Benson, Nextel Cup driver Stremme headline ASA Challenge Series Safety-Kleen 200 on June 14

MARNE, MI - The ASA Late Model Series Challenge Division returns home for one of the biggest events in series history on Wednesday, June 14, when a special mid-week extravaganza will see the superstars of the Challenge Division make a visit to Berlin Raceway for the running of the Safety-Kleen 200. Big names fill the field for the event, which is expected to draw nearly 40 entries.

Because the race is being held mid-week leading up to NASCAR's Michigan International Speedway weekend, it affords NASCAR drivers the opportunity to make a quick detour from Brooklyn to Marne to compete at the 7/16 mile oval track. Headlining the 200-lap feature is 1993 ASA National Tour Champion Johnny Benson Jr., a one-time winner in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series and current NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series regular, where he is fourth in points. Another star heading to Marne is NASCAR Nextel Cup Series rookie David Stremme, the ASA National Tour rookie of the year in 2002 and NASCAR Busch Series rookie of the year in 2003. Also scheduled to race is Coopersville native and 3-time ASA champion Butch Miller.

It is the first ASALMS appearance at Berlin since June 11, 2004, when 2004 Champion and Rookie of the Year Bobby Stremme took home the win in the Berlin 100. Stremme survived a lengthy battle with hometown favorite and eventual 2005 Rookie of the Year Brian Campbell, a former regular in Berlin's Coors Light Late Model division, to score what was Stremme's first career ASALMS Feature win. Stremme will return to the scene of his first career win and will get the rare opportunity to race against his older brother David Stremme.

The ASALMS was formed in 2003 after the USPRO Racing Series formed a partnership with the American Speed Association. The 12-race, long-distance, top-tier Challenge Series was joined by companion divisions, the ASALMS North and ASALMS South, in 2006.

Current ASALMS Challenge Division points leader Kelly Bires will lead a strong contingent of racers, including ASA veteran Peter Cozzolino; veteran Eddie Hoffman, the winner of the 2006 ASALMS season opener at the Music City (TN) Motorplex; and rookie Jake Ryan, the winner of the 2006 Alamo 200 on April 1, 2006 at San Antonio (TX) Speedway. In addition, the Patriarch of the "Young Lions of the ASALMS", Travis Dassow, looks to challenge the likes of a pair of 16-year-olds, Landon Cassill and current ASALMS Northern Division Points Leader Jesse Smith; and Berlin Late Model drivers Chris Anthony and Greg Usher are also entered in the event. One final notable driver is Kyle Nicholas, entered to drive a car owned by Bud Gebben of Holland. Nicholas is a regular on the USAC Midget circuit where he races for NASCAR star Tony Stewart.

Berlin's De-Jay Slick Truck Pro Stock division will join the ASALMS for this special mid-week event. For more information about all three divisions of the ASALMS, log onto any of the three websites: for the Challenge Division, go to www.asalatemodels.com; for the Northern Division, log in at www.asalatemodelsnorth.com, and for the Southern Division click on www.asalatemodelssouth.com.

The special event will serve as a fundraiser called "Flush The Debt" for Wright Township, to help the township where Berlin Raceway is located to retire the debt incurred from a sewer project. One dollar from every ticket sold will be donated to the project. Berlin has raised $9,522 in the past two years through the Wednesday mid-June special event races for the cause.

The ASALMS Challenge Division events will be televised on The Men's Channel and IDrive TV on a tape delayed basis beginning in mid-September.

Tickets for the June 14 special event are $20 in advance and $25 on the day of the race for adults (children ages 6 to 12 are half price and 5 and under are free). Tickets can be purchased in several ways, including in person at Berlin Raceway from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and on racedays beginning at 11:15 a.m.,online at www.berlinraceway.com, and by phone to Berlin Raceway, (616) 677-5000. For a complete schedule of races and ticket prices, please visit www.berlinraceway.com.