Marne, MI-The Berlin Raceway hosted the Great
Lakes Outlaw Late Models for the first time in
track history as part of the Kerkstra Services Pro
Stock Night. The much anticipated 100 lap feature
was the main event of the night, also tacking the
track were the Kerkstra Services Pro Stocks,
Engine Pro Super Stocks, and the Burnips
4-Clyinders. Winners for the night included #77
Andrew Nylaan (Super Stocks) , #21 Terry
VanHiatsma (Late Models) ,#76 Brian Tillema (Pro
Stocks), and #024 Cole Roelofs (4-Cylinders A).
The first feature of the night was the Engine Pro
Super Stocks. Starting on front row for the Super
Stocks were the #32 Gabe Ensing and Ray
VanAllsburg in the #5 car. The yellow flag came
out on laps 1 and 5 for spins. The cars of #26
Chris Muyskens, #44 Brian VanZalen and #00 Dennis
Mann were involved in the first caution with #16
Kelsey Steele spinning out of turn 4 for the
second yellow flag. Coming out of the second
caution the #5 pitted, taking full advantage were
the #50 and #32. The battle for first was strong
as #50 and #32 went bumper to bumper. Another
caution came out in lap 10 when the #23 Chris
Koslek hit Ensing; narrowly escaping the collision
was the #55 Dave Lake. On the restart another
three car caution occurred with the #18 Denny
Anderson, #5 VanAllsburg, and the #51 Justin Ryan
spinning into each other out of turn 4. #50 Justin
Regnerus took full advantage of the restart as he
battled with #77 Andrew Nylaan who moved into
second on lap 13. Just as Nylaan moved into
second, the Super Stocks saw another caution, #78
Will Olmsted and Koslek hit the wall going into
turn 4, also involved in the caution was the #95
of Curt Filkins. A single file restart was
necessary after the yellow came out and a three
car battle for first arose with Regnerus, Nylaan,
and Lake as they separated themselves from the
pack. On lap 23 Nylaan finally made his move as
he passed Regnerus on the inside coming out of
turn 1. Nylaan would never look back as he took
the checker in the 30 lap feature. Lake, Regnerus,
VanAllsburg, and Brian Wiersma in the #1 would
take the rest of the top 5 positions.
Up next were the Great Lakes Outlaw Late Models.
For the first time in Berlin Raceway history the
Great Lakes Outlaw Late Models took the track,
with a star studded lineup that included Johnny
Benson in the #10 car and hometown favorite #21
Terry VanHaitsma. The 100 lap race featured #19
Nick Szotko and #32 Ross Meeuwsen on the starting
line. Szotko took a quick lead but was quickly
passes by the #10 car of Johnny Benson on lap 4.
The first caution came out in lap 10 when debris
flew by turn 1. After the single file restart,
Benson established himself as the leader. The
battle for second would intensify after lap 28 as
Szotko and VanHaitsma went bumper to bumper;
VanHaitsma took over second after lap 28. Benson
would continue to enjoy a comfortable lead on lap
34, he had a 3.42 second lead on VanHiatsma.
Benson's lead would soon be erased by nearly 3
second s as VanHaitsma battled for first. The
yellow flag would come out on lap 63 when the #33
failed to get off the track as he was off pace
with the rest of the pack. Coming out of the
caution VanHaitsma took advantage and closed in on
Benson. Two laps after the restart VanHaitsma
would take the lead from Benson, until another
caution halted the racing action. Oil on the track
caused the yellow flag to come out right after
VanHaitsma took the lead. Coming out of the
caution Benson and VanHaitsma would separate
themselves from the rest of the field. Lap 72 saw
the first and only collision of the Late Model
race, Slade in the #22 car, along with #28 Thomas,
and #7 Claucherty slammed into each other on the
back stretch, luckily no one was seriously
injured. The caution would not affect Benson's and
VanHaitsma's battle. On the restart they were once
again be neck and neck, until finally VanHaitsma
passed Benson going into lap 77. That would be the
closest Benson would be to VanHaitsma for the
remainder of the race, with 10 laps to go,
VanHaitsma would enjoy nice lead ahead of Benson.
He would finish with a 5.239 second lead. Benson,
#37 Terry Senneker, #14 Steve Needles, and #12 Tim
DeVos would round out the top 5 spots.
The Kerkstra Services Pro Stock feature race was
next on the schedule. Marc Coleman in the #81 and
#18 Mitch Meppelink were on front row. Before a
single lap was completed the #52 of Mike
Sherrington spun out, forcing a complete restart.
Meppelink and Coleman to the early leads, but the
#76 car of Brian Tillema would make his move into
second as he passed Coleman on the inside on lap
3. By lap 7 Tillema was breathing down Meppelink's
neck. Tillema would move into first after passing
Meppelink in lap 9. The second caution of the race
came during lap 17 when the #17 cars of Mike
Reavis and Sherrington collide, both cars would
not return, but no injuries were sustained by the
drivers. Weston Jewett in the #51 slowly made his
way to the front, starting in eighth place, he
would work his way up to the second spot by lap
26. A collision with the #101 of Lauren Bush and
#33 Allen Davis put the racing action on hold as
he clipped the end of her car coming out of turn
3. The restart helped Jewett who was now bumper to
bumper with Tillema. The two cars battle for
position, but in the end Jewett just didn't have
enough to overtake Tillema in the #76 car. Jewett
would take second, followed by #6 Brandon
Hermiller, Meppelink, and #F1 Rand Veldman.
The Burnips 4-Cylinders A were the next event of
the night. On front row were the #7X of Terry
Lange and the #29 car of John Norder. The first
lap was just underway for the 4-Cyldinders when
the caution came out for a three car collision.
The #77 Gerry Shepard, #01 Rob Shoemaker, #100
Jason Scheid all collided on the front stretch and
would subsequently not return. On the restart
Norder, #4 Ron Myers, and #2 Darrell Holtzlander
were in the top three spots. The #024 of Cole
Roelofs made his move on lap 6 when he passed
Myers for second. Roleofs would pass the leader
Norder on lap 8 to take the lead. By lap 10
Roleofs enjoyed a nice lead as the brother duo of
#17 Kyle and #7 Ryan Hamm followed close behind.
Kyle would close in on Roleofs, but in the end the
#024 car of Cole Roelofs took the checker flag for
the first time in his career. Kyle Hamm, Ryan
Hamm, #354 Chris McKinley, and Norder would finish
top 5.
The final race of the evening saw the Burnips
4-Cylinders B take the track. The two starting
positions belonged to #26 Cal Phillips and #32 Jim
Woltanski. The race featured three complete
restarts. The first came when #110 of Dan Dells
slid off the back stretch. The cars would lined up
for the restart when coming our of turn three #65
Andy Church spun, requiring yet another restart.
The yellow flag came out again on the restart when
the #69 car of Nick Rohloff flipped once over by
turn 4. As time ticked away for all of the
restarts, the 20 minute limit that was set for the
15 lap feature race expired, and officials were
forced to call the race.
Up next at Berlin Raceway is USACMidget Night
presented by Grand Design. Feature races include
USAC Midgets , Super Stocks, Modifieds,
4-Cylinders, along with an all division autograph
session. Tickets for adults are $12, seniors 60+
are $10, children ages 5-12 are $5, 5 and under
FREE.
