By Steve Ungrey |
The Grand Rapids Press MLive.com
MARNE, MI – Mike Bursley may be in a different role this year at Berlin Raceway, but there is no question where his heart belongs.
It belongs in a car.
In just his second time in a CRA Super Series vehicle, Bursley overcame the field and won the 100-lap feature event Saturday night, capturing his first victory in at least two years. The Holland driver beat Daniel Hemric by 1.73 seconds for the title.
When asked how he did the first time in Super Series action, Bursley jokingly pleaded the Fifth Amendment. The second time turned out to be the charm.
“Big win,” Bursley said. “I wasn’t aware that Daniel was having trouble with his car toward the end. I saw him getting looser and looser and thought now is my time to overcome him. Lap traffic played a factor but once we got around that it was all right. It helped me catch up with him.
“You know, just to come out and have a good time… I wish the weather didn’t play a factor, else we would have had more butts in the seats, but it happens. The car was pretty good, and this feels pretty special.”
The win is big for Bursley, a former Super Stocks champion in 2007 who moved to the front office last fall when he was named the track’s general manager. He has been at the front of an upswing in attendance and enthusiasm this season.
“My role is completely different now, and I understand it,” Bursley said in a pre-race interview. “It was a whole new challenge for me that I welcomed. We really haven’t battled weather all season, but we’ve had phenomenal crowds in the last month. We’ve had weekly crowds of about 4,000 this year. It’s different getting back behind the wheel. Now it’s a question of whether I can last 100 laps.”
Once in the car, there was no problem at all. Bursley lasted the entire 100 laps and took the checkered.
Campbell, a Wyoming resident, has won two CRA races this season. For one night, he didn’t mind trading places as Bursley took the wheel while Campbell stood and watched.
“I tried getting him to go to Indianapolis a couple weeks ago but he didn’t want to go,” Campbell said. “Up here at Berlin, he asked me if he could get in the car and race while I was watching (from the sidelines). If there is any race he should take part in, it’s this one. With these guys and that car… we put a good car out there for him.”
Still, Campbell has gotten the question a lot this week: Why aren’t you behind the wheel?
“I’ve gotten it asked several times,” Campbell said. “But I’m all right with it. I’m just fine with him being in the vehicle this week. Bursley’s a lot better than people give him credit for… it’s like a bike. You just keep on getting on it and you always do very good.”
Mother Nature intervened and brought an early end to the night’s action following the Sportsman feature, with just 21 of the 25 laps completed.
Randy Veldman defeated Brian Tillema by 1.095 seconds for the checkered flag, with Tony Davis finishing in third. Dave Cutler and Garison Jewett rounded out the top five.
JEGS-CRA SUPER SERIES (100 laps)
1. Mike Bursley (42 minutes, 14.248 seconds), 2. Daniel Hemric, 3. Kenzie Ruston, 4. Jordan Dahlke, 5. Chris Koslek, 6. Erik Jones, 7. Brent Downey, 8. Anderson Bowen, 9. Terry VanHaitsma, 10. Brandon Hermiller, 11. Josh Nelms, 12. Josh Hobson, 13. Tom Woodin, 14. Mike Root, 15. Jerrod Foley, 16. Lauren Bush, 17. Dan Vander Molen, 18. Chad Finley, 19. Seth Moody, 20. Caleb Bisacky, 21. Jay Sommers, 22. Wes Griffith Jr., 23. Justin Regnerus.
SPORTSMAN (21 laps)
1. Randy Veldman (15:20.557), 2. Brian Tillema, 3. Tony Davis, 4. Dave Cutler, 5. Garison Jewett, 6. Allen Davis, 7. Kirk Meissner, 8. Tyler Nawrocki, 9. Brian Thome, 10. Gerry Shepard, 11. Mitch Meppelink, 12. Tyler Sterken, 13. Scott Root, 14. Nick Sherrington.
QUALIFYING
JEGS-CRA All-Stars: Daniel Hemric
Modified: Kevin DeGood
Sportsman: Tony Davis
Super Stock: Justin Ryan
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