Saturday, September 4, 2010
Thunderbird Raceway Program Free tonight on Races on the Web
Go to Thunderbird Raceway's website here to view tonights program. Tonights free viewing is courtesy of Engine Pro
RACE TALK RADIO - sit down, strap in, sound off
Muskegon's Mike Garvey will be racing tonight Lee Fields Memorial 150 at Mobile Intenrational Speedway (FL). You can listen live on Race Talk Radio tonight around 9:00
RACE TALK RADIO - sit down, strap in, sound off
RACE TALK RADIO - sit down, strap in, sound off
Friday, September 3, 2010
Kody Weisner -Stock Feature-2010 Season Championships Night
Click Here to Watch. Kody is Driving the #1 UNOH car.
Keeping up With Muskegon's Kody Weisner
Limeland Speedway
The final Budweiser Thunderstocks feature of the year was a fitting conclusion to the season as point’s leader Tony Anderson and runner-up Jeff Koz battled each other for the win in the 15-lap race.
UNOH Racer Kody Weisner, a winner from earlier in the season, bolted to the front at the start and held the lead over Koz and Anderson for the first six circuits. Weisner, of Muskegon, Michigan, suffered a slight bobble and that’s all it took for Jeff Koz to make a pass for the lead. On the lap eight restart it was Koz, Anderson and Weisner at the front of the field.
Anderson’s points lead was not mathematically safe entering the final race, but at 48 points it would take a near perfect night for Koz and disaster for Tony Anderson to give Koz the title. The two engaged in a stirring side-by-side battle, with Koz ultimately prevailing for the second time this season and in his stock car career at Limaland.
For Bluffton’s Tony Anderson, it marked a sixth track championship. “It started to get rough out here about a month ago and I started to back off and look to win a championship, maybe more than wins,” stated Anderson. “A lot of these guys in this class have actually stepped up and made it very competitive.”
The 12th annual King of the Quarter Mile races are 10-lap showdowns that pit the respective feature winners throughout the season against each other for thousands of dollars of additional prize money. Starting positions are determined by a random draw as young fans join in the festivities making the selections for the competing drivers.
The Thunderstocks King event was a battle of attrition with Keith Ralston, Tim Bowen, Jeff Koz and UNOH Racer Kody Weisner all challenging for supremacy during the 10-lap shootout. Ralston t-boned his car into wall on the backside, Bowen suffered a flat tire, while eventual winner Barney Craig was the beneficiary of Koz, Tony Anderson and Kody Weisner battling with each other. Craig takes home the $1,000 in a season that saw him compete only part time, in the latter stages of the season.
The final event of the 2010 season is the Limaland Motorsports Park Awards Banquet on Saturday, October 16 at the UNOH Event Center. For tickets and complete information call 419-998-3168 during regular business hours. All the latest news and information about America’s premier quarter-mile dirt track can be found at www.limaland.com. You can also find Limaland Motorsports Park on Facebook.
Limaland Motorsports Park - 8/27/2010
UNOH Night
K&N UMP Modifieds
Heat 1 - (8 Laps - Top 5 Transfer)
1. OO-John Brooks; 2. 5X-Jerry Bowersock; 3. 74-Lenny Guyton; 4. O1-Chris Puskas; 5. 20K-Bill Keeler; 6. 28-Chad Rosenbeck; 7. 73-Jerry Hayden; 8. 65X-Steve Christman; 9. K9-Scott Gerdemen
Heat 2 - (8 Laps - Top 5 Transfer)
1. 22T-Tony Anderson; 2. L5-Casey Luedeke; 3. 40-Terry Hull; 4. 22B-Andy Bibler; 5. 42-Bob Baldwin; 6. 36-Kelly Bowlby; 7. 33-Clint Reagle; 8. 79-Shane Unger
Heat 3 - (8 Laps - Top 5 Transfer)
1. 52-Jeff Babcock; 2. 65-Todd Sherman; 3. 15H-Jon Henry; 4. 45P-Brian Post; 5. 19-Ryan Ordway; 6. 2-Andy Strait; 7. 15-Nick Katterhenry; 8. 47-Nick Rosselit
B-Main – (8 Laps – Top 5 Transfer)
1. 1-Andy Strait 2. 15-Nick Katterhenry 3. 36-Kelly Bowlby 4. 47-Nick Rosselit 5. 28-Chad Rosenbeck 6. 33-Clint Reagle 7. 79-Shane Unger 8. 73-Jerry Hayden 9. K9-Scott Gerdeman 10. 65X-Steve Christman
A-Main - (20 Laps)
1. 5X-Jerry Bowersock 2. 15H-Jon Henry 3. 40-Terry hull 4. 52-Jeff Babcock 5. 65-Todd Sherman 6. 45P-Brian Post 7. L5-Casey Luedeke 8. 00-John Brooks 9. 2-Andy Strait 10. 01-Chris Puskus 11. 22B-Andy Bibler 12. 42-Bob Baldwin 13. 22T-Tony Anderson 14. 15-Nick Katterhenry 16. 36-Kelly Bowlby 17. 74-Lenny Guyton 18. 19-Ryan Ordway 19. 47-Nick Rosselit 20. 28-Chad Rosenbeck
Bud Thunderstocks
Heat 1 - (8 Laps - Top 5 Transfer)
1. 27-Frank Paladino; 2. 22T-Tony Anderson; 3. 21H-Dave Hollon; 4. 99-Andy King; 5. 52B-Sam Bodine; 6. 5G-Anthony Goode; 7. 3-Randy Crossley; 8. 419-Chris Tressler
Heat 2 - (8 Laps - Top 5 Transfer)
1. 1-Kody Weisner; 2. O1W-Earnie Woodard; 3. 7B-Tim Bowen; 4. 71-Keith Ralston; 5. 19-Bill Reimund; 6. 58P-Jim Post; 7. 52G-Stacey Gazarek
Heat 3 - (8 Laps - Top 5 Transfer)
1. 16-Jeff Koz; 2. 88B-Zach Bowen; 3. 2K-Jason Kinney; 4. 71C-Barney Craig; 5. 5K-Karl Spoores; 6. O1-Ryan Odette; 7. 21Z-Butch Turman
B-Main - (8 Laps - Top 5 Transfer)
1. 58P-Jim Post; 2. 5G-Anthony Goode; 3. 52G-Stacey Gazarek; 4. 3-Randy Crossley; 5. 21Z-Butch Turman; 6. O1-Ryan Odette
A-Main - (15 Laps) [#]-Starting Position
1. 16-Jeff Koz[3]; 2. 22T-Tony Anderson[4]; 3. 27-Frank Paladino[1]; 4. 7B-Tim Bowen[8]; 5. O1W-Earnie Woodard[5]; 6. 88B-Zach Bowen[6]; 7. 58P-Jim Post[16]; 8. 21H-Dave Hollon[7]; 9. 99-Andy King[10]; 10. 2K-Jason Kinney[9]; 11. 19-Bill Reimund[14]; 12. 5G-Anthony Goode[17]; 13. 3-Randy Crossley[19]; 14. 5K-Karl Spoores[15]; 15. 1-Kody Weisner[2]; 16. 71-Keith Ralston[11]; 17. 52B-Sam Bodine[13]; 18. 52G-Stacey Gazarek[18]; 19. 71C-Barney Craig[12]; 20. 21Z-Butch Turman[20]
King of the Quarter Mile – (10 Laps)
Bud Thunderstocks – (10 Laps)
1. 71C-Barney Craig 2. 01-Kody Weisner 3. 22T-tony Anderson 4. 01W-Earnie Woodard 5. Jeff Koz 6. 7B-Tim Bowen 7. 71-Keith Ralston 8. 88-Zach Bowen
The final Budweiser Thunderstocks feature of the year was a fitting conclusion to the season as point’s leader Tony Anderson and runner-up Jeff Koz battled each other for the win in the 15-lap race.
UNOH Racer Kody Weisner, a winner from earlier in the season, bolted to the front at the start and held the lead over Koz and Anderson for the first six circuits. Weisner, of Muskegon, Michigan, suffered a slight bobble and that’s all it took for Jeff Koz to make a pass for the lead. On the lap eight restart it was Koz, Anderson and Weisner at the front of the field.
