April 21, 2007

Berlin Raceway to be a part of a new Tradition within the ASA Late Model Series Challenge Division with the 1st annual Tradition 200

By ASA Late Model Series

Lexington, Michigan (04/13/2007): The ASA Late Model Series Presented by GM Performance Parts prides itself on being a Michigan based series. After all the ASALMS is based in Lexington, Michigan and in ASALMS history, the most events held in one state is indeed the Great Lakes State.

As the ASALMS celebrates its' Fifth Anniversary Season in 2007, events within all three divisions of the ASALMS are spread out throughout the United States from as far West as Texas to as far South as Florida and as far East as Virginia. Yet throughout the history of the ASALMS, there's always a date on the schedule that the ASALMS looks forward too and in the process, come back home to the great state of Michigan.

The ASALMS will never forget where it came from and with that in mind, a new tradition will be born beginning with the 2007 season! The cars and stars of the crown jewel of the ASALMS, the Challenge Division will take part in the 1st annual Tradition 200 on Friday and Saturday June 15-16, 2007 at the famed Berlin (MI) Raceway.

The historic fairgrounds oval located West of Grand Rapids in Marne, Michigan will host the ASALMS Challenge Divisions' sixth race of the 2007 schedule and mark the halfway point of the Fifth Anniversary 2007 Season for "America's Premiere Short Track Series".

"We will always come home to Michigan and with the 1st annual Tradition 200 at such a great facility as Berlin Raceway, we're firmly planting ourselves in our own backyard with a race that will become one of the biggest events overall of the season each and every year!" Stated ASALMS Co-Founder/President, Ron Varney.

"Berlin is one of the most immaculate facilities we go to, not just in the state of Michigan, but throughout the entire country. The fans there are just something to behold and we hope to establish a race that will always be a fixture on their calenders!" He added.

Joining the ASALMS Challenge Division will be Berlin's own Instant Cash Advance Sportsmen Division. Berlin Raceway will have camping throughout the ASALMS weekend as campgrounds will open at Noon on Friday June 15, 2007 during the ASALMS All-Day Test and Tune. The pits open up also at Noon with the Friday practice running from 5:00pm-9:00pm.

ASALMS rigs can be left overnight in the pit area as overnight security will be provided throughout the ASALMS weekend. Camping is $25 per night with showers, electric, and water hookups also included.

Saturday June 16, 2007 will be a complete show for the ASALMS Challenge Division with Two Practice Sessions as well as Qualifying, the 25-lap GM Performance Parts Shootout(s) and the evening will be highlighted by the 1st annual Tradition 200. Berlin's own Instant Cash Advance  Sportsmen division will run a complete regular racing program in support of the ASALMS Challenge Divisions' sixth race of the 2007 season.

"Berlin Raceway is very excited to be back on the 2007 ASALMS Challenge Division Schedule. Berlin has always been one of the backbones of the old ASA and now with the ASALMS." Remarked Mike Strevel, the Director of Operations for the Marne, Michigan fairgrounds oval.

"Berlin has several race teams that own ASALMS cars and every one of them is looking forward to challenging the ASALMS stars. This should be a great part of a big weekend in the state of Michigan with NASCAR Nextel Cup down at MIS (Michigan International Speedway) the next day." Strevel added.

The ASALMS has made three overall appearances at the speed plant located just West of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Last season both the ASALMS Challenge and Northern Divisions ran on the unique 0.437 Mile Semi-Banked Paved Oval and it was Grand Rapids' own, Brian Campbell sweeping both races in 2006!

In the first of two ASALMS events at Berlin, the ASALMS Challenge Division was on hand on a special Wednesday night. On June 14, 2006, NASCAR Nextel Cup Driver, David Stremme joined Michigan Legends Mike Eddy, Butch Miller, and Berlin Part-Owner, Johnny Benson Jr., for the Safety Kleen 200.

Eddy, the Seven-Time National Champion in the now defunct American Speed Association National Tour, led the first 114 laps before losing the lead to Stremme. 20 laps later, Campbell got around the NASCAR Nextel Cup driver and would fend off Landon Cassill, who recently signed with Hendrick Motorsports, and Stremme to pick up his first career ASALMS Feature victory!

Campbell won the 200-lap Feature over Cassill, Stremme, Matt Hawkins, and Kris Stump the Top Five. Cassill set what is the current track record for the ASALMS at Berlin by winning the Fast Qualifier Award with a fast lap of a 16.077. 30 Teams were on hand and all started the 200-lap Feature.

The second and final appearance was part of the 2nd annual Mid-Michigan Doubles Weekend and it would again be Campbell, the 2005 Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookie of the Year, making the hometown fans happy with a dominating performance in the U.A.W./United Auto Workers 100.

Campbell would win the Fast Qualifier Award and then in the 100-lap Feature, the Grand Rapids, Michigan pilot would take the lead from Jason Setser on lap 31 and go on to sweep both Berlin ASALMS events for the 2006 season. Robbie Pyle would come home second over Chris Anthony, Butch Miller from the rear of the field, and Setser would complete the Top Five. 26 cars made the trip to Marne, Michigan after getting rained out the night before at the Kalamazoo (MI) Speedway.

The only other appearance by the ASALMS occurred on June 11, 2004 in the running of the Berlin 100 for what is now the ASALMS Challenge Division. 2004 ASALMS Challenge Division Champion and Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookie of the Year, Bobby Stremme survived a dog fight with Brian Campbell and would go on to win what would be the first career ASALMS Feature win.

The South Bend, Indiana pilot finished ahead of Campbell, who hasn't finished worse than in the runner-up spot in three overall ASALMS appearances at Berlin. Doug True, Michael Rush, and Doug Mahlik rounded out the Top Five. An ASALMS high car count for Berlin of 36 machines were on hand.

As for the 2007 season at Berlin, it all begins with two Test and Tunes on Saturday April 7, 2007 and again on Wednesday April 11, 2007. Regular Weekly Racing begins on Saturday April 14, 2007 with a full program of Coors Light Late Models, Engine Pro Super Stock, DeJay Slick Truck Pro Stocks and Standale Lumber Sportsman. The Marne, Michigan fairgrounds oval will run on Saturday nights with the occasional Wednesday night special event during the season. Berlin Raceway will be celebrating their 57th year of operation in 2007.

In 1950 the late Chester Mysliwiec and family started a racing tradition; Berlin Raceway, as he named it, has seen it all through the years. From its humble dirt track beginnings, Berlin Raceway, now a 0.437 Mile Semi-Banked Paved Oval, has grown into one of the premier short tracks in the United States of America.

Berlin Raceway has one of the strongest fan bases for grass roots racing in the nation. Berlin has packed in thousands of race fans a year for over 50 years. Over 5,000,000 race fans have spent their Saturday nights at this legendary track. Not only have race fans of all ages enjoyed the track, but drivers like Tim Steele, Jack Sprague and Bob Senneker have honed their driving skills on what Johnny Benson Jr. claims as "one of the most difficult tracks in the country."

In 2001, the West Michigan Whitecaps purchased the track and invested funds in the infrastructure, building new restrooms, a new sound system, new private party areas, new catch fence and other amenities to make Berlin Raceway not only the premier facility in the Midwest, but also the most fan-friendly.

The racing hasn't suffered either; With partners like NASCAR driver Johnny Benson Jr., Berlin Raceway has kept the racing extremely competitive. The goal of Berlin Raceway is to continue to provide exciting racing and an affordable experience in a clean, safe environment.

For more information about the 2007 season at the Berlin Raceway, call the track offices during normal business hours at: 1 (616) 677-5000 or you can go to the tracks website at http://www.berlinraceway.com