Michigan drivers Brian Campbell and Eric Jones took their talents to Lanier Speedway this past weekend to start their 2011 race seasons. Campbell pulled double duty racing in both the Pro Late Model division and the CRA Super Late Model Division. Jones and Ben VanDoorn the crew chief from (Johnny VanDoorns) KAOS Race team concentrated their efforts in the Pro Late Model Division.
Qualifying Saturday earned Campbell a 16th place starting spot in his Perfect Circle Racing Chassis Pro Late Model for the 150 lap event Sunday. Campbell was clocked as the fastest in practice Saturday in his CRA Super Late Model but fell off in qualifying earning him the tenth starting position for their 200 lap event. The 15 year old Jones Qualified an impressive eighth for Sunday's event.
The Pro Late Model Division saw impressive runs by both Campbell and Jones. Campbell patiently worked his way from 16th all the way to fourth with just ten laps to go. Campbell was challenging for the third spot with six laps to go when the caution flag waved. A double file restart put Campbell in the out side groove where he battled to keep him self in the top ten. Ultimately Campbell finished 8th. Jones efforts continues to gain valuable seat time. Not too many drivers let lone one that is 15 can exhibit the patience and focus he continues to show. Jones hung out in the top fifteen all day staying out of trouble. When the checkered was wave he captured a tenth place finish.
Campbell CRA event went our early. On lap 67 Campbell was caught up in an accident that ended his day. He finished 31st in the running order.
Both events were won by Bill Elliot's son Chase who is the hottest shoe in racing outside of NASCAR. Elliot won the Pro Model Event crossing the line a fender ahead of Duane Buggey. Elliot lead the most laps in the event. In the Super Late Model CRA event Elliot again led the most laps and the most important one.
If you have not had he chance to see Chase Elliot race in person, you are missing out. It is my opinion that he is the next, Kyle Busch of NASCAR without the rough edges. It is too bad we will have to wait three more years to see his talents in NASCAR. But then again we don't have to pay NASCAR ticket prices to watch him now.
Note: Muskegon's Mike Garvey withdrew his CRA Super Late Model entry after practice Friday due to engine problems. Garvey ranked in the top 10 during practice He was hired to drive a third entry from the Greg Simpson Racing.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Chase Elliott to Race at Berlin Twice in 2011 JEGS/CRA All-Star Tour Added to Schedule
Chase Elliott to Race at Berlin Twice in 2011 JEGS/CRA All-Star Tour Added to Schedule
by Michael Blackmer
MARNE, Mich. — Berlin Raceway is pleased to announce that Chase Elliott will return to the famed half-mile for two race dates in 2011.
Elliott, son of NASCAR legend Bill Elliott, made his debut at Berlin Raceway last June at Rowdy’s Revenge 251. For it being his first time at the track, he impressed many by leading over 100 laps and remaining a strong contender for the win. Elliott will have the chance to claim victory at Berlin Raceway on June 21 for the third-annual Rowdy 251.
Elliott will then make the trip back to Marne to race on September 10. The JEGS/CRA All-Star Tour will make a stop at Berlin for a 100-lap race. It is a new traveling series that is specifically for crate late models and Berlin is one race out of an eleven-race schedule.
“It’s great that Chase is coming back and supporting Berlin, not once, but twice this season. He is an up-and-coming star and he made a lot of fans when he raced here last year,” said Owner and Promoter, Mike Blackmer.
The Berlin Raceway is set to open its 61st season on April 23rd with a full show including Outlaw Late Models, Super Stocks, Pro Stocks and 4-Cylinders. Two additional racing series will also be a part of Berlin Raceway’s divisions in 2011; the Premier Boyne Machine Super Lates and the Vintage Racing Organization of America will join the line-up on May 7.
A complete list of events and prices can be found at www.berlinraceway.com or by calling the Berlin Raceway office at 616-662-2051.
by Michael Blackmer
MARNE, Mich. — Berlin Raceway is pleased to announce that Chase Elliott will return to the famed half-mile for two race dates in 2011.
Elliott, son of NASCAR legend Bill Elliott, made his debut at Berlin Raceway last June at Rowdy’s Revenge 251. For it being his first time at the track, he impressed many by leading over 100 laps and remaining a strong contender for the win. Elliott will have the chance to claim victory at Berlin Raceway on June 21 for the third-annual Rowdy 251.
Elliott will then make the trip back to Marne to race on September 10. The JEGS/CRA All-Star Tour will make a stop at Berlin for a 100-lap race. It is a new traveling series that is specifically for crate late models and Berlin is one race out of an eleven-race schedule.
