Berlin Sees Side by Side Thrillers

Berlin-Raceway-sees-side-by-side-thrillers

Saturday's 25-lap Super Stock feature highlighted side-by-side racing at its best.

Only this time, it was side-by-side-by-side as Jeremy Munniksma, Brian VanZalen and Seth Moody exited turn four as though their three cars were attached.
Though Munniksma crossed the finish line with his front wheels a couple of feet off the ground, he got his nose across the stripe 41 hundredths of a second before VanZalen with Moody just 32 hundredths seconds behind VanZalen.
Munniksma, of Hamilton, admitted he didn't know he had won, partly because “I think I shut my eyes for a few seconds when I started hopping.
“I don't know what happened at the end, but we kind of wadded up,” Munniksma said after winning his third feature race of the summer. “I saw both of them, but I was just hoping VanZalen saw me because I was coming around the outside and we don't have (communication) radios.
“When that happens you just hope for the best.”
Munniksma entered the weekend trailing Moody by 56 points. Will Olmsted, who was second in points eight points out of first, finished last on Saturday. He left the race after 18 laps.
In other races on Saturday, The Super Late Models raced 75 laps and Tom Thomas used every one of them to grab his second feature win of the season. The Grandville driver had to hold off a hard-charging Ross Meeuwsen to win by less than a car length.
Meeuwsen, of Zeeland, was pushed to the back of the pack on lap 13 when he slid off the back stretch, but worked his way back into the Top 10 by lap 30, then moved into second place on lap 66.
He took the lead on the restart but a spin by Chris Koslek negated that move.
On the next restart, Thomas was on the gas right away and Meeuwsen was unable to catch up.
Lou Caposey won the Vintage Racing Organization of America Mike Becker Memorial 42 race. The late Mike Becker, of Rockford, was a longtime racer in the VROA, but lost a battle with cancer before the current season began.
The race was dubbed the Mike Becker Memorial 42 for the number on the side of the car he drove.
Bill Krupp of Sparta won the 15-lap race for 4-Cylinders.
Billy Shotko, formerly of West Olive but now from Coopersville, won the 25-lap Modified feature. Shotko took the lead on the eighth lap and beat Kevin DeGood by over three seconds.

Read more: http://www.hollandsentinel.com/newsnow/x946751993/Berlin-Raceway-sees-side-by-side-thrillers#ixzz2Yzir4hhK

Spalding Holds Off Poel for Xtreme Chassis Special Win at I-96 Speedway

Spalding Holds Off Poel for Xtreme Chassis Special Win at I-96 Speedway

Lake Odessa, Michigan (Saturday July 13th, 2013): Saturday night, another great racing program was held at the I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa, Michigan. The show featured a special for the Carbon Green Bio-Energy UMP DIRTcar Modifieds featuring a special $1200 to win invitational presented by Xtreme Chassis. The Rudd’s Septic Service UMP DIRTcar Street Stocks and Smyrna Bar & Restaurant UMP DIRTcar Sport Compacts were also in action. There was also a special $300 to win for the Motocross event held on the state of the art motocross course.

The Rudd’s Septic Service UMP DIRTcar Street Stocks were the first main event to hit the track for their 20-lap feature event. Marty French and Derek Poland made up the front row. French was able to jump out to the early advantage. He remained there until around lap 5 which was when French would be involved in a spin out which surrendered the lead to Derek Poland who continued on from there to go to the winner’s circle.

This was the second I-96 Speedway win for the 57 year old Muskegon, Michigan driver, in his Arizona Charlies Wholesale/ Chevrolet. Two time defending UMP DIRTcar racing series eastern states champion Dan Dykman wound up in second. Defending track champion Josh Frye, French, and Zach Graham rounded out the top five. Dykman and Poland picked up the heat victories as well.

The Smyrna Bar & Restaurant UMP DIRTcar Sport Compacts were out next for a 20-lap A-main. The front row consisted of Chad Tomczak and Nick Jenema. After the opening lap it was Jenema taking the early advantage. He would see great protest in late stages, but he was able to hang on to win the feature event.

Jenema, the 32-year old from Wyoming, Michigan earned his fourth win of the year driving in his Vision Ink Screen Printing / Saturn SC2. Two time defending track champion Rick Peck finished as the runner up. Chuck Peterson II, Tomczak, and Christian Wynbelt finished off the top five. The lone heat race was won also by Jenema.

            The final feature event of the night was courtesy of the Carbon Green Bio-Energy UMP DIRTcar Modifieds for a 20-lap shootout. The field was led out to chief starter Brett Farmer’s green flag by the front row of Curt Spalding and Dave Schmidt. Spalding managed to take the lead right away. He would see quite a challenge in the late stages of the race, but he was able to hang on to pick up the feature win.

