Berlin Raceway champ surprises himself with victory in Saturday night's season opener

Berlin Raceway champ surprises himself with victory in Saturday night's season opener By Steve Kaminski | Skaminsk@mlive.com

MARNE – Defending Berlin Raceway Modified division champion Billy Shotko was having an awful 2013 season, even though the year didn’t officially start until Saturday night. Shotko blew an engine in two of Berlin’s practice sessions, including Friday night's at the Marne half-mile oval.That’s why Shotko said he was more surprised than anyone to be standing in Victory Lane after he won the 25-lap feature race over Kevin DeGood and Ryan Hamm.

“(Friday), when I left the track at 5 o’clock, I didn’t even think I was coming here,” said Shotko, of West Olive. “The fact that I’m standing here in Victory Lane gives me goose bumps. “This is our third motor of the season. We dug this thing from out back, we didn’t even think it was going to run. Last night, we started pulling the motor out at 6:30, had the new one in by 12:30 (a.m.) and stayed until 2:30 in the morning. I have to thank everybody for working so hard.”

Saturday night’s season opener kicked off Berlin’s 63rd season after inclement weather washed out the past two weekends. The evening’s winners included Ross Meeuwsen, who captured top honors in the 75-lap Super Late Model feature. The race came down to a one-lap shootout between Meeuwsen and DeVos after Gabe Ensing's spin on the frontstretch brought out the caution on lap 74. Meeuwsen chose the high groove and was able to drive away from DeVos and Chris Koslek. "I talked to the guys in the pits, and they said to try the outside," Meeuwsen said. "I couldn't get back around him if I started on the inside because he was really good on the outside for about three or four laps. So I just thought I would try the outside."

Veteran driver and perennial Sportsman division contender Scott Root of Walker enjoyed a pair of firsts Saturday. Root set fast time and won the 25-lap feature race over veteran Dave Cutler, marking the first time he has pulled off the sweep. He also won on opening night for the first time in his career. “Oh man, it was great, the car was awesome,” Root said. “It has been 12 years that we have been trying to win an opener, and finally, we got it. I’m just hoping this is our year. We have been working hard for 12 years, and we have a good car and a good car builder, and we are just hoping for the best. We have to have some luck.”

Seth Moody of Middleville won his first career Super Stock feature when he took the lead on lap seven of the 30-lap main and drove away from the field. He beat Jeremy Munniksma by 0.678 of a second, while fast qualifier Will Olmsted was third. Moody had little time to celebrate. He had to hop out of his Super Stock and into his Super Late Model to compete in the program’s 75-lap finale. “I spent so much time on this car the past week, so it feels awesome,” Moody said. “I just want to thank Port City for all their help, my grandpa for the motor work, my dad for helping me fix the car and my girlfriend for taking pictures. She’s awesome.”

Jason Essex of Greenville won the 15-lap 4 Cylinder feature over Sierra Lantz and Zack Clark. Essex is off to a fast start after finishing third in points a year ago and earning the division’s rookie of the year honors. “This is what we worked for all winter, trying to get the car set up ready to go for opening night,” Essex said. “It paid off. It is a great way to start off. I am really trying to build off of last year and show everybody that that wasn’t a fluke.”

SATURDAY NIGHT RESULTS SUPER LATE MODELS (75 LAPS) 1. Ross Meeuwsen, 2. Tim DeVos, 3. Chris Koslek, 4. Tom Thomas, 5. Jordan Dahlke, 6. Chris Anthony, 7. Seth Moody, 8. Lee VanDyk, 9. Jay Niewiek, 10. Justin Ryan, 11. Jon Beach, 12. Dan Vandermolen, 13. Caleb Bisacky, 14. Gabe Ensing, 15. Dave Lake, 16. Lauren Bush, 17. Josh Hobson, 18. Justin Regnerus, 19. Tim Greene, 20. Brandon Hermiller, 21. David Fretz, 22. Terry VanHaitsma, 23. Kevin Malosh

SUPER STOCKS (30 LAPS) – 1. Seth Moody, 2. Jeremy Munniksma, 3. Will Olmsted, 4. Nate Walton, 5. Brian VanZalen, 6. Justin Regnerus, 7. Ben Welch, 8. Brian Tillema, 9. Dave Hull, 10. Brett DeKraker, 11. John Norder, 12. Tyler Rycenga, 13. Warren Speet, 14. Bob Bliss, 15. Andrew Nylaan SPORTSMAN (25 LAPS) – 1.Scott Root, 2. Dave Cutler, 3. Andrew MacIntosh, 4. Allen Davis, 5. Brian Thome, 6. Gerry Shepard, 7. Shawn Simon, 8. Randy Veldman, 9. Kirk Meissner, 10. Tyler Sterken, 11. Bill Funk, 12. Matt VanHorsen, 13. Tyler Nawrocki, 14. Jared Miller, 15. Ben Thomas, 16. Maurice Davis

MODIFIEDS (25 LAPS) – 1. Billy Shotko, 2. Kevin DeGood, 3. Ryan Hamm, 4. Ryan Gruppen, 5. Tony Davis, 6. Randy DeBoer, 7. Billy Eppink, 8. Rob Shoemaker, 9. Kris Fewless, 10. Dennis Mann 4 CYLINDERS (15 LAPS) – 1. Jason Essex, 2. Sierra Lantz, 3. Zack Clark, 4. Charlie DeJong, 5. Rikki VanHorssen, 6. Jackson Walker, 7. Robert Bowyer, 8. Troy Nagelkirk, 9. Seth VanHorssen, 10. Dave Duyst, 11. Mike Mellon

HEAT WINNERS: Dave Lake, Chris Anthony (Super Late Models); Billy Shotko (Modifieds); Sierra Lantz, Zack Clark (4 Cylinders); Kirk Meissner, Randy Veldman (Sportsman); Seth Moody, Brett DeKraker (Super Stock) FAST QUALIFIERS: Ross Meeuwsen (Super Late Models) 99.571 mph; Kevin DeGood (Modifieds) 92.606 mph; Will Olmsted (Super Stocks) 92.189 mph; Scott Root (Sportsman) 83.477 mph; Jason Essex (4 Cylinders) 75.666 mph