Anderson’s points lead was not mathematically safe entering the final race, but at 48 points it would take a near perfect night for Koz and disaster for Tony Anderson to give Koz the title. The two engaged in a stirring side-by-side battle, with Koz ultimately prevailing for the second time this season and in his stock car career at Limaland.
For Bluffton’s Tony Anderson, it marked a sixth track championship. “It started to get rough out here about a month ago and I started to back off and look to win a championship, maybe more than wins,” stated Anderson. “A lot of these guys in this class have actually stepped up and made it very competitive.”
The 12th annual King of the Quarter Mile races are 10-lap showdowns that pit the respective feature winners throughout the season against each other for thousands of dollars of additional prize money. Starting positions are determined by a random draw as young fans join in the festivities making the selections for the competing drivers.
The Thunderstocks King event was a battle of attrition with Keith Ralston, Tim Bowen, Jeff Koz and UNOH Racer Kody Weisner all challenging for supremacy during the 10-lap shootout. Ralston t-boned his car into wall on the backside, Bowen suffered a flat tire, while eventual winner Barney Craig was the beneficiary of Koz, Tony Anderson and Kody Weisner battling with each other. Craig takes home the $1,000 in a season that saw him compete only part time, in the latter stages of the season.
The final event of the 2010 season is the Limaland Motorsports Park Awards Banquet on Saturday, October 16 at the UNOH Event Center. For tickets and complete information call 419-998-3168 during regular business hours. All the latest news and information about America’s premier quarter-mile dirt track can be found at www.limaland.com. You can also find Limaland Motorsports Park on Facebook.
Limaland Motorsports Park - 8/27/2010
UNOH Night
K&N UMP Modifieds
Heat 1 - (8 Laps - Top 5 Transfer)
1. OO-John Brooks; 2. 5X-Jerry Bowersock; 3. 74-Lenny Guyton; 4. O1-Chris Puskas; 5. 20K-Bill Keeler; 6. 28-Chad Rosenbeck; 7. 73-Jerry Hayden; 8. 65X-Steve Christman; 9. K9-Scott Gerdemen
Heat 2 - (8 Laps - Top 5 Transfer)
1. 22T-Tony Anderson; 2. L5-Casey Luedeke; 3. 40-Terry Hull; 4. 22B-Andy Bibler; 5. 42-Bob Baldwin; 6. 36-Kelly Bowlby; 7. 33-Clint Reagle; 8. 79-Shane Unger
Heat 3 - (8 Laps - Top 5 Transfer)
1. 52-Jeff Babcock; 2. 65-Todd Sherman; 3. 15H-Jon Henry; 4. 45P-Brian Post; 5. 19-Ryan Ordway; 6. 2-Andy Strait; 7. 15-Nick Katterhenry; 8. 47-Nick Rosselit
B-Main – (8 Laps – Top 5 Transfer)
1. 1-Andy Strait 2. 15-Nick Katterhenry 3. 36-Kelly Bowlby 4. 47-Nick Rosselit 5. 28-Chad Rosenbeck 6. 33-Clint Reagle 7. 79-Shane Unger 8. 73-Jerry Hayden 9. K9-Scott Gerdeman 10. 65X-Steve Christman
A-Main - (20 Laps)
1. 5X-Jerry Bowersock 2. 15H-Jon Henry 3. 40-Terry hull 4. 52-Jeff Babcock 5. 65-Todd Sherman 6. 45P-Brian Post 7. L5-Casey Luedeke 8. 00-John Brooks 9. 2-Andy Strait 10. 01-Chris Puskus 11. 22B-Andy Bibler 12. 42-Bob Baldwin 13. 22T-Tony Anderson 14. 15-Nick Katterhenry 16. 36-Kelly Bowlby 17. 74-Lenny Guyton 18. 19-Ryan Ordway 19. 47-Nick Rosselit 20. 28-Chad Rosenbeck
Bud Thunderstocks
Heat 1 - (8 Laps - Top 5 Transfer)
1. 27-Frank Paladino; 2. 22T-Tony Anderson; 3. 21H-Dave Hollon; 4. 99-Andy King; 5. 52B-Sam Bodine; 6. 5G-Anthony Goode; 7. 3-Randy Crossley; 8. 419-Chris Tressler
Heat 2 - (8 Laps - Top 5 Transfer)
1. 1-Kody Weisner; 2. O1W-Earnie Woodard; 3. 7B-Tim Bowen; 4. 71-Keith Ralston; 5. 19-Bill Reimund; 6. 58P-Jim Post; 7. 52G-Stacey Gazarek
Heat 3 - (8 Laps - Top 5 Transfer)
1. 16-Jeff Koz; 2. 88B-Zach Bowen; 3. 2K-Jason Kinney; 4. 71C-Barney Craig; 5. 5K-Karl Spoores; 6. O1-Ryan Odette; 7. 21Z-Butch Turman
B-Main - (8 Laps - Top 5 Transfer)
1. 58P-Jim Post; 2. 5G-Anthony Goode; 3. 52G-Stacey Gazarek; 4. 3-Randy Crossley; 5. 21Z-Butch Turman; 6. O1-Ryan Odette
A-Main - (15 Laps) [#]-Starting Position
1. 16-Jeff Koz[3]; 2. 22T-Tony Anderson[4]; 3. 27-Frank Paladino[1]; 4. 7B-Tim Bowen[8]; 5. O1W-Earnie Woodard[5]; 6. 88B-Zach Bowen[6]; 7. 58P-Jim Post[16]; 8. 21H-Dave Hollon[7]; 9. 99-Andy King[10]; 10. 2K-Jason Kinney[9]; 11. 19-Bill Reimund[14]; 12. 5G-Anthony Goode[17]; 13. 3-Randy Crossley[19]; 14. 5K-Karl Spoores[15]; 15. 1-Kody Weisner[2]; 16. 71-Keith Ralston[11]; 17. 52B-Sam Bodine[13]; 18. 52G-Stacey Gazarek[18]; 19. 71C-Barney Craig[12]; 20. 21Z-Butch Turman[20]
King of the Quarter Mile – (10 Laps)
Bud Thunderstocks – (10 Laps)
1. 71C-Barney Craig 2. 01-Kody Weisner 3. 22T-tony Anderson 4. 01W-Earnie Woodard 5. Jeff Koz 6. 7B-Tim Bowen 7. 71-Keith Ralston 8. 88-Zach Bowen
VanDoorn’s Bid For Three Wins In A Row Spins Out In Columbus
VanDoorn’s Bid For Three Wins In A Row Spins Out In Columbus
Johnny VanDoorn will be the first to admit that the flat tracks on the Champion Racing Association schedule are not his strong suit. He has struggled to find a setup to his liking the last couple of years. Saturday at Columbus, the 2009 CRA Champion had a fast car underneath him only to have his great run ended after contact with the leader sent both cars to the tale of the field.
The shortened schedule for the Columbus event left little track time for the 27 teams on hand for the CRA race so practice was a premium. Johnny was one of the first cars out on the track and a caution flew after two laps for a spinning car. Johnny reported that the car was two loose all the way around the track and came to the pits to have the team tighten the #61 car up. When Johnny rejoined practice, his first comment on the radio was “ this feels so much better”. The first session of practice ended and Johnny was 6th on the time sheet.
The team only had twenty minutes of practice for the second session so again, time was at a premium. Johnny made another run after a couple of adjustments and then brought the car back to the pits to make a mock qualifying effort. The team bolted on a set of sticker tires and Johnny shot to the second spot on the time sheet.
The team then started making changed for qualifying. Johnny drew a late number for the qualifying session, which gave the team some extra time to make a few changes to the car. And those changes worked as Johnny set fast time for the day with a time of 13.859. Johnny wold draw a five for the inversion, giving him the 5th starting spot.
When the race started, cautions were plenty around the tight .333 mile track. Once the field was strung out, Johnny started making his way to the lead. With about forty laps to go in the 125 lap race, Johnny made his way to second behind race leader and hometown favorite Tyler Nuckles. Johnny’s car was much better than Nuckles’ car, especially in turns 3-4 where the leader’s car was tight that he would use the brakes to get his car to turn. Each time, Johnny would be just inches off his bumper. With 30 laps to, the field was working the outside of lapped traffic when Johnny got into the rear bumper of Nuckels, spinning him out on the front stretch. Both drivers were sent to the tail of the field. Johnny would go on to finish 7th, which was a disappointment considering how great the car was all day.