            This was the first win of the year for the driver out of Hartford, Michigan at 42 years of age, in his Allstar Performance / Shaw by Landers Racecar. He finished ahead of 2011 track champion Jacob Poel who had to settle for second. Travis Stemler, 2010 track champion Rich Robinson Jr., and Tim Stemler completed the top five. Robinson Jr., and Poel won the heats.

The next event on the I-96 Speedway will be next weekend the week of July 19^th and 20^th where the gates will be opened to great the arrival of the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) Rally Cars. This will be the most widespread and readily accessible form of extreme dirt motorsports. 

The I-96 Speedway will bring the month of July to a close with a double header weekend featuring the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) district 14 flat track motorcycle races. This is where the area’s best flat track riders will grace the big half mile at I-96 speedway. This will all take place on both Saturday July 27^th and Sunday July 28^th.

The next car racing event will be held on Saturday August 3^rd, and will feature the second appearance by the fire breathing winged warriors of the Engine Pro Sprints on Dirt presented by ARP. Joining the sprint drivers will be the Carbon Green Bio-Energy UMP DIRTcar Modifieds, Rudd’s Septic Service UMP DIRTcar Street Stocks, and Smyrna Bar & Restaurant UMP DIRTcar Sport Compacts.

I-96 Speedway is located at 3823 Portland Road in Lake Odessa, Michigan. For more information about the on-going 2012 racing season, please call: 1 (616) 642-0555 or visit the website at: www.i96speedway.com You can also follow along all season long by becoming a fan on the tracks Facebook Fan Page. Just go to: www.facebook.com/i96speedway and click on “Like” button. You can even follow us on Twitter as well, just go to: www.twitter.com/i96speedway and “Follow” us today. 

MTS Sprints See Joe Bares Pick up Win at Cherry Raceway in Big 7 in 1 Show

Fife Lake, Michigan (Friday July 12th, 2013): The Lane Automotive Michigan Traditional Sprints, featuring the best wingless sprint car drivers in the great lakes region, made their way to the Cherry Raceway in Fife Lake, Michigan. Also in action were the Weller Truck Parts UMP DIRTcar Modifieds, Pro Streets, Factory Stocks, Four-Cylinder Warrriors, Crossroads Chevrolet Compacts, and the Hirams Lightning mini sprints. The big 7 in 1 show took place in front of another packed grandstand on Friday night.


The Features started off with the Pro Streets who took part in a 10-lap A-main. Once the green flag was dropped it would be defending track champion Allen Oyer taking the lead. He would manage to hold through the entirety of the race and pick up the win.

This was the first ever career victory for the 20-year old from Mancelona, Michigan, behind the wheel of his Tri-County Sand & Stone / Chevrolet. Jimmy Hiller finished in the second spot. J.J. Arbour completed the field. Oyer also won the lone heat event.

Up next it was the Factory Stocks who made their out for a 15-lap main event. Lap number one was led by Jeff Chalker who saw the lead then go to 2011 track champion Emery Smith. The two would swap for the lead for the next few circuits. Smith would manage to pull away with the lead. However on the very last lap Smith would suffer mechanical problems which surrendered the top spot to Karl McClellan who scored the win.

This was the first win for McClellan. The 51-year old from Mainistee, Michigan in his 1x Racing / Oldsmobile. Peni Lalonde finished second, Kevin Stricker, Dan Wireman, and Smith rounded out the top five. Stricker won the lone heat race.

The Hirams Lightning Sprints were out next in their feature that took 20-laps. The early advantage went to Ron Ramoy. On lap 5 Tom Hunt fought his way to the front of the field, and would be there until lap 9. That was when Bill Dunham jumped into the top position. Dunham would however, be inovolved in a roll-over on lap 14 which took him out of the show and gave the lead back to Hunt who went on to take the checkered flag.

Hunt picked up the win driving his Hunt Motorsports machine driving out of Ithaca, Michigan. He finished over Rusty Reyelts who was second. Mack Erickson, Randy Plamondon, and Chuck Erickson made up the top five. Dunham, and Reyelts were the heat race winners.

The Four Cylinder Warriors were out next for a 15-lap feature. Russ Carrier was the leader of the opening lap. Andrew Austin was able to power his way to the front, taking the lead on lap 5. Although on lap 12 Austin, would get caught up in lap traffic and allow Jeremy Tulick to jump out in front and take the lead away. He would go on from there to pick up the win.

Tulick the 34-year old driver from Cadillac, Michigan in the Sonn’ys Garage / Dodge picked up his first win of the year. Austin settled for second. Bob Craycraft, Jim Luhtanen, and Nick Olds finished off the top five. Arlie Cooper and Austin picked up the heat wins.

