August 7, 2007

Seventh Annual "The Chet" race presented by Comerica Bank to benefit St. John's Home
Kurt Busch to sign autographs; Benson to race

MARNE MI (8-7-07) - For the seventh straight year, Berlin Raceway and Comerica Bank are teaming up to benefit the community, and for the fourth straight year, funds raised from ticket sales to the sixth annual "The Chet" race will benefit St. John's Home, Michigan's premier residential treatment program for emotionally troubled children and adolescents. The Comerica Bank-sponsored race, to be held on Wednesday, August 15, will feature NASCAR Craftsman Truck driver Johnny Benson and an appearance by NASCAR Nextel Cup driver Kurt Busch

Busch, who will be in Michigan for the NASCAR Nextel Cup race at Michigan International Speedway that weekend, will be signing autographs from his souvenir trailer and doing radio and PA interviews during the race.

Busch is a Las Vegas native and the current driver of the #2 Penske Racing Miller Lite car. He is currently 12th in Nextel Cup point standings after claiming his first win of the 2007 season at Pocono on August 5. Grand Rapids native Benson sits 5th in the Craftsman Truck series point standings and has one win in his #23 Bill Davis Racing machine this year. Benson is also the 2002 and 2004 winner of "The Chet."

Kurt Busch joins a growing list of NASCAR stars to appear at Berlin Raceway since 2001, including brother Kyle Busch, Rusty Wallace, Bobby Labonte (twice), Michael Waltrip, Tony Stewart (twice), Kenny Schrader (twice), Dick Trickle and Johnny Benson (18 times). He is the second NASCAR Nextel Cup driver scheduled to visit Berlin Raceway in 2007; Ryan Newman raced in the PRA Big Car Series 150 lap race on Wednesday, June 13 and he finished 4th after starting in the back of the field.

The Chet, held in memory of track founder Chet Mysliwiec, is a $5,000 to win, 100-lap Coors Light Late Model race and it is also a fundraiser; Berlin Raceway and Comerica will donate one dollar for every ticket sold from the August 15 race to St. John's Home. A large portion of funding for the home comes from charitable contributions from the community, such as the Berlin Raceway/Comerica Bank fundraiser. In 2006, "The Chet" presented by Comerica Bank raised $5,000 for St. John's.

Berlin Raceway drivers will also be making appearances at Comerica Banks in the Grand Rapids area on Friday, August 10. Ryan Schanbel (#97.9 Pro Stock) will be at Comerica Bank's Woodland Banking Center (3215 28th Street SE) from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Late Model drivers Terry VanHaitsma (#21) and Scott Thomas (#28) will be at Comerica Bank's Grandville Banking Center (4480 Wilson Avenue SW) from 3:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m.† Donations for St. Johnís Home will be accepted at Comerica Bank's Grand Rapids, Holland and Muskegon locations from August 1 to August 15.

St. John's Home is a nationally acclaimed, non-denominational, non-profit organization that has been devoted to West Michigan's children since 1889. Located on Knapp St. in Grand Rapids, St. John's is the only youth home in America designed by kids, for kids. The home includes a residential treatment program for 60 abused and neglected children and adolescents; the KidsFirst program, an emergency shelter care program for Kent County youth that sees more than 600 youth each year; and the Discovery Program, an adolescent substance abuse center for teens. St. John's boasts a success rate of more than 80% of their students (vs. the state average of 55%) who leave the home to become economically independent and guarantees every student a college education or vocational training after high school.

This is the seventh year that the partnership between Berlin Raceway and Comerica Bank has resulted in contributions to community organizations. Contributions totaling $37,406 have been made to organizations such as the Berlin 4-H program and the Todd Senneker Memorial Foundation (which awards a scholarship to a senior from Wayland Union High School in memory of the late Berlin Raceway driver), as well as to St. John's Home.

Other organizations benefiting from monetary donations through Berlin Raceway's Community Support program include the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, the Chris Bradley Memorial Scholarship Fund, the Marne Lions Club and the Wright Township Sewer Fund. Berlin and its partners have contributed a total of $64,817 to the community through this program.

Comerica Bank Regional President Joe Davio said the bank is proud with the results of their partnership on this race.

"The real winners of the race will be the kids," said Davio. "We at Comerica are proud to do our part to help St. John's Home continue to provide outstanding care and services to our community."

Tickets for "The Chet" are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Children 6-12 are half price and 5 and under are free. Pit passes are $30. Advance tickets can be purchased at the Berlin Raceway administrative office ( 2060 Berlin Fair Drive , Marne , MI ) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tickets are also available by phone to Berlin Raceway at (616) 677-5000 or online at www.berlinraceway.com. Gates open for the Wednesday event at 12:15 p.m. and the first race begins at 7 p.m.