“I did not what that to happen” VanDoorn said of the contact with Nuckels. “I knew he was really tight, especially in 3 and 4. He was almost stopping to get his car to turn. My car was great through there. I would be able to get back to the throttle when he was getting on his brakes to turn. We were on the outside of the lapped cars and I got into him-and that was not planned at all. I was just riding there hoping to pressure him into making a mistake.” VanDoorn added. “The bright side is that we finally found a flat track setup that seems to work. That was the best flat track car I have ever had, especially after about 5 laps. I have been looking forward to the next three races at Winchester and Nashville all year. But after this weekend, I’m really looking forward to ORP as well.”
The next race for Johnny and the Kaos Motorsports team is Labor Day, September 6th at the Winchester Speedway.
The point standings are:
1) John Van Doorn 740
2) Scott Hantz 686
3) Tommy St. John 664
4) Terry Fisher Jr. 638
5) Brian Campbell 636
Johnny VanDoorn will be the first to admit that the flat tracks on the Champion Racing Association schedule are not his strong suit. He has struggled to find a setup to his liking the last couple of years. Saturday at Columbus, the 2009 CRA Champion had a fast car underneath him only to have his great run ended after contact with the leader sent both cars to the tale of the field.
The shortened schedule for the Columbus event left little track time for the 27 teams on hand for the CRA race so practice was a premium. Johnny was one of the first cars out on the track and a caution flew after two laps for a spinning car. Johnny reported that the car was two loose all the way around the track and came to the pits to have the team tighten the #61 car up. When Johnny rejoined practice, his first comment on the radio was “ this feels so much better”. The first session of practice ended and Johnny was 6th on the time sheet.
The team only had twenty minutes of practice for the second session so again, time was at a premium. Johnny made another run after a couple of adjustments and then brought the car back to the pits to make a mock qualifying effort. The team bolted on a set of sticker tires and Johnny shot to the second spot on the time sheet.
The team then started making changed for qualifying. Johnny drew a late number for the qualifying session, which gave the team some extra time to make a few changes to the car. And those changes worked as Johnny set fast time for the day with a time of 13.859. Johnny wold draw a five for the inversion, giving him the 5th starting spot.
When the race started, cautions were plenty around the tight .333 mile track. Once the field was strung out, Johnny started making his way to the lead. With about forty laps to go in the 125 lap race, Johnny made his way to second behind race leader and hometown favorite Tyler Nuckles. Johnny’s car was much better than Nuckles’ car, especially in turns 3-4 where the leader’s car was tight that he would use the brakes to get his car to turn. Each time, Johnny would be just inches off his bumper. With 30 laps to, the field was working the outside of lapped traffic when Johnny got into the rear bumper of Nuckels, spinning him out on the front stretch. Both drivers were sent to the tail of the field. Johnny would go on to finish 7th, which was a disappointment considering how great the car was all day.
“I did not what that to happen” VanDoorn said of the contact with Nuckels. “I knew he was really tight, especially in 3 and 4. He was almost stopping to get his car to turn. My car was great through there. I would be able to get back to the throttle when he was getting on his brakes to turn. We were on the outside of the lapped cars and I got into him-and that was not planned at all. I was just riding there hoping to pressure him into making a mistake.” VanDoorn added. “The bright side is that we finally found a flat track setup that seems to work. That was the best flat track car I have ever had, especially after about 5 laps. I have been looking forward to the next three races at Winchester and Nashville all year. But after this weekend, I’m really looking forward to ORP as well.”
The next race for Johnny and the Kaos Motorsports team is Labor Day, September 6th at the Winchester Speedway.
The point standings are:
1) John Van Doorn 740
2) Scott Hantz 686
3) Tommy St. John 664
4) Terry Fisher Jr. 638
5) Brian Campbell 636
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
NASCAR Trucks driver Mike Skinner finds Berlin Raceway to his liking after victory
NASCAR Trucks driver Mike Skinner finds Berlin Raceway to his liking after victory
Steve Kaminski
The Grand Rapids Press
MARNE -- Sandy Meinel of Grand Rapids can’t remember exactly how long she has attended races at Berlin Raceway.
“Randy Sweet had that No. 17 pink car, whenever that was,” Meinel said, estimating it was sometime during the 1960s.
But she will never forget Saturday night, when she met Mike Skinner, who is one of her favorite drivers.
Skinner, a veteran on the NASCAR Camping World Trucks Series, won Modified Night, capturing the 50-lap main. He impressed a lot of fans off the track, too, considering the 1995 Trucks champion signed autographs on the frontstretch along with the local drivers before the start of the program.
“I think he is the greatest,” Meinel said. “He takes time for everybody. He is a good guy.”
Skinner finished 23rd in Friday night’s Trucks race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., then headed over to Berlin for Saturday’s races.
It was his first trip to the Marne half-mile.
The Ontario, Calif., native was invited to drive the Racingawareness.com 97L Modified fielded by local car owners Jeff Striegle, Norm Jelsma and Mike Bursley.
Skinner qualified second in the car, which raises funds for the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Foundation. He later beat out Billy Shotko of West Olive for the feature win.
“Man, oh man, it was everything Johnny Benson told me it was,” Skinner said of Berlin, which is celebrating its 60th season this year. “It is a fun, fun race track. It’s scary over there (on the backstretch) with no mirrors and no spotters. I just wanted to have a good, clean race.
“These guys built a helluva good race car. What a great, great time I had, and I’m glad we were able to raise some money for charity.”
Striegle said the project has raised about $25,000 for the foundation so far, which was the team’s goal at the start of the season. And the season isn’t over. The team has organized the Sept. 20 Racing Awareness Charity Golf Outing at Thousand Oaks Golf Club.
Skinner is the second NASCAR driver to park the car in Berlin’s Victory Lane this season, after Sprint Cup driver A.J. Allmendinger won in June.
Next up for Skinner and the Trucks series is Friday’s race at Kentucky Speedway.
“It’s non-stop,” Skinner said. “After we leave here, we are headed to Columbus to visit my wife’s family, spend a day or two there, and then it is on to Kentucky. But I love this. I love the road and I love racing the trucks.”
Saturday’s program included the track’s 4 Cylinder class. Cole Roelofs won the 20-lap A feature, while Clayton Brown took top honors in the B main.
Points leaders Dave Lake (Super Stocks) and Brian Tillema (Pro Stocks) took steps toward track championships after winning features.
BERLIN RACEWAY
•Super Stocks: Dave Lake
•Pro Stocks: Brian Tillema
•Modifieds: Mike Skinner
•4 Cylinders A: Cole Roelofs
•4 Cylinders B: Clayton Brown
CRYSTAL MOTOR SPEEDWAY
•Late Models: Roger Wing
•Pro Stocks: Chaney Newland
•Modifieds: Joe Fowler
•Pro Trucks: Chris VerHaar
•Street Stocks: Jasen Wiley
•Flinn Stocks: Austin Bean
I-96 SPEEDWAY
•Late Models: Brandon Thirlby
•Modifieds: Mark Anderson
•Street Stocks: Gary Vandermark
•4 Cylinders: Richard Peck
KALAMAZOO SPEEDWAY
•Super Late Models: Terry Senneker Jr.
•Modifieds: Mike Brooks
•Super Stocks: Dave Sensiba
•Pro Stocks: Ron Landis
•Cyber Stocks: Nick Layman
U.S. 131 MOTORSPORTS PARK
•Top ET: Rusty Baad
•Modifieds: Tim Falbe
•Street Stocks: Brian Nap
•Advanced Junior Dragsters: Kerrie Smith
•Beginner Junior Dragsters: Samantha Bennett
AROUND THE STATE
AUTO CITY SPEEDWAY
•Super Stocks: Kyle Hayden
•Street Stocks: Mike Walther
•Pure Stocks: Duane Damon
•Virtual 6’s: Corey Lipe
•Krazy 8: Chad Lamson
BUTLER SPEEDWAY
•Winged Sprints: Andy Hall
•Modifieds: Jake Rendel
•Sportsman: Jake Rendel
•Street Stocks: Todd Thoms
DIXIE MOTOR SPEEDWAY
•Pro Late Models: Jay Reinbold
•Modifieds: Nick Clemens
•Pro Stocks: Jon Giffel
•Bombers: Jordan Lechota
•Figure 8’s: Ray DerMiner
HARTFORD MOTOR SPEEDWAY
•American Late Model Series: Brady Smith
•Modifieds: Brian Ruhlman
•Stock Cars: Bobby Hinkle
OWOSSO SPEEDWAY
•Modifieds: Bill Luckhurst
•Pro Stocks: Dave Buswell
•Pure Stocks: Bob Robinson
•Sport Stocks: Matt Vainner
SPARTAN SPEEDWAY
•Late Models: Dave Stehouwer
•Modifieds: Sonny Coito
•Pony Stocks A: Wayne Beckner Jr.
