Marne, MI - The Berlin Raceway celebrated Memorial
Day in style this Saturday night, with the running
of a full 4-in-1 Show. Dollar beer and hot dogs as
well as school bus races brought the fans out in
force for a spectacular night of entertainment from
start to finish.
The first race on the track was the Burnips
Equipment 4-Cylinder Feature event. This special
non-points event saw 12 of the division's top
competitors come out as an addition to the nights
already packed festivities. Cal Phillips #26 and
Andy Church #65 started from the front row for the
20-lap event, following a full field inversion after
Baker Engineering qualifying. Jumping out to the
lead for the first two laps was #8 Frank Bisacky,
before Jason Scheid #100 made a brave three-wide
pass for the lead in turn four on lap two. Drafting
Scheid to the front from his tenth starting spot was
Ryan Hamm #7, who found himself right behind Scheid
in second place and then the lead on lap four.
Caution flew on lap five when the two lead drivers,
Hamm and Scheid, broke out on their qualifying time
and were sent to the back. Frank Bisacky found
himself back in the lead for the next four laps,
before relinquishing the lead back to Jason Scheid.
Scheid would lead Ryan Hamm back to the front of the
field for the second time, before giving up the lead
for good to Hamm who would check out and score the
victory.
The next race to hit the track was the Kerkstra
Services Pro Stock division 25-lap event. Rookies
Brett DeKraker #1 and Lauren Bush #101 were on the
front row for their main event. Starting on the
inside of row #2 was defending Pro Stock Champion
Brian Tillema #76. Before the cars would get up to
full speed on lap #1 Trever McCoy #71 would find the
turn one concrete barrier hard, ending his night
before it began. On the complete restart, DeKraker
would bolt to an early lead before giving it up to
Brian Tillema on lap 2 with a smooth move on the
bottom in turn 3. Brian Thome would bring out the
race's second caution of the night, when he spun his
#26 machine around in turn four, but avoided
contact. On the restart Tillema would jump to a
quick lead, with #22 Darin Neimi beginning to flex
his muscle and move up from his sixth starting spot.
Also on the move was last week's feature winner
Weston Jewett #51. Lap 11 would see the races third
caution, when debris came lose in turn 2. A great
battle between Ken Smith #36 and #101 Lauren Bush
thrilled fans as the race came to a close. Tillema
would go untouched and lead for 23 total laps and
collect his first victory of the season.
The lightning fast Coors Light Late Model
division was next on the schedule, with 17 cars
taking the green flag. Tim DeVos #12 and Nick Shotko
#19 would take the field to the green flag, and
DeVos would quickly check out on the field. Chris
Anthony moved his #55 late model into the second
spot and held off challenges from Ross Meeuwsen and
Terry VanHaitsma for much of the event. Also a
tremendous battle for the tenth position on back saw
#1 Barry Hartwell, #33 Monte Tolan, #61 Joe Bush and
#37 Terry Senneker all door to door. Caution would
fly on lap 16 when rookie Josh Slade took his #22
for a ride off the backstretch and into the foam in
turn 3, ending his night prematurely. Johnny Benson,
Jr., who made his first outlaw late model start of
the season worked his way steadily up through the
field, and found himself eighth when the next
caution would flay on lap 33 for debris on the front
stretch. As DeVos would continue to lead, Wayland
driver Terry Senneker would close the gap steadily,
moving to second place on lap 47 just prior to the
final caution of the night. Terry VanHaitsma #21
found himself facing the wrong direction in turn two
after contact with another car, making his night
less than satisfying. The pass for the lead would be
the final move of the night for the win, with
Senneker getting around DeVos. Terry Senneker would
collect his first victory of the season in front of
Tim DeVos and #32 Ross Meeuwsen.
The final race of the night featured the Engine
Pro Super Stock class, who was scheduled to race for
75-laps. Warren Speet #76 and Justin Ryan started
out front, and would hold on to the front spot for
several laps. The caution would fly on lap five when
Dennis Mann would spin around his #00 car in turn
four. On the restart Speet would retake the top
spot, and #23 Chris Koslek would begin his way to
the front. Caution would fly on lap on lap seven
when possible contact between Speet and Koslek would
cause a multi-car accident on the front stretch.
Involved in the wreck were the cars of Brian Weirsma
#1, Nick Bonstell #11, Chris Koslek, #5 Ray
VanAllsburg, Curt Filkins #95 and Warren Speet.
Following the reshuffle of positions after the
incident with the leaders, #77 Andrew Nylaan would
find himself out in clean air as he took the lead on
lap 8. On the same lap, the caution would fly again
for Curt Filkins in turn 4. Also another caution on
lap nine for debris. Yet another caution would
appear on lap ten, when #32 Gabe Ensing and #78
William Olmsted would make contact and wreck
together in turn two. On the restart Chris Muyskens
#26 and Andrew Nylaan would battle for the top
position, before Muyskens would officially take over
the spot on lap 12. Following a rough start of the
feature, things would calm down and a longer green
flag run would take place with excellent multi-car
battles throughout the field. Dave Lake #55 was on
the move, but smoke trailing from the rear end would
eventually result in him being sent to the pit area.
This would take place during the lap 31 caution for
Travis Nylaan #3 when he spun in turn 3. Caution
would fly yet again on laps 38 and 39 for Brian
VanZalen and Dave Lake, who was caught up in a bad
accident on the front stretch. Due to the lengthy
cleanup and already long length of the feature, the
race was shortened to 50-laps. On the restart,
Nylaan would regain the lead until Chris Muyskens
would spin on lap 49, while running in second. The
race was called due to the needed cleanup, and
length of race with Nylaan getting the win.
The night was capped off with the ever popular
school bus races. The packed grandstands remained
full to witness the eight bus drivers battle it out
for the two heat races, and one feature event. One
bus was rolled over on the back stretch, much to the
crowds satisfaction.
The Berlin Raceway is back in action next
Saturday night, with All Faiths and a 4-in-1-show.
The Late Models, Super Stocks and 4-Cylinders will
all be racing, as well as the Faster Pastor races.
Tickets are $12.00 for adults, seniors 60+ $10.00
kids 6-12 $5.00 and 5-under free. Tickets can be
purchased by calling 662-2051 or by visiting
berlinraceway.com.