Friday, September 3, 2010
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
NASCAR Trucks driver Mike Skinner finds Berlin Raceway to his liking after victory
NASCAR Trucks driver Mike Skinner finds Berlin Raceway to his liking after victory
Steve Kaminski
The Grand Rapids Press
MARNE -- Sandy Meinel of Grand Rapids can’t remember exactly how long she has attended races at Berlin Raceway.
“Randy Sweet had that No. 17 pink car, whenever that was,” Meinel said, estimating it was sometime during the 1960s.
But she will never forget Saturday night, when she met Mike Skinner, who is one of her favorite drivers.
Skinner, a veteran on the NASCAR Camping World Trucks Series, won Modified Night, capturing the 50-lap main. He impressed a lot of fans off the track, too, considering the 1995 Trucks champion signed autographs on the frontstretch along with the local drivers before the start of the program.
“I think he is the greatest,” Meinel said. “He takes time for everybody. He is a good guy.”
Skinner finished 23rd in Friday night’s Trucks race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., then headed over to Berlin for Saturday’s races.
It was his first trip to the Marne half-mile.
The Ontario, Calif., native was invited to drive the Racingawareness.com 97L Modified fielded by local car owners Jeff Striegle, Norm Jelsma and Mike Bursley.
Skinner qualified second in the car, which raises funds for the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Foundation. He later beat out Billy Shotko of West Olive for the feature win.
“Man, oh man, it was everything Johnny Benson told me it was,” Skinner said of Berlin, which is celebrating its 60th season this year. “It is a fun, fun race track. It’s scary over there (on the backstretch) with no mirrors and no spotters. I just wanted to have a good, clean race.
“These guys built a helluva good race car. What a great, great time I had, and I’m glad we were able to raise some money for charity.”
Striegle said the project has raised about $25,000 for the foundation so far, which was the team’s goal at the start of the season. And the season isn’t over. The team has organized the Sept. 20 Racing Awareness Charity Golf Outing at Thousand Oaks Golf Club.
Skinner is the second NASCAR driver to park the car in Berlin’s Victory Lane this season, after Sprint Cup driver A.J. Allmendinger won in June.
Next up for Skinner and the Trucks series is Friday’s race at Kentucky Speedway.
“It’s non-stop,” Skinner said. “After we leave here, we are headed to Columbus to visit my wife’s family, spend a day or two there, and then it is on to Kentucky. But I love this. I love the road and I love racing the trucks.”
Saturday’s program included the track’s 4 Cylinder class. Cole Roelofs won the 20-lap A feature, while Clayton Brown took top honors in the B main.
Points leaders Dave Lake (Super Stocks) and Brian Tillema (Pro Stocks) took steps toward track championships after winning features.
BERLIN RACEWAY
•Super Stocks: Dave Lake
•Pro Stocks: Brian Tillema
•Modifieds: Mike Skinner
•4 Cylinders A: Cole Roelofs
•4 Cylinders B: Clayton Brown
CRYSTAL MOTOR SPEEDWAY
•Late Models: Roger Wing
•Pro Stocks: Chaney Newland
•Modifieds: Joe Fowler
•Pro Trucks: Chris VerHaar
•Street Stocks: Jasen Wiley
•Flinn Stocks: Austin Bean
I-96 SPEEDWAY
•Late Models: Brandon Thirlby
•Modifieds: Mark Anderson
•Street Stocks: Gary Vandermark
•4 Cylinders: Richard Peck
KALAMAZOO SPEEDWAY
•Super Late Models: Terry Senneker Jr.