•Pony Stocks: B: Darrell Taylor
•Pure Stocks: Lonnie Saumier
Steve Kaminski
The Grand Rapids Press
MARNE -- Sandy Meinel of Grand Rapids can’t remember exactly how long she has attended races at Berlin Raceway.
“Randy Sweet had that No. 17 pink car, whenever that was,” Meinel said, estimating it was sometime during the 1960s.
But she will never forget Saturday night, when she met Mike Skinner, who is one of her favorite drivers.
Skinner, a veteran on the NASCAR Camping World Trucks Series, won Modified Night, capturing the 50-lap main. He impressed a lot of fans off the track, too, considering the 1995 Trucks champion signed autographs on the frontstretch along with the local drivers before the start of the program.
“I think he is the greatest,” Meinel said. “He takes time for everybody. He is a good guy.”
Skinner finished 23rd in Friday night’s Trucks race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., then headed over to Berlin for Saturday’s races.
It was his first trip to the Marne half-mile.
The Ontario, Calif., native was invited to drive the Racingawareness.com 97L Modified fielded by local car owners Jeff Striegle, Norm Jelsma and Mike Bursley.
Skinner qualified second in the car, which raises funds for the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Foundation. He later beat out Billy Shotko of West Olive for the feature win.
“Man, oh man, it was everything Johnny Benson told me it was,” Skinner said of Berlin, which is celebrating its 60th season this year. “It is a fun, fun race track. It’s scary over there (on the backstretch) with no mirrors and no spotters. I just wanted to have a good, clean race.
“These guys built a helluva good race car. What a great, great time I had, and I’m glad we were able to raise some money for charity.”
Striegle said the project has raised about $25,000 for the foundation so far, which was the team’s goal at the start of the season. And the season isn’t over. The team has organized the Sept. 20 Racing Awareness Charity Golf Outing at Thousand Oaks Golf Club.
Skinner is the second NASCAR driver to park the car in Berlin’s Victory Lane this season, after Sprint Cup driver A.J. Allmendinger won in June.
Next up for Skinner and the Trucks series is Friday’s race at Kentucky Speedway.
“It’s non-stop,” Skinner said. “After we leave here, we are headed to Columbus to visit my wife’s family, spend a day or two there, and then it is on to Kentucky. But I love this. I love the road and I love racing the trucks.”
Saturday’s program included the track’s 4 Cylinder class. Cole Roelofs won the 20-lap A feature, while Clayton Brown took top honors in the B main.
Points leaders Dave Lake (Super Stocks) and Brian Tillema (Pro Stocks) took steps toward track championships after winning features.
BERLIN RACEWAY
•Super Stocks: Dave Lake
•Pro Stocks: Brian Tillema
•Modifieds: Mike Skinner
•4 Cylinders A: Cole Roelofs
•4 Cylinders B: Clayton Brown
CRYSTAL MOTOR SPEEDWAY
•Late Models: Roger Wing
•Pro Stocks: Chaney Newland
•Modifieds: Joe Fowler
•Pro Trucks: Chris VerHaar
•Street Stocks: Jasen Wiley
•Flinn Stocks: Austin Bean
I-96 SPEEDWAY
•Late Models: Brandon Thirlby
•Modifieds: Mark Anderson
•Street Stocks: Gary Vandermark
•4 Cylinders: Richard Peck
KALAMAZOO SPEEDWAY
•Super Late Models: Terry Senneker Jr.
•Modifieds: Mike Brooks
•Super Stocks: Dave Sensiba
•Pro Stocks: Ron Landis
•Cyber Stocks: Nick Layman
U.S. 131 MOTORSPORTS PARK
•Top ET: Rusty Baad
•Modifieds: Tim Falbe
•Street Stocks: Brian Nap
•Advanced Junior Dragsters: Kerrie Smith
•Beginner Junior Dragsters: Samantha Bennett
AROUND THE STATE
AUTO CITY SPEEDWAY
•Super Stocks: Kyle Hayden
•Street Stocks: Mike Walther
•Pure Stocks: Duane Damon
•Virtual 6’s: Corey Lipe
•Krazy 8: Chad Lamson
BUTLER SPEEDWAY
•Winged Sprints: Andy Hall
•Modifieds: Jake Rendel
•Sportsman: Jake Rendel
•Street Stocks: Todd Thoms
DIXIE MOTOR SPEEDWAY
•Pro Late Models: Jay Reinbold
•Modifieds: Nick Clemens
•Pro Stocks: Jon Giffel
•Bombers: Jordan Lechota
•Figure 8’s: Ray DerMiner
HARTFORD MOTOR SPEEDWAY
•American Late Model Series: Brady Smith
•Modifieds: Brian Ruhlman
•Stock Cars: Bobby Hinkle
OWOSSO SPEEDWAY
•Modifieds: Bill Luckhurst
•Pro Stocks: Dave Buswell
•Pure Stocks: Bob Robinson
•Sport Stocks: Matt Vainner
SPARTAN SPEEDWAY
•Late Models: Dave Stehouwer
•Modifieds: Sonny Coito
•Pony Stocks A: Wayne Beckner Jr.
•Pony Stocks: B: Darrell Taylor
•Pure Stocks: Lonnie Saumier
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Crystal Motor Speedway Storyline August 28th
August 28th 2010 Results!
Saturday night was Season Championship Night with all divisions except the IMCA Modifieds declaring their season champions this week at Crystal Motor Speedway. The event will be sponsored by Alma Lock and Glass and drew 129 cars. The MORA Outlaws were also in attendance was well and their feature was won by John Lane.
The Races On The Web Flinn Stock division was first up to finish the points season. Austin Bean got out front but had Cory Burch tight on his tail. Burch got loose as he battled for position and fell way back, allowing Bean to get out front alone. Chris DeCamp, Zach Rummer, and Richard Melton all battled for second as Burch fell further back and was finally lapped by Bean. Bean continued his heady lead and went on to win over Melton, DeCamp, Neil Zeigler, Rick Zimmerman, Felicia Rohn, Chance Allen, Rummer, Matt Daggett, and Burch. Bean took the heat as well.
The Late Model division, sponsored by Kentucky Fried Chicken of Mt Pleasant, was next with Roger Wing taking the point early. Justin McNeil, Kyle Borgman, Mickey Carman Jr, and Matt Pickard made up the top six. With nothing but the cool nights air in front of him, Wing continued his lead and soon was in lapped traffic. Ries, Carman, and McNeil were all in a tight fight for position several lengths behind Wing. Ries began to press McNeil for second for well over 15 laps but was not able to quite make the pass. Wing took the white flag with a large lead and went on to win over McNeil, Carman, Ries, Pickard, Tom Dusen, Mark Andersen, Dean Huizenga, Keith Gentz, and Jeff Kohn. Ryan VanderVeen and Bill Beardslee scored heat wins.
Next up was the Port City Racing Pro Stock feature. Mike Husted held the lead in the early going with Derek Schestag following. Chaney Newland and Ryan Kent came flying up from their fifth row starting position and by lap six, Newland slid around Husted for the lead and began to check out from the field. Schestag and Kent raced side by side for several laps before Kent was able to take it away with Jake Headley following. With only two to go, Newland had opened up a sizable lead as he continued on to the win and the season championship over Kent, Schestag, Headley Gordie Snyder, Dick Reynolds, Barry Rinard, Greg Mandoka, Todd Bush, and Robert McDonald, Sr.. Vern Buskirk and Don Rohn brought home heat gold.
The Engine Pro IMCA Modifieds were the only division not racing for a crown Saturday night with their championship being determined the last night of racing at CMS September 18th. A major wreck on the opening lap claimed several cars, including Brennan Bowen and Brody Bowser. Once back under green, Myron DeYoung held the lead with Jerry Hunt tight behind. Joe Fowler quickly slipped into second and Chad Wernette claimed third in a clash of titans. Fowler went low and made a run and then the pass to take the lead, closely followed by Wernette. AJ Ward moved up to fourth with a strong run. Fowler wins over Wernette, DeYoung, Ward, Borton Ziegler, Hunt, Neil Siefker, Ken Zeigler, and Melvin Allen. B feature wins went to Allen and Greg Wiles and Chad Maurer, Fowler, and Bowen grabbed heat wins.
