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Mikes Tuesday Thoughts - July 27, 2010

It brings me great disappointment that I have to start out my thoughts in the fashion I do this week. Berlin Raceway is losing a fine employee this week as Kevin Striegle, our General Manager, has decided to pursue other ventures in his life and has left the Berlin Raceway staff. Kevin will be furthering his career in motorsports in the Carolina’s and I will miss having him on staff. He was very knowledgeable with running our Web site, putting together race day line-ups, designing the many banners at the track and with his many other tasks he handled for us. I will miss him and I wish him the best of luck with the rest of his career and everything he decides to do from this point on. I will miss you, my friend.

It is also very obvious that I needed to make changes in the pit area and that is what I will do effective immediately. Jason Hoogerhyde will be the go-to guy all day and night in the pits for any question or concern; I’m realizing more and more that I need to focus my energy elsewhere.

Looking back at last week it was a very interesting week for me and for Berlin Raceway as a whole. Fair week always seems to bring about new challenges and situations, but I have to say my staff did a great job handling the many things that were thrown at them and I want to personally thank all of my employees and anyone else who put in time at the track last week for their hard work. We made it through a hot week and we are already excited to start preparing for Berlin Fair Week 2011.

Friday was a different night for us as we threw a party for our drivers. It was nice to give something back to them for continually coming back to Berlin with their cars and driving at our track. The night was a great success and a great time was enjoyed by all. The food was great, the dollar beers were a hit and Bomshel played a great show for us on the infield. I think this could really turn into a great event for us and I am looking forward to building on it in the years to come. I want to thank the drivers for an enjoyable evening and for staying for the dinner and concert; the night was about them and it was nice to see them enjoy themselves after a night of racing. The heat races were really good that night and there was some good money handed out to those drivers.

Saturday was our feature night and it was full of exciting racing. In the Kerkstra Sevices Pro Stock Division it was nice to see Brian Tillema race to another win and the same can be said for Brian Bergakker in the Model Coverall Modified Division. The best race of the night was definitely found in the Engine Pro Super Stock Division. This race featured some great racing between the top four cars all night long and watching Andrew Nylaan edge out Denny Anderson at the finish line was truly exciting. It was nice to see Tim DeVos “& Crew” earn their first win of the season in the Coors Light Late Model Division. This division looks like it is shaping up to have quite an exciting race to the championship over the rest of the season and it should be fun to watch. Speaking of fun to watch, the Burnips Equipment 4-Cylinder Division once again put on a great show and continues to be a crowd favorite each and every week at Berlin.

One last thought on Saturday night; I would like to say a very special thank you to Darin Niemi from our Pro Stock division for starting the program off with our prayer. In all my years at Berlin, and I have been here a while, I have never had a driver willing to say a prayer to start off our night. It was very touching to me that he wanted to do this and it was a job very well done!
Looking ahead to this Saturday we have our Anniversary Night on tap with all of our divisions running for the second straight week along with the VROA’s. It will be a weekend celebrating our 60th Anniversary and it is exciting to me to know that we have been around for 60 years and after so many years we still have loyal fans that come out each weekend in the summer. It will be a great weekend; See you out at the track!

Mikes Monday Thoughts - July 19, 2010

Yet another beautiful Saturday has come and gone this past week, with a night of fantastic racing. What a great surprise we had also, with one of the largest crowds of the season in support of the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Night. It has become clear and exciting that a lot of the new ideas and promotions that we have been doing this year have been working as the crowds continue to be on the rise.

The Pro Stocks started out the night for us with their feature and it was yet another awesome feature. I know I sound like a broken record but the racing was once again outstanding. The Weston and Brian show battling side-by-side was perfect for the new fans in the grandstands.

The Modified feature saw the point leader Brian Bergakker get to victory lane for the first time this season with an impressive race. He wheeled that #99 like nobody else has this season… :)  Although we are struggling with the car counts for this class, the racing has maintained greatness.

Super Stocks had another very slow start to their longer feature race, but once we got them going it was real good racing. All in all I still feel that this is the class of the future for Berlin Raceway and with the side-by-side racing and competition has been great. And the school bus racing stands for itself. The crowds overwhelming cheers during the races were reassuring that the money we have to put into this is worth it and great to see everyone find so much enjoyment in it.

This week is the big Berlin Fair week! I would like to personally invite you out to an event or events that we have this week at the track. Lots of neat and unique stuff will be going on so be sure to tell a friend, neighbor and coworker about it and support Berlin Raceway. Also don’t forget about $1.00 Beer & Hot Dogs on Friday and Saturday both as well! Team Appreciation day on Friday will offer pit passes for only a two-day pass of $30. Grandstand tickets are $8 for Friday and $10 for Saturday, or $15 for both days! Pig roast, Bomshel concert and more on Friday, and Saturday is a full night of great racing with all of our divisions! Come check us out… MB

Mikes Monday Thoughts - July 15, 2010
Fair Week Frenzy

Well my Monday thoughts are a little delayed this week, I apologize. With Fair Week right around the corner and getting ready for everything that is coming up, we have been very busy. Speaking of the Fair, make sure you check out our Schedule to see what all we have going on next week, and make plans to attend. If you can help us spread the word about these events would also be appreciated, as it should really be a great time shared by all.

This past Saturday night we saw some of the best racing amoungst all the divisions that we have seen in quite some time. I know I have said this before, but it seems to keep getting better and better. Although we got off to a slow start with some mechanical problems resulting in red flags, the feature racing made up for it. The Four Cylinder class had awesome side by side racing and one of the closest finishes in Berlin history. The three cars of Kyle and Ryan Hamm, and Cole Roelofs crossed under the checkered flag nearly tied and the scoreboard suddenly had about 8,000 eyes on it to see who the winner was. Congratulations to Cole for his victory just edging out Kyle in a very cool race. Also congrats to Jimmy Rhodes for getting his second victory in two weeks in the B division.

The Pro Stock race had its usually side by side racing with the leaders racing hard back and forth for many laps. In the end Weston Jewett wound up in the winner’s circle again over Brian Tillema. Congrats to Brandon Hermiller and team for again earning fast time in the Pro Stocks.

What I found most interesting on Saturday was in the Late Model Class. With the rainout that we had on June 5, almost all of the Late Model teams were racing on month old tires. The interesting part was the few teams that elected to start in the back with new tires, seemed to get burnt up faster than the older rubber did. Good work to Ross Meeuwsen’s team for getting back in victory lane and to Barry Hartwell for a career finish in second.

This Saturday is Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Night and I am personally excited for it. Hopefully the grandstands are packed full as we are donating $1.00 for every ticket sold. We need your support to help this great cause out with us, and also the Racing Awareness donation to be made to the foundation. And don’t forget about next week’s fair events! We will see you there!

