Hudsonville's Terry VanHaitsma savors first CRA Super Series win at Berlin Raceway

Hudsonville's Terry VanHaitsma savors first CRA Super Series win at Berlin Raceway

By Steve Kaminski | The Grand Rapids Press MLive.com

MARNE -- Terry VanHaitsma of Hudsonville earned his first career CRA Super Series victory Saturday night at Berlin Raceway, but he barely had the energy to celebrate.

VanHaitsma rallied from the rear of the field to take the checkered flag in Berlin’s season finale.

"I don’t think I have enough energy to do a flip after all the work we had to do today," VanHaitsma said, moments after climbing out of his Late Model stock car in Victory Lane. "The right front hub broke in the last practice, and we didn’t get to qualify, so we had to start dead last. I knew we had a good car and I knew it was a long race. I didn’t know if we would get up in position there through the mid-part of the race, but we just kept picking them off one at a time.

"We were sitting up there in the top 10, the top five, and then we were leading the thing. That car was awesome. It was fun to drive."

VanHaitsma competes in Berlin’s weekly Premier Boyne Super Lates division as well as the track’s Late Models division. He finished fourth in Super Lates and 10th in Late Models this season.

Saturday’s 125-lapper featured nine lead changes, which was three shy of a series record. VanHaitsma, who was making his sixth career CRA start, didn’t take over the lead until lap 99, but once in front, there was no stopping him.

VanHaitsma led the final 26 laps and beat out Ross Meeuwsen of Zeeland by 2.5 seconds, followed by Chris Anthony of Walker and Tim DeVos of Comstock Park.

"This is awesome," VanHaitsma said. "I was really happy winning in this car a couple of weeks ago in the Jegs Tour, but this one was even better."

U.S. 131 MOTORSPORTS PARK
Lucas Fischer outran Andy Wroblewski in the Top Eliminator division finals in Martin on Saturday when the dragstrip hosted its final bracket race of the season. Fischer ripped off a pass of 152.6 mph in 8.3 seconds to collect the $1,200 first-place cash prize.

Stan Jones Jr. was the big winner in Modifieds, defeating Tracy Mulcher, while Steve Town beat out Roger Knight in Street. Felicia Coe won Junior Dragster Advance and Emily Whitehead took top honors in Junior Dragster Beginner.