The Port City Racing Pro Trucks took to the racing arena with Chris Verhaar jumping out to the opening lap lead. Tim Sooy took second with Aaron Raby fighting for that position as well. Scott Neiman moved into fourth about the same time that Blake Hollenbeck went sliding into the water barrels, bringing a caution on the field. Once back under green, the front three began racing two and three wide with Verhaar holding the top spot. With three to go, Verhaar held a slender lead over Raby and he went on to win over Raby, Carl Thayer, Joe Nieman, Wood, Sooy, Peters, Andrew Fidler, Ashlee Scott, and Scott Nieman. Raby went home with a heat win photo.
The Smokers Club of Mt Pleasant Street Stocks feature Shane Spencer, Luke Sickles, and Anthony Carlton made a three way race for the lead which ended up with Sickles, spinning in the apex of turns one and two, sending him to the pits. Spencer resumed the lead with Carlton second and Tim Buskirk coming fast. James Prochaska began to move forward but in the mean time, points leader Mike VanderMark Jr blew an engine, Spencer was challenged in a three way battle for the lead with Buskirk and Prochaska. Jasen Wiley began a cautious run toward the top, attempting to get out front to take advantage of VanderMark’s misfortune. With just two to go, George Wease spun in front of Prochaska. Wease left and Prochaska kept his position. On the restart, Spencer got loose and Wiley took the lead, and then the win and the championship all at the same time. Spencer grabbed second and was followed by Prochazka, Al Kiester, Jeff Hitsman, Ronnie Mathis, Brooke Ann Brasington, Zach Hoyt, Tim Painter, and Caden Foster. Larry Bulson won the B feature while Kyle Prochazka and Spencer took heat gold.
Next week at Crystal Motor Speedway is a two day show as CMS celebrates the Labor Day Weekend. Both nights are sponsored by Anderson Contracting and Renovations of Vestaburg. Saturday night features the SOD Sprints in their third and final appearance at the speedway plus a holiday display of fireworks. The Late Models have the night off. Gates open at 4:30PM and racing gets rolling at 7:30. Adults are $12 to the grandstands and kids 5-11 are $4. Pit passes are $25. The Sunday show features the Outlaw Late Models plus an open Modified Invitational. The program also features the regular Late Models and all the normal divisions except the IMCA Mods. Gates open at 4:30 and racing starts at 7:30PM. Adults are $12 to the grandstands and kids 5-11 are $4. Pit passes are $25. The track has primitive camping available. For further information, call the track office at 989.235.5200
***Verwayne Greenhoe
Saturday night was Season Championship Night with all divisions except the IMCA Modifieds declaring their season champions this week at Crystal Motor Speedway. The event will be sponsored by Alma Lock and Glass and drew 129 cars. The MORA Outlaws were also in attendance was well and their feature was won by John Lane.
The Races On The Web Flinn Stock division was first up to finish the points season. Austin Bean got out front but had Cory Burch tight on his tail. Burch got loose as he battled for position and fell way back, allowing Bean to get out front alone. Chris DeCamp, Zach Rummer, and Richard Melton all battled for second as Burch fell further back and was finally lapped by Bean. Bean continued his heady lead and went on to win over Melton, DeCamp, Neil Zeigler, Rick Zimmerman, Felicia Rohn, Chance Allen, Rummer, Matt Daggett, and Burch. Bean took the heat as well.
The Late Model division, sponsored by Kentucky Fried Chicken of Mt Pleasant, was next with Roger Wing taking the point early. Justin McNeil, Kyle Borgman, Mickey Carman Jr, and Matt Pickard made up the top six. With nothing but the cool nights air in front of him, Wing continued his lead and soon was in lapped traffic. Ries, Carman, and McNeil were all in a tight fight for position several lengths behind Wing. Ries began to press McNeil for second for well over 15 laps but was not able to quite make the pass. Wing took the white flag with a large lead and went on to win over McNeil, Carman, Ries, Pickard, Tom Dusen, Mark Andersen, Dean Huizenga, Keith Gentz, and Jeff Kohn. Ryan VanderVeen and Bill Beardslee scored heat wins.
Next up was the Port City Racing Pro Stock feature. Mike Husted held the lead in the early going with Derek Schestag following. Chaney Newland and Ryan Kent came flying up from their fifth row starting position and by lap six, Newland slid around Husted for the lead and began to check out from the field. Schestag and Kent raced side by side for several laps before Kent was able to take it away with Jake Headley following. With only two to go, Newland had opened up a sizable lead as he continued on to the win and the season championship over Kent, Schestag, Headley Gordie Snyder, Dick Reynolds, Barry Rinard, Greg Mandoka, Todd Bush, and Robert McDonald, Sr.. Vern Buskirk and Don Rohn brought home heat gold.
The Engine Pro IMCA Modifieds were the only division not racing for a crown Saturday night with their championship being determined the last night of racing at CMS September 18th. A major wreck on the opening lap claimed several cars, including Brennan Bowen and Brody Bowser. Once back under green, Myron DeYoung held the lead with Jerry Hunt tight behind. Joe Fowler quickly slipped into second and Chad Wernette claimed third in a clash of titans. Fowler went low and made a run and then the pass to take the lead, closely followed by Wernette. AJ Ward moved up to fourth with a strong run. Fowler wins over Wernette, DeYoung, Ward, Borton Ziegler, Hunt, Neil Siefker, Ken Zeigler, and Melvin Allen. B feature wins went to Allen and Greg Wiles and Chad Maurer, Fowler, and Bowen grabbed heat wins.
The Port City Racing Pro Trucks took to the racing arena with Chris Verhaar jumping out to the opening lap lead. Tim Sooy took second with Aaron Raby fighting for that position as well. Scott Neiman moved into fourth about the same time that Blake Hollenbeck went sliding into the water barrels, bringing a caution on the field. Once back under green, the front three began racing two and three wide with Verhaar holding the top spot. With three to go, Verhaar held a slender lead over Raby and he went on to win over Raby, Carl Thayer, Joe Nieman, Wood, Sooy, Peters, Andrew Fidler, Ashlee Scott, and Scott Nieman. Raby went home with a heat win photo.
The Smokers Club of Mt Pleasant Street Stocks feature Shane Spencer, Luke Sickles, and Anthony Carlton made a three way race for the lead which ended up with Sickles, spinning in the apex of turns one and two, sending him to the pits. Spencer resumed the lead with Carlton second and Tim Buskirk coming fast. James Prochaska began to move forward but in the mean time, points leader Mike VanderMark Jr blew an engine, Spencer was challenged in a three way battle for the lead with Buskirk and Prochaska. Jasen Wiley began a cautious run toward the top, attempting to get out front to take advantage of VanderMark’s misfortune. With just two to go, George Wease spun in front of Prochaska. Wease left and Prochaska kept his position. On the restart, Spencer got loose and Wiley took the lead, and then the win and the championship all at the same time. Spencer grabbed second and was followed by Prochazka, Al Kiester, Jeff Hitsman, Ronnie Mathis, Brooke Ann Brasington, Zach Hoyt, Tim Painter, and Caden Foster. Larry Bulson won the B feature while Kyle Prochazka and Spencer took heat gold.
Next week at Crystal Motor Speedway is a two day show as CMS celebrates the Labor Day Weekend. Both nights are sponsored by Anderson Contracting and Renovations of Vestaburg. Saturday night features the SOD Sprints in their third and final appearance at the speedway plus a holiday display of fireworks. The Late Models have the night off. Gates open at 4:30PM and racing gets rolling at 7:30. Adults are $12 to the grandstands and kids 5-11 are $4. Pit passes are $25. The Sunday show features the Outlaw Late Models plus an open Modified Invitational. The program also features the regular Late Models and all the normal divisions except the IMCA Mods. Gates open at 4:30 and racing starts at 7:30PM. Adults are $12 to the grandstands and kids 5-11 are $4. Pit passes are $25. The track has primitive camping available. For further information, call the track office at 989.235.5200
***Verwayne Greenhoe
Tom Dusen Wins Late Model Points Title at Crystal
Roger Wing won the Late Model feature event at Crystal but it was Muskegon's Tom Dusen who won the biggest prize of the night claiming the 2010 Late Model Title. Check out results below.