Mikes Monday Thoughts - July 6, 2010
Fireworks on and off the track

Independence Day weekend rolled in once again, with a much anticipated show for me and the staff. $5.00 Night, promoted across TV ads, billboards, restaurant posters and more were all put in place to try and make this night a packed house. And it worked! The largest crowd that I have seen as a promoter in the year and a half that I have owned Berlin, and one of the larger crowds seen in years. Reports of cars lined up all the way back to the highway had even me out in the parking lot waving my arms trying to direct the traffic. A sight to see I was told.

The opening ceremonies also seemed to be a big hit amongst all those in attendance. The giant flag being carried by the drivers and crew members, accompanied with God Bless America and the Star Spangled Banner was very cool, with fireworks. The US Army with their color guard presentation gave me goose bumps with everything going on to start off the night.

Another packed night of racing was lined up again for the holiday special, with the USA Modifieds, Pro Stocks, 4-Cylinders and Vintage cars. Want to thank all the drivers for putting on a really great show for all the fans in attendance and racing cleanly all night. I think that the show we put on was a great mix of racing that will hopefully spark some more interest to folks that may not have ever been to Berlin, or just part timers that could come back more frequently. Not to mention all the exposure the track sponsors received as well as all the drivers’ sponsors.

One thing that we really wanted to improve as a facility was the fireworks display. A brand new company was brought in this year for our fireworks display, and it was a great change! Just an awesome display for the fans and teams, to celebrate a very cool night overall. I have even received emails from people saying that our fireworks were better than many cities displays. While we may not have had the best fireworks in the state, they were certainly pretty darn good.

The night was 98% complete, when things went downhill for me in the pits. One thing that I have a hard time controlling at times, is my temper. As many people know that this sometimes gets the best of me and this was again the case on Saturday. There are certainly times when a voice needs to be raised for a given reason or another, but the delivery is key. When this situation occurs, you can trust me when I say that nobody feels worse about it than I do afterwards. The incident that took place on Saturday has been discussed with the involved individual and everyone is on the same terms. I recognize that I have a problem with my temper and am going to work on ways to control it. For me to survive here at Berlin, I have to. - MB

Question of the Week:
Larry D- The 4-Cylinder speeds are ever increasing. Is something going to be done to slow them down for their safety?

Yes, the track has recognized this and will be making adjustments and changes that will be fair for everyone, to further increase the safety of this class.

Mikes Monday Thoughts - June 28, 2010
A few new winners and great weather

The second straight fantastic Saturday came and went this week. Great weather, great racing, and great camaraderie. I think everyone was equally as pleased as I was that we had a nice smooth drivers meeting. Some good discussion and open forum with the drivers and teams was nice. One of the things that we decided on was a later opening start time each week. Instead of the ‘Hurry up and wait’ game that is played every week, we will now open the gates at 1:30 p.m.. Although we are all racers at heart, the added time in the morning will hopefully allow for some more family time and just relaxation outside of work.

With the later start time getting one round of applause in the meeting, I never expected the second when I told the 4-Cylinders that they would be qualifying with just 5-cars at a time. Definitely yet another good step in the right direction as the class continues to grow.

Want to thank the other class that is yet growing, the Modifieds. We knew that it would take time to grow this as a weekly class, but it is coming. I cannot thank them enough for working with us to add to the racing program for the fans. The 10 cars that we had put on a great show and I am excited to have the USA Mods back again this week. Two new winners in victory lane with Jordan Dahlke and Travis Eddy!

The 4-Cylinders put on a lot of good racing also again, as a crowd favorite. This class has turned into a solid part of the backbone of the racetrack and while we rely a lot of them, I think it is a great class for everyone. The USAC Midgets put on a good race, and my heart goes out to the driver that led almost the entire event until the final lap, when he blew up. That feeling of the motor coming apart on your way to the checkered flag must be just terrible.

The Super Stocks had yet another rough start to their extended feature Saturday, but once caution fever passed, the racing got very hot and good. Nice to see Dave Lake back in victory lane, much to his fans delight in turn 4. I hope to see all of you this Saturday for $5.00 night!

Mike's Monday Thoughts... on Saturday, June 19

I couldn’t believe it, I woke up Saturday morning and there were sunny skies with no rain in the forecast! For the first time all season there was no question in my mind that we would be racing Saturday night. I want to thank each and every fan that came out to support Berlin Raceway this past weekend. After two big shows last week, it was great to see so many fans in the grandstands. Giving the fans that supported us on Wednesday $5 off their adult ticket really helped attendance. Our almost weekly specials combined with our low beer prices have helped boost our attendance this season. Fans have noticed that we have some of the lowest beer prices in town and that has persuaded them to come back week after week!

The racing this past weekend was great, we had a great turn out! I was very excited to see over 20 cars in the Great Lakes Outlaw Late Models Division. I think this is a series that Michigan needs and I look forward to working with them in the future. There were some big name drivers in this class, and I was happy to see some familiar names in the lineup. Tom Thomas was at the top of the charts during the first practice, it was sad to see him have such a misfortunate accident during the second practice. Thankfully Thomas was able to walk away from the wreck. It was also good to see names like Dakota Carlson, Dave Stehouwer, Justin Claucherty, and of course Johnny Benson. The winner of the feature, Terry VanHaitsma fought hard against Benson throughout the race. In the end VanHaitsma was just too much for Benson and the rest of the field.

Super Stocks, what can I say about this class? The drivers just can’t seem to get on the same page! I was questioning whether or not to change the 970’s, but after talking to the drivers they want to stick with the same slicks. I think it’s just a variation of factors, the different adjustments, a couple of rookies, and the speed that have all affected their races. We are working through it and just need time to get to a good place. I do want to say congratulation to Andrew Nylaan, he had his third straight victory Saturday night! Nylann has been the ONLY feature winner of the Super Stocks this season.

The Pro Stocks also had a great night, Brian Tillema and the rest of the field put on a great show. There was a lot of passing thoughout the field, it was a lot of fun to watch. I also enjoyed seeing Mitch Meppelink and Brandon Hermiller finish in the top 5, especially after their crash the week before.

Like the Super Stocks, the 4-Cylinder class also has some work to do. Both the A and B drivers had to be moved around to be fair to everyone. It will take some time, but in the end we just want to make everyone happy. This past weekend the B class struggled to get even a single lap in. There was a spectacular flip, but I’m glad to know that the drivers are working hard to ensure safe cages. Since the B class wasn’t able to get complete its race, this coming Saturday we are going to have two B feature races.

