April 17, 2007

Marne, MI - After a one-week weather delay, Berlin Raceway's 57th season is set to begin Saturday night at the historic .438-mile oval track in Marne. Saturday's opener presented by Trendway includes a special high-dollar $4,000-to-win 50-lap Coors Light Late Model feature as the main event in the 4-in-1 weekly local racing program. The Engine Pro Super Stock, De-Jay Slick Truck Pro Stock and Instant Cash Advance Sportsman divisions will also take the track in points races.

The debut of the 4-Cylinder race at Berlin will round out the packed night. This low-budget division races 4-cylinder street cars with limited modifications for racing. This new class will race a limited five-date schedule in 2007 with the possibility of expansion into a full-time weekly division in the future.

In addition to the four local weekly racing divisions, the 28-race 2007 season includes many traveling series events, fireworks, free kids nights, food and drink specials, school bus races and several "amateur" races.

Berlin's two marquis events featuring the track's own weekly racing series are:
- The seventh annual "The Chet" presented by Comerica Bank, a 100-lap Coors Light Late Model feature on Wednesday, August 15, a night that includes an appearance and autograph signing session by 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Champion Kurt Busch, and
- The second annual Boyne Machine 200 on Saturday, September 15, a 200-lap Coors Light Late Model feature that includes the Super Stock, Pro Stock and Sportsman divisions as well, all racing for double points leading into the season finale Championship Night.

Traveling shows scheduled for the 2007 season include:
-The CRA Super Series on Saturday, May 26
-The debut of the PRA Big Car Series 150 with NASCAR star Ryan Newman, on Wednesday, June 13
-The ASA Challenge Series 200 on Saturday, June 16
-Short Track Trucks on Saturday, June 23
-Three visits by the open-wheel Auto Value Super Sprints (June 30, September 1, September 29)
-The prestigious ARCA RE/MAX Series for a 200-lap feature on Saturday, July 7
-The Vintage Racing Organization of America on Saturday, July 28
-The Wolverine Outlaw Midget Series on Saturday, August 11 and September 29
-An Open-Wheel Extravaganza for the season finale on September 29 that includes the ISMA Supermodifieds, Auto Value Super Sprints and a triple-sanctioned midget event including Wolverine Outlaw, USAC and UMARA midgets.

Other highlights of the 2007 schedule include the ever-popular School Bus Races scheduled for four dates (May 5, June 2, August 18 and September 14). All Faiths Night (April 28) will feature the third annual "Faster Pastor" event where clergy members will have the chance to race around the track to raise funds for their church. Kids Nights, where kids 12 and under get in free and several kids activities will be set up around the facility, will be held on June 23 and August 25. "Dollar Beer and Dollar Dogs" are on the schedule four times (May 26, July 7 September 1 and September 14).

The promotional schedule is packed with even more crowd-pleasing entertainment races such as the Big Rig Races, Spectator Drags, "Grocery Getter: Races, Train Races and Bus Mania. Post-race parties with live bands are scheduled once a month and fireworks will light up the sky four times. Plenty of autograph sessions, where fans can walk onto the track, meet drivers and see cars close-up, are scattered throughout the schedule all season long.

The 152nd Berlin Fair comes to Marne July 15 through 21, with grandstand events including the Demolition Derby presented by Budweiser, WMOR Demo Scramble presented by CARSTAR of Ottawa County, TMS Fight Night - Cage Fighting presented by Budweiser and Bus Mania presented by Coors Light scheduled for Fair week.

Tickets for all Berlin Raceway events are on sale now and can be purchased by phone to Berlin Raceway at (616) 677-5000 or online at www.berlinraceway.com. Tickets are also available in person at the Fifth Third Ballpark box office (4500 West River Drive, Comstock Park) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays, or at the Berlin Raceway administrative office Monday through Friday (please call ahead for an appointment if going to Berlin's administrative office).