September 18, 2007

Berlin Raceway 2007 Champions to be crowned Saturday

Marne, MI—Berlin Raceway’s 2007 points season comes to an end on Saturday, September 22 and champions in all four divisions will be crowned. Coors Light Late Model driver Tom Thomas and Instant Cash Advance Sportsman driver Andy Stormzand both earned their 7th wins of the season last Saturday and they used the double points night to clinch the championships in their divisions. Just the opposite is happening in the Engine Pro Super Stock and De-Jay Slick Truck Pro Stock divisions. Both of those titles will not be decided until the checkered flag falls on Saturday night.

Even though the championships are locked up in two of the divisions, the battles for second are still going strong. In the Instant Cash Advance Sportsman division, Garison Jewett currently sits second after jumping two positions from last week. He is just 22 points ahead of Allen Davis and 33 points ahead of Ken Roelofs. Another close race for second is happening between Billy Shotko and Terry VanHaitsma in the Coors Light Late Models. VanHaitsma and Shotko have taken turns occupying that spot, but VanHaitsma is currently leading Shotko by 16 points.

In the De-Jay Slick Truck Pro Stock division, Brian Tillema still holds the lead over Lee VanDyk by 17 points and Bruce Chase is trailing Tillema by 75 points. Chase isn't out of the title hunt by any means, but in order for him to win the championship, he would have to earn maximum points (210) and both Tillema and VanDyk would have to finish near last place. The trio has been very consistent this season, always managing to finish near each other at the end of every race; it will be very interesting to see who will come out on top this weekend.

The Engine Pro Super Stock division has raced 18 times and it has become the closest battle at Berlin. A mere two points separate Mike Bursley and Brian Wiersma. After getting his 6th win of the season, Bursley finally took the point lead from Wiersma this week. At the beginning of the season, Wiersma started out as the point leader and his consistency has kept him in or near the lead. Bursley, on the other hand, began the year 18th in points. He has been clawing his way to the top all summer, but mechanical failures earlier in the season just might keep him from celebrating a championship Saturday night for the second year in a row. Like the Pro Stocks, this will make for an exciting final points race.

All drivers will be in action this Saturday, September 22 to get their share of the $40,000 year-end points fund bonus prize. Tickets for Championship Night are $12 for adults, $6 for children 6-12 and free for 5 and under. Pit passes are $25.Gates open at 12:15 p.m. and the first race begins at 7 p.m.

Berlin’s racing season doesn’t end when the champions are crowned as three special events round out the 2007 racing season. The Open Wheel Extravaganza is scheduled for Saturday, September 29; Bus Mania returns to the track on Saturday October 6 and the season finale is the 4-Cylinder 150- lap Enduro on October 13.