That being said, I am looking forward to this weekends race. Berlin Raceway will be hosting the USAC Midgets, along with Modifieds, Super Stocks, and 4-Cylinders. It is sure to be a fun night, I hope to see you all at the track!

Mike B

Mike's Monday Thoughts...on Thursday, June 17
I knew it would be a good good night...

Last Saturday was a show run by the USAC group. It was cool to have them back for the first time since 1994, when the sprints ran at Berlin last. Although the crowd was very light, lessons were learned and we look forward to August when they come back. We are working on a couple big promotions so stay tuned.

The biggest two nights of the season were upon us, with all the big stars in Marne. My staff and I worked endlessly to try to make this event a big big success and good for everyone that was involved. I am proud to say, that even with the rainout on Tuesday, the event went off without a hitch. We are very pleased with the fans and their support nights, as well as the drivers and the excellent show they put on.

There was much anticipation surrounding whether Kyle Busch could beat the local regulars, as well as how the youngsters Chase Elliott, Ross Kenseth and Ryan Blaney would do. At the end of the night, the biggest NASCAR star found himself in victory lane bowing to the packed grandstands, with Chase and Ross right behind. The largest and most talented field of drivers in CRA Berlin history put on a spectacular event and I want to personally thank everyone!

I can’t forget to mention also, the Modified portion of the night’s event. Our newest regular division had many out-of-town guys join us for the 50-lapper, and was good to host them, many for the first time. AJ Allmendinger drove from mid-pack to the lead and collected the big trophy for Helen DeVos Childrens Hospital.

We want to thank Kyle and AJ as well as all the others teams and drivers that stayed over to race on Wednesday night. This show was big and we hope to have the third annual next June once again.

It’s not too often that you can get nearly 5,000 people on their feet giving an ovation, for the quality of the show that was put on. Not to mention two standing ovations. What a cool night. -MB

Mikes Monday Thoughts - June 7, 2010
When to speak up, and when to let it go...

So it was a beautiful Saturday afternoon once again this past week, but as the theme has been since I took over the track has been rainy wet weather all too often. I want to say thank you to the drivers and teams that came out as well as the fans that held hope for the racing program.

Of course the rainfall began to come down right as the national anthem began and would never let up. The Super Stocks were scheduled to be the first event of the night, but with their new slick tire and an already wet racetrack, myself along with Bob Marz and Jason Hoogerhyde felt that is would not be best that they run under the sprinkling conditions. The next race up was the 4-Cylinder heat, which runs a treaded tire. We ran them under caution for countless laps until they all gave us the thumbs up to go racing. In turn 3 of the first lap the rain picked up once more and resulted in spinning cars and a caution. Having them circulate the track more under caution, the rainfall continued to fall and we decided to pull them off the track for everyone’s safety.

It was clear at that moment to me and most everyone around that we were not going to be able to go racing tonight. The radar was solid green and a wet racetrack with water falling more by the minute made that seemingly obvious. All but to one person, who disagreed with what we had decided.

While wandering down pit road she approached me and told me that we should go straight to feature races to get the show completed. I informed her that we could not do that, for the safety of the drivers and their investments in their cars. She replied that Everyone is going to be mad at you! For a moment I thought about what she had said, and then again realized that no matter the decision I would make, would be the wrong one. Although it was very obvious we could not go racing for the rain that was falling, and fell all night, but thinking of the fans in the grandstands as well.

As I watched the NASCAR broadcast rain delay yesterday afternoon, the King Richard Petty talked about how he values each and every race fan that is in attendance at all the tracks he visits. These is why he continues to carefully and legibly sign his name to all autograph seekers that come his way, all throughout his career and still today. He talked about how without the race fan, the promoter would not be able to pay him, the money that is needed to be able to pursue the hobby that we all love so much.

Had I moved to straight features, the fans would have been short-changed in what they had hoped to see when buying their ticket. It is not only the drivers that need to be kept happy, but the fans as well. The drivers are the show, but without the fans the drivers cannot be paid. A clear two-way street that keeps this world of racing going.

Mikes Monday Thoughts - June 1, 2010

What a great crowd we had on Saturday night! Very exciting to see the grandstands full, especially down in turn 4 once again. It was a feeling like we had commonly years ago and a great feeling to have that back after a few years of down crowds. Now I just need to figure out whether it was the bus races, $1.00 beer and hot dogs or just a great racing lineup that we had. I hope that everyone enjoyed their experience at the races Saturday and you come back many times this summer!

The Late Models put on one heck of a show Saturday night, with racing all throughout the pack. We had battles from first to last for most of the race and saw Terry Senneker start almost last, and charge to the front for the win. This was definitely one of the best races we have had with the Late Models in the past few years and was a pleasure to watch.

Super Stocks were the featured product of the night and definitely seemed to feel the pressure. A class that I definitively feel is a part of the future of the track has shown us some great racing and competitive drivers come out of it. The new slick tire will take some more adjusting but once we can get them more comfortable, I am excited to see how it all comes out.

The Pro Stocks as normal put on a great race once again. Good to see Brian Tillema return to victory lane for the first time this year and another solid race for this class. It is now definitely one of the fan favotires.

All in all it was a fun night at the races and I hope everyone enjoyed it. Fun to have Johnny Benson Jr. on hand and racing again also as well. I hope to see everyone this Saturday for All Faiths night!

Mikes Monday Thoughts - May 24, 2010

Another beautiful Saturday has come and gone, peeking near 80 degrees and a nice breeze made for a perfect day for racing! Track conditions were pretty hot during the afternoon and evening, but we saw some awesome action still throughout the day!

I would like to say thank you to all the race fans that came out for the show on Saturday night. Although I was very nervous last week about how our attendance would be on Saturday, the fans showed that they are dedicated to open wheel asphalt racing and it made me very pleased to have them on hand. I never thought about looking at a dirt tracks schedule when we put ours together last November. They also got the pleasure of a fantastic Modified, Pro Stock and 4-Cylinder feature events as well.

Last week we announced the Modified pay out for our big June 15 race on Tuesday night with Kyle Busch, and the guys seemed very excited about it. We have heard that many people expect over 40 cars to be there for that race to compete again AJ Allmendinger. The 60-lap feature on Saturday was very racy and regular teams as well as many outside competitors all showed up to race with us, which was neat.

The Pro Stock feature saw yet another solid effort from young driver Mitch Meppelink, but misfortunes fell his way due to an unfortunate intentional caution. Weston Jewett keeps flexing his muscle and was on top yet again this week but the win wasn’t given to him.

The 4-Cylinder division continues to be a hot topic of conversation throughout the community with the popularity still sky high. Enforcing our new break out rule for our B division, will hopefully tighten this class up and seemed to show just that on Saturday. A few drivers were very close to breaking out and it was exciting to watch.