Results of August 28th
Dave Lake wins feature at Berlin Raceway, then is wrecked by Andrew Nylaan after finish
Dave Lake wins feature at Berlin Raceway, then is wrecked by Andrew Nylaan after finish
Steve Kaminski
The Grand Rapids Press
MARNE -- Berlin Raceway track photographer Tom DeVette has shot Victory Lane pictures since the early 1970s, and he said he has never seen anything like it.
There was Dave Lake, who came racing down the frontstretch on foot and stood in Victory Lane, jumping up and down, celebrating his win in the 30-lap Super Stocks feature race. His car came moments later, arriving by wrecker.
Moments earlier, Lake dove under Andrew Nylaan on the backstretch of the final lap for the lead and went on to win the race.
Nylaan then caught up to Lake on the cool down lap and turned into Lake, forcing both cars into the retaining wall between turns three and four.
Berlin promoter Mike Blackmer said Nylaan lost his points for the evening and will be suspended for the final two points races of the year.
“He told me he just wanted to rough me up after the race, and he didn’t want it to go that far,” Lake said. “Me and Andrew have raced for many years, and we have raced good. We have rarely traded paint, and we have a lot of respect for each other. I made a little contact with him on the pass, just enough to move him up the track half a lane so I could drive underneath him. But I didn’t do anything to warrant this.”
Nylaan declined to comment to The Press.
“People are going to think I am sticking up for (Nylaan), but he did follow Lake for 20 laps and didn’t touch him,” Blackmer said. “Dave gets behind (Nylaan) and hits him about three or four times. The last lap, they are going for the win. That’s what Dave did. I don’t think you can fault him for that.
“But Andrew should not have retaliated like that. You can’t do that. That’s why we are suspending him.”
NASCAR’s Skinner competes
Saturday’s program include a visit by NASCAR Camping World Trucks veteran Mike Skinner, who arrived at the Marne half-mile after finishing 23rd in Friday’s race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill.
Skinner participated in Modified Night, driving the No. 97L open-wheel car fielded by owners Jeff Striegle, Norm Jelsema and Mike Bursley, and he won the 50-lap feature race.
It was Skinner’s first trip to Berlin. The car serves as a fund raiser for the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Foundation.
“I feel like a rookie,” said Skinner, 53, after taking some practice laps, “I would like to have a few more laps here, but the people have been awesome, and hopefully, we will be able to raise some money.”
Tillema aiming for No. 4
Brian Tillema of Dorr won his track-high seventh feature race when he nosed out Brandon Hermiller by 0.032 seconds in the 25-lap Pro Stocks feature race. The big picture is even more impressive for Tillema, who is on the verge of doing something no driver has done at the Marne half-mile in nearly 30 years.
Tillema appears headed to his fourth consecutive track championship, something no driver has done since Fred Campbell reeled off four straight Late Model titles from 1979-1982.
Tillema entered Saturday’s program with a 70-point lead over Weston Jewett, and after Jewett was caught up in a lap-two accident and finished last in the 18-car field, Tillema is in ideal position with two Pro Stock races remaining in 2010.
Jewett led the standings early in the spring, but Tillema is pulling away after a red-hot summer.
“It was us being behind so far at the beginning that has made us so good at the end,” Tillema said. “There was a point where we were like forget it, we are so far behind, we are going, forget about the points. We went to work on the car to try to make it better, and every week, we got the car a little better.
“We don’t like getting beat. Weston beat us by a couple of car lengths on the frontstretch one week, and I didn’t like getting beat running that close. So we went to work to try to make it better. We got it better."
Steve Kaminski
The Grand Rapids Press
MARNE -- Berlin Raceway track photographer Tom DeVette has shot Victory Lane pictures since the early 1970s, and he said he has never seen anything like it.
There was Dave Lake, who came racing down the frontstretch on foot and stood in Victory Lane, jumping up and down, celebrating his win in the 30-lap Super Stocks feature race. His car came moments later, arriving by wrecker.
Moments earlier, Lake dove under Andrew Nylaan on the backstretch of the final lap for the lead and went on to win the race.
Nylaan then caught up to Lake on the cool down lap and turned into Lake, forcing both cars into the retaining wall between turns three and four.
Berlin promoter Mike Blackmer said Nylaan lost his points for the evening and will be suspended for the final two points races of the year.
“He told me he just wanted to rough me up after the race, and he didn’t want it to go that far,” Lake said. “Me and Andrew have raced for many years, and we have raced good. We have rarely traded paint, and we have a lot of respect for each other. I made a little contact with him on the pass, just enough to move him up the track half a lane so I could drive underneath him. But I didn’t do anything to warrant this.”
Nylaan declined to comment to The Press.
“People are going to think I am sticking up for (Nylaan), but he did follow Lake for 20 laps and didn’t touch him,” Blackmer said. “Dave gets behind (Nylaan) and hits him about three or four times. The last lap, they are going for the win. That’s what Dave did. I don’t think you can fault him for that.
“But Andrew should not have retaliated like that. You can’t do that. That’s why we are suspending him.”
NASCAR’s Skinner competes
Saturday’s program include a visit by NASCAR Camping World Trucks veteran Mike Skinner, who arrived at the Marne half-mile after finishing 23rd in Friday’s race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill.
Skinner participated in Modified Night, driving the No. 97L open-wheel car fielded by owners Jeff Striegle, Norm Jelsema and Mike Bursley, and he won the 50-lap feature race.
It was Skinner’s first trip to Berlin. The car serves as a fund raiser for the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Foundation.
“I feel like a rookie,” said Skinner, 53, after taking some practice laps, “I would like to have a few more laps here, but the people have been awesome, and hopefully, we will be able to raise some money.”
Tillema aiming for No. 4
Brian Tillema of Dorr won his track-high seventh feature race when he nosed out Brandon Hermiller by 0.032 seconds in the 25-lap Pro Stocks feature race. The big picture is even more impressive for Tillema, who is on the verge of doing something no driver has done at the Marne half-mile in nearly 30 years.
Tillema appears headed to his fourth consecutive track championship, something no driver has done since Fred Campbell reeled off four straight Late Model titles from 1979-1982.
Tillema entered Saturday’s program with a 70-point lead over Weston Jewett, and after Jewett was caught up in a lap-two accident and finished last in the 18-car field, Tillema is in ideal position with two Pro Stock races remaining in 2010.
Jewett led the standings early in the spring, but Tillema is pulling away after a red-hot summer.
“It was us being behind so far at the beginning that has made us so good at the end,” Tillema said. “There was a point where we were like forget it, we are so far behind, we are going, forget about the points. We went to work on the car to try to make it better, and every week, we got the car a little better.
“We don’t like getting beat. Weston beat us by a couple of car lengths on the frontstretch one week, and I didn’t like getting beat running that close. So we went to work to try to make it better. We got it better."
Mike Skinner wins in the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Modified
Mike Skinner wins in the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Modified
Marne, MI- Berlin Raceway celebrated the Model Coverall Modifies Mania Night this past Saturday with special guest Mike Skinner in town. The night was no exception to the stellar racing action Berlin Raceway has been experiencing lately. Winners for the evening included #024 Cole Roelofs (4-Cylinder A), #7 Clayton Brown (4-Cylinder B) #76 Brian Tillema (Pro Stock) #55 Dave Lake (Super Stock), and #97 Mike Skinner (Modified).
Up first was the Burnips Equipment 4-Cylinder A feature. #7 Ryan Hamm who is currently leading #17 Kyle Hamm by 50 points for the championship race, would make it apparent why he is the current point’s leader. Hamm started at the rear, after one lap he would move up six spots. The first and only yellow of the night came after the first lap was complete, the #01 of Rob Shoemaker who started on the pole, was flagged the slow car on the track. Once the green dropped again, the #14 of Jason DeVos, #024 Cole Roelofs, and #100 Jason Scheid shot to the front; the three were bumper to bumper. Lap 5 would see R. Hamm move into the fifth spot past #77 Gerry Shephard; lap 5 would also see a new leader in Roelofs. DeVos and #2 Darrell Holtzlander were side by side on the backstretch, but as they got loose Hamm would split between the two and move into fourth. The race for the lead was heating up on lap 7 Roelofs and Scheid were neck and neck, Scheid move into the lead on lap 8. With 5 laps to go Scheid and Roelofs were still battling for the lead, Hamm was trying to move past DeVos, but the inside land was failing him. The race for the checkered intensified with 2 to go; Roelofs began to close in on Scheid and got past him on the frontstretch to take the win. DeVos, Hamm, and Holtzlander rounded out the top five spots.