“It’s great that Chase is coming back and supporting Berlin, not once, but twice this season. He is an up-and-coming star and he made a lot of fans when he raced here last year,” said Owner and Promoter, Mike Blackmer.
The Berlin Raceway is set to open its 61st season on April 23rd with a full show including Outlaw Late Models, Super Stocks, Pro Stocks and 4-Cylinders. Two additional racing series will also be a part of Berlin Raceway’s divisions in 2011; the Premier Boyne Machine Super Lates and the Vintage Racing Organization of America will join the line-up on May 7.
A complete list of events and prices can be found at www.berlinraceway.com or by calling the Berlin Raceway office at 616-662-2051.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Does Racing in Michigan have a Major "Minor" Problem
The Supreme Court of Michigan recently confirmed that waiver and release documents signed by parents on behalf of their children are unenforceable in that state of Michigan. In Woodman v. Kera (2010) 2010 WL 2471902, a five year old boy was injured during his birthday party, which was being held at an indoor facility containing inflatable play equipment. Prior to his injury, the boy’s father signed a liability waiver on his son’s behalf. After the trial court level enforced the waiver as to some of the plaintiffs’ claims, the Court of Appeal reversed, holding that the waiver and release document could not be enforced pursuant to longstanding Michigan common law, which does not allow parents to waive or release prospective claims on behalf of their children. The Supreme Court affirmed the appellate court’s ruling on similar grounds.
Of note is the lengthy “dissenting” opinion submitted by Justice Stephen Markman. Justice Markman concurred with the majority opinion and took the position that the waiver should not be enforced under the circumstances, but only because he believed that the language of the waiver was deficient. Justice Markman opined that Michigan’s common law did not preclude the Supreme Court from enforcing the waiver. In fact, it appears that if Justice Markman had authored the majority opinion, the waiver would have been enforced.
This decision is significant in that it confirms that minor’s waiver documents cannot be enforced in Michigan.
Yes this means pit areas and young drivers.
I found it interesting Justice Markman found the waiver not enforceable because "language" in the waiver was deficient. Is it worth it to a track owner to take on this type of risk? I am sure many track owners are asking this question before the 2011 season starts. As a former racer and track employee I have seen the good and bad of having minors involved in racing.
The good comes from drivers like Johnny VanDoorn, Rusty Schlenk, Josh Slade and Nathon Walton to name a few. They all were very good race car drivers at a very early age. They became this way not just because of their physical skills inside the car, but they had parents who were there for every lesson to be learned. Those lessons included how to act in the pits, the stands and most importantly out on the racetrack. Their parents fully understood the dangers involved and put their children in safe race cars and equipment.
On the bad side you do get some youngsters who have no respect for anyone out on the track. They treat it like the local go-cart facility where if you can spin someone it is OK as long as an employee did not see it. Many times these youngsters don't last long. The learning curve that sometimes a good night of racing means you’re able to load it on the trailer at the end of the night takes time for some. Having to make major repairs because you missed on a setup and drove over your head becomes no fun to the person footing the bill.
Racing needs youngsters like 14-year-old Chase Elliot to keep its young fan base going. When a conversation came up to cut a Young Gun class by a former owner I worked for, I told him it would be a great mistake. If you want to keep any sport growing it starts with young people. Have you ever seen who shows up for Little League Baseball, Youth Soccer, and Youth Football, games? It is not unusual to see parents, grand parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins there to watch. This is a positive for track owners. The gate revenue and pit revenue generated for young drivers is easily more than double of what a track owner pays out for this class.
The negative side is the liability involved when it comes to youngsters and everything they do. Society has changed. We live in a “sue happy” culture. People know a good lawyer with any crack in case will get them some type of settlement. Track owners have to weigh some very tough decisions. Do the pros outnumber the cons?
My biggest concern regarding youngster involved in racing has always been in the pit area. It is a fact that more injuries happen in the pit area than out on the track. It is irresponsible of race teams to let children run around the pit area unattended. My personal belief is specific pit pass should be given for children under sixteen. If a child is seen alone in the pits with out an adult who has an adult pit pass they should lose their pit pass privileges and have to go to stands.
What the future holds will be interesting to say the least.
There is a interesting Facebook group site called: ”We support racing liability waiver and release” Check out some of the interesting thoughts and commentary from the racing community.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Kelsey Steele overcomes crash to grab Arena Racing victory at DeltaPlex Arena
Kelsey Steele overcomes crash to grab Arena Racing victory at DeltaPlex Arena
By Steve Ungrey
The Grand Rapids Press
WALKER -- Kelsey Steele’s latest win involved a little duct tape and a lot of praying.