Next week we bring out the big yellow buses for the first time this season. That, along with $1.00 beer and $1.00 hot dogs all night long, coupled with some great racing should make for another awesome weekend! Oh… and dare I mention a forecast that looks really nice too! - MB

Mikes Monday Thoughts - May 17, 2010

Wooooohooooooo! Look at them beer prices baby! That seemed to be the theme of the night on the concourse with the fans. I was very pleased to see this excitement and a very welcome change for everyone, and being recognized by everyone with both beer pricing and concession stand prices. Wooooohooooooo! How 'bout that weather! No threat of rain for the first weekend since we opened in late March was also very welcome and hopefully a sign of things to come.

As for the racing; what a great night overall. While things started out a little bit rough, that is to be expected being the first real full night of racing for everyone. A near huge upset took place in the Pro Stocks, where Lauren Bush bolted to a huge lead for much of the race as a rookie in the division. The super Stocks also had a great race with passing all the way throughout the field. The new slick tire that they have took some getting used to, but as shown during Saturdays 40-lap feature should be awesome!

The Vintage Racing group is always very nice to have at the track, as they are very easy going and just looking to have a good time. Although they struggled to get a handle on track conditions for much of the day and night, we appreciate the folks that showed up to compete and look forward to the next event with them on the fourth of July.

The main event of the night was last up on the schedule and was nothing less than impressive. Although my fears of the Late Model class diminishing in car counts was somewhat real on Saturday, the 15 cars that were there put on one great race! Battles for the lead, second and all throughout were ongoing for all 100-laps and was just cool to watch.

Next week we welcome the Sprint Cars to the track for the first time; although I never used to be a sprint fan, I have grown to appreciate the skill it takes to drive around Berlin so fast and put on some great shows. Also on Saturday will be a big show with the USA Modified group, as well as the Pro Stocks and 4-Cylinders

Finally if you can do your part to help bring people back to the track, we will all be in better shape. Simply telling your coworkers, friends, neighbors, etc. about Berlin and inviting them to the track would go miles. I spend a great deal of time and money in advertising the track, but I want to also return to the basics.

See you at the track! MB

Mikes Monday Thoughts - May 10, 2010

I think my toes have finally thawed out after being outside this past Saturday, when we got our first full night of racing in! I would like to thank all of the race fans, drivers and teams who came out the track and stuck with us for what was the coldest night of racing at Berlin in memory.

For those that did join us on Saturday, I think witnessed one of the better races in a long time. There was passing all throughout the pack all night, and was capped off with an exciting CRA Super Series feature. The Modified last lap pass and 4-Cylinder competitors stuck through everything amazingly well and couldn’t do it without you.

I was glad to see Johnny Benson back with us racing for the first time since his wreck last June and was a definite fan favorite. This race was entered by 32 cars from all over the area and shows the promise of the upcoming Rowdy’s Revenge event in June which will pay $25,000-to-win with 40 cars. Also great to have so many of our local racers enter these template bodied events and will be interesting to see who crosses the line first come the 15th. The two extra tires for the second half of the race will play a big factor in the outcome and will be fun to see the strategy play out with who makes a live pit stop with 10 laps to go.

One thing that I have talked about several times since the start of my Monday thoughts is the debate over what decisions are right or wrong. The idea of pleasing everyone is simply impossible, but it is me and my staffs job to do our best at it every day, year around. Maintaining positivity is one of the biggest challenges that we face and therefore our biggest goal to maintain.

Something that I have become well aware of over time is that not everyone will see eye to eye on things or appreciate the efforts that are put into operating the facility. I have an appreciation for different viewpoints, ideas or thoughts, until it comes to a certain point.

There is one person who I can expect a negative email from on a weekly basis, that does nothing but complain about everything. This person has verbally attacked me on several occasions, and seems to have the worst intentions out for Berlin Raceway. He has also emailed my staff, called, nagged and has done everything in his power to try and take me down.

Because of all of this, I want to give you his name. Sam Tesseine. For those of you that love the sport of auto racing, appreciate things that Berlin Raceway does each week, and would like to stand up to this person, please take a moment and send him an email: samtesseine@yahoo.com

Once again I would like to thank everyone who came out on Saturday in the frigid weather. Hopefully after sticking through a night like that, our luck may just turn around with nicer weather for the remainder of the year. Announcements for the makeup races will be announced Wednesday.

As Sam would say... we all have freedom of speech. - MB

Mike’s Monday Thoughts – May 3, 2010

Opening night try number two has came and went, with a partial success. I would like to apologize to those drivers who were frustrated with the pit stall layout on for the first night. With all five divisions competing we did our best to accommodate everyone, coupled with some internal mistakes on the stall layout as well. We will have this fixed and published before the end of the week so stay tuned to the site for the exact layout.

It was great to see everyone back together again for another night of racing. It is always a cool thing to see when the pits are full and bustling with excitement. There were some very sharp looking cars and congratulations to those drivers that won the best appearing awards.

As many of you probably noticed, we had a pretty light crowd for our first night. Much like the start of last year, we are already battling rainy and cool weather conditions once again. Hopefully this week’s show will see the return of many of the old diehard fans that used to pack the place each week when Johnny Benson Jr. comes back. With the reduction in beer prices as well as concession stand pricing, I feel confident that things will start to turn around soon for us!

It is tough as a promoter to decide the right way and the wrong as far as decision making. I have talked a lot about it over the winter and this spring, and was once again faced with a decision to make on Saturday. After talking with several tracks all over Michigan and Ohio, they have all reassured that I made the right call and confirmed that we did do our best. I also understand the frustration that people may feel following the rainout, and am therefore going to be giving a discount to this week’s races. I hope to see everyone back this Saturday and later on this season!

Question of the Week:
Molly K. – Coopersville

Are you going to be offering a discount for the people that purchased tickets on May 1?   Yes… we will be giving $2.00 off adult tickets for those that present their ticket at the box office this week, May 8th only.

Rumor of the Week:
Brandon S. – Holland

I heard you are putting in a playground? This would be awesome!   Yes… we have plans to install a brand new safe playground for kids in the next few weeks!

Mike’s Monday Thoughts – April 26, 2010

Good late afternoon everyone. Sure is a good thing I took Morning off of this title because I would have been late about 85% so far. My excuse this week is because we have been moving the Berlin offices again, next door to Boyne. The new location is one building west at 2197 Pine Ridge Drive, in Suite 200. We continue to expand our efforts to help grow the raceway and this will provide adequate space for my staff and the work that we do six days a week.

