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August 18 Preview: "The Chet" with
Bobby Labonte and Johnny Benson presented by Comerica
MARNE, MI - Berlin Raceway is gearing up
for the annual "The Chet" race, sponsored by Comerica
Bank, to be held on Wednesday, August 18 at 7 p.m. Held in
memory of track founder Chet Mysliwiec, the 125-lap Coors
Light Late Model race will include NASCAR stars Bobby
Labonte and Johnny Benson.
Labonte, the 2000 NASCAR Cup champion, is making his
first-ever visit to Berlin Raceway. The visit was
facilitated by Benson, a limited partner in the Whitecaps
Racing ownership group. Labonte, driver of the #18
Interstate Batteries Chevrolet, is currently ninth in
NASCAR Nextel Cup point standings. He will drive Randy
Sweet's second Coors Light Late Model car, the same one
that was driven by Tony Stewart and Kenny Schrader.
Labonte joins a growing list of NASCAR stars including
Michael Waltrip, Tony Stewart, Kenny Schrader, Dick
Trickle and of course Benson, who have competed at Berlin
Raceway in recent years. Benson is returning to Berlin
Raceway for the fourth time this season and 14th time
since 2001. Benson has three wins in that time and has not
finished outside the top five since June 2002. The
nine-year NASCAR Nextel Cup veteran has split time this
season between the Nextel Cup, Busch Grand National and
Craftsman Truck series.
The Coors Light Late Model division will race a 125-lap
points feature with a field of 28 cars that make the show
from the afternoon's qualifying time trials. The drivers
will make a mandatory fuel stop at lap 75, since the
125-lap distance, the longest ever run at Berlin, is too
far to go on one tank of gas. Berlin's Engine Pro Super
Stock and Standale Lumber Sportsman divisions will also
compete for points in the 3-in-1 show.
The race will benefit St. John's Home, Michigan's premiere
residential treatment program for emotionally troubled
children and adolescents. Berlin Raceway and Comerica will
donate one dollar from every ticket sold for the August 18
race to St. John's Home. All funding for the home comes
from charitable contributions from the community, such as
the Berlin Raceway/Comerica fundraiser.
Tickets to "The Chet" are $21 in advance and $22 at the
door. Children 3-12 are half price and 2 and under are
free. Pit passes are $25. Tickets can be purchased at the
Berlin Raceway administrative office (2060 Berlin Fair
Drive, Marne, MI) from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through
Friday as well as at the Box Office on racedays. Tickets
are also available online at www.berlinraceway.com and at
www.ticketmaster.com. Gates open at 11 a.m. and the first
race begins at 7 p.m.
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