Berlin Raceway rookie driver, car owner ready to turn heads this season

By Steve Kaminski | Skaminsk@mlive.com 
on April 11, 2013 at 8:05 AM, updated April 11, 2013 at 8:46 AM

Tyler Rycenga, No. 21, races Brent DeKracker during this past Saturday's test-and-tune session at Berlin Raceway.
Photo courtesy of Randy Ellen


 

HOLLAND, MI -- Tyler Rycenga is pretty confident that no one has a boss better than his.
Rycenga, a 2010 West Ottawa High School graduate, was 16 years old when he started working for Nick Markovic, who owns Euro Tech of Holland and European Autohaus.
So Markovic is well aware that Rycenga grew up racing go-karts before he started competing in Legend Cars six years ago, and he said he knew how much Rycenga wanted to continue to progress in the sport.
That’s why Markovic approached Rycenga with a plan last year.
“Nick came to me and asked if I would be interested in running a car. I was caught off guard,” Rycenga said. “I didn’t know he wanted to own his own car. But he asked me if I would be interested, and he said let’s find a car for Berlin (Raceway). I was very excited.”

Tyler Rycenga of Holland is a rookie in Berlin Raceway's Super Stock division this spring.Steve Kaminski | MLive.com 

Berlin will open its 2013 season April 20 after Saturday's opener has been postponed due to weather, and Rycenga will be one of the drivers to watch now that Markovic has purchased a Super Stock and hired Rycenga to drive it in Berlin's Engine Pro Super Stock division.
Rycenga was a successful go-kart racer, winning two championships at Ravenna Motor Park. The Legend Cars gave him experience racing on tracks across the Midwest, including Toledo Speedway and Illiana Motor Speedway in Indiana.
Markovic, 39, is originally from Croatia, and he first came to the United States as an exchange student. He graduated from Jenison High School and later Davenport, and he elected to stay in the United States after completing his education.
Markovic has never been to Berlin, the half-mile paved short-track located on the Berlin Fairgrounds in Marne. But he wanted to pursue racing for two reasons. It looks like a great business opportunity, he said, and he added that he wants to help a talented young driver chase his dreams.
“Tyler has been a loyal and great employee,” Markovic said. “He has been racing for so long, and he has done well, but it’s hard to move up. It’s not easy to get into. I thought this would be a neat way to help him out and do some advertising. It’s going to be a neat pastime for our employees and customers, and it’s a neat way to promote our business.”
Markovic purchased the Super Stock from veteran car owner Mike Blackmer this past October. The team also features crewman Ryan Day, and defending Super Stock champion Justin Ryan, who will be racing a template-body Late Model this season, is serving a consultant.
“Some of the challenges are going to be learning the car,” Rycenga said. “I got pretty familiar with the Legends cars after racing them for six years. I could take it apart and put it back together pretty much in my sleep. I knew everything like the back of my hand.
“The Super Stock has quite a bit more horsepower, and I’m not used to racing on a bigger track like Berlin. I’m used to running quarter-mile and three-eighths mile ovals. It’s a whole new ballgame for me, but I’m excited to learn.”

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