Boyne Machine Driver Awards Banquet
Concludes Berlin Raceway's 2005 season

MARNE, MI -- Berlin Raceway's annual Boyne Machine Driver Awards Banquet presented by Bailey Excavating and Sweet Manufacturing was held Friday night at the Pinnacle Center in Hudsonville, and a sold-out crowd of 625 drivers, crew members, families and car sponsors were in attendance to honor the 2005 award winners. Champions Tim DeVos, Brian Wiersma, Casey Berenbrock and Terry Bockheim were awarded championship trophies for their respective divisions, and several other awards were presented for driver accomplishments. More than 70 Berlin Raceway drivers attended the banquet.

DeVos, of Wyoming, MI, won four races and posted 10 top five finishes and five fastest qualifying times on his way to his second Coors Light Late Model championship in three years. Coopersville, MI, native Wiersma defended his 2004 Engine Pro Super Stock championship successfully, earning his fourth championship in the division with consistency on the track. Wiersma won just one race but finished in the top five 12 times and finished outside the top 10 just twice in 18 races.

Berenbrock, of Coopersville, MI, became the youngest-ever Berlin Raceway champion at 18 years of age and first teenage champion by winning five features and finishing in the top five in 18 of 22 races in the Standale Lumber Pro Stock division. And in the Standale Interiors Sportsman division, Bockheim, of Grand Rapids, MI, won seven races and finished in the top five in 16 of the 21 events on his way to winning his first championship in his 19-year racing career at Berlin.

Also of note was Sara Moerman, a 22-year-old second-year driver from Kent City, MI, who became the first woman ever to grace the Berlin Raceway awards podium by finishing ninth in the Standale Interiors Sportsman division.

A special announcement was made early in the evening as Berlin's Director of Race Operations Mike Strevel and Boyne Machine Co.'s Mike Blackmer introduced the formation of the Berlin Raceway Hall of Fame and unveiled bronzed etchings of the inaugural inductees: Track co-founders Chester and Rose Mysliwiec, Dick Mysliwiec and Chuck Mysliwiec. In attendance at the banquet were Rose Mysliwiec, Dick Mysliwiec and his wife Ruth, and Mary Mysliwiec, wife of Chuck, who passed away earlier this year. Chester operated Berlin Raceway from its beginning in 1951 until he passed away in 1999, and his wife Rose continued to operate the track through its 50th anniversary season in 2000. Dick and Chuck worked alongside their brother Chester through the years in several capacities. The three Mysliwiec brothers, along with Rose, will be immortalized on a wall at Berlin Raceway for fans to see beginning on Opening Night 2006. (See separate release for more information on the Hall of Fame.)

A moving tribute was also made to the late Scott Baker, who lost his life in a racing accident in 2000. The former Berlin Raceway driver's wife Julie was on hand to present the annual Scott Baker Sportsmanship award to recipient Paul Namey, and was surprised when asked to remain on stage for the special presentation of a memorial bronze etching of her husband, which will also be on display at Berlin Raceway beginning next season.

The banquet presentations included $40,000 in points fund money distributed to drivers in each of the four racing division, provided by Hoosier Racing Tire and division sponsors Coors Light, Engine Pro, Standale Lumber and Standale Interiors. In addition to the 7-foot-tall champions trophies, the four division champions each received a gold championship ring from Tom Davis Jewelers and a Hoosier jacket. The Engine Pro Super Stock champion also received a $1,200 value complete body from 5 Star and the Standale Interiors Sportsman champion received a $250 certificate towards a complete body from 5 Star.

The top 10 drivers in each division were awarded trophies, while Coors Light Late Model drivers finishing 11-20 and Engine Pro Super Stock drivers finishing 11-15 were awarded plaques. Prizes from Lane Automotive, Powder Coating Services and Leaf Racewear were awarded to other award winners (see next page) as well as via random drawings of drivers during the two and a half hour awards presentation. The event was MC'ed by tuxedoed track announcer Norm Jelsma and MRN/WMUS race broadcaster Jeff Striegle and included several videos put to music to capture the scenes and excitement of the 2005 season.


2005 Berlin Raceway Awards

2005 Berlin Raceway Champions: Standale Interiors Sportsman - Terry Bockheim
Standale Lumber Pro Stock - Casey Berenbrock Engine Pro Super Stock - Brian Wiersma
Coors Light Late Model - Tim DeVos
Plummer's Environmental Services Inc. Todd Senneker Rookie of the Year Award:
Standale Interiors Sportsman - Shawn Simon
Standale Lumber Pro Stock - Travis Nylaan
Engine Pro Super Stock - Sean Gipson
Coors Light Late Model - Terry VanHaitsma
CARSTAR Best Appearing Car Award: Standale Interiors Sportsman - Charlie DeJong
Standale Lumber Pro Stock - Andrew & Travis Nylaan
Engine Pro Super Stock - James Haney
Coors Light Late Model - Alan Marcott
Leaf Racewear Most Improved Driver Award: Standale Interiors Sportsman - Allen Davis
Standale Lumber Pro Stock - Kevin DeGood
Engine Pro Super Stock - James Haney
Coors Light Late Model - Johnny VanDoorn
Most Popular Driver Award: Standale Interiors Sportsman - Jack Russell
Standale Lumber Pro Stock - Dave Lake
Engine Pro Super Stock - Bob Bliss
Coors Light Late Model - Terry Senneker
Hard Charger Award: Standale Interiors Sportsman - Terry Bockheim
Standale Lumber Pro Stock - Casey Berenbrock
Engine Pro Super Stock - Dan VanderMolen
Coors Light Late Model - Johnny VanDoorn
Rodenhouse Body Shop Hard Luck Award: Standale Interiors Sportsman - Sara Moerman
Standale Lumber Pro Stock - Jack DeJong
Engine Pro Super Stock - Billy Eppink
Coors Light Late Model - Scott Root
Grand Rapids Press Unsung Hero Award - Safety Crew
Grand Rapids Press Chris Bradley Crew Chief Award - Gary Berenbrock
Powder Coating Services Hardest Crash Award - Tom Thomas
Scott Baker Sportsmanship Award - Paul Namey
Women In Motorsports Award - Katrinia Herp
Sponsor of the Year - The Screen Print Department
Engine Pro Engine Builder of the Year - Jamie Hamm
Sleeper of the Year - Terry Van Haitsma
The Screen Print Department Racer of the Year - Tim DeVos