The Crossroads Chevrolet Compacts made their way out for a 15-lap main event. 16-year old Ricky Wilson was the driver leading after the drop of the green flag. He was able to hold off all challenges and go on through the entire race to earn the victory.

Wilson driving out of Williamsburg, Michigan in his Wilson’s Plumbing / Ford scored his fourth win of the season. 2011 track champion 14-year old Autumn Beeman finished in the runner up spot. 16-year old Rheanna Doberstein, 16-year old Hunter Carrier, and 16-year old Calvin Ingleston capped off the top five. The heats were won by Wilson and defending track champion Chris Casey.

The Weller Truck Parts UMP DIRTcar Modifieds went head to head in their 20-lap shootout. Once the field saw the green flag, it was Paul Johnson taking the lead. The battle would rage on from there until Johnson would be involved in a caution with lap traffic in the late stages of the race, which forced him to the rear of the field. The lead was then given to Greg Gokey, who went on from there to get the win.

This was the first win of the year for the 30-year old driver from Buckley, Michigan in his Butch Straight Inspections / DirtWerx Racecar. Dennis Taghon, 19-year old Nick Kurtz, Wayne Taghon, and Johnson rapped up the top five. Johnson, and Gokey were the heat winners.

Finally it was time for the main event of the night. Featuring the 20-lap A-main for the Lane Automotive Michigan Traditional Sprints. The field was lead out to chief starter Steve Sherwood’s green flag by Brett Mann and Steve Irwin. Irwin was able to take the lead after the first lap. He would remain for much of the contest until and on lap 18 Joe Bares was able to fight his way to the front of the pack and go home the winner.

Bares picked up the win behind the wheel of his XYZ Machining car. Irwin had to settle for second. Chuck Wilson, Don Smith, and Joe Irwin completed the top five. Smith, Bares, and Steve Irwin won the heats.

This Friday July 19th Cherry Raceway will feature a full racing show. Headlined by yet another visit from the Hirams Lightning Sprints, this will be their fourth visit of the year. The Weller Truck Parts UMP DIRTcar Modifieds, Pro Streets, Factory Stocks, Four-Cylinder Warriors, and Crossroads Chevrolet Compacts will also be in action.

Ticket Prices for Friday July 19th are: Adults (13-59): $12.00 – Seniors (60 and Over): $9.00 – Children (6-12): $5.00 – Kids (5 and Under): FREE – Pit Passes: $25.00.The Pit Gates Open at 5:00p.m. Grandstand Gates Open at 6:00p.m. Practice also starts at 6:00pm. Qualifying for Modifieds will take place at 6:30pm.Then after Pre-Race Ceremonies / Invocation / National Anthem(s), Racing Begins approximately at 7:30pm.

Cherry Raceway is located at: 8649 East M-113 in Fife Lake, Michigan. For more information, please call: 1-(231)-468-1477. Don’t forget to check out the track website at: www.cherryraceway.com you can also follow us on Facebook by going to: www.facebook.com/cherryraceway and clicking on the “Like” button as well as on Twitter by going to: www.twitter.com/cherryraceway

Berlin Raceway Events & News

UP NEXT: LADIES NIGHT! Ladies get in FREE! Join us this Saturday, July 13 for Ladies Night! The Budweiser Super Late Models will be in action along with the Engine Pro Super Stocks, Model Coverall Modifieds, Burnips Equipment 4-Cylinders and Napa Filters Racing VROA Modifieds. Tickets are $12 for adults 18+, $8 for students 12-17, $5 for kids 8-11 and children 7 and under are free. Ladies will receive free admission all night long and there are many promotions planned; the first race will begin at 7:00 p.m. Many fun and exciting events and prizes await the Ladies for Ladies Night this Saturday! Prize packages from Gall Sewing & Vacuum, The Avon Shoppe, Bergman Power Equipment, Lawn & Garden and many more! Also in attendance will be the Pink Heals of West Michigan, Tullymore Golf Course and the Grand Valley Racing team! An action packed night of entertainment awaits! Click here for full event details and schedule Camping is available on site all season long as well as the Battle at Berlin race weekend. There are limited spaces for electrical and water so act fast as camping spots are first come, first served.  More information on Berlin Raceway's 63rd season can be found at www.berlinraceway.com. Become a fan of Berlin Raceway on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/wherespeedbelongs Follow Berlin Raceway on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/BerlinRaceway "Like" our Facebook page for a chance to win free tickets to the big Duck Dynasty event August 3 as well as other great prizes! To win prizes and for special offers check us out at:



Michigan’s Jacob Poel wins Firecracker 50 at Shadyhill

Michigan’s Jacob Poel wins Firecracker 50 at Shadyhill