The hardest part of being a track promoter is making the tough decisions that affect thousands of people every Saturday during the summertime. Trust me when I tell you that the last person that wants to have the events cancelled on any given night is me. After a rainy night and gloomy and wet misty morning, combined with the forecasts made is seem like the only right thing to do was cancel. I have been sick to my stomach since Saturday night knowing that we could have probably gotten the races in, but we always try our best to accommodate everyone and this week didn’t pan out the way we hoped.

In fact, the only person that told me not to cancel on Saturday morning when I was deciding was Scott Lane, President of the Whitecaps. Maybe he knows something I don’t.

With the rainout messing up the plans we had made with Gary at Kalamazoo, we are going to host two huge races for them the next two weekends! I talked with Gary over the weekend but with his schedule format coupled with ours, just didn’t work out.

I am very excited to see the pits packed this weekend with all of our divisions represented! Hopefully we are able to pack the grandstands as well, to help us vote on the best appearing car awards. We will see everyone Saturday!

Mike's Friday Thoughts Special - April 23, 2010

On this the eve of the 2010 racing season, I feel a flash back coming on from the 2009 season as we spent Saturday’s praying for the rain to go away. Once again there is rain in the forecast, but it looks like there might be a break from the water in the late afternoon; so we are hoping to get in as much racing in as we possibly can.

I wanted to take the time before we undergo another great season at Berlin Raceway to thank our fine sponsor’s who have joined us for the 2010 60th Anniversary Season. I understand that during these tough economic times it’s not easy for business to spend extra funds on sponsorship’s, so I wanted you all to know how much we value your partnerships.

I also want to take this opportunity to thank all of my racing family and friends who helped me get through the 2009 season. To those of you who have helped me financially, who all know who you are, words cannot express the gratitude I feel. It has been a long journey to get to this point in my life, and the support you have all showed me is very much appreciated.

My fine staff at Berlin Raceway has also played an immense role in getting this season underway. Without you none of this would be possible. Thank you so much for all the long hours you put in, and for all of your hard work!

It is my esteemed privilege to be the leading promoter at Berlin Raceway for the 60th Anniversary 2010 Season. This season is one of the most anticipated in Berlin’s history. We definitely see a good car count in the Super Stock, Pro Stock, and the 4 Cylinder classes. The Modified division, like any new class, is going to take a couple of years to build a presence. Yet this new and exciting division is a welcomed change at Berlin Raceway.

Last year the Late Model champ wasn’t decided until the last lap, and I am not expecting anything different this year. Whoever is crowned that champion in the Late Model class, will without a doubt be one of the finest champions Berlin has ever had.

Lastly I want to thank all of the fans that come out and support Berlin Raceway; rain or shine. If there is anything that I can do to make your time more enjoyable at Berlin, please give me a call at the office. There is nothing more important to us than keeping all of our fans happy; it’s why we put on the show every week.

SO COME ON RACE FANS, LET’S GO RACING!

Mike

P.S. New this season; bringing back the driver meeting’s. LOL

Mike's Monday Thoughts - April 19, 2010

The 2010 racing season has arrived officially to West Michigan and Berlin Raceway is ready to Rev It Up!

Two practices have already been run with excellent car counts at each. Now following the practices and a large number of requests, we have added an additional practice for this Wednesday night from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. With the excellent weather that is forecasted, this will give drivers one last chance to get some laps before the season begins.

As I have talked about in the past weeks, the Super Stock class and other divisions really look like they will be strong again this year. Modified’s from all over the Midwest continue to show interest in running at Berlin as well.

My only small concern is in the outlaw Late Model class, for a solid weekly group. We will be making a large announcement regarding this tomorrow that will be very exciting for that class.

I have to apologize for having late thoughts the past two weeks. Everyone knows that’s me!

Mike’s Monday Thoughts – April 12, 2010

So we enjoyed the first successful on track action of the year this past Saturday with open test-n-tune. It was great to be at the track and smell the fumes and hear the rumble in the air once again after the long offseason.

The biggest highlight of the day for me came from the four-cylinder division, as drivers were excitedly testing out the new Hoosier racing tire. After the first session for the new division, drivers quickly found me and other staff to share their pleasure with the new tire.

It was comforting to not hear the tire squealing all around the corners being pushed to the edge, and seeing each car stable and comfortable put many of us at ease. Hopefully this will be an exciting sign of the future for this class.

A fantastic field of Super Stocks were also on hand with countless great looking cars, as well as the Pro Stocks and Late Models. It was fun to the see the new Modifieds that were unloaded for the first time as a full time class as well on Saturday. The 60th Anniversary season continues to grow and look stronger as we continue to get closer to the season starting up.

We will once again be back at the track this Saturday for the second test, and although it may be a bit chilly we hope to host the over 80 cars that joined us on Saturday once again.

Mike’s Monday Thoughts – April 5, 2010

Well the first scheduled event at the race track for 2010 felt oddly similar to much of last season, soaked with water. After a great forecast and beautiful week of sunshine, we were disappointed once again with wet weather, and were forced to cancel the first of three practices. Fortunately though this was a late addition to the schedule so we are no further behind that before.

We will move on past the wet Saturday and look forward to this weekend, where we will host the first officially schedule test-n-tune session from 1:00-5:00 p.m.

The economic times we have been experiencing for the past number of years seems to be slowly turning around this year. After a dismal year of advertising partners at the track last year, 2010 has turned around slightly with the addition of several new additions. Although a few larger corporations have backed down on their commitments, overall we feel good about the way things have gone this winter and spring.

This week we will be making a big announcement in regards to the party decks that host company outings and gatherings, group parties and more. We will also be announcing a huge program we have put together for the Late Models this year which will be very exciting for everyone in the next few weeks.

We will see everyone on Saturday for the second attempt of practice!

Mike's Monday Thoughts - March 30, 2010

The 60th season has officially arrived with temperatures forecasted to be unseasonably warmer than normal this coming week, which will enable cars to hit the racetrack for the first time Saturday!

I am not alone when I say that I can’t wait to smell the fumes in the air and the rumble on the track again. It has been a long offseason of work and preparation to try and make the 60th anniversary year a success.

The Late Model class returns again for a full schedule with us as the top division. We hope that with many area tracks participating in the alliance rules that more drivers will travel up to race with us. Possibly the most interesting division of the year is the Super Stocks, which just a few years ago nearly stopped after low interest. Several drivers look to be returning to compete with us again and the regulars are again as strong as ever.

I have talked a lot about the Modifieds over the wintertime and I personally look forward to seeing how this class turns out the most of any. With a large opening night payout of $2,500-to-win and quality point’s fund, we hope this division will grow quickly. We may even see some of the longtime veterans jump into a Modified of their own with the rule enabling them to compete full time in more than one division.