The Burnips Equipment 4-Cylinder B was up next. The #110 of Dan Dells is the current point’s leader with a cushion of 109 points over #63 Paul Ritchie. #62 Richard Church and #07 Clayton Brown on the front row. Brown was quick out of the gate and as the field was coming to complete the first lap, the #20 of Jackson Walker was sideways coming out of turn 4; he saved it and continued without penalty. #T11 Jim Rhodes was on the move, battling #84 Steve Thompson on lap 2 and also showing his muscle was #77 Jared Lyzenga. Lyzenga was challenging for second place on lap 4 and took the position from Church on lap 5 just as the leaders were coming up on slower cars. This bunched up all of the leaders and let Walker and Rhodes close in. Lyzenga was reeling in Brown with Rhodes and Walker in hot pursuit. With 2 laps go to, Brown was holding of Lyzenga, who was giving it all he had, but he couldn’t quite make the pass. Brown grabbed the win in the caution-free event and the rest of the top ten were Lyzenga, Rhodes, Walker, #44 Nicole Randolph, #7H Tim Stuart, #111 Tyler Nawrocki, #110 Dan Dells, Church and Thompson.
The Kerstra Services Pro Stocks were the next feature of the night. With only 70 points separating Brian Tillema and Weston Jewett, the race for the top spot was on. The #33 of Allen Davis and the #101 of Lauren Bush started on front row, Davis was off to the hot start; as Tillema made began to make his way to the front of the pack. A yellow flag halted the action when the #X Matt VanHorsen spun on lap 2. Out of the restart another caution came out and would prove costly to the #51 of Weston Jewett. It appeared as if the Bush and A. Davis got loose going into turn 2. The #88 Tony Davis, #40 Dave Cutler, would spin to avoid; as did Jewett, unfortunately Jewett’s car would suffer damage and he would not complete the race. Once the race resumed, Tillema and #18 Mitch Meppelink took off for the top two spots; the #36 of Ken Smith Jr. and #6 Brandon Hermiller, last week’s feature winner, were side by side for the third spot. As Tillema separated himself from the pack, Meppelink, Hermiller, and Smith were all bumper to bumper. Hermiller got past both Meppelink and Smith for second on lap 6. On lap 14 the #89 of Kirk Meissner brought out the caution for what appeared to be a clean spin. Out of the restart Tillema would once take off to a hot lead; while Smith was on Hermiller’s bumper; Hermiller managed to shake him off and he would begin to make his move on Tillema. With 2 laps to go, Tillema and Hermiller were fighting hard for the top spot. Coming into turn 3 on the final lap Hermiller got under Tillema, but just didn’t have enough to take the win. Tillema edged out Hermiller by .032 seconds, followed by Smith, #22 Darin Niemi, and T. Davis.
One race that is far from over is the Engine Pro Super Stock championship. #55 Dave Lake, #18 Denny Anderson, and #77 Andrew Nylaan were separated by 40 points at the start of the night. As the cars took the grid, #95 Ray VanAllsburg was on the pole and #32 Gabe Ensing was on the outside. From the drop of the green flag, VanAllsburg was able to maintain position number 1 and the #77 of Andrew Nylaan was pushing though, taking the second position by the completion of lap 1. Fast Qualifier, #55 Dave Lake was gaining ground on the leaders. He thought about taking it three-wide on lap 4, but backed out without incident. The next time by, however, Lake did make it three-wide for the lead and made it work; he handily swept past both VanAllsburg and Nylaan and pulled out to a half-second lead. Nylaan would also clear VanAllsburg and focus on chasing down Lake. VanAllsburg found himself in a four-car battle for third with #23 Chris Koslek, #32 Gabe Ensing and #1 Brian Wiersma and all the while, Nylaan was steadily reeling in Lake. By the time they got to the half-way point of the race, Nylaan was on Lake’s bumper and the first caution of the night came out. #3 Travis Nylaan spun coming out of turn 1. The field tried for a restart, but another caution for the spinning cars of #16 Kelsey Steele and Ensing halted the progress of the race. After the second restart, Nylaan was able to get to the inside of Lake and took the lead, but just a few laps later, caution was out again. Ensing was out of shape going in to turn 2 and the #18 of Denny Anderson was also involved. The restart was clean and the #54 of Josh Slade was mixing it up with the intense battle for the lead. With Nylaan in the lead, Lake was working the inside. Lake seemed quicker in 1 and 2, but Nylaan was able to pull away in 3 and 4. With 5 to go, Nylaan was fighting to keep the lead while Slade and Wiersma were keeping Lake busy for second. With two laps to go, Ensing brought out the caution for the fourth time and that would result in a green-white-checker finish. The restart was single file and Lake was able to get under him and took the lead and the win away. Nylaan would have to settle for second and the two made post-race contact, spinning them both out. Both drivers would be OK: Lake would climb the fence and celebrate in victory lane while Nylaan would be disqualified. The rest of the top ten would be Wiersma, Slade, #50 Justin Regnerus, Koslek, #78 Will Olmsted, #6 Bob Bliss, #20J Jeremy Munniksma and Ensing.
The main event of the night was a special 50 lap feature for Model Coverall Modifieds. With only one night left of racing before Championship Night, and 67 points standing between #99 Brian Bergakker, #14 Billy Shotko , and #78 Travis Eddy, every lap mattered. Starting on the start/finish line were #27 Nyle Wieler and #4 Joe Morisette. Morisette was out in front fast, the #76 of Ryan Gruppen and Wieler were side by side for the second spot on lap 2. As Gruppen made some room between him and Wieler, Eddy was closing in on Gruppen. The two were side by side; by lap 5 Eddy had moved into second. On lap 6 Gruppen spun on the frontstretch, bringing out the yellow flag. Out of the restart Eddy was out in front, followed by Shotko; Mike Skinner in the #97 car would also begin to make his way to the front. Just as Skinner was making a move into third, a caution would come out on lap 10. The yellow came out for Morisette who spun. A similar yellow occurred for Morisette on lap 12. Another spin occurred on the backstretch for the #8 Billy Eppink. Out of the restart Shotko began to close in on Eddy. Bergakker and Skinner weren’t too far behind either. On lap 17 Shotko tried passing Eddy on the outside lane on the frontstretch, but failed on the attempt. A similar move on the following lap saw a new leader emerge in Shotko. A false yellow came out interrupting the racing action on lap 20, but out of the restart Skinner moved into second past Bergakker. Shotko and Skinner would battle from that moment on; the two were neck and neck switching positions until lap 30. That’s when Gruppen stopped on turn 4, his car was on fire. The safety crew quickly put the small flames out and he would be okay. Out of the restart Skinner separated himself from the field, but on lap 42 yet another caution for Morisette spinning. With Skinner out in front Bergakker and Shotko were neck and neck. Skinner would take the win, as Shotko separated from Bergakker to take the second spot. Bergakker, #44 Jordan Dahlke, and #6 Brian Kleis rounded the top 5 spots.
Up next for Berlin Raceway is the Winged Sprint Shootout. Pro Stocks, Super Stocks, Modifieds, AVSS, and Michiana Vingtage Racers will all be in action. Tickets for adults are $15, seniors 60+ are $13, children ages 6-12 are $5 and children under the age of 5 are FREE. For more information please visit www.berlinraceway.com
Marne, MI- Berlin Raceway celebrated the Model Coverall Modifies Mania Night this past Saturday with special guest Mike Skinner in town. The night was no exception to the stellar racing action Berlin Raceway has been experiencing lately. Winners for the evening included #024 Cole Roelofs (4-Cylinder A), #7 Clayton Brown (4-Cylinder B) #76 Brian Tillema (Pro Stock) #55 Dave Lake (Super Stock), and #97 Mike Skinner (Modified).