•Modifieds: Mike Brooks
•Super Stocks: Dave Sensiba
•Pro Stocks: Ron Landis
•Cyber Stocks: Nick Layman
U.S. 131 MOTORSPORTS PARK
•Top ET: Rusty Baad
•Modifieds: Tim Falbe
•Street Stocks: Brian Nap
•Advanced Junior Dragsters: Kerrie Smith
•Beginner Junior Dragsters: Samantha Bennett
AROUND THE STATE
AUTO CITY SPEEDWAY
•Super Stocks: Kyle Hayden
•Street Stocks: Mike Walther
•Pure Stocks: Duane Damon
•Virtual 6’s: Corey Lipe
•Krazy 8: Chad Lamson
BUTLER SPEEDWAY
•Winged Sprints: Andy Hall
•Modifieds: Jake Rendel
•Sportsman: Jake Rendel
•Street Stocks: Todd Thoms
DIXIE MOTOR SPEEDWAY
•Pro Late Models: Jay Reinbold
•Modifieds: Nick Clemens
•Pro Stocks: Jon Giffel
•Bombers: Jordan Lechota
•Figure 8’s: Ray DerMiner
HARTFORD MOTOR SPEEDWAY
•American Late Model Series: Brady Smith
•Modifieds: Brian Ruhlman
•Stock Cars: Bobby Hinkle
OWOSSO SPEEDWAY
•Modifieds: Bill Luckhurst
•Pro Stocks: Dave Buswell
•Pure Stocks: Bob Robinson
•Sport Stocks: Matt Vainner
SPARTAN SPEEDWAY
•Late Models: Dave Stehouwer
•Modifieds: Sonny Coito
•Pony Stocks A: Wayne Beckner Jr.
•Pony Stocks: B: Darrell Taylor
•Pure Stocks: Lonnie Saumier
Steve Kaminski
The Grand Rapids Press
MARNE -- Sandy Meinel of Grand Rapids can’t remember exactly how long she has attended races at Berlin Raceway.
“Randy Sweet had that No. 17 pink car, whenever that was,” Meinel said, estimating it was sometime during the 1960s.
But she will never forget Saturday night, when she met Mike Skinner, who is one of her favorite drivers.
Skinner, a veteran on the NASCAR Camping World Trucks Series, won Modified Night, capturing the 50-lap main. He impressed a lot of fans off the track, too, considering the 1995 Trucks champion signed autographs on the frontstretch along with the local drivers before the start of the program.
“I think he is the greatest,” Meinel said. “He takes time for everybody. He is a good guy.”
Skinner finished 23rd in Friday night’s Trucks race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., then headed over to Berlin for Saturday’s races.
It was his first trip to the Marne half-mile.
The Ontario, Calif., native was invited to drive the Racingawareness.com 97L Modified fielded by local car owners Jeff Striegle, Norm Jelsma and Mike Bursley.
Skinner qualified second in the car, which raises funds for the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Foundation. He later beat out Billy Shotko of West Olive for the feature win.
“Man, oh man, it was everything Johnny Benson told me it was,” Skinner said of Berlin, which is celebrating its 60th season this year. “It is a fun, fun race track. It’s scary over there (on the backstretch) with no mirrors and no spotters. I just wanted to have a good, clean race.
“These guys built a helluva good race car. What a great, great time I had, and I’m glad we were able to raise some money for charity.”
Striegle said the project has raised about $25,000 for the foundation so far, which was the team’s goal at the start of the season. And the season isn’t over. The team has organized the Sept. 20 Racing Awareness Charity Golf Outing at Thousand Oaks Golf Club.
Skinner is the second NASCAR driver to park the car in Berlin’s Victory Lane this season, after Sprint Cup driver A.J. Allmendinger won in June.
Next up for Skinner and the Trucks series is Friday’s race at Kentucky Speedway.
“It’s non-stop,” Skinner said. “After we leave here, we are headed to Columbus to visit my wife’s family, spend a day or two there, and then it is on to Kentucky. But I love this. I love the road and I love racing the trucks.”
Saturday’s program included the track’s 4 Cylinder class. Cole Roelofs won the 20-lap A feature, while Clayton Brown took top honors in the B main.
Points leaders Dave Lake (Super Stocks) and Brian Tillema (Pro Stocks) took steps toward track championships after winning features.
BERLIN RACEWAY
•Super Stocks: Dave Lake
•Pro Stocks: Brian Tillema
•Modifieds: Mike Skinner
•4 Cylinders A: Cole Roelofs
•4 Cylinders B: Clayton Brown
CRYSTAL MOTOR SPEEDWAY
•Late Models: Roger Wing
•Pro Stocks: Chaney Newland
•Modifieds: Joe Fowler
•Pro Trucks: Chris VerHaar
•Street Stocks: Jasen Wiley
•Flinn Stocks: Austin Bean
I-96 SPEEDWAY
•Late Models: Brandon Thirlby
•Modifieds: Mark Anderson
•Street Stocks: Gary Vandermark
•4 Cylinders: Richard Peck
KALAMAZOO SPEEDWAY
•Super Late Models: Terry Senneker Jr.