The Coopersville driver and daughter of three-time ARCA Racing champion Tim Steele put another feather in her already impressive cap, overcoming a two-car crash to capture the checkered flag at the AMP Energy 150 on Saturday at DeltaPlex Arena.
A little improvisation helped her succeed. Steele ran into the back of a crash involving Brad Huisken and Mitch Meppelink, but Steele hung on and took her taped-together vehicle to the finish line.
She finished 1.14 seconds ahead of Huisken and 1.5 seconds in front of Dave Sensiba.
Actually, to say her car was taped together may be an understatement.
Steele’s crew saw its careful tape job malfunction while she was rounding the track, and the back part of the car body flew off with 37 laps remaining in the feature.
“I’ve never had half a car missing before this,” Steele said.
“Pretty much the back end was gone. I backed away from the crash (involving Huisken and Meppelink) thinking nothing would happen, and I must have gotten caught up in their cars a bit.
“My dad told me that part of my body on the car was missing, and I just had to go on and move forward.”
A squeal of cheers rose from the northwest corner of the DeltaPlex every time Steele’s name was mentioned as part of Arena Racing’s feature event.
This group of girls was not here to root on Chase Elliott.
Instead, Steele found herself with her own cheering section during the race.
She also found herself with a handshake from Elliott at the end. Elliott finished sixth, 4.48 seconds behind Steele.
Elliott will return to West Michigan on June 21 as part of Berlin’s racing series.
“He’s a hell of a race car driver, so I’m honored to beat him,” Steele said.
“I watched him race down at Winchester and at my home track at Berlin and I have a lot of respect for him.”
Steele plans to race in two divisions when Berlin’s new season gets under way in April, racing in the Super Stock division and the new template body Late Model division.
She also is happy to have something to do in the winter.
“I didn’t know what to think when we all found out Arena Racing might not be going this winter,” Steele said. “I’m just happy to be back here, and I feel proud of myself. I’m very happy to return here and win.”
The second Arena Racing event takes place Feb. 5, when the mini-sprint cars will race around the DeltaPlex floor for the “Thunder on the Grand” special event. A third show is set for March 26.
By Steve Ungrey
The Grand Rapids Press
WALKER -- Kelsey Steele’s latest win involved a little duct tape and a lot of praying.
The Coopersville driver and daughter of three-time ARCA Racing champion Tim Steele put another feather in her already impressive cap, overcoming a two-car crash to capture the checkered flag at the AMP Energy 150 on Saturday at DeltaPlex Arena.
A little improvisation helped her succeed. Steele ran into the back of a crash involving Brad Huisken and Mitch Meppelink, but Steele hung on and took her taped-together vehicle to the finish line.
She finished 1.14 seconds ahead of Huisken and 1.5 seconds in front of Dave Sensiba.
Actually, to say her car was taped together may be an understatement.
Steele’s crew saw its careful tape job malfunction while she was rounding the track, and the back part of the car body flew off with 37 laps remaining in the feature.
“I’ve never had half a car missing before this,” Steele said.
“Pretty much the back end was gone. I backed away from the crash (involving Huisken and Meppelink) thinking nothing would happen, and I must have gotten caught up in their cars a bit.
“My dad told me that part of my body on the car was missing, and I just had to go on and move forward.”
A squeal of cheers rose from the northwest corner of the DeltaPlex every time Steele’s name was mentioned as part of Arena Racing’s feature event.
This group of girls was not here to root on Chase Elliott.
Instead, Steele found herself with her own cheering section during the race.
She also found herself with a handshake from Elliott at the end. Elliott finished sixth, 4.48 seconds behind Steele.
Elliott will return to West Michigan on June 21 as part of Berlin’s racing series.
“He’s a hell of a race car driver, so I’m honored to beat him,” Steele said.
“I watched him race down at Winchester and at my home track at Berlin and I have a lot of respect for him.”
Steele plans to race in two divisions when Berlin’s new season gets under way in April, racing in the Super Stock division and the new template body Late Model division.
She also is happy to have something to do in the winter.
“I didn’t know what to think when we all found out Arena Racing might not be going this winter,” Steele said. “I’m just happy to be back here, and I feel proud of myself. I’m very happy to return here and win.”
The second Arena Racing event takes place Feb. 5, when the mini-sprint cars will race around the DeltaPlex floor for the “Thunder on the Grand” special event. A third show is set for March 26.
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