The Pro Stock division has always had arguably the best door to door racing of any class. This year it appears that more cars will be competing with them, as many of the Young Guns are moving up.

The 4-Cylinder class has been the new fan favorite the past few years at the track, and this year seems to be no exception. Competing on a new Hoosier racing tire, the cost for teams in the long run will be reduced and will hopefully create growth. We will be having two 4-Cylinder Champions this year, with the creation of A and B divisions. Each will pay the same amount for the weekly events and season ending point’s fund, but create separation for those drivers who want to race at a most cost effective rate and battle for the championship.

Question of the Week:
Steven C. - Kentwood

Now that you have concession stands, will prices go down??

Yes, we will be going to a 12oz. can and offering specials each night.

Rumors of the Week:
Cynthia M. - Grandville

Will food choices at concessions be any different this year?

Yes, we will be offering a few new items to the menu!

Mike’s Monday Thoughts – March 22, 2010

Well as we continue to move closer to the start of our short track racing season, the rumor mill is spinning about as fast as it ever will. There is no other sport that I know of, that has as many constant rumors and vicious stories as racing does. I could only compare it to Hollywood stars, where they are under a constant microscope from the public.

With all of these rumors swirling about, isn’t it hard to be happy? Constantly having to think about what’s true and not true, even at times has me thinking what is or isn’t. Something that I have realized recently is that life is very short. We need to be able to find the good in whatever it is that do, and take the positives from it. You never know what tomorrow will bring us, and so we need to try and live each minute as if it’s our last.

Question of the Week: Are Late Models and Super Stocks going to utilize radios for 2010?
Donny S. – Coopersville

We are currently looking at allowing radios for our top two divisions this year. If any driver has an opinion on whether or not this should be used, please call our office at 616-662-2051.

Rumor of the Week: See above. It took me 20-minutes to type my thoughts for this week, and therefore am sure I have now missed at least five new rumors.

Michael Blackmer

Mike’s Monday Thoughts – March 16, 2010

Well good morning everyone. I apologize for missing yesterday's thoughts, but bronchitis put me out of work for the day yesterday and didn’t have a chance to complete this until now.

It was great to see and catch up with everyone at the West Michigan Racecar Show this past weekend. I again would like to thank Tom DeVette for doing an awesome job on this event along with April Hamm for all her help; we enjoyed being there and a part of it. Also thanks to Bob Arnoldink from CARSTAR for presenting this event and helping out Tom in several areas. It was a very cool event and we look forward to next year’s already!

With the great success that we had at the car show this past weekend has encouraged Berlin to participate in the Ultimate Sport Show, downtown Grand Rapids at DeVos Place. We encourage everyone to stop by, say hello and sign up for more prizes to be given away. The show runs 3-9:30 p.m. on Thursday, 11-9:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday 9-9:00 p.m. and 10-5 p.m. on Sunday. We will have Billy Eppink’s new Modified and Brandon Hermiller’s Pro Stock on display as well, so come by and join us.

This year, Berlin concessions will be operated by myself as we officially finished the transfer from Whitecaps Racing Development last week. Look for some exciting reduced pricing on the food menu, some different options available and lower beer costs! If you have any suggestions for the concessions this year, email us: comments@berlinraceway.com

We are within 30 days of our first test-n-tune on April 10. If you have any questions about anything that is going on at the track, please give us a call at 616-662-2051.

Question of the Week:
Billy E.  – Walker
Are pit pass prices going up?

No, they are not going up this year. We are proud to maintain one of the lower prices of anywhere in the nation as many West Michigan tracks maintain the $25 regular show level, which is much below many tracks in the south.

Rumor of the Week:
Sue – Grand Rapids
Is there a new Modified team forming this year with some familiar names?

Check out The Grand Rapids Press today with an article from Steve Kaminski!

Mikes Monday Morning Thoughts – March 8, 2010

The sun is shining and being able to be outdoors and do some yard work gets me in the racing mood. Our track staff will begin work on the track starting next week in preparation for the upcoming season.

The Berlin Raceway activities are officially upon us with the Driver Registration pre-season party tomorrow night. It is always fun to see who all is doing what for the upcoming year and get together again after a long and cold winter.

We invite all the drivers and teams over to Shots Grill Pizzeria and Pub tomorrow night starting at 6:00 p.m. We will have Prime Trax Video on the monitors and an opportunity for everyone to sign up for pit stalls, submit driver registration sheets, and more. Drivers will have the chance to win a set of tires courtesy of Shots.

Beginning on Thursday is the return of the racing car show to Rogers Plaza. We are excited to be involved in that once again and have plans to make it special for everyone that comes by. We hope to see everyone there at some point during the show and look forward to talking with other area track members and promoters. The show runs until Saturday, at Rogers Plaza Towne Center on 28th Street and Clyde Park in Wyoming. Berlin will be doing some big things for this show so make sure to stop by our spot.

Question of the Week:
Zac S. – Hopkins
Are 4-Cylinders allowed to purchase pit stalls on the main pit road?

Yes they certainly can this year. These will be available beginning on Tuesday night at Shots.

Rumor of the Week:
Kevin L. – Jenison
I have heard that Super Stock drivers plan to run left side tires on the right side this year due to size differences. Is this going to be allowed?

No, the 500 compound Left side tires will only be allowed on the left, and 700 compound Right side tires will be only allowed on the right. This will be checked closely by our tech staff.

Mike’s Monday Morning Thoughts – March 1, 2010

So I was sitting at my desk yesterday afternoon working on some division details for the race track. All of a sudden, a message came on my screen which said I had an e-mail from Gary Howe, of Kalamazoo Speedway.

It hit me at that moment how fortunate the drivers, teams and all of us race fans really are to have two of finest asphalt short tracks in the nation. Staff at both of the two facilities work 7-days a week to ensure the best family-friendly entertainment, safe race conditions for the drivers and so much more. The effort that goes into running tracks like what we are used to takes significant work on the part of Gary and myself, and our fine staff members who do truly work and think racing 24 hours a day.

Not only the race tracks like Kalamazoo and Berlin, but the other racing companies in our own area, such as Port City Racecars, Lane Automotive, Perfect Circle Racecars, Port City Racing, and more. Drivers and teams in Detroit would have a several hour drive to fill their racing shopping carts, but for us it is right in our back yard.

Many people may not know that Doug Lane of Lane Automotive gave up Late Model racing years ago to run the family business. Doug appeared to have a career building to become one of the top Late Model drivers in the Midwest. Gary Howe was a very successful Late Model driver, winning a Limited Late Model Championship before turning track owner. And for me? Well we all know how that went.