•Modifieds: Mike Brooks
•Super Stocks: Dave Sensiba
•Pro Stocks: Ron Landis
•Cyber Stocks: Nick Layman
U.S. 131 MOTORSPORTS PARK
•Top ET: Rusty Baad
•Modifieds: Tim Falbe
•Street Stocks: Brian Nap
•Advanced Junior Dragsters: Kerrie Smith
•Beginner Junior Dragsters: Samantha Bennett
AROUND THE STATE
AUTO CITY SPEEDWAY
•Super Stocks: Kyle Hayden
•Street Stocks: Mike Walther
•Pure Stocks: Duane Damon
•Virtual 6’s: Corey Lipe
•Krazy 8: Chad Lamson
BUTLER SPEEDWAY
•Winged Sprints: Andy Hall
•Modifieds: Jake Rendel
•Sportsman: Jake Rendel
•Street Stocks: Todd Thoms
DIXIE MOTOR SPEEDWAY
•Pro Late Models: Jay Reinbold
•Modifieds: Nick Clemens
•Pro Stocks: Jon Giffel
•Bombers: Jordan Lechota
•Figure 8’s: Ray DerMiner
HARTFORD MOTOR SPEEDWAY
•American Late Model Series: Brady Smith
•Modifieds: Brian Ruhlman
•Stock Cars: Bobby Hinkle
OWOSSO SPEEDWAY
•Modifieds: Bill Luckhurst
•Pro Stocks: Dave Buswell
•Pure Stocks: Bob Robinson
•Sport Stocks: Matt Vainner
SPARTAN SPEEDWAY
•Late Models: Dave Stehouwer
•Modifieds: Sonny Coito
•Pony Stocks A: Wayne Beckner Jr.
•Pony Stocks: B: Darrell Taylor
•Pure Stocks: Lonnie Saumier
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Crystal Motor Speedway Storyline August 28th
August 28th 2010 Results!
Saturday night was Season Championship Night with all divisions except the IMCA Modifieds declaring their season champions this week at Crystal Motor Speedway. The event will be sponsored by Alma Lock and Glass and drew 129 cars. The MORA Outlaws were also in attendance was well and their feature was won by John Lane.
The Races On The Web Flinn Stock division was first up to finish the points season. Austin Bean got out front but had Cory Burch tight on his tail. Burch got loose as he battled for position and fell way back, allowing Bean to get out front alone. Chris DeCamp, Zach Rummer, and Richard Melton all battled for second as Burch fell further back and was finally lapped by Bean. Bean continued his heady lead and went on to win over Melton, DeCamp, Neil Zeigler, Rick Zimmerman, Felicia Rohn, Chance Allen, Rummer, Matt Daggett, and Burch. Bean took the heat as well.
The Late Model division, sponsored by Kentucky Fried Chicken of Mt Pleasant, was next with Roger Wing taking the point early. Justin McNeil, Kyle Borgman, Mickey Carman Jr, and Matt Pickard made up the top six. With nothing but the cool nights air in front of him, Wing continued his lead and soon was in lapped traffic. Ries, Carman, and McNeil were all in a tight fight for position several lengths behind Wing. Ries began to press McNeil for second for well over 15 laps but was not able to quite make the pass. Wing took the white flag with a large lead and went on to win over McNeil, Carman, Ries, Pickard, Tom Dusen, Mark Andersen, Dean Huizenga, Keith Gentz, and Jeff Kohn. Ryan VanderVeen and Bill Beardslee scored heat wins.
Next up was the Port City Racing Pro Stock feature. Mike Husted held the lead in the early going with Derek Schestag following. Chaney Newland and Ryan Kent came flying up from their fifth row starting position and by lap six, Newland slid around Husted for the lead and began to check out from the field. Schestag and Kent raced side by side for several laps before Kent was able to take it away with Jake Headley following. With only two to go, Newland had opened up a sizable lead as he continued on to the win and the season championship over Kent, Schestag, Headley Gordie Snyder, Dick Reynolds, Barry Rinard, Greg Mandoka, Todd Bush, and Robert McDonald, Sr.. Vern Buskirk and Don Rohn brought home heat gold.
