Marne, MI --  Berlin Raceway's 59th consecutive season is set to begin Saturday Night.  The 2009 season is packed with racing action from not only Berlin's local divisions, but from visiting series as well.  Car counts are excellent heading in to 2009 as pit road has been filled up with reserved spots.
 
The first time the cars were able to hit the track, more than 80 cars came out to shake down their cars at last Saturday's Test & Tune.
 
Saturday's opening night program includes points races for four of Berlin's five weekly series: the Coors Light Late Models, Engine Pro Super Stocks, Kerkstra Services Pro Stocks and Young Guns.  The Burnips Equipment 4-Cylinders will have their first race on Saturday, April 25.
 
Several events push Berlin's 2009 season to being the most anticipated:
-The ASA Late Models will be back as a part of a 2-day show June 19-20
-The ARCA RE/MAX Series will return July 25
-Two Open Wheel Shows: June 13 and a 2-day show including a Dirt Late Model Race September 25-26
-The ninth annual "The Chet" which will feature a 100-lap feature for the Coors Light Late Models on Saturday, August 29 in honor of track founder Chet Mysliwiec
-The Port City Racing Classic two-day show is slated for September 11-12 and will be jam-packed with racing action
-The 'Rowdy Busch 125 presented by Auto Body Xperts CARSTAR' will host template bodied late models from across the Midwest, sanctioned by the CRA Super Series! Joining the template cars with be the Coors Light Outlaw Late Models and will feature NASCAR Superstar Kyle Busch.
 
Other traveling series to visit the historic .438-mile oval track include the USA Modifieds (May 16, July 4, September 11 & 12), Auto Value Super Sprints (June 27, September 5 and September 26), Championship Racing Association (CRA) (August 8), and the Vintage Racing Organization of America (August 1).
 
Other highlights include School Bus Races, All Faiths Night (April 25), three $1 Beer and $1 Hot Dog nights, Family Nights where $25 will get a family two adult and two child tickets, fireworks and autograph sessions. 
 
The 154th Berlin Fair comes to Marne July 12 through 18 with grandstand events presented by Budweiser including the Demolition Derby and Burnips Equipment 4-Cylinder race, Bus Mania, Monster Trucks and Rock Music, and a concert by pop-music sensation Jesse McCartney. 
 
On the track, look for drivers like Tom Thomas, Tim DeVos and Caleb Bisacky to try to stop Coors Light Late Model champion Ross Meeuwsen from being a repeat champion.  Engine Pro Super Stock champion Brian Wiersma will face stiff competition from not only series regulars Denny Anderson and Dave Lake, but from rookies Nick Bonstell and Brian VanZalen.
 
Since combining the Sportsman division with the Kerkstra Services Pro Stock division, series champion Brian Tillema will have a slew of competition in his quest for a three-peat; look for Justin Regnerus and Sadie Klein to be challenging every week. In the Burnips Equipment 4-Cylinder division, reigning champion Jason DeVos will try to fend off Mike Speet, Jason Scheid and Ryan Hamm. In the new Young Guns division, any of the drivers have a shot at the season-end title.
 
There have been many improvements to the track and racing format since the 2008 season ended.  Some of the changes include and new grandstand section with aluminum bleachers with seat backs, improved pit roads and a new home for Mountain Dew Victory Lane and a no alcohol and no smoking seating section.  As for the racing format, the top three divisions will participate in Babbit's Fast Car Dash which will feature four cars for four laps with a four car inversion.  Also new this year is the implementation of double-file restarts after every caution. 
 
Tickets for all Berlin Raceway events are on sale now and can be purchased online at www.berlinraceway.com or by phone to Berlin Raceway at 616-662-2051.  Tickets are also available in person at Berlin Raceway's administrative office (6673 Pine Ridge Ct in Jenison) Monday through Friday.  On racedays, tickets are available at the Berlin Raceway box office beginning at 1:00 p.m.