Wouldn’t it be something to see all of us behind the wheel in a special match race? Maybe time will tell those answers… As for selling tickets, I don’t think that that night would be a struggle.

Question of the Week:
Dan L.
Are the Modified drivers who do not compete full time going to be allowed to utilize tires from the outside?

Dan, yes we will allow the occasional visiting cars to purchase two new tires from us on the day of race. Then you will be required to turn in at least two tires to our tire barn for inspection for approval to be raced that night prior to qualifying. No soaking of any kind is allowed at Berlin Raceway and has final approval on any tire that is submitted for racing. This exception will be not be allowed for opening night, and 4-tire purchase will be required for racing. You may also purchase your tires for racing during our Test & Tunes on April 10 and April 17.  Please review our rules for complete clarification.


Rumor of the Week:
Dottie H. – Grant
Kalamazoo Speedway announced that they are giving their Modifieds opening night off. How many Modifieds do you anticipate for this race? I guess 20

Dottie, we are very happy to be working closely with Gary from Kalamazoo and hope for a strong car count of 20 or more Modifieds for our Opening Night.

Mike’s Monday Morning Thoughts – February 22, 2010

Today’s Monday Morning Thoughts will focus on change. The need for change is evident in all facets of our everyday lives. Michigan is looking at outlawing text messaging while behind the wheel of a motor vehicle, which will be a culture shock for many.

As it applies to Berlin, we have several changes that take place each year. Included in those plans for 2010 is the addition of Modified class as a weekly division. We are excited to see this division coming together very nicely since the announcement of our weekly payout and points fund. I am proud to additionally announce that our Opening Night Payout for the Modifieds will be $2,500-to-win!

Something that was changed last year was the addition of the Young Gun class, which was a crowd and media favorite all year long. Unfortunately with the rules that were set forth at the introduction did not cap the drivers under 16 from moving up to higher divisions at Berlin. Therefore it appears that the Young Guns may not have a strong field this year, and thus have been scheduled to run on the same night at the Pro Stocks all season. If we experience an inadequate number of cars, they will race in the Pro Stock feature.

The Late Models will see the return of weekly heat races this year, in place of the scuff-session. This change was heavily favored by the race fans, who like to see the fastest division of cars on the track more. We will also be racing the Late Models for more laps on most nights this year.

Another change that will effect both teams and fans alike this year will be the closing of the turn 4 entries. Due to the economic conditions that we are all still experiencing, the reduction of required staff as well as increased security in this area will be a great help to us. As previously released, all drivers and patrons will be entering the pit area in turn 2, right by the safety crew.

Another change that we are looking at making for our season ending banquet is to move it from November to mid January. This way we would be able to prepare our next seasons schedule more accurately, release rules and other details all in person at one time. If you have an opinion on this or have a question of the week, please email comments@berlinraceway.com

Question of the Week:
Billy K. - Coopersville
Will the core of the Berlin Safety Crew return for us this year?

Yes Billy, most of the safety crew looks to be returning again this year. Ronn Griffis will once again head up this for us, and we are excited about a few changes that we are making on the safety side as well.

Mike’s Monday Morning Thoughts – February 15, 2010

The Daytona Speedweeks has come and gone already and exciting racing was enjoyed by the sell out crowd for yesterday’s 500. It was good to see a new face in victory with Jamie McMurray following a couples hours worth of delays. Myself, Lisa and Kevin are all still thawing out after sitting in the cold grandstands this weekend, but was a fun trip before the season kicks into high gear.

These delays that I am sure many of you saw and got frustrated over like I did, is a reminder that anything can happen. Even with the nation’s spotlight shining upon NASCAR’s biggest event, circumstances out of their control can sometimes cause great headache. Mike Helton and Brian France were likely pretty worked up with the situation, but even in the big leagues things can happen. This is a friendly reminder to myself and all of us that these things can happen at any level, and when they happen at Berlin to just work through it calmly much like they yesterday.

Short track racing was of course also going on over the past week at the New Smyrna Speedway, with drivers from all over competing in the annual events. It was great to see in person one of Berlin’s own Young Gun driver Kelsey Steele driving her family owned #16 Template Late Model, competing on the fast high banks. Also Modified racer Travis Eddy, son of longtime ASA veteran Mike Eddy, who won his first ever feature at Berlin Raceway, was in competition and has tentative plans to compete at least part-time with us this coming year.

This week we will be making several announcements regarding the 2010 Berlin season, so stay tuned to the Web site!

Question of the Week:
Samuel S. - Holland
How do the car counts look for this coming season?

The car counts look stronger than they have in a number of years. A few new Late Model competitors are expected as well as planning on full time seasons, and the Super Stock class looks like it may be the largest at the track this year.

Rumor of the Week:
Julie G. - Ganges
Berlin will be at the Car Show in a few weeks?

Yes, we will be their supporting the new car show and pre-season gathering! Tickets and information will be available as well, and videos from past seasons brought to you Prime Trax Video.

Mike Monday Morning Thoughts - February 8, 2010

Racing season is officially back and it was really great to see the ARCA series run on the high-banks of Daytona. In just six months, those same cars will be taking to the most infamous short-track, our Berlin Raceway.

Like many of you, I watched the Super Bowl last night and while I was pulling for the Colts to get the win, it was still a good, competitive game. As far as the commercials, my favorite was the Doritos commercial where the dog put the shock collar on his owner.

Berlin Raceway will be celebrating its 60th year of operation this year and it’s not only been a part of the community, it’s really more like a large family; unfortunately, death is an eminent part of it. In light of this, we will be forming a Memorial Committee which will be headed up by Marilyn Bush. If there is a death you feel we should know about or if you want to be a part of the committee, please contact Marilyn at: marilyn.bush@gmail.com.

It has been brought to my attention that drivers in the 4-Cylinder division are concerned about the number of events they have on the 2010 schedule. This class started in 2007 as an exhibition class and they only had about 12 races. As it gained popularity, more events had been added. Last season, I got many drivers telling me that they wanted to run more races and I figured there’s no time like the present. I’m trying to bring our local divisions back in to the spot light this year, as every division will see an increased number of races.

Just so the 4-Cylinders are aware, they have the same number of events scheduled as the Pro Stocks and Young Guns, plus I’ve thrown in a special (optional) non-points race in at the end of September. That being said, the 4C class has grown in to being one of the most popular not only with the fans, but with the staff as well.

Speaking for the 4-Cylidner class, we will be offering payment plans to those teams in need of it for the first 4-tire purchase of the year. The number of tires that you will be able to purchase for the year will be determined as we go along to see how they hold up each week. I am looking at doing one new tire per month.