The Engine Pro IMCA Modifieds were the only division not racing for a crown Saturday night with their championship being determined the last night of racing at CMS September 18th. A major wreck on the opening lap claimed several cars, including Brennan Bowen and Brody Bowser. Once back under green, Myron DeYoung held the lead with Jerry Hunt tight behind. Joe Fowler quickly slipped into second and Chad Wernette claimed third in a clash of titans. Fowler went low and made a run and then the pass to take the lead, closely followed by Wernette. AJ Ward moved up to fourth with a strong run. Fowler wins over Wernette, DeYoung, Ward, Borton Ziegler, Hunt, Neil Siefker, Ken Zeigler, and Melvin Allen. B feature wins went to Allen and Greg Wiles and Chad Maurer, Fowler, and Bowen grabbed heat wins.
The Port City Racing Pro Trucks took to the racing arena with Chris Verhaar jumping out to the opening lap lead. Tim Sooy took second with Aaron Raby fighting for that position as well. Scott Neiman moved into fourth about the same time that Blake Hollenbeck went sliding into the water barrels, bringing a caution on the field. Once back under green, the front three began racing two and three wide with Verhaar holding the top spot. With three to go, Verhaar held a slender lead over Raby and he went on to win over Raby, Carl Thayer, Joe Nieman, Wood, Sooy, Peters, Andrew Fidler, Ashlee Scott, and Scott Nieman. Raby went home with a heat win photo.
The Smokers Club of Mt Pleasant Street Stocks feature Shane Spencer, Luke Sickles, and Anthony Carlton made a three way race for the lead which ended up with Sickles, spinning in the apex of turns one and two, sending him to the pits. Spencer resumed the lead with Carlton second and Tim Buskirk coming fast. James Prochaska began to move forward but in the mean time, points leader Mike VanderMark Jr blew an engine, Spencer was challenged in a three way battle for the lead with Buskirk and Prochaska. Jasen Wiley began a cautious run toward the top, attempting to get out front to take advantage of VanderMark’s misfortune. With just two to go, George Wease spun in front of Prochaska. Wease left and Prochaska kept his position. On the restart, Spencer got loose and Wiley took the lead, and then the win and the championship all at the same time. Spencer grabbed second and was followed by Prochazka, Al Kiester, Jeff Hitsman, Ronnie Mathis, Brooke Ann Brasington, Zach Hoyt, Tim Painter, and Caden Foster. Larry Bulson won the B feature while Kyle Prochazka and Spencer took heat gold.
Next week at Crystal Motor Speedway is a two day show as CMS celebrates the Labor Day Weekend. Both nights are sponsored by Anderson Contracting and Renovations of Vestaburg. Saturday night features the SOD Sprints in their third and final appearance at the speedway plus a holiday display of fireworks. The Late Models have the night off. Gates open at 4:30PM and racing gets rolling at 7:30. Adults are $12 to the grandstands and kids 5-11 are $4. Pit passes are $25. The Sunday show features the Outlaw Late Models plus an open Modified Invitational. The program also features the regular Late Models and all the normal divisions except the IMCA Mods. Gates open at 4:30 and racing starts at 7:30PM. Adults are $12 to the grandstands and kids 5-11 are $4. Pit passes are $25. The track has primitive camping available. For further information, call the track office at 989.235.5200
***Verwayne Greenhoe
Saturday night was Season Championship Night with all divisions except the IMCA Modifieds declaring their season champions this week at Crystal Motor Speedway. The event will be sponsored by Alma Lock and Glass and drew 129 cars. The MORA Outlaws were also in attendance was well and their feature was won by John Lane.
The Races On The Web Flinn Stock division was first up to finish the points season. Austin Bean got out front but had Cory Burch tight on his tail. Burch got loose as he battled for position and fell way back, allowing Bean to get out front alone. Chris DeCamp, Zach Rummer, and Richard Melton all battled for second as Burch fell further back and was finally lapped by Bean. Bean continued his heady lead and went on to win over Melton, DeCamp, Neil Zeigler, Rick Zimmerman, Felicia Rohn, Chance Allen, Rummer, Matt Daggett, and Burch. Bean took the heat as well.
The Late Model division, sponsored by Kentucky Fried Chicken of Mt Pleasant, was next with Roger Wing taking the point early. Justin McNeil, Kyle Borgman, Mickey Carman Jr, and Matt Pickard made up the top six. With nothing but the cool nights air in front of him, Wing continued his lead and soon was in lapped traffic. Ries, Carman, and McNeil were all in a tight fight for position several lengths behind Wing. Ries began to press McNeil for second for well over 15 laps but was not able to quite make the pass. Wing took the white flag with a large lead and went on to win over McNeil, Carman, Ries, Pickard, Tom Dusen, Mark Andersen, Dean Huizenga, Keith Gentz, and Jeff Kohn. Ryan VanderVeen and Bill Beardslee scored heat wins.
