By Jeff Chaney The Grand Rapids Press MLive.com
MARNE -- Lauren Bush is racing with the big boys this year.
The 17-year-old Hastings High School junior plans to race Berlin Raceway’s new division this year, the Boyne Premier Super Lates division.
The class features template bodied Late Models that will remind race fans of NASCAR cars, and will have a field of very talented drivers, including Bush, who ended up fifth in points in last year’s Pro Stock division.
Bush was at Berlin on Saturday, taking part in the track’s first day of practice. Real racing begins April 23.
"It’s a big jump. There will be a lot of good racers to beat this year," Bush said. "I’m excited. To be racing against some of the top drivers, that should be interesting."
Drivers who plan to race in the Super Lates are former Busch Series and Truck Series champion Johnny Benson, former Champions Racing Association champion Johnny VanDoorn, current Nationwide driver Andy Ponstein and former ASA champion Brian Campbell.
Lauren Bush’s father, Joe Bush, a former four-time Late Model champion at Berlin, is excited to see where his daughter will stack up in a loaded field.
"There will be some heavy hitters in the division, and I think Lauren may be more intimidated that I am, because I want to see what she can do," said Joe Bush, the owner of his daughter’s car. "I think this will be the most competitive division out here this year, and from what I hear, it will have the most cars."
Berlin owner Mike Blackmer said the plan is to have an eight-race Super Lates series this year, including one of the races at Kalamazoo Speedway.
"This will be the top series we have at Berlin in a couple of years," Blackmer said. "It will probably take a couple of years to catch on. In the past, drivers of these cars would have to travel, now they can stay here and race. And the big thing is that we will have a points fund — $4,000 will go to the series champion at the end of the year."
Aside from the Super Lates, Blackmer said some other changes are planned for Berlin this year.
"Each week, we will have all divisions (Late Models, Super Stocks, Pro Stocks, Modifieds and 4-cylinders) racing. Nobody will take a week off," Blackmer said. "And, Berlin is dropping ticket prices. Tickets are now $10, and kids 12 and under get in free. That’s the lowest tickets have been in 10 years."
But the big intrigue is the new division.
"This is the closest thing we will have to the old ASA days," said longtime Berlin announcer Norm Jelsma, who will be a co-owner of Johnny Benson’s Super Lates car this year. "This should be big."
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