Question of the Week from Billy E.- Walker:
Are the USA Modified shows going to count for Berlin points?

Yes, the two shows (May 22 and July 3) will be point-paying events.

Rumor of the Week from Jarrod P. - Sparta:
Is it true that the Young Gun class car count is struggling?

It may be true. I’ve heard that many of the competitors from 2009 are moving up to different classes and that’s why the schedule was adjusted last week. If the car count in that division is low, they will run with the Pro Stocks.

Mikes Monday Morning Thoughts – February 1, 2010

Well the month of February is officially here, and the Bud Shootout in Daytona is this Saturday! Short track racing has truly turned into a year around sport, with the Snowball Derby in December and the Speedfest weekend at Lanier Speedway in Atlanta Georgia, among others.

We had the chance to attend both of those two events this winter, to promote the Rowdys Revenge 251 that we have coming to Berlin in June. I am excited about the feedback that we are getting about this race.

It was fun to watch a few of our local drivers that grew up at Berlin, race this weekend at Lanier. Both Johnny VanDoorn and Brian Campbell made the field with good qualifying runs, but surviving to the finish was a struggle in southern territory. Kyle Busch won the event and told the crowd in victory lane that the one race he wants to win this year is the Rowdy at Berlin event.

As you may have noticed, we announced the Modified Points Fund for this coming year last week. In just a short time, our office has received many calls from drivers very interested in racing. I feel that we are going to have a strong field of cars for the first season and the crowd will love it. We even had a driver from over 4 hours from Marne tell me that he may run planning on running with us full time.

A reminder that if you have a question of the week, please send it to: comments@berlinraceway.com and maybe it will be selected! Stay tuned to the website this week for some small schedule adjustments with our local divisions, as we try to even out some gaps that were created with added events.

Question of the Week:
Steven M. – Grand Rapids
Have you decided on the track photographer situation? Randy Ellen seems to not be coming back. Is this true?

For my first year, I wanted to give both photographs an open and fair shot and doing what they do best. Tom DeVette handled himself very professionally and I need to thank him for all of his help, and not saying one negative to me all year. Unfortunately Randy has decided to take another route this coming year, and we wish him luck in the future. We welcome Tom as the sole official photographer of Berlin Raceway once again.

Also, Berlin Raceway is looking at offering each driver 100 free autograph cards this year, with the purchase of a pit-stall. We will have an announcement on that later this week, so stay tuned!

Rumor of the Week:
Jackson Walker – Kentwood
The 4-Cylinders are going to be having single car qualifying and two champions?

No and yes. The 4-Cylinders will still utilize group qualifying sessions, but will be split into two, with the A division followed by the B. That will also be the same for Points, and each division will be paid equally and have separate champions. Great question, Jackson.

Mikes Monday Morning Thoughts
January 25, 2010

Good, afternoon everyone. Sorry this is a little late, but meetings in Muskegon held me away until this afternoon.

I had the opportunity to travel downtown this past Friday night, to the Arena Racing at the Delta Plex. It was great to see and talk to many racing friends and see several of them compete and involved in some fashion. This is a reminder that the race season is fast approaching and how truly exciting this sport that we all love, truly is.

As you have probably noticed over the past few weeks, there is a lot happening around the racing world. Every day that goes by seems to further indicate that the Engine Pro Super Stocks, as well as the Coors Light Late Model divisions are going to be very solid. As always, the Pro Stock class also appears to be just as full as ever before.

Our newest class for 2010, the Modifieds, is also coming together pretty well. We are working on putting together a very nice Point Fund payout for this division, and are awaiting a sponsorship commitment for them. This information, including any gray rule areas will be clarified and released this week, I promise.

When a racetrack or division starts a new class of cars, every aspect of the rules must be looked closely. The Young Gun was instituted last year, have seemingly all decided to move up to bigger divisions. Prior to 2009, any driver had to be at least 16 years old to race. We currently do not have a rule in place that does not allow these drivers to move up now, and it would be unfair of me to add that at this point, with many of the cars already undergoing changes. If there is a lack of cars for the Young Guns specifically, they will join the Pro Stocks, but still compete for their own Championship points and payout.

Question of the Week:
Timothy D. – Grand Rapids
Are the 4-Cylinders going to be allowed to run V-Tech connections this year?

No. All V-Tech’s must be disconnected before entering the racetrack.

Rumor of the Week:
Robert M. – Walker
I hear that you have a new flagman hired already. Is this true?

No. We are still in search of an experienced flagman for 2010. Resumes can be sent to comments@berlinraceway.com

Mikes Monday Morning Thoughts - 1/18

With the slightly warmer weather recently, reminds us that racing season is coming soon! The Daytona 500 is only 34 days away, and we will have cars on the track in Marne before we know it.

Following a tough first season of ownership, things surrounding the track continue to get better and more exciting every day. I am truly excited about how things are looking already and we are continuing to work on more announcements to come soon. The Modified class also looks like it is going to be very strong, with great feedback from drivers and teams from all over Michigan. We will be coming out with a good Point Fund Purse announcement very soon to help build a strong field of regulars.

Promoters are always under pressure to make tough decisions, which of course affect a lot of people. The 4-Cylinder tire has been the tough topic of the winter for me, with people equally on both sides telling me what they think I should do. After much research and discussion with experts, I have decided to go with the Hoosier tire for the 4-Cylinders A & B divisions in 2010. In the current economic times, using this tire will help control costs for all racers, as we will be limiting the number that can be purchased per year and will be impounded weekly.

Question of the Week:
David C. – Spring Lake
Is the Great Lakes Outlaw Late Model Series going to be racing at Berlin this year?

Yes, the GLOLMS group will be at Berlin two times this year on June 19, as well as September 18 with ASA. We are anxious to see what this new series will bring to Berlin.

You can submit your Question of the Week by emailing us at:
comments@berlinraceway.com

Mikes Monday Morning Thoughts - 1/11
Tires & Concessions

Here is the start of a new thing on our Web site. Each week I will post some new thoughts on the previous weeks hot topic, or question of the week. You can submit your question here.

After much discussion with representatives from Hoosier as well as Berlin's racers, I am still unsure of what to do with the 4-Cylinder tire choice. We do know that the tire will outlast anything else out there, but it will likely make the division faster. So the choice remains undecided, for now. But we will have something for everyone as soon as we can.

The Super Stock tire will be changed for this coming year. A brand new 9-inch Hoosier slick tire will be used full time.

The rumor of the week I will address pertains to the Concession Stands. We are still under negotiations with the Whitecaps, and hope to have that put to rest and have it for this coming year. I want to thank the Whitecaps for being so great to work with on everything.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy this new feature!