Next up was the Port City Racing Pro Stock feature. Mike Husted held the lead in the early going with Derek Schestag following. Chaney Newland and Ryan Kent came flying up from their fifth row starting position and by lap six, Newland slid around Husted for the lead and began to check out from the field. Schestag and Kent raced side by side for several laps before Kent was able to take it away with Jake Headley following. With only two to go, Newland had opened up a sizable lead as he continued on to the win and the season championship over Kent, Schestag, Headley Gordie Snyder, Dick Reynolds, Barry Rinard, Greg Mandoka, Todd Bush, and Robert McDonald, Sr.. Vern Buskirk and Don Rohn brought home heat gold.
The Engine Pro IMCA Modifieds were the only division not racing for a crown Saturday night with their championship being determined the last night of racing at CMS September 18th. A major wreck on the opening lap claimed several cars, including Brennan Bowen and Brody Bowser. Once back under green, Myron DeYoung held the lead with Jerry Hunt tight behind. Joe Fowler quickly slipped into second and Chad Wernette claimed third in a clash of titans. Fowler went low and made a run and then the pass to take the lead, closely followed by Wernette. AJ Ward moved up to fourth with a strong run. Fowler wins over Wernette, DeYoung, Ward, Borton Ziegler, Hunt, Neil Siefker, Ken Zeigler, and Melvin Allen. B feature wins went to Allen and Greg Wiles and Chad Maurer, Fowler, and Bowen grabbed heat wins.
The Port City Racing Pro Trucks took to the racing arena with Chris Verhaar jumping out to the opening lap lead. Tim Sooy took second with Aaron Raby fighting for that position as well. Scott Neiman moved into fourth about the same time that Blake Hollenbeck went sliding into the water barrels, bringing a caution on the field. Once back under green, the front three began racing two and three wide with Verhaar holding the top spot. With three to go, Verhaar held a slender lead over Raby and he went on to win over Raby, Carl Thayer, Joe Nieman, Wood, Sooy, Peters, Andrew Fidler, Ashlee Scott, and Scott Nieman. Raby went home with a heat win photo.
The Smokers Club of Mt Pleasant Street Stocks feature Shane Spencer, Luke Sickles, and Anthony Carlton made a three way race for the lead which ended up with Sickles, spinning in the apex of turns one and two, sending him to the pits. Spencer resumed the lead with Carlton second and Tim Buskirk coming fast. James Prochaska began to move forward but in the mean time, points leader Mike VanderMark Jr blew an engine, Spencer was challenged in a three way battle for the lead with Buskirk and Prochaska. Jasen Wiley began a cautious run toward the top, attempting to get out front to take advantage of VanderMark’s misfortune. With just two to go, George Wease spun in front of Prochaska. Wease left and Prochaska kept his position. On the restart, Spencer got loose and Wiley took the lead, and then the win and the championship all at the same time. Spencer grabbed second and was followed by Prochazka, Al Kiester, Jeff Hitsman, Ronnie Mathis, Brooke Ann Brasington, Zach Hoyt, Tim Painter, and Caden Foster. Larry Bulson won the B feature while Kyle Prochazka and Spencer took heat gold.
Next week at Crystal Motor Speedway is a two day show as CMS celebrates the Labor Day Weekend. Both nights are sponsored by Anderson Contracting and Renovations of Vestaburg. Saturday night features the SOD Sprints in their third and final appearance at the speedway plus a holiday display of fireworks. The Late Models have the night off. Gates open at 4:30PM and racing gets rolling at 7:30. Adults are $12 to the grandstands and kids 5-11 are $4. Pit passes are $25. The Sunday show features the Outlaw Late Models plus an open Modified Invitational. The program also features the regular Late Models and all the normal divisions except the IMCA Mods. Gates open at 4:30 and racing starts at 7:30PM. Adults are $12 to the grandstands and kids 5-11 are $4. Pit passes are $25. The track has primitive camping available. For further information, call the track office at 989.235.5200
***Verwayne Greenhoe
Tom Dusen Wins Late Model Points Title at Crystal
Roger Wing won the Late Model feature event at Crystal but it was Muskegon's Tom Dusen who won the biggest prize of the night claiming the 2010 Late Model Title. Check out results below.
Results of August 28th
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