucks: Ashlee Scott
•Street Stocks: Kevin Rohn

THUNDERBIRD RACEWAY

•Late Models: Dave Hilliker
•Modifieds: Walt Wisniewski
•Bombers: Spike Grega
•Street Stocks: Dan Dykman
•4-Cylinders: Nick Curtis
•Warriors: Brian Carlson
•Thunder Stocks: Mike Pickard

WINSTON SPEEDWAY

•Late Models: Kevin Nelson Jr.
•Factory Stocks: Mike Epplett
•4-Cylinders: Brandon Tramper
•Warriors: Harley Farkle
•Young Guns: Bethany May
AROUND THE STATE

DIXIE MOTOR SPEEDWAY

•Pro Late Models: Blake Childers
•Modifieds: Mike Luberda Sr.
•Pro Stocks: Don Riley
•Street Stocks: Jake Caverly
•Bombers: Kyle Maize
•Figure 8s: Ray DerMiner

MOUNT PLEASANT SPEEDWAY

•Late Models: Bill Bray
•Modifieds: Rich Robinson Jr.
•Stock Cars: Greg Tragis
•Modified Mini Stocks: Trever Fedewa
•Stock Minis: Bob Baltierrez

SPARTAN SPEEDWAY

•Super Late Models: Logan Beckwith
•Modifieds: Tom Hernly Jr.
•Pony Stocks: Wayne Beckner Jr.
•Pure Stocks: Landon Hidy

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Crystal Motor Speedway Storyline July 24th

July 24th 2010 Results!

Saturday night at Crystal Motor Speedway was “Yes 2 Kids Night” and kids were able to meet and get autographs from their favorite drivers on the front stretch prior to the races.
Austin Bean jumped out front in the Races On The Web Flinn Stock feature with Richard Melton and Cory Burch tucked in behind him. Bean began to lose power and began to fade back. Melton picked up the front spot but Burch began gaining on him quickly. Melton scraped the wall, allowing Burch to take the lead. Chance Allen and Zach Rummer gave chase but Burch began to stretch out a lead and once out front he was untouchable. He won over Allen, Rummer, DeCamp, Neil Zeigler, Ryan Paradise, Matt Kammers, Nick Corder, Austin Bean, and Taylor Daniels. Richard Melton won the heat.

The Kentucky Fried Chicken sponsored Late Model feature had an early duel for position between Rusty Seaver and Carl Reis with Seaver out front. Roger Wing began to move up from deeper in the field just behind Kurt Mesman, Tom Dusen and Mickey Carman. Seaver continued running out front but his safe lead disappeared when the yellow flew with just ten laps to go. When the green fell for the last time, Seaver was never headed and he won over Mesman, Ries, Wing, Dusen, Keith Gentz, Zack Olger, Dean Huizenga, Mark Andersen, and Ryan VanderVeen. Scott Haney and Wing took heat wins.

Doug McKeown Sr had a great run Saturday night and led most of the Port City Pro Stock feature with Rick Edmister and Ryan Kent battling behind him. While that fight was going on, Chaney Newland was quickly moving up from 12th position to crack the top five. Robert McDonald and Barry Rinard had the position right in front of Newland but he was able to slide under them for third and moved to second and quickly set about chasing McKeown for the lead. With just a couple laps left, Newland overtook McKeown for the lead and the win. McKeown, Robert McDonald, Sr., Barry Rinard, Don Rohn, Ryan Kent, Gordon Snyder, Kurt Olar, Rodney Heikkila, and Greg Mandoka. Rohn grabbed the B Main while heats fell to Robert McDonald Sr and Jacob Headley.

Action in the Engine Pro IMCA Modified feature was dicey right from the start when four time consecutive feature winner Chad Wernette was involved in a racing incident that sent both cars to the back of the field in the first lap. Once green again, Dan Wiggins jumped out front with JR Schmid and AJ Ward close behind. Rusty Zeigler, Brennan Bowen and Joe Fowler bunched behind the top three after a brief caution for debris. On the restart, Ward jumped out front with Bowen following. With laps dwindling, Wernette made his way into the top five. With the white flag flying, Fowler pressed Ward hard but he was unable to make the pass. Ward won over Fowler, Brad Roberts, Dan Wiggins, Sr., Chad Wernette, Brennan Bowen, J.R. Schmid, Greg Wiles, Rusty Zeigler, and Rich Young. B Main wins went to Young and Wiles and Rusty Ziegler, Glen Moon, and Dan Minikey Jr went home with heat gold.

The most popular race with the fans was easily the Pro Truck feature where 14 year old Ashlee Scott got out front early and then spent the entire race fight off charges from Tim Wood, Nate Jones, Carl Thayer, and Chris Verhaar. Scott opened up a small but comfortable lead in the early laps that went away when Joe Nieman brought out the caution. She was quickly back out front but came under heavy pressure from Jones. Jones kept trying to get under Scott, trying to get her to make a mistake but she was able to maintain the lead. With one to go, Jones gave her one last challenge but she held on to take her first Pro Truck feature over Jones, Verhaar, Wood, Carl Thayer, Gaven Parks, Tim Sooy, Scott Nieman, Dave Peters, and Gary Dancer. Parks posed for the heat win.

The final event of the night was the Smokers Club of Mt Pleasant Street Stocks and it turned out to be a fight between Kevin Rohn James Prochazka. Al Kiester and Bobby Lynn where in the battle of the top five when they tangled with both cars ending up in the pits and out of contention. Tim Buskirk and Mike Chlebek Jr all scrambled for position but Rohn got out front with a very comfortable lead and he never looked back. Prochazka made one last minute push but was unable to haul in the high flying Rohn as he won over Prochazka, Jasen Wiley, Mike Vandermark, Jr., Mike Chlebek, Jr., Tim Buskirk, Anthony Carlton, Jeff Fisher, Roger Stewart and. Brooke Ann Brasington. Wiley took the B Main win and heat wins were recorded by Rohn and Carlton.

Next week at Crystal Motor Speedway fins the MORA Outlaw Mini Sprints and the always popular school bus races, sponsored by ASAP Sales and Service. Gates open at 4:30 with racing starting at 7:30 PM. Adult admission to the grandstand is $12 and kids 5-11 are $4. Pit passes are $25. Further information can be obtained by calling the track office at 989.235.5200