Up first was the Burnips Equipment 4-Cylinder A feature. #7 Ryan Hamm who is currently leading #17 Kyle Hamm by 50 points for the championship race, would make it apparent why he is the current point’s leader. Hamm started at the rear, after one lap he would move up six spots. The first and only yellow of the night came after the first lap was complete, the #01 of Rob Shoemaker who started on the pole, was flagged the slow car on the track. Once the green dropped again, the #14 of Jason DeVos, #024 Cole Roelofs, and #100 Jason Scheid shot to the front; the three were bumper to bumper. Lap 5 would see R. Hamm move into the fifth spot past #77 Gerry Shephard; lap 5 would also see a new leader in Roelofs. DeVos and #2 Darrell Holtzlander were side by side on the backstretch, but as they got loose Hamm would split between the two and move into fourth. The race for the lead was heating up on lap 7 Roelofs and Scheid were neck and neck, Scheid move into the lead on lap 8. With 5 laps to go Scheid and Roelofs were still battling for the lead, Hamm was trying to move past DeVos, but the inside land was failing him. The race for the checkered intensified with 2 to go; Roelofs began to close in on Scheid and got past him on the frontstretch to take the win. DeVos, Hamm, and Holtzlander rounded out the top five spots.
The Burnips Equipment 4-Cylinder B was up next. The #110 of Dan Dells is the current point’s leader with a cushion of 109 points over #63 Paul Ritchie. #62 Richard Church and #07 Clayton Brown on the front row. Brown was quick out of the gate and as the field was coming to complete the first lap, the #20 of Jackson Walker was sideways coming out of turn 4; he saved it and continued without penalty. #T11 Jim Rhodes was on the move, battling #84 Steve Thompson on lap 2 and also showing his muscle was #77 Jared Lyzenga. Lyzenga was challenging for second place on lap 4 and took the position from Church on lap 5 just as the leaders were coming up on slower cars. This bunched up all of the leaders and let Walker and Rhodes close in. Lyzenga was reeling in Brown with Rhodes and Walker in hot pursuit. With 2 laps go to, Brown was holding of Lyzenga, who was giving it all he had, but he couldn’t quite make the pass. Brown grabbed the win in the caution-free event and the rest of the top ten were Lyzenga, Rhodes, Walker, #44 Nicole Randolph, #7H Tim Stuart, #111 Tyler Nawrocki, #110 Dan Dells, Church and Thompson.
The Kerstra Services Pro Stocks were the next feature of the night. With only 70 points separating Brian Tillema and Weston Jewett, the race for the top spot was on. The #33 of Allen Davis and the #101 of Lauren Bush started on front row, Davis was off to the hot start; as Tillema made began to make his way to the front of the pack. A yellow flag halted the action when the #X Matt VanHorsen spun on lap 2. Out of the restart another caution came out and would prove costly to the #51 of Weston Jewett. It appeared as if the Bush and A. Davis got loose going into turn 2. The #88 Tony Davis, #40 Dave Cutler, would spin to avoid; as did Jewett, unfortunately Jewett’s car would suffer damage and he would not complete the race. Once the race resumed, Tillema and #18 Mitch Meppelink took off for the top two spots; the #36 of Ken Smith Jr. and #6 Brandon Hermiller, last week’s feature winner, were side by side for the third spot. As Tillema separated himself from the pack, Meppelink, Hermiller, and Smith were all bumper to bumper. Hermiller got past both Meppelink and Smith for second on lap 6. On lap 14 the #89 of Kirk Meissner brought out the caution for what appeared to be a clean spin. Out of the restart Tillema would once take off to a hot lead; while Smith was on Hermiller’s bumper; Hermiller managed to shake him off and he would begin to make his move on Tillema. With 2 laps to go, Tillema and Hermiller were fighting hard for the top spot. Coming into turn 3 on the final lap Hermiller got under Tillema, but just didn’t have enough to take the win. Tillema edged out Hermiller by .032 seconds, followed by Smith, #22 Darin Niemi, and T. Davis.
One race that is far from over is the Engine Pro Super Stock championship. #55 Dave Lake, #18 Denny Anderson, and #77 Andrew Nylaan were separated by 40 points at the start of the night. As the cars took the grid, #95 Ray VanAllsburg was on the pole and #32 Gabe Ensing was on the outside. From the drop of the green flag, VanAllsburg was able to maintain position number 1 and the #77 of Andrew Nylaan was pushing though, taking the second position by the completion of lap 1. Fast Qualifier, #55 Dave Lake was gaining ground on the leaders. He thought about taking it three-wide on lap 4, but backed out without incident. The next time by, however, Lake did make it three-wide for the lead and made it work; he handily swept past both VanAllsburg and Nylaan and pulled out to a half-second lead. Nylaan would also clear VanAllsburg and focus on chasing down Lake. VanAllsburg found himself in a four-car battle for third with #23 Chris Koslek, #32 Gabe Ensing and #1 Brian Wiersma and all the while, Nylaan was steadily reeling in Lake. By the time they got to the half-way point of the race, Nylaan was on Lake’s bumper and the first caution of the night came out. #3 Travis Nylaan spun coming out of turn 1. The field tried for a restart, but another caution for the spinning cars of #16 Kelsey Steele and Ensing halted the progress of the race. After the second restart, Nylaan was able to get to the inside of Lake and took the lead, but just a few laps later, caution was out again. Ensing was out of shape going in to turn 2 and the #18 of Denny Anderson was also involved. The restart was clean and the #54 of Josh Slade was mixing it up with the intense battle for the lead. With Nylaan in the lead, Lake was working the inside. Lake seemed quicker in 1 and 2, but Nylaan was able to pull away in 3 and 4. With 5 to go, Nylaan was fighting to keep the lead while Slade and Wiersma were keeping Lake busy for second. With two laps to go, Ensing brought out the caution for the fourth time and that would result in a green-white-checker finish. The restart was single file and Lake was able to get under him and took the lead and the win away. Nylaan would have to settle for second and the two made post-race contact, spinning them both out. Both drivers would be OK: Lake would climb the fence and celebrate in victory lane while Nylaan would be disqualified. The rest of the top ten would be Wiersma, Slade, #50 Justin Regnerus, Koslek, #78 Will Olmsted, #6 Bob Bliss, #20J Jeremy Munniksma and Ensing.
The main event of the night was a special 50 lap feature for Model Coverall Modifieds. With only one night left of racing before Championship Night, and 67 points standing between #99 Brian Bergakker, #14 Billy Shotko , and #78 Travis Eddy, every lap mattered. Starting on the start/finish line were #27 Nyle Wieler and #4 Joe Morisette. Morisette was out in front fast, the #76 of Ryan Gruppen and Wieler were side by side for the second spot on lap 2. As Gruppen made some room between him and Wieler, Eddy was closing in on Gruppen. The two were side by side; by lap 5 Eddy had moved into second. On lap 6 Gruppen spun on the frontstretch, bringing out the yellow flag. Out of the restart Eddy was out in front, followed by Shotko; Mike Skinner in the #97 car would also begin to make his way to the front. Just as Skinner was making a move into third, a caution would come out on lap 10. The yellow came out for Morisette who spun. A similar yellow occurred for Morisette on lap 12. Another spin occurred on the backstretch for the #8 Billy Eppink. Out of the restart Shotko began to close in on Eddy. Bergakker and Skinner weren’t too far behind either. On lap 17 Shotko tried passing Eddy on the outside lane on the frontstretch, but failed on the attempt. A similar move on the following lap saw a new leader emerge in Shotko. A false yellow came out interrupting the racing action on lap 20, but out of the restart Skinner moved into second past Bergakker. Shotko and Skinner would battle from that moment on; the two were neck and neck switching positions until lap 30. That’s when Gruppen stopped on turn 4, his car was on fire. The safety crew quickly put the small flames out and he would be okay. Out of the restart Skinner separated himself from the field, but on lap 42 yet another caution for Morisette spinning. With Skinner out in front Bergakker and Shotko were neck and neck. Skinner would take the win, as Shotko separated from Bergakker to take the second spot. Bergakker, #44 Jordan Dahlke, and #6 Brian Kleis rounded the top 5 spots.
Up next for Berlin Raceway is the Winged Sprint Shootout. Pro Stocks, Super Stocks, Modifieds, AVSS, and Michiana Vingtage Racers will all be in action. Tickets for adults are $15, seniors 60+ are $13, children ages 6-12 are $5 and children under the age of 5 are FREE. For more information please visit www